JPH03261266A - Transfer control system for facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely transfer only desired picture information by providing a reception information storage means, a transfer request detection means, a readout control means, a management report generating means and a transmission reception control means to a relay facsimile equipment. CONSTITUTION:A relay facsimile equipment is provided with a reception information storage means 16 storing received information, a transfer request detection means 4 detecting a transfer request, a readout control means 15 reading out selectively either picture information or a major part of each picture information in response to the transfer request, a management report generating means 5 synthesizing the reception information onto the major part of each picture information to generate a reception management report and a transmission/ reception control means 6 controlling the transmission/reception of the picture information and the reception management report. Thus, the major part useful for the recognition of a reduced picture is sent as the reception management report together with the reception information and a recipient of a transfer destination understands accurately and simply the content of each picture information by referencing the reception management report. Thus, only the desired picture information is surely transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a transfer control method for a facsimile device, and in particular, to transmit image information read by a sender facsimile device to a relay facsimile device and temporarily store it. The present invention relates to a transfer control method for a facsimile device that subsequently transfers data to a destination facsimile device.

(Prior Art) In recent years, as facsimile machines have become widespread, there has been a demand for higher functionality, and facsimile machines (hereinafter abbreviated as memory FAX) equipped with an image memory for storing image information have appeared. In this type of memory fax, the received image information is not immediately printed out, but is stored in the image memory,
Then, print it out at a desired time. Therefore, communication time can be shortened and call charges can be reduced compared to the conventional method.

Furthermore, memory FAX can bring about various other effects by devising its usage.

For example, when attempting to transfer a document based on image information received by a facsimile device to another facsimile device, the received image information is first printed on recording paper, the document is reproduced, and the reproduced document is transferred to another facsimile device. was sent to the facsimile machine again and sent to the destination facsimile machine.

However, such a method has problems such as poor work efficiency and deterioration of image quality. Recently, as a system to solve such problems, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-195761 has been developed.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-106572, a method has been proposed in which a facsimile machine equipped with an image memory for storing image information is used as a repeater.

In these conventional techniques, as shown in FIG. ) is received once and stored in the image memory.

This relay FAX 2 includes, for example, the forwarding destination telephone number, I
"Transfer management information" (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as management information) consisting of D information, password, confidential box number, etc. is registered in advance by the operator.

The relay FAX 2 transmits image information 30 based on the transfer management information.
is transmitted to the transfer destination facsimile device 3 (hereinafter referred to as transfer FAX).

According to such a transfer method, the image information 30 transmitted from each transmitting FAXI can be easily transmitted to the transmitting FAX 3 without deteriorating the image quality.

In addition, as another method of using such a transfer method, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-202981, a relay FAX temporarily stores all image data without immediately transferring it to a forwarding FAX even after receiving image data. , transfer fax to relay fax
A technique is disclosed in which, when a polling request is received, all accumulated image data is transferred to a transfer FAX.

In this conventional technology, a request is made from a transfer destination to a relay FAX to send a reception management report indicating the date and time of reception of accumulated image information, identification information of the transmitting device, reception size, number of pages, communication mode, etc. A technique has been disclosed in which the receiver at the transfer destination checks the contents of the accumulated image information by referring to the reception management report, and selectively transfers only desired image information.

In this way, it is possible to selectively transfer only desired image information, thereby saving call charges.

Note that in the following explanation, a system that is composed of the above-mentioned sending fax, relay fax, and transfer fax and that enables the transfer of image information may be referred to as a "transfer system using memory fax." .

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, a request is made to send out a reception management report of image information received and accumulated over a certain period of time, and only desired image information is selectively selected from the contents of the reception management report. In the prior art, the content of the management report was only so-called management information such as the date and time of reception, identification information of the transmitting device, etc. as described above, and therefore the content of the image information could not be determined accurately. First, there was a problem in that desired image information could not be selected accurately.

