JPH08265547A - Image communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily acquire the management information on users by initializing a storage device to read out the storage contents through a storage controller when the storage control information reaches a prescribed value and then supply ing automatically the communication management information through an output device. CONSTITUTION: A CPU receives an ID code and stores it in a RAM 1 together with the next opposite party No. (ID) and a transmission/reception discrimination code. Then the CPU stores a start time discrimination code in a RAM 2 and reads the start time out of a clock circuit IGC to store it in the RAM 2. When the transmission/reception is over, a system control SCU releases the circuit IGC and gives a code showing the end of the transmission/reception to the CPU together with the transmission/reception final page no. Then the CPU compares the record value data on the RAM 2 with a prescribed value and gives a print-out instruction to the SCU when the record value data are larger than the prescribed value. The SCU gives a print-out instruction to the CPU as long as a record system has no abnormality. Then the CPU reads the character codes out of the RAM 1 for each line and then prints them out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and particularly to a communication partner No. (ID), communication start time, sending / receiving number of sheets, sending / receiving error, and if necessary, storing of communication management information such as sending / receiving speed, resolution, etc., and reading and recording thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When managing a facsimile machine, it is important to know when and what was sent / received, whether communication failed, etc. In particular, when a reception error occurs in reception, automatic reception is performed. Since the received print record does not remain, the management information has great significance in maintenance of the facsimile device.

For this reason, conventionally, a facsimile device is provided with a printer for issuing management information, and the management information is issued each time communication is completed. However, a printer is added for printing out only the management information. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus becomes expensive, and there are many mechanical device elements, and maintenance is complicated accordingly.

The applicant of the present invention stores the communication management information for each communication in a storage device, instructs the read / record by a copy switch when necessary, and prints out the communication management information of the storage device by a facsimile printer. Was developed (JP-A-55-34570). According to this, a separate printer is not required.

[0005]

However, since the stored information is printed out only when the switch of the operation board or the like is instructed, in order to prevent the stored information from being lost when the printout is not designated for a long period of time. Must make the storage device large in storage capacity. In this case, if you do not specify the printout for a long time and specify the printout at a certain time, the amount of storage will become huge, and it will take a lot of recording paper and recording time to print out the information of the latest part that you currently need, and communication Obtaining and analyzing communication information for management becomes difficult. Therefore, a relatively small-capacity storage means can be used, and there is no loss of communication management information.
Further, it is desired that the communication management information can be easily obtained.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an image communication apparatus in which communication management information can be easily obtained.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device which can use a relatively small-capacity storage means and in which communication management information is not lost.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The image communication apparatus of the present invention stores communication means for transmitting or receiving image information, output means for outputting image information received via the communication means, and communication management information generated at the time of transmission and reception. Storage means, storage control means for controlling reading and writing of communication management information from and to the storage means, and a count value that changes with the transmission or reception,
The storage control information indicating the storage status of the communication management information is compared with a predetermined value, and after the transmission or reception is completed, the comparison means performs the comparison, and the storage control information reaches a predetermined value. At this time, the storage control means reads the stored contents of the storage means, and the output means outputs the communication management information.

According to this, when the storage amount of the communication management information reaches a predetermined value, the storage management information is output by the output means. Therefore, the communication management information is automatically supplied to the user, and it is easy to obtain the communication management information of the user.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(2) The storage control information is initialized by the initialization means, and after the communication management information is output, the initialization means initializes the storage control information. According to this, when the communication management information is output, the storage control information is initialized, and the storage means can write the storage control information to the entire memory capacity thereof, so that the storage means having a relatively small capacity can be stored. It can be used and there is no loss of communication management information.

(3) The storage means is non-volatile.
As a result, even if the main power supply of the image communication apparatus is turned off, the communication management information in the storage means is saved and the communication management information is not lost.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0012]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a facsimile device element conventionally provided, and reference numeral 20 in FIG. 2 denotes a portion added for implementing the present invention. First, the outline of the conventional part 10 will be described. Since all the facsimile information signal forms are serial signals and the information transfer rate is high, the information signal unit and the control signal having a relatively low transfer rate are used. Related units are separated and I / O interfaces are installed in a one-to-one correspondence with each unit or module. The control of the control signal unit and the mechanism is realized by a μ-CPU (micro-computer). One function constitutes one unit as much as possible. Each functional unit (scanner ISA, data compression / reproduction device DCR, modem LSM, HSM
Etc.) are interface circuits (scanner interface INF4, data compression / reproduction device interface INF3,
It is designed to be controlled by the system control SCU through the modem interface INF2, etc.).
The signal from the telephone line is distributed to each modem LSM and HSM by the data switch DSU through the network control circuit NCU. The image data of the demodulated signal is configured to drive the writing circuit WE through the data compression / reproduction device DCR and the read / write buffer RWB, and reproduce the information by the writing device REC.

On the other hand, at the time of transmission, the image signal processed by the video processor VPU is compressed by the data compression / reproduction device DCR via the buffer RWB and enters the modulation / demodulation devices FSK, HSM, LSM.

The transmission / reception procedure is in accordance with CCITT Recommendation T30, and the outline is as follows: Calling: Calling the other station by dialing the telephone, Called station confirmation: Sending out a 2100Hz tone, the called station facsimiles. Notify that it is a terminal, function check: Notify the function of the called station by using a low-speed modem FSK of 300 bps.

Command information: Using low speed modem FSK,
Inform the transmission parameters (transmission speed of high-speed modem HSM, document size, etc.) Training: Perform matching with the line of high-speed modem HSM, send a predetermined data pattern and check the data transmission error rate. Response after training: If the data transmission error rate after training is less than a certain value, "Ready for reception" is notified, and if it is more than a certain value, "Retraining request" is returned. Document information transmission: Document information is transmitted by high-speed modem. , End information: Notify the presence of the next manuscript, Confirm incoming: Notify the result of receiving the document information.

The transmission data processing is as follows: (1) Image information: The document is optically read by the scanner ISA in units of one line (1 / 7.7 mm), optical / electrical conversion is performed, and then the video processor. Convert to binary of 1,0 with VPU. VP
The output from U is stored in the read / write buffer RWB, and the original is advanced by one line by the pulse motor. The output from the RWB upon request of the data compression / reproduction device DCR is reduced in data amount (data compression) without loss of original information by DCR, and then the data switch DSU
To the high speed modem HSM via. The signal modulated by the modem is sent to the line via the data switch DSU and the network control unit NCU.

(2) Transmission control information: All information for transmission control is organized by a program. After the parallel data output from the system control SCU is converted into a serial signal by the data switch interface INF2, a check bit is added to check the transmission error, and it is led to the high speed modem HSM or low speed modem LSM through the data switch DSU. . The signal modulated by the modem is sent to the line through the data switch DSU and the network control unit NCU.

The received data processing is as follows: (1) Document information: The modulated signal input from the line is the high speed modem HSM via the network control unit NCU and the data switch DSU.
Be led to. After demodulated into a digital signal by the modem HSM, it is output to the data compression / reproduction device DCR via the data switch DSU, where it is reproduced to the original information and read / read.
Stored in the write buffer RWB. In the read / write buffer RWB, when the stored information exceeds one line, it is output to the write drive circuit WE in units of one line and the received paper is
Advance by the line (1 / 7.7 mm). WE has the function of driving the plotter REC at high voltage to form an electrostatic latent image on the recording paper.

(2) Transmission control information: All transmission control information can be read by software (program). The signal input from the line is guided to the high speed modem HSM or the low speed modem LSM via the network control unit NCU and the data switch DSU.
After demodulated into a digital signal by the modem, it is output to the interface INF2 through the data switch DSU and I
The transmission error is checked by NF2, converted into a parallel signal, taken into the system control SCU and read.

Next, an additional portion 20 for implementing the present invention.
Will be explained. A microcomputer CPU for management information read / write control is connected to the data and address lines, and this CPU has a nonvolatile random access memory RAM2 for storing management information, and a random access memory for temporarily storing data during information processing. RAM1, data holding circuit (data latch) DML, chip selector CSE, read-only memory ROM storing management information read / write control program data, clock circuit TGC, and expansion input / output port I
OP is connected.

RAM2 is a battery backup chip BBC
The power is constantly supplied at and the write data is always held. A charactor code (code that specifies letters and numbers) is given to the data holding circuit DML, and this is given to the read-only memory CHR for the charactor generator that stores pixel data for each charactor in advance, and the charactor image signal is read. The column code is given to CHR by the CPU via the I / O port IOP. C
The read image signal of the HR is given to the multiplexer MLX in units of charactor columns. The multiplexer MLX has a built-in timing pulse generation circuit and serializes parallel image signals for each charactor column read / write buffer RWB.
In addition, in response to the system clocks of the recording units (EW, REC, RMD) and RWB, during the line data request from RWB, in synchronization with this, an interrupt request is sent to the CPU in charactor units.

In the facsimile shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the existing elements are slightly modified to implement the present invention. One of them is the operation section display section.
The OPB is equipped with a key that specifies the management information printout and a lamp that indicates that this key was operated. Another is to connect the multiplexer MLX to the read / write buffer RWB. , The image information from the circuit 20 in the print mode, and the image information from the data compression / reproduction device DCR in the FAX mode,
select. The other one is the system control SCU.
Communication partner No. (ID), send / receive fail contents,
The point is that a program that gives the CPU a transmission / reception end, management information printout command, RAM2 clear command, etc., and a program that creates these data are added.

3 and 4 show a control information read control operation of the CPU based on the program data of the ROM of the circuit 20. Storage recording and printout of management information will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The system control SCU causes the CPU to notify the other party when the line is connected to the other party. The (ID) and the sending / receiving identification code are sent with the ID identification code at the beginning and the ID end code at the end. CPU is ID
When receiving the identification code, the code and the next party N
o. (ID) and sending / receiving identification code are stored in RAM1, and when this is completed and the ID end code is received, the start time identification code is continuously stored in RAM2, the starting time is read from the clock circuit TGC, and is stored in RAM2. The memory is read, and the ID identification code and the partner ID are read from the RAM1 and stored in the RAM2. The above is the contents of the “memory flow of the communication destination No.” shown in the leftmost column in FIG.

If the transmitting side or the receiving side cannot communicate during communication or if an error exceeding the specified value occurs in the sending / receiving image information, the identification code indicating the fail content and the number of pages where the sending / receiving fail occurs are indicated. Send the code. The CPU stores these codes in RAM2, and adds 1 to the recording amount data in RAM2.
And add and update the sum. The above is the “memory flow of transmission / reception fail data” in the middle column of FIG.

When the transmission / reception is completed, the system control SCU releases the line, the code indicating the completion of the transmission / reception and the transmission / reception final page number. Is given to the CPU. The CPU sends a code indicating the end of transmission / reception and the last page number. Is stored in the RAM 2 and the recording amount data is set to +1. The above is the “memory flow of communication end data” in the rightmost column of FIG.

Next, the CPU compares the recording amount data of the RAM 2 with a predetermined value, and if it is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, instructs the SCU to print out. The above is the "printout command flow for a predetermined amount of management information memory amount" in the rightmost column of FIG.

When the SCU is instructed to print out by the CPU or the operation unit OPB, the SCU instructs the printout if there is no abnormality in the recording system of the facsimile main unit 10, and instructs the CPU to output the management information data. . In response to this command, the CPU reads the data in RAM2 for one line (character line) and reads R
Memory at AM1 and at the end of the memory data in RAM1, 1
The stop code is memorized (1 line data set). Then, the CPU notifies the read / write buffer RWB of the image information transmission ready of one line (pixel line).
Next, in accordance with a line data request from RWB and an interrupt request generated in synchronization with the system clock and input in character units, data (character code) is sequentially read from the RAM 1 and output to the data holding circuit DML. On the other hand, the CPU
A code indicating the first line (pixel line) is given to the charactor generator CHR through the port IOP. As a result, the image signal of the first pixel line of the first character line is written in the read / write buffer RWB and printed out at the timing of the printer system. Further, the CPU monitors the line data request signal via the I / O port IOP, and when the request signal is turned off (1 line image information reception is completed), CHR
Is changed to the second pixel line.

Next, a data ready signal is sent to the RWB, and similarly to the previous time, the first character code of the first character line is sequentially read from the RAM 1 in synchronization with the data request signal from the RWB and the system clock, and is stored in the data holding circuit DML. Output. In this way, when the image information output of the first character line is completed, the data of the second character line of the data in the RAM 2 is read and the image information output is similarly performed. The same applies hereinafter.

As described above, the RAM2 data is read out and printed out. When all reading out of RAM2 data and printing out are completed, the CPU sends the end of recording to the SCU. The above is the "printout flow" shown in FIG.

The SCU confirms that the printer sensors do not show any abnormality, and if normal, instructs the CPU to clear RAM2, and the CPU erases the data in RAM2 and terminates the erase to the SCU. Inform. The above is the "management information clear flow" of FIG.

When the management information printout command arrives from the operation unit OPB, the SCU designates the printout to the printer system and commands the CPU to send the management information data. This allows the management information to be printed out in RAM2.
When the amount of data in the printer reaches the specified amount, or when the printout is instructed by the OPB, it is performed on condition that there is no abnormality in the printer system (especially paper trouble). The data in RAM2 is erased on condition that there is no abnormality in the system.

Next, another embodiment and modification of the present invention will be described. In the above embodiment, the management information is the destination ID, the communication start time, the fail content, and the number of communication pages. The transmission / reception mode such as speed and resolution may be included, or the end time may be included. When including both, set the SCU to C and the send / receive mode together with the ID.
It shall be given to PU, CPU shall be "memory flow of communication partner No.", transmission / reception mode shall be written in RAM2 together with ID, and CPU shall be "memory flow of transmission / reception fail data" and "memory of communication end data". In both cases of "flow", the flow of reading the data of the clock circuit TGC and writing it in the RAM 2 may be executed.

In the above embodiment, the RAM 1 for storing data at the time of use is used separately from the RAM 2, but the RAM 1 is omitted and the RAM is omitted.
2 may be shared. Communication number data is SCU
The SCU informs the CPU of the end of page communication for each page communication, counts it in the CPU, and writes the count data to the RAM2 when a communication failure or communication end is received from the SCU. You may do it. Further, in the above embodiment, the charactor generator CHR
, But the recipient N
o. CHR may be omitted when a character generator is provided for printing out such as, or when the printer system can emboss characters by code input.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the rest of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a part of a control operation of a microcomputer CPU for controlling reading / writing of management information shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the rest of the control operation of the microcomputer CPU for controlling management information read / write shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

REC: Plotter RAM2: RAM CPU: Microcomputer SCU: System control

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication unit for transmitting or receiving image information, an output unit for outputting the image information received via the communication unit, a storage unit for storing communication management information generated at the time of transmitting and receiving, and the storage unit. Storage control means for controlling reading and writing of the communication management information to and from the means, and comparison means for comparing the storage control information indicating the storage status of the communication management information with a predetermined value, the storage control information comprising a count value that changes with the transmission or reception. After the transmission or reception is completed, the comparison is performed by the comparison means, and when the storage control information has reached a predetermined value, the storage control means reads out the storage content of the storage means and the output means An image communication apparatus, which outputs communication management information. 2. The storage control information according to claim 1, further comprising initialization means for initializing the storage control information, wherein the storage control information is initialized by the initialization means after outputting the communication management information. Image communication device. 3. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is non-volatile.