JPH05199378A - Equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] The present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus that enables easy management and storage of images in facsimile communication. [Structure] The image read by the scanner unit 44 and the image received via the line are stored in a portable magneto-optical disk as an image file having a name with a character string identifying the other party. Then, the list of images stored in this magneto-optical disk is displayed, and the desired one is designated. Then, the designated image is printed out by the printer unit 49 or transmitted to the other party via the line.

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 more particularly to a facsimile machine which transmits and receives images to and from a destination via a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

In the figure, reference numeral 40 denotes a facsimile apparatus main body for transmitting and receiving images or voices to and from a destination apparatus connected to a telephone line 41 via a telephone line interface 42. Reference numeral 43 is a telephone, which is connected to the telephone line 41 to transmit and receive voice. Reference numerals 44 to 49 are for transmitting and receiving images in the facsimile section.

At the time of image transmission, first, the telephone number of the other party is transmitted by the telephone 43 and the destination apparatus is connected via the telephone line 41. Then, the image is read by the scanner unit 44 and sent as a binary signal to the encoding circuit 45,
After performing processing such as image compression, the transmission / reception switching circuit 46
And is sent to the modulation / demodulation circuit 47. The signals thus modulated are the telephone line interface 42 and the telephone line 4.
1 to the partner device.

Further, at the time of image reception, there is a call from the partner device, and when the telephone line 41 and this device are connected, a modulated signal is sent. This signal is demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 47 via the telephone line interface 42.
The demodulated digital signal enters the decoding circuit 48 via the transmission / reception switching circuit 46, and restores the compressed image input here. The image thus restored is sent to the printer unit 49 as a binarized signal, and becomes a visible image on the recording paper,
Will be output.

In addition to the above structure, there is also a device in which a fixed magnetic disk device is built in the main body of the apparatus to temporarily store a large amount of transmitted / received images.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the transmitted or received image can be stored only in the form of being output on the recording paper, and there is a drawback that it takes a lot of space.

Further, in a device incorporating a fixed magnetic disk device for temporarily storing an image, since the image is stored without special distinction, there is a drawback that the retrieval is difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus that facilitates management and storage of images in facsimile communication.

[0010]

In order to solve this problem, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention has the following structure. That is, in a facsimile apparatus that transmits and receives an image to and from a destination via a line, a removable information storage medium and a first image stored on the information storage medium by adding a name to an image of a document to be transmitted. Storage means, second storage means for adding a name to the received image and storing it in the information storage medium, designating means for designating one of the images stored in the information storage medium, and the designating means. The image forming apparatus includes a unit that transmits the designated image to a desired destination and a printing unit that prints out the image designated by the designating unit.

[0011]

In the structure of the present invention, the read image and the received image can be stored with names in the removable and portable information storage medium. Then, if necessary, the information storage medium is mounted, and a desired image is transmitted or printed out.

[0012]

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

FIG. 1 shows a block configuration of a facsimile apparatus in the embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a facsimile apparatus main body in the embodiment. Reference numerals 41 to 49 have the same functions as those described above as the conventional example, and the same reference numerals are used. Reference numeral 2 is a recording / reproducing device for a portable storage medium connected to the facsimile apparatus 1. Although the portable storage medium in the embodiment is a magneto-optical disk, it may be a floppy disk or a removable hard disk, but a magneto-optical disk is preferable in view of storage capacity and cost. By the way, in the case of a 600 Mbyte magneto-optical disk, it is possible to store and store about 1200 pages of facsimile images.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an input switching circuit for switching the input target of the image signal. That is, the binary signal of the transmission image read from the scanner unit 44 is sent to the encoding circuit 45, and the same facsimile transmission as in the conventional case is performed, and the binary signal from the scanner unit 44 to the portable memory recording / reproducing device 2. In the case of recording as a facsimile image file in the portable storage medium set in the portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus 2, and the facsimile image file reproduced by the portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus 2 is converted into a binary signal. Then, it is sent to the encoding circuit 45 and the case of performing facsimile transmission is switched.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an output switching circuit, which, like the input switching circuit 3, switches the flow of signals. Specifically, the received image as a binarized signal is sent to the printer unit 49 via the decoding circuit 48, and the same facsimile reception as in the conventional case is performed, and the case where the portable memory recording / reproducing device 2 is operated from the decoding circuit 48. When a binary signal is sent to the portable memory recording / reproducing device 2 to record it as a facsimile image file in the portable storage medium set in the portable memory recording / reproducing device 2,
The reproduced facsimile image file is turned into a binarized signal and sent to the printer section 49 to switch the case of outputting an image.

Further, 100 is a C which controls the entire apparatus.
It is a PU, and internally includes a ROM (not shown) that stores an operation processing procedure (a flowchart of FIG. 6 described later) and a RAM used as a work area.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the portable memory recording / playback apparatus 2 in the embodiment.

In the figure, 5 is a portable memory recording / reproducing device 2.
A bus for transmitting and receiving information inside the CPU, and a CPU 6 for controlling the entire portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus. Reference numeral 7 denotes an internal memory that stores an operation processing procedure of the CPU 6 (a program or the like according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 described later).
RAM used as work area for M and CPU7
It is composed of 8 is a magneto-optical disk memory recording / reproducing device for recording / reproducing an image file on / from a magneto-optical disk which is a portable storage medium, and 9 is a circuit for detecting a source recording added to a facsimile image. It is possible to register the other party for sending and receiving, and it is possible to know from the detected source record whether or not the person is a specific registered party. Reference numeral 10 is a command input unit including a ten-key pad, English character keys, function keys, and the like, and 11 is a display unit for displaying an operation procedure, a file name list, images, and the like. Reference numeral 12 is a circuit for outputting a binary image signal for facsimile to the input switching circuit 3 and output switching circuit 4 in the facsimile apparatus in the embodiment, and 13 is the same as the binary image for facsimile from the input switching circuit 3 and the output switching circuit 4. It is a circuit for inputting a signal.

An outline of the operation of the apparatus of the embodiment having the above structure will be described below.

Now, the facsimile image is A4 size (2
10 mm × 297 mm) and the resolution is 8 pixels / mm × 7.7 scanning lines / mm, the image prime is about 1680 × 22.
There are 87 pixels. Since transmission / reception by a conventional facsimile apparatus is a binary image, the capacity of one A4 size sheet is about 500 kbytes. Information such as the record of the sender is added to each facsimile image to be transmitted and received.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining source recording. In the figure, 14 indicates a part of a facsimile image, the text below "Information for transmission" is the text, and the reference numeral 15 written on it is the sender information. The sender information 15 is calendar information 16 such as date and time information (automatically added by the clock function),
The sender's telephone number 17 (the number set in the facsimile), the sender's name (or abbreviation) 18, the receiver's name 19, the total number of pages in the file, and the page number of this image It is also composed of information 20 (the one shown in the figure indicates that there are three pages of images to be transmitted, and the first page of them is transmitted).

FIG. 4 shows an example of a directory structure of a magneto-optical disk (portable storage medium) for recording a facsimile image as an image file. The magneto-optical disk is initialized at the time of factory shipment or can be initialized by instructing from the command input unit 19. Files are stored and managed in a hierarchical structure on this magneto-optical disk. At initialization, a root directory 21, and a transmission image directory 22 and a reception image directory 23 are created under the root directory 21 as shown in the figure. It When the image input from the scanner unit 44 or the image received by facsimile is stored in this magneto-optical disk, it is stored in any directory. To be precise, directories (24 to 27) with names of dates are automatically created under the directory 22 for sending images and the directory 23 for receiving images, and the above-mentioned image files are stored in the directories for the dates on that day. It is stored below (files 28-31).

The date directory is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the day may be divided into two, that is, morning and afternoon, and managed. In other words, in the case of a user who receives a large number of times in a day, it is provided in the sense that storing all the files of the day in one directory will cause time and trouble to search later. ..

Further, even when the facsimile image received so far with a particularly important transaction partner and the facsimile image transmitted / received by direct mail of advertisement etc. are stored under the same directory, the target file will be written later. It takes a lot of time to search. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in (b), a directory indicating a specific destination is separately registered, and facsimile images transmitted / received to / from the destination are stored under the directory. The contents to be registered include the telephone number of the other party and the name (“XYZ '90, 9,” in the figure) corresponding to it. When a facsimile image is sent and received, the sender's record information added to it is detected, and according to the content, if the other party is registered, it is stored under the directory dedicated to the other party, and if it is not registered, , 34, 36 in general directories.

Based on the above operation outline, the operation processing procedure of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus 2 is used in the apparatus of the embodiment, a magneto-optical disk which is a portable storage medium is mounted in