JPS6360587B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Technical Field> The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and in particular, when there are matters to be communicated to the other party when transmitting a document, a predetermined information set on the device side is sent along with the image information of the document to be transmitted. This invention relates to a facsimile device that can send message data to the other party.

<Prior Art> Generally, when a document is sent using a facsimile device, it is often desired to send a message to the other party in response to the document, such as "Please pass this to Mr. XXX" or "Here are the meeting materials from the other day."

In this case, conventional methods include adding the above-mentioned message to the transmission document, writing the message on a separate sheet of paper and transmitting it, or communicating the message over the phone after transmission.

However, in such a method, unnecessary information is recorded on the transmission original, and it is necessary to create and send an extra message original in addition to the transmission original. Furthermore, when using the telephone, there is the annoyance of having to make another phone call to inform the other party.

<Purpose> The present invention is a method for transmitting a message as described above, in which image information of a document to be transmitted and predetermined message data set in advance on the device side can be transmitted to the other party. This eliminates the need to add a message to a sent document or to communicate it to the other party over the phone again after sending.

That is, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is provided with a memory means for storing a plurality of types of message information, and by selecting and transmitting predetermined message information held in the memory means when transmitting an original, the image information of the transmitted original is added to the image information of the transmitted original. This allows message information to be added and sent to the other party.

<Embodiment> To briefly explain the outline of the facsimile device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, multiple types of message information are stored in a message memory in correspondence with message numbers, and here, as a message, "Please call me" is stored. 03) 111-2222'', first, before transmitting the original, operate the message key on the operating keyboard of the device, and then input the message number ``1'' of the desired message information.

By the input operation, the corresponding message information is read out from the message memory and displayed on the display device of the operation surface, and the operator confirms whether the message information is the desired message information. After confirming this, make a dial call and instruct the sender to send it in the same way as a normal facsimile sending operation.

As a result, the selected message information is added to the image information of the transmission document and transmitted, and the receiving station first records this message information and then records the image information of the transmission document, as shown in FIG. The received manuscript can be obtained as follows.

Next, a specific configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention that performs the above-described operation will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows the block configuration of a facsimile device. 1 is a central control section of the facsimile device;
For example, each block unit is controlled according to a predetermined transmission procedure of CCITTG3.

A line memory 2 has a capacity to store at least one line of image information read from the image reader 6 or image information transmitted and received from a transmitting station when operating as a receiving station. In the case of transmission, the image information is supplied to the transmission control unit 4 via the buffer 3 and transmitted. Further, in the case of reception, the image is supplied to the image printer 5 and recorded.

Although not shown, the transmission control unit 4 converts the image information read out from the image reader 6 into a run-length code, further converts it into a compressed code (generally called MH code), and sends it to the modem NCU. It consists of a circuit configuration that sends the image information to the line via the NCU and a circuit configuration that converts the compressed code of image information received via the modem into a run-length code and decodes it into image information.

Therefore, the line memory 2 is operated as a buffer memory for the transmission control unit 4, image reader 6, and image printer 5. The above configuration is similar to that of a generally known facsimile machine.

On the other hand, the operation surface of the device is equipped with numeric keys 7 and function keys 8, and among the function keys is a send/receive key for starting transmission/reception, and an instruction to read the message memory 11. The message key includes a message key, a memory key for instructing to register message information in the message memory, and an end key for instructing to finish registering the message information.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an input buffer, which temporarily stores the message number inputted from the numerical keys 7 or the character code used for registration.

10 is a selection circuit for selecting message information in the message memory 11;
Inputting NO selects the corresponding area of the message memory.

The message memory 11 stores a plurality of coded message information, each corresponding to a message number. In this example, message information is limited to a maximum of 20 characters. A buffer 12 stores one type of message information selected from the message memory 11, and supplies it to a character pattern generator (CG) 14 via a gate circuit 13.
The input information from the input buffer 9 is supplied to the other gate circuit 13, and the input information is transferred to the CG4.
supply to. The CG 14 stores, for example, 24×24 character patterns, selects a pattern corresponding to the character code supplied from the gate circuit 13, and outputs the pattern. This output is the gate circuit 15
The data is supplied to the display unit 16 or the line memory 2 by switching.

The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display having a display capacity for 20 characters to display a 24×24 pattern, and is provided with a display memory corresponding to each dot.

Incidentally, an interface I/F is connected to the central control unit 1 described above to enable connection of an external device, and for example, a character input device 17 can be connected to input character information. There is.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be explained in detail together with the operation flow shown in FIG. 2.

(1) When registering message information (see Figure 2 A) To input the desired message information, first operate the memory key among the function keys on the operation surface. Followed by message NO.
Enter using the numeric keys.

The numerical information is stored in an input buffer 9,
The signal is supplied to the CG 14 via the gate circuit 13.
The character pattern from this CG 14 is supplied to the display unit 16 via the gate circuit 15 and displayed.

The numerical information in the input buffer 9 is also supplied to a selection circuit 10, which selects the corresponding area of the message memory 11.

Following the above operation, press the numeric keys to select JIS, for example.
The character code (4 digit number) according to the code,
The message information to be registered is sequentially inputted and stored in the input buffer 9.

Then, from this input buffer 9 to gate 1
3. Message information is sent to the display unit 16 via the CG14 gate 15, and the inputted message text is displayed.

This message information is also written and registered in a selected area of the message memory 11.

When the message text input is completed in this way, the user operates the end key to complete the message.

In the above example, the character code is input using the numeric keys, which requires a complicated operation, so another method is to connect it to an external character input device via an interface I/F. It is also possible to input message information from the character input device. An example of message information registration in the message memory 11 is shown in FIG.
Four types of message data are registered corresponding to Nos. 1 to 4.

(2) For sending (see Figure 2 B) First, operate the message instruction key prior to the sending operation, and then input the desired message number. For example, when a message number "1" is input, "1" is displayed on the display unit 16 and information on the message number is supplied to the selection circuit 10. In this case, if message data as shown in FIG. 3 is registered in the message memory 11, the message data in that memory
Message data corresponding to NO "1" is selected by the circuit 10 and led to the buffer 12.

Thereafter, the message data in the buffer 12 is sequentially supplied to the CG 14 and then to the display unit 16 via the gate 15. Therefore,
The registered message data of message number "1" is displayed on the display unit 16.

The operator confirms whether the message information is the desired message information, and if it is different, performs the operation again to read out another message information.

If the displayed message information is the desired message, the user performs a sending operation using the normal facsimile sending procedure.

In this case, when you proceed to the image information communication procedure,
The message data stored in the buffer 12 is sequentially sent to the line memory 2 via the gate 13, CG 14, and gate 15.

This line memory 2 has a memory capacity for one line in the main scanning direction, and stores messages from the buffer 12, which are then transmitted from the buffer 3 and the transmission control unit 4 in the same way as the image information of the original.

After all the messages have been transmitted, the image reader 6 is subsequently activated, reads the set original to be transmitted, and performs a normal original transmission operation.

Therefore, on the receiving station side, as shown in FIG. 4, a received document is obtained in which the message text is first recorded, and then the transmitted document is recorded.

Note that in the above example, the message information is first expanded into image information and transmitted, but it may also be transmitted using a character code. In this case, the receiving station side also needs to be functionally compatible.

<Effects> The facsimile device of the present invention is capable of transmitting predetermined message data set on the device side together with the image information of the original to be sent to the other party, thereby adding the message to the original to be sent. It is possible to eliminate the need for troublesome procedures such as having to contact the other party over the phone again after sending the message without smearing the original.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile device of the present invention, FIG. 2 A and B are flowcharts showing the operation of the device, FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a manuscript. 1: Central control unit of facsimile, 2: Line memory, 4: Transmission control unit, 5: Image printer, 6: Image reader, 7: Numerical keys, 8: Function keys, 11: Message memory, 14:
Character pattern generator, 16: Display unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rewritable message memory means capable of storing and holding a plurality of types of message information, a selection means for selecting and instructing one of the plurality of types of message information held by the memory means, and a message information selected by the selection means. A facsimile apparatus comprising a control means for transmitting message information added to the image information of the transmitted original when transmitting the original, and for transmitting predetermined message information of the message memory means together with the image information of the transmitted original that has been read. .