Furthermore, in order to check the number of stored image information items, the identification information of the transmitting device, etc., it is necessary to request a reception management report each time, which requires the use of a facsimile machine, making it difficult to check from anywhere. There was also the problem that it took time to confirm.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to efficiently transfer image information by making it possible to accurately and easily check the contents of image information stored in an image memory. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer control method for a facsimile machine that allows reliable transfer.

(Means and effects for solving the problem) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention transmits the image information read by the sending fax to the relay fax, and the relay fax once stores the received image information and then sends it to the relay fax. In the transfer control method of a facsimile device that transfers data to a forwarding FAX, a particular feature is that the relay FAX is equipped with the following means.

(1> Reception information storage means for storing reception information, transfer request detection means for detecting transfer requests, and readout control for selectively reading out either image information or main parts of each image information according to the transfer request. a management report generating means for synthesizing the received information with the main part of each image information to generate a reception management report; and a transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission and reception of the image information and the reception management report, and transmitting the image information and the reception management report. In the above, a transfer request for desired image information is made by referring to the reception management report.

(2) a reception information storage means for storing reception information; a DTMF detection means for detecting an input DTMF signal; a reception information investigation means for investigating the content of the stored reception information according to the DTMF signal; The apparatus includes a sound signal generation means for converting survey results into sound signals, a transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission and reception of image information and sound signals, and a transfer request detection means for detecting a transfer request. Transfer requests can now be made by referring to .

According to configuration (1) above, the important parts useful for recognizing reduced images are sent together with the received information as a reception management report, so the recipient at the transfer destination can refer to the reception management report and receive information about each image. It becomes possible to understand the contents accurately and easily, and it becomes possible to reliably transfer only desired image information.

According to the configuration 2) above, the received information can be confirmed by a voice signal or the like even from a telephone that does not have a facsimile function, so that the received information can be confirmed easily and in a short time.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a relay FAX that is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the image information storage means 14 stores image information sent from a sending FAX or image information read by its own scanner (not shown) as a file. The transfer request detection means 4 detects whether the transfer request from the transfer destination is a request to transfer image information or a request for a reception management report.

In response to the transfer request, the readout control means 15 selectively reads out, for example, a part of the cover as the main part of the accumulated image information or each image information, and the image information is sent to the transmission/reception control means 6.
The main part of each image information is output to the management report generation means 5.

The reception information storage means 16 stores reception management information for each file, and when the transfer request from the transfer destination is a request for a reception management report, the reception information of each file is sequentially output to the management report generation means 5. do.

The management report generation means 5 synthesizes the main part of each image information and the reception management information corresponding to the main part outputted from the reception information storage means 16, and generates a reception management report for each file. It is output to the transmission/reception control means 6.

The transmission/reception control means 6 transfers the image information outputted from the readout control means 15 or the reception management report outputted from the management report generation means 5 to a scheduled transfer FAX.

In addition, FIG. 2 shows a relay FAX which is a second embodiment of the present invention.
This embodiment is characterized in that a reduction means 7 is provided between the readout control means 15 and the management report generation means 5.

In this embodiment, the reduction means 7 reduces the main part (for example, the cover) of each image information read out by the readout control means 15, and the management report generation means 5 reduces the main part (for example, the cover) of each image information read out by the readout control means 15, and the management report generation means 5 The received information is combined to generate a reception management report.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a relay FAX that implements the functions described in connection with FIG. 1.2.

As is well known, a facunmill device equipped with a function of storing image information includes a reading section 26, a recording section 25, a system control section 23, a modulation/demodulation section (modem) 22, an image memory 24 for storing image information, and mainly an image memory 24. It is composed of an image processing unit 27 that encodes/decodes information, a received information management memory 28, a transfer information registration memory 29, and a line control unit (NCU) 21.

The image information sent from the sending FAX and input via the NCU 21 is demodulated by the modem 22 and then stored in the image memory 2.
4 are sequentially accumulated. Further, the image information read by the reading unit 26 is encoded and compressed by the image processing unit 27 and stored in the image memory 24.

When the image information stored in the image memory 24 is to be printed out, the image processing section 27 decodes and expands the image information, and then outputs it to the recording section 25.

The received information stored in the received information management memory 28 is expanded in the image memory 24, encoded in the image processing section 27, and then output.

The operation of the relay FAX having such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step S10, the transfer time registered in the transfer information registration memory 29 is checked, and when the transfer time arrives, in step S11, it is checked whether or not image information is stored in the image memory 24, and if it is, In step S12, the transfer FAX registered in the transfer information is called.

When the line with the transfer FAX is connected, the received information stored in the received information management memory 28 is read out in step S13, the received information is developed in the image memory 24 in step S14, and further encoded in the image processing section 27. After being digitized, it is transferred via the modem 22 and NCU 21.

In step S15, in the case of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. It is later transferred via the modem 22 and NCU 21. In the case of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, only a portion of the cover of the image information is output to the image processing section 27 and transferred via the modem 22 and NCU 21 without being reduced.

In step S16, it is determined whether all the received information of the image information stored in the image memory has been transferred or not.
If not completed, the processes of steps 813 to 816 are repeated, and when all received information has been transferred, the line is disconnected in step 817 and the process ends.

FIG. 4(a) is an example of a reception management report output from the transfer FAX when a part of the cover is selected as the main part of the image information. The received information 32a1 of file 2, a part 32c of the cover of file 2, etc. are printed out in sequence.

On the other hand, FIG. 4(b) is an example of a reception management report that is output from the relay FAX and then output by the transfer FAX when a reduced image of the cover is selected as the main part of the image information.
Received information 31a of file 1, reduced image information 31b of the cover of file 1, received information 32a of file 2, reduced image information 32b of the cover of file 2, etc. are printed out in sequence.

Here, at the transfer destination, the recipient refers to the reception management report, selects the image information that he/she desires to transfer, and specifies the image information by polling the relay FAX.

Further, if there is a polling request, the relay FAX detects the polling request in step 518, and in step S1
In step S9, the designated image information file is read from the image memory 24, and then in step S20, the image information is transferred to the transfer FAX via the modem 22 and NCU 21.

In the above explanation, the reception management report is automatically transferred at the time specified by the transfer information, but the transfer destination recipient may request it by polling.

According to this embodiment, important parts useful for recognizing reduced images, such as a reduced image or a part of image information of each file, are recorded in the reception management report together with the reception information, so the recipient at the transfer destination can report the reception management report. By referring to the reduced image information, the content of each image information can be accurately and easily understood, and only desired image information can be reliably transferred.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a relay FAX according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals as above represent the same or equivalent parts.

In the figure, the DTMF detection means 12 has a DTMF (
Dual Tone Modulation Freq
detect the signal and analyze its type. The reception information investigation means 13 investigates the registered contents of the reception information storage means 16 according to the type of DTMF signal detected by the DTMF detection means 12. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 7, if the input signal is a DTMF signal indicating "1", the "number of receptions" is determined by checking how many pieces of reception information are stored in the reception information storage means 16. , and if the input signal is a DTMF signal shown at “2°,” by checking the “transmitting device identification information” of each reception information stored in the reception information storage means 16, it is possible to determine “from which source.” It is determined how many pieces of image information have been received.

The sound signal generating means 11 converts the survey results into a sound signal or a pseudo sound and outputs the result. The transmission/reception control means 6 controls transmission and reception of image information, the audio signal, and the like.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a relay FAX that implements the above-mentioned functions, and the same reference numerals as above represent the same or equivalent parts.

In the same figure, the audio signal generator M33 is connected to the input DT
Reception information storage means 1 investigated according to the type of MF signal
The registered contents of step 6 are converted into audio signals and output.

The operation of the relay FAX having such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The recipient must use a public telephone or home telephone (generally a touch-tone telephone with key switches such as a numeric keypad from 0 to 9, "*" key, "#1 key") that has the function of outputting DTMF signals. Operate each key switch to dial and make a relay fax call.

When the line with the relay FAX is connected, the initial identification signal from the relay FAX is completed, and the relay FAX is in a waiting state for receiving an identification signal, the key switch "*" is input to check the received information.

In the relay FAX, it is determined in step S30 whether a DTMF signal corresponding to the "*" key has been input, and the D
If it is not a TMF signal, the normal operation mode will be entered.

On the other hand, if the human input signal is a DTMF signal corresponding to the "*" key, in step S31, the DTMF signal that is subsequently input is
The content of the signal is determined. At this time, the recipient shall
*", then enter the number keys from 0 to 9 depending on the content you want to investigate, followed by the "#" key.The content you want to investigate, as mentioned above, includes the total number of received image information, etc. It is.

In step S31, if a DTMF signal corresponding to the "#1" key is detected, for example, in step S32, the received information stored in the received information management memory 28 is referred to and the total number of received information is determined. A signal representing the total number of cases is output to the audio signal generator 33, and in step S33, the audio signal generator 33 converts the total number into an audio signal, and in step S34, an audio signal such as ``The number of received items is XX items'' is output. is output.

Note that the method of expressing the total number of cases is not limited to audio signals, and may be expressed using pseudo sounds, sound effects, etc.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the recipient outputs a DTMF signal in accordance with the received information that he or she wants to confirm, and selectively investigates only the desired received information, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, when the relay FAX first detects input of a DTMF signal corresponding to "*゛", all received information or pre-selected received information may be sequentially transmitted.

According to this embodiment, the received information can be confirmed by a voice signal or the like even from a telephone that does not have the function of a facsimile device, so that the received information can be confirmed easily and in a short time.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(1) Since the reception management report displays the received information and the main parts of its image information, the recipient can easily and accurately understand the contents of each image information by referring to the reception management report. This makes it possible to reliably transfer only desired image information.

(2) Since the received information is investigated using DTMF signals and the investigation results can be received as a sound signal, the recipient at the forwarding destination can accurately and easily understand the contents of the image information by referring to the sound signal. This makes it possible to reliably transfer only desired image information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a relay FAX that implements the functions shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a reception management report. FIG. Fig. 6 is a functional block diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the contents of investigation using DTMF signals, and Fig. 8 is an implementation of relay FAX that realizes the functions shown in Fig. 7. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a transfer system using memory FAX. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Transmission FAX, 2... Relay FAX, 3... Transfer FAX, 4... Transfer request detection means, 5... Management report generation means, 6... Transmission/reception control means, 7... - Reduction means, 11... Sound signal generation means, 12... DTM
F detection means, 14... image information storage means, 15... readout control means, 16... received information storage means

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile device transfer control method, image information read by a source facsimile device is sent to a relay facsimile device, and the relay facsimile device stores the received image information and then transfers it to a destination facsimile device. The relay facsimile device includes a reception information storage means for storing reception information for each stored image information, a transfer request detection means for detecting a transfer request from a transfer destination, and a transfer request detection means for detecting a transfer request from a transfer destination. readout control means for selectively reading out either information or a main part of each image information; a management report generating means for generating a reception management report by combining the received information with the main part of each image information; A transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission and reception of information and a reception management report, and a transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission and reception of information and a reception management report, wherein a transmission destination requests the transmission of desired image information by referring to the reception management report. . (2) Further comprising a reduction means for reducing a main part of each image information read out by the readout control means, and the management report generation means inserts the received information into the main part of each reduced image information. 2. The transfer control system for a facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein a reception management report is generated by combining the signals. (3) In a transfer control method for a facsimile device in which image information read by a source facsimile device is sent to a relay facsimile device, and the relay facsimile device temporarily stores the received image information and then transfers it to a destination facsimile device, The relay facsimile device includes a reception information storage means for storing reception information for each accumulated image information, and a reception information storage means for storing reception information for each accumulated image information, and
DTMF detection means for detecting a TMF signal; reception information investigation means for investigating the content of stored reception information according to the DTMF signal; sound signal generation means for converting the investigation result into a sound signal; and image information. and a transmission/reception control means for controlling the transmission and reception of sound signals, and a transfer request detection means for detecting a transfer request from a transfer destination, and the transfer destination requests the transfer of image information by referring to the sound signal. A transfer control method for a facsimile machine characterized by: