JPH07107216A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the function of every kind of operation under execution from being deteriorated when read image data are stored by encoding in image memory while every kind of operation such as a transmission operation and a reception operation being performed. CONSTITUTION:Image data stored in the image memory 12 is read out by the control of a first CPU, and coding based on facsimile communication is applied to it by coding/decoding part 10, and it is transmitted to a line via a modem 11. An original is read by a scanner part 21 by the control of a second CPU while a so-called memory transmission operation being performed. Acquired image data are encoded by transferring to a coding part 22 via an image data buffer 19, and encoded image data are transferred via an image data I/F 24. In this way, the first CPU performs the storing processing of already encoded image data from a second CPU side in the image memory 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus provided with an image memory for storing compression-encoded image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile apparatus, a transmission reservation operation is performed in which image data obtained by reading an original with a scanner unit is compression-encoded and temporarily stored in an image memory. It is possible to perform various operations such as a memory transmission operation of encoding and outputting to a modem, and a memory reception operation of decoding the image data received via the modem and storing it in the image memory. In the case of storing image data, one microprocessor performs both compression encoding control of image data and storage control of image data in an image memory.

[0003]

However, if one microprocessor performs both compression coding control of image data and storage control of image data in the image memory in this way, for example, transmission reservation operation (image memory). Storing the image data in the image memory) and transmitting the memory (reading the image data from the image memory), the processing time of the microprocessor is taken in the compression encoding / decoding processing of the image data in the image memory and the transmission. There is a problem that the function of operation is deteriorated or the function of the entire device is deteriorated.

Therefore, the present invention is executed when the operation of encoding and storing the read image data in the image memory while performing various operations such as the transmitting operation and the receiving operation. (EN) Provided is a facsimile device capable of preventing the functions of various operations from being deteriorated and thus preventing the functions of the entire device from being deteriorated.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first microprocessor for controlling an input section for information necessary for facsimile communication, an image memory for storing compression-encoded image data, a modem, a facsimile communication procedure and the like. A second microprocessor that controls a scanner unit that reads a document, and an encoding unit that compresses and encodes image data that is read by the scanner unit and that is controlled by the second microprocessor. The first microprocessor stores the image data compressed and encoded by the encoding unit in the image memory.

[0006]

In the present invention having such a configuration, the second microprocessor controls the scanner section and the encoding section. As a result, the scanner unit reads the document and outputs the image data. Then, the image data is compressed and encoded by the encoding unit and transferred to the first microprocessor side. First
Controls the image memory and stores the image data compression-encoded on the second microprocessor side in the image memory.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are first and second CPUs (central processing units) as microprocessors. Bus lines 3 and 4 are connected to the CPUs 1 and 2, respectively, and a CPU I / F (interface) 5 is connected between the bus lines 3 and 4.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7, a display section 8, a key input section 9, an encoding / decoding section to the first CPU 1 via a bus line 3. 10, modem 11, image memory 1
2. A DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 13 is connected to each.

The ROM 6 stores program data for the first CPU 1 to control each section. R
The AM7 is adapted to be used as a system RAM, a communication buffer, etc. The key input unit 9 is provided with various keys operated by an operator for facsimile communication. The modem 11 is connected to a communication line and controls facsimile communication with the other party via the communication line. The image memory 1
Reference numeral 2 stores the compression-encoded image data.

A buffer 14 is provided in the encoding / decoding unit 10.
The printing unit 16 is connected via the and 15.

A ROM 17, a RAM 18, an image data buffer 19 are connected to the second CPU 2 via a bus line 4.
The motor unit 20, the scanner unit 21, the encoding unit 22, and the buffer 23 are connected to each other.

The ROM 17 stores program data for the second CPU 2 to control each section. The RAM 18 is used as a system RAM. The scanner unit 21 optically scans the set original document and outputs read image data. The motor unit 20 carries out an operation of conveying the documents set on the scanner unit 21 one by one to a reading position and discharging them. The image data buffer 19 temporarily stores the image data from the scanner unit 21 as bitmap data.

The encoding unit 22 is an image data buffer 1
The image data stored in 9 is compression-encoded, and the compression-encoded image data is output to the image data I / F 24.

The image data I / F 24 is a first CPU
It is connected to the bus line 3 on the first side. The buffer 23
Is connected to the buffers 14 and 15 on the first CPU 1 side.

The first CPU 1 controls the display unit 8 and the key input unit 9 to manage the operation, and the modem 1
1 to control the line and communication protocol. The first CPU 1 controls the image memory 12 to manage image data files and input / output image data, and controls the encoding / decoding unit 10 to encode image data for communication. The encryption / decryption processing is performed, the printing unit 16 is controlled, and the printing processing is executed.

The second CPU 2 controls the motor unit 20 to carry out the document feeding process, controls the scanner unit 21 to carry out the reading process of the document, and controls the coding unit 22 to compress the read image data. Encode.

Each of the CPUs 1 and 2 has an I / F 5 between the CPUs.
Command / status is sent and received via the
The two are in sync.

In the embodiment having such a configuration, the following operation is performed when reading an original into the image memory 12, that is, when making a transmission reservation.

First, when a transmission reservation operation is requested by a user operation on the display section 8 and the key input section 9, the first
CPU1 is the second CPU using I / F5 between CPUs
A document reading request command is issued to No. 2.

When the second CPU 2 receives an original reading request command via the inter-CPU I / F 5, the second CPU 2 performs initial setting of the scanner section 21, that is, shading correction, lamp lighting, etc., and then sends the original to the first CPU 1. A read start response is issued to notify that reading has started.

When the first CPU 1 receives the original reading start response via the inter-CPU I / F 5, it receives the image data I / F.
In order to fetch the encoded image data from 24 into the image memory 12, the DMA is activated in the minimum management unit of the image data in the image memory 12.

On the other hand, the second CPU 2 has a scanner unit 21.
The image data read in step S1 is transferred to the image data buffer 19 as bitmap data for temporary storage, and further transferred to the encoding unit 22 for encoding processing to be stored in the image memory 12. Transfer to F24.

The image data transferred to the image data I / F 24 is DM-stored in the image memory 12 by the DMA activated by the first CPU 1, that is, by the DMA controller 13.
A is transferred. In this way, the image data of the original read in the image memory 12 is compression-encoded and stored as an image data file.

The flow of the image data described above is shown in FIG.

At this time, the second CPU 2 controls the speed of document feeding by the motor unit 20 and document reading by the scanner unit 21 while monitoring the image data buffer 19 in accordance with the data processing capacity of the first CPU 1. To do.

When the second CPU 2 finishes reading one page of the document, encodes the last image data by the encoding unit 22, and completes the transfer to the image data I / F 24, the CP
A document reading end notification is issued to the first CPU 1 using the U-to-U I / F 5. The first CPU 1 is a CPU
When the completion of the document reading is received via the inter-face I / F 5, the process of ending the document reading operation to the image memory 12 for one page is performed, and when the next page exists, the document reading is performed again for the second CPU 2. Issue a request and repeat the same process.
If the next page does not exist, the document reading into the image memory 12 is completed and the display unit 8 is controlled to notify the operator.

As described above, in the transmission reservation operation, the first CPU 1 controls the command interface with the second CPU 2 and the DMA transfer to the image memory 12, which requires the processing capability of the CPU. Since the second CPU 2 performs the encoding process, the processing time that the first CPU 1 occupies for the document reading operation to the image memory 12 is considerably reduced.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the image memory 12
During the so-called memory transmission operation in which the image data stored in the memory is read, the encoding / decoding unit 10 performs encoding based on the facsimile communication, and is transmitted to the line via the modem 11, the scanner is operated. Read the original in section 21,
The obtained image data is transferred to the encoding unit 22 via the image data buffer 19 and encoded, and the encoded image data is transmitted via the image data I / F 24 to the image memory 12
Since the load of the first CPU 1 in the transmission reservation operation can be reduced even if the transmission reservation operation is performed and the dual access operation is performed,
The memory transmission operation function of 1 does not deteriorate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image data received from the line via the modem 11 is encoded / decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 10.
The document is read by the scanner section 21 during the so-called memory receiving operation of decoding the image data in the image memory 12 and storing the image data in the image data buffer 1.
9 is transmitted to the encoding unit 22 via 9 and encoded, and the encoded image data is stored in the image memory 12 via the image data I / F 24. A transmission reservation operation is performed. A transmission is performed even if a dual access operation is performed. First CP in reservation operation
Since the load on U1 can be reduced, the memory reservation operation function of the first CPU 1 is not deteriorated by the transmission reservation operation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the image data received from the line via the modem 11 is encoded / decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 1.
0 is decoded, and the decoded image data is buffer 1
It outputs to the printing unit 16 via 4, 15, and the printing unit 16
During the so-called print receiving operation in which the image is printed out by the scanner, the original is read by the scanner unit 21, the obtained image data is transferred to the encoding unit 22 via the image data buffer 19, and the encoded data is encoded. The transmission reservation operation for storing the converted image data in the image memory 12 via the image data I / F 24, or the dual access operation can reduce the load of the first CPU 1 in the transmission reservation operation. Therefore, the print receiving operation function of the first CPU 1 does not deteriorate.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, by causing the second microprocessor for controlling the scanner unit to also perform the encoding process of the image data read by the scanner unit, the input unit, the image memory, the communication, etc. By reducing the load on the first microprocessor for controlling, the operation of encoding and storing the image data read in the image memory during various operations such as transmission operation and reception operation can be performed. When performing, it is possible to provide a facsimile apparatus which can prevent the functions of various operations being executed from being deteriorated, and thus can prevent the functions of the entire apparatus from being deteriorated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a flow of image data during a transmission reservation operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a flow of image data when a memory reception operation and a transmission reservation operation are simultaneously performed in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a flow of image data when a memory transmission operation and a transmission reservation operation are simultaneously performed in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a flow of image data when a print reception operation and a transmission reservation operation are simultaneously performed in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 ... CPU (microprocessor) 6, 17 ... ROM 9 ... Key input unit 10 ... Encoding / decoding unit 11 ... Modem 12 ... Image memory 21 ... Scanner unit 22 ... Encoding unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for information necessary for facsimile communication, an image memory for storing compression-encoded image data,
A first microprocessor that controls a modem, a facsimile communication procedure, and the like, a second microprocessor that controls a scanner unit that reads a document, and a scanner that is controlled by the second microprocessor to read the document. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: an encoding unit that compresses and encodes the obtained image data, and the first microprocessor stores the image data that is compression-encoded by the encoding unit in the image memory.