JPH04150366A - facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To check the operation of a facsimile equipment and to execute the facsimile equipment actually by storing picture information to a picture memory and executing various processing similarly to the case with receiving the information. CONSTITUTION:In the case of executing a test operation, a picture corresponding to an executed function is stored. The operator operates an operation display section 8 to set the equipment to the test mode. Then as a picture file, one of a confidential reception file, a deputy reception file, and a self-transfer file is designated. In the case of only the confidential reception file, an ID code received from a destination is inputted. When it is desired to generate a picture automatically, the picture generation start is implemented. Then a test picture generating section 5 generates picture information of a prescribed pattern, an encoding decoding section 3 compresses a data and the result is stored in a picture memory 4. Moreover, the picture is not generated automatically, a proper original is set to a scanner 1, the original is read and stored in the memory. The data is utilized for various operation and the state of the facsimile equipment may be confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine that temporarily stores received image information in an image memory and performs various operations.

[Prior Art] As a known function of a facsimile machine, there is a proxy reception function that stores the received image in a memory when there is no recording paper when an incoming call is received and an image is received. There is also a confidential reception function that temporarily stores received images in a memory and records the images only when a specific Irl code is input. Furthermore, there is a self-transfer function that transfers the stored images to a preset destination, and a remote transfer function that transfers images from outside the home to a specified destination using a telephone or the like.

By the way, for example, when a new facsimile machine is installed, a service person at a store or the like actually operates the machine to check the machine's functions, or demonstrates the machine's operation to explain it to the user.

During such function checks and demonstrations, various operations such as substitute reception, confidential reception, self-transfer, and remote transfer as described above may be executed.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, in this case, it was necessary to have another facsimile machine send an image on a trial basis.

For this reason, there is a problem in that it is not possible to easily check or demonstrate the operation of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine which can overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and allows easy checking and demonstration of the operation of the machine.

[Means for Solving the Problems] For this reason, the present invention stores image information in an image memory, which is obtained by generating image information within an apparatus or reading image information from a document to be printed. , record and output the image information under certain conditions in the same way as the received image information,
I am trying to send it to a specified recipient.

[Function] Various processes can be executed in the same way as with received image information without actually receiving it from another facsimile machine, making it easy to check and demonstrate the operation of the machine. .

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a scanner 1 reads an original image and extracts image information, and a plotter 2 records the image on recording paper. The encoding/decoding unit 3 compresses image information to be transmitted by encoding, and decodes received image information to reproduce the original image information.

The image memory 4 stores image information to be transmitted and received as necessary. The test image generation section 5 generates image information of a fixed pattern on a trial basis.

The modem 6 modulates and demodulates image information and transmits the same, and also transmits various procedure signals for transmission control. The network control device 7 is connected to a telephone line and performs predetermined line control when making and receiving calls.

The operation display section 8 displays the operating status of the device and is used by the operator to perform various operations.

The system memory 9 stores information registered in advance in the device, device status to be set, and the like.

The system control section 10 is a microcomputer that controls each of the above sections. The signal bus 11 is a signal line through which the above-mentioned units exchange various control signals and data between each other.

With the above configuration, it is assumed that the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has a substitute reception function, a confidential reception function, a self-transfer function, and a remote transfer function.

The proxy reception function stores the received image in the image memory 4 when the image cannot be recorded due to a recording paper being out of paper or the like when the image is received.

The confidential reception function temporarily stores an image transmitted together with an ID code in the image memory 4, and records and outputs the image when the operator inputs the same ID code.

With the self-transfer function, if the operator registers a forwarding destination on the facsimile device in advance and sets the device to self-transfer mode, the facsimile device temporarily stores the received images in memory and then sends them to the forwarding destination. The images that have been stored are then sent.

The remote transfer function allows an operator to arbitrarily determine the destination of images after the facsimile machine has accumulated the images. That is, when the operator sets the facsimile machine to remote transfer mode, the facsimile machine temporarily stores the received images.

There are two types of operation of the device after this.

One is that an operator makes a call from another facsimile machine to the facsimile machine that is storing images.
Predetermined operations are performed using the facsimile machine. In this case, the first called facsimile machine transmits the stored image to the calling facsimile machine.

The other method is for an operator to call a facsimile machine that stores images using a button telephone and press a predetermined button to notify the telephone number of the destination facsimile machine.

In this case, the facsimile machine on the called side makes a call to the transfer destination and transmits the stored image.

Each of the above functions executes various operations when image information is received from another facsimile device.

The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment has a function of executing the various operations described above on a trial basis without actually receiving image information.

When executing such a test operation, first, images corresponding to each function to be executed are accumulated.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator sets the facsimile machine to test mode by performing a predetermined operation on the operation display section 8 (process 101).

Next, specify the type of image information file. The facsimile machine manages received images as image information files. Therefore, the operator selects one of the substitute reception file, confidential reception file, self-transfer file, or remote transfer file, depending on the operation to be performed.
one (process 102).

Also, if a confidential reception file is specified (process 10
3 Y), the ID code normally received from the other party is input here (process 104). In the case of other image files (N in process 103), this input is unnecessary.

The facsimile machine of this embodiment has a function of automatically generating images to be stored.

If the operator wishes to automatically generate images to be stored (Y in process 105), the operator performs a predetermined activation operation (process 106).
).

As a result, the facsimile machine generates image information of a preset pattern in the test image generation section 5, compresses the data in the encoding/decoding section 3, and stores it in the image memory 4.
are stored as various image files (process 107).

On the other hand, if the operator does not automatically generate the
N), a suitable original for testing is set on the scanner 1 (processing 108). Then, a reading mode such as linear density or image density is arbitrarily set, and a predetermined starting operation is performed (process 109).

Thereby, the facsimile device reads the original, compresses the obtained image information, and stores it in the image memory 4 as various image files (process 110).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator sets the status of the facsimile machine according to the various operations he wishes to perform. For example, when checking the operation of the proxy reception function,
Remove the recording paper from plotter 2 once. Further, when executing a self-transfer operation, the number of the transfer destination facsimile machine is set (process 201).

Next, the test 1 mode is canceled and the normal communication mode is set (process 202).

When the facsimile device enters the communication mode, it determines whether or not a proxy reception file is stored (process 203).
.

If proxy reception files are stored (Y in process 203)
), it is checked whether plotter 2 is capable of recording (process 204). If there is no recording paper and recording is not possible, the process waits until the recording paper is loaded (process 204).
N loops).

The operator now mounts the recording paper.

When the facsimile device becomes capable of recording (Y in process 204), it reads out the proxy reception file, restores it based on the data-compressed image information, and records and outputs it on recording paper (process 205). After this, the process returns to checking other accumulated files (proceeding to process 203).

Next, there is no proxy reception file (N in process 203).

If there is a confidential reception file (V in process 206), the operation display section 8 requests input of an ID code.

Here, the operator inputs the ID code input at the time of image storage (process 207).

As a result, the facsimile device reads the confidential reception file and records it in the same manner as above (proceeds to process 205).

On the other hand, if there is no confidential reception file (N in process 206) and there is a self-transfer file (Y in process 208), the facsimile machine makes a call to the set transfer destination facsimile machine (process 209). When the other party responds, the stored self-transfer file is read and transmitted (process 210). When the transmission is completed, the line is disconnected (process 211) and the process returns to checking other stored files (proceed to process 203).

Furthermore, there is no self-transfer file (N in process 208),
If there is a remote transfer file (Y in process 212),
It waits until the call arrives (N loop of process 213).

When the call arrives (Y in process 213), it is determined whether it is a remote I/transfer request (process 214).

Here, if it is not a remote transfer request (N of process 214)
), performs normal image receiving operations.

By the way, there are two cases in which a remote transfer request is received from a facsimile machine, and another case where a transfer destination telephone number is specified from a bushphone.

Therefore, when a transfer request is received from a facsimile machine (process 215), the request from the other party is determined (process 215).
(N), immediately read the stored remote transfer file and send it to the other party (Processing 2] Go to 0).

On the other hand, if a forwarding destination phone number is specified from the butsuhon phone (Y in process 215), after disconnecting the -Kanguchi line (processing 216), a call is made to the specified forwarding destination phone number (processing 217). . Then, send the image to the other party (
to process 210).

In this way, when there are no unprocessed accumulated files (
Step 212 (N), the operation ends.

As described above, in this embodiment, images automatically generated within the device or obtained by reading image information from a document are stored as various image files so that predetermined operations can be executed. .

This eliminates the need for images to be sent from other facsimile machines when checking or demonstrating the operation of various functions, making these operations easier.

Furthermore, when reading a document image for testing, any document can be set, and the line density, document density, etc. can be set arbitrarily. This makes it easy to check the image quality during each operation.

In the following embodiments, proxy reception and confidential reception are used.

Although various functions such as self-transfer and remote transfer have been explained as examples, the present invention is not limited to these functions.
The present invention can be similarly applied when various types of processing are performed on accumulated received images.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in ``2'' below, according to the present invention, image information is automatically generated within the device, image information obtained by reading from a document is stored in the image memory, and the image information is stored in the image memory. As with the case of received image information, it can be recorded and output under certain conditions or sent to a specified destination, so you can perform various processing without actually receiving it from another facsimile machine. Since it can be executed, it becomes possible to easily check and demonstrate the operation of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operational flowchart of image storage processing carried out on a trial basis, and FIG. 3 is an operational flowchart of processing for stored images. It is 1. 1...Scanner, 2...Plotter, 3...Encoding/decoding unit, 4...Image memory, 5...Test image generation unit,
6...Modem, 7...Network control device, 8...Operation display unit, 9...System memory, 10...System control unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile machine that is equipped with a function to temporarily store received image information in the image memory and then record it under certain conditions or send it to a designated destination, the image information generated within the device is stored in the image memory. The test image storage means is equipped with a test image storage means for storing the image information, and a test operation execution means for recording and outputting the received image information generated and stored under certain conditions or transmitting it to a designated destination. A facsimile machine with special features. (2) A facsimile machine that has the function of storing received image information in an image memory and then recording it under certain conditions or sending it to a designated recipient reads the image information from a document image that is set arbitrarily. and test image storage means for storing the read and stored image information in the image memory, and test operation execution means for similarly recording and outputting the received image information under certain conditions or transmitting it to a designated destination. A facsimile machine characterized by: