JPH04286268A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute a processing at high speed by directly reading picture information from a first storing medium after picture information is transferred from the first storing medium of high speed to the second storing medium of low speed. CONSTITUTION:A picture memory 30(the memory for storing picture data) is the first storing medium storing picture data and a controlling information memory 40 is the storing medium storing picture controlling data for the controlling of the picture data. A floppy disk(FD) 20 is the second storing medium storing FD picture data and FD file controlling information for the controlling of the FD picture data. The transferring of picture data from the picture memory 30 to FD 20 is processed but picture data and picture controlling data are hold without being eliminated by the memory 30 and 40 after transferring to FD 20. Thus, picture data is outputted based on file controlling information and a record chain when the picture is outputted by the print-out of the intercepting picture, etc.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine that stores image information in a high-speed storage medium and transfers it to a low-speed storage medium.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, facsimile devices have been provided which store image information received from other facsimile devices in a storage device. A semiconductor memory is generally used as a storage medium for storing image information.

[0003]Furthermore, recently, hard disks, floppy disks, and the like are sometimes used as storage media that do not erase data even when the power is turned off.

[0004] Among these storage media, when using a low-speed storage medium such as a floppy disk,
In order to avoid slowing down the entire system, image information is first stored in a high-speed storage medium such as DRAM (hereinafter referred to as the first storage medium), and then transferred to a low-speed storage medium such as a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as the first storage medium). (hereinafter referred to as the second storage medium)
is configured to forward to.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional example, after the image information stored in the first storage medium is transferred to the second storage medium, the image information stored in the first storage medium is transferred to the second storage medium. Since the image information is erased, subsequent processing using the image information requires reading it from the slow second storage medium, which has the disadvantage that the processing takes time. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that can improve the processing speed when outputting image information.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention stores image information in a first storage medium with a high processing speed, and then transfers this image information from the first storage medium to a second storage medium with a low processing speed. In the facsimile device that transfers the image information, storage control means retains the image information in a first storage medium even after the image information is transferred, and output control uses the image information held in the first storage medium when outputting the image information. By having means, image information can be directly read from the high-speed first storage medium. Here, the second storage medium is used when the image information stored in the first storage medium is lost due to a power cut, etc., and serves as a backup for the first storage medium. Become.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

The main control section 1 is composed of a microprocessor, a ROM for a program memory, a RAM for a work area, etc., and controls the operation of the entire apparatus.

[0010] The reading section 2 is composed of a CCD image sensor, an original conveyance mechanism, and the like, and optically reads an original and outputs electrical image information.

The recording section 3 is constituted by a thermal printer, a laser printer, or the like, and outputs image information onto recording paper.

The communication control device 4 is composed of a modem, an NCU (network control unit), and the like, and is used to exchange image information and the like with a partner communication device.

[0013] The operation unit 5 is composed of a keyboard, etc.
This is for the operator to perform various inputs.

[0014] The display unit 6 is composed of an LCD or the like, and performs various displays.

Furthermore, this facsimile device has the following memory device for storing and managing image information.

First, the floppy disk drive 10 uses a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as FD) 20 as a storage medium, writes data to and reads data from the FD 20, and stores the data in a non-volatile state.

The image data storage memory (hereinafter referred to as image memory) 30 is composed of a DRAM, etc.
It is a volatile memory that writes and reads data at a higher speed than the D drive 10.

The image management information storage memory (hereinafter referred to as management information memory) 40 is made of SRAM or the like, and stores management data for managing image files stored in the image memory 30 and the FD 20.

The control data storage memory 50 is an SRA
It stores control data for exchanging image files between the image memory 30 and the FD 20.

FIG. 2 shows each of the memories 20 to 50 as described above.
FIG.

Image memory 30 is an example of a first storage medium that stores image data 31. This is composed of a plurality of main blocks (=records) of a predetermined size, and each main block is further composed of a plurality of sub-blocks of a predetermined size.

[0022]The first page of image data (=file) for one communication is accumulated from the beginning of the main block (the beginning of sub-block number 0), and each page in the file is accumulated from the beginning of the sub-block. It is accumulated from Furthermore, data transfer with the FD 20 is performed in subblock units.

The management information memory 40 stores the image data 3
This is a storage medium that stores image management data 41 that performs management of 1. The image management data 41 includes file management information 45 for managing each file, record chain 46 for managing each record in the image memory 30, and the like.

The file management information 45 is stored in the image memory 30.
The usage status of the file in the image memory 30 and the FD20, the accumulation start position and end position of each page in the file (image memory 30
block number in FD20 and FAT number in FD20 (described later)
FD20 where page information and image data such as
The name given to the FD (hereinafter referred to as volume name)
It stores file names, etc. within 20.

The record chain 46 is connected to the image memory 30
The usage status of each record, the presence or absence of the next record, the next record number, etc. are stored in correspondence to each record.

The FD 20 is a storage medium that stores FD image data 21 and FD file management information 25 for managing the FD image data 21, and is an example of a second storage medium. It is assumed that an area in the FD 20 for storing the FD file management information 25 is secured in advance, separate from an area for storing the FD image data 21. Also,
These FD file management information 25 are updated based on the file management information 45 every time the contents of the FD 20 are changed.

The floppy disk drive 10 is an FD
It has an attachment/detachment detection sensor 10s that detects the attachment/detachment state of the device 20 and generates an attachment/detachment signal. Based on the attachment/detachment signal from the attachment/detachment detection sensor 10s, the main control section 1 determines the attachment/detachment state of the FD 20.

The control data storage memory 50 is a memory that stores a transfer pointer 51, an image data accumulation pointer 52, the number of storable subblocks 53, the number of transfer subblocks 54, and the installed FD volume name 55.

The transfer pointer 51 is used when transferring from the image memory 30 to the FD 20. This indicates a sub-block in the image memory 30 that is being transferred or is waiting for transfer, and when the transfer of that block is completed, it is updated to the next sub-block.

The image data storage pointer 52 indicates the address next to the final address of the image data 31 currently being stored in the image memory 30, that is, the address where the image data 31 is to be stored next. Note that dummy data is stored when the data is not being stored.

[0031] The number of storable subblocks 53 is FD20.
Among the areas that can be used for storing the FD image data 21 (that is, the area for storing the FD file management information 25 as described above has been removed), unused areas are divided into sub-blocks in size. It is the number divided.

For example, in the case of an FD in the MS-DOS (registered trademark) format, which is one of the operating systems (OS), this is calculated from the file allocation table (FAT), which is the management information section. F.A.
T divides the storage area of the FD 20 into certain unit blocks, and stores the usage status of each unit block and the next unit block number. In addition, the number of storable subblocks 53 is
It is updated in accordance with a change in the contents of the FD 20 due to proxy reception, output of a proxy reception image, etc., or a change in the FD 20 itself due to insertion or removal of the FD 20.

The number of subblocks for transfer 54 indicates the number of subblocks of the image data 31 that is being stored in the image memory 30 and should be transferred to the FD 20. This increases each time a sub-block is updated while this image data 31 is stored in the image memory 30. In other words, it shows how many subblocks the image data 31 being stored is stored in.

The installed FD volume name 55 stores the volume name of the installed FD 20. This will be updated when the FD20 is inserted.

FIG. 3 shows the image memory 3 in this embodiment.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of accumulating one file of image data 31 into 0.

First, the file management information 45 is referred to to determine whether there is any unused file management information (S3-1). If there is no unused file management information, the process ends with an error; on the other hand, if there is unused file management information, the record chain 46 is referred to to determine whether there is an unused record (S3-2).

[0037] If there is no unused record, the image memory 30 is overflowing, and the process proceeds to S3-10.

If there is an unused record, the start address of the record is set in the image data storage pointer 52, and the storage start position in the file management information 45, usage status of the corresponding record in the record chain 46, etc. , set each value as image management data 41 (
S3-3).

Then, when the accumulation of image data 31 (for one record) is started (S3-4), the image data accumulation pointer 52 is updated along with this accumulation. At the same time, it is monitored whether the number of transfer subblocks 54 exceeds the number of storable subblocks 53 (S3-5).

[0040] Then, when the number of transfer sub-blocks 54 exceeds the number of storable sub-blocks 53, S3-10
Proceed to the following.

Further, if the number of subblocks that can be stored does not exceed 53, it is determined whether the record currently being stored is full of stored data (S3-6), and if it is full, S3- Returning to step 2, if there is a next record, the record chain 46 is updated (S3-3).

[0042] Furthermore, if the record currently being stored is not full, it is determined whether one page of the manuscript has been completed (S
3-7) If not completed, return to S3-5 and continue accumulation. If the process has been completed, it is determined whether there is a next document (S3-8).

Specifically, in S3-7 above, the determination of the end of one page of the manuscript is made based on CCITT Recommendation T. This is done depending on whether or not the RTC (control return signal) in Step 4 is received, and if the RTC is received, it is considered that one page of the original has been completed.

In addition, in S3-8, the determination of the presence or absence of the next manuscript is based on CCITT Recommendation T. Depending on whether or not the EOP signal is received among the post-message command signals in 30, the EO
When the P signal is received, there is no next document.

If there is a next manuscript, the process returns to S3-3 and the page information in the file management information 45 is updated. If there is no next document, set the image memory valid flag, accumulation end position, etc. in the file management information 45,
Confirm the image management data 41 and complete the accumulation normally (S
3-9).

[0046] Also, here the number of storable subblocks is 53.
The value obtained by subtracting the number of transfer subblocks 54 from the number is set as the number of storable subblocks 53, and the number of transfer subblocks 54 is cleared.

In addition, if there is no unused record in the above S3-2 and the screen memory 30 has overflowed, and if the number of transfer subblocks 54 exceeds the number of storable subblocks 53 in the above S3-5, , file management information 45
, erases the accumulated image data 31 based on the record chain 46 (S3-10). After that, the corresponding file management information 45 and record chain 46 are released (
S3-11), the number of transfer subblocks 54 is cleared, and the process ends with an error. Also, for example, in the case of proxy reception,
Immediately terminates communication with an error.

FIG. 4 shows the image memory 3 in this embodiment.
3 is a flowchart showing a process of transferring one file of image data from FD 0 to FD 20. FIG.

First, the first subblock of the first record of the file to be transferred is set in the transfer pointer 51 (S4-1). Next, if the sub-block indicated by the transfer pointer 51 is transferable (S4-2), the block transfer of the image data 31 from the image memory 30 to the FD 20 is performed (S4-3).

In S4-2 above, if the image data storage pointer 52 is dummy data indicating that storage is not in progress, or if there is no image data storage pointer 52 in the sub-block indicated by the transfer pointer 51, ,
Determine that sub-block transfer is possible.

Next, after the sub-block transfer, it is determined whether or not the image data 31 to be transferred has been completed (S4-4). This includes file management information 45, record chain 46
The determination is made based on whether the last stored record and last sub-block of the image data 31 indicated by and the currently transferred sub-block match.

If the transferred image data 31 is not completed at this point, it is determined whether all data for one record has been transferred (S4-5). This is determined based on whether the subblock transferred this time is the last subblock in the record.

If all the data for one record has been transferred, the record chain 46 is referred to and updated to the next record (S4-6), and the process returns to S4-1, where the first subblock of that record is transferred. is set in the transfer pointer 51.

If data remains in the record, the process returns to S4-1 and the transfer pointer 51 is updated.

[0055] Also, the image data 31 to be transferred in S4-4
has been completed, set the FD valid flag, FD 20 volume name, file name, etc. in the file management information 45, and wait until the image management data 41 is finalized (S4
-7) Once confirmed, based on the file management information 45,
Update the file management information 25 in the FD20 (S4-8
), the image data 31 transfer process ends.

Note that the accumulation process shown in FIG. 3 and the transfer process shown in FIG. 4 are separate tasks, and can be operated separately or simultaneously.

In this way, even after the image data 31 and image management data 41 are transferred to the FD 20, the image data 31 and the image management data 41 are stored in the memory 3.
From 0 and 40, it is retained without being erased. and,
When outputting an image by printing out the substitute received image, the image data 31 is output based on the file management information 45 and the record chain 46. Therefore, faster processing is possible than when the FD image data 21 is output.

Furthermore, if the image data 31 is lost due to a power outage or the like, the FD image data 21 is transferred to the image memory 30 and the image data 31 is reconstructed to be backed up.

Next, a description will be given of a process for erasing image information in the image memory 30 and FD 20 by outputting a substitute received image in the above embodiment.

First, the file name in the FD 20 of the file to be deleted, which is stored in the file management information 45, is stored in the control data storage memory 50. next,
The image data 31 is erased based on the image management data 41, and then the image management data 41 is released. next,
The FD file management information 25 is updated based on the file management information 45, and the FD file management information 25 is updated based on the previously stored file name.
Erase the image data 21. Finally, the number of subblocks of the erased FD image data 21 is added to the number of storable subblocks 53, and the erasing process is completed.

In the above embodiment, the images stored in the FD 20 are substitute-received images, but they may also be memory-transmitted images. In that case, in S3-7 of FIG.
The end of one page of the document is determined by using a document trailing edge detection sensor or the like to detect whether reading of one page of the document has been completed. Also, in S3-8,
The presence or absence of the next document is determined using a document leading edge detection sensor or the like. If the process ends due to an error, the operator is warned through the display unit 6 that storage could not be completed.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, it is explained that only the image data 31 is lost due to a power cut, etc., but even if the image management data 41 is lost at the same time,
Based on the FD file management information 25, the FD image data 21
It is sufficient to transfer the image data to the image memory 30 and reconstruct the image data 31 and image management data 41.

[0063]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Even after the image information is transferred from the high-speed first storage medium to the low-speed second storage medium, the image information is retained in the first storage medium,
When using the image information, by being able to read it directly from the high-speed first storage medium, high-speed processing can be performed without being affected by the processing speed of the second storage medium. There is an effect that makes it possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between memory devices used in the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the process of accumulating image data in an image memory in the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process of transferring image data from the image memory to the FD in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Main control unit, 2...reading section, 3...recording department, 4...Communication control device, 5...Operation unit, 6...display section, 10...floppy disk drive, 20...floppy disk, 30...Memory for image data storage, 40...Memory for storing image management information, 50...Memory for storing control data.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device that stores image information in a first storage medium with a high processing speed and then transfers this image information from the first storage medium to a second storage medium with a low processing speed, A storage control means for retaining the image information in the first storage medium even after the information is transferred; and an output control means for using the image information held in the first storage medium when outputting the image information. facsimile machine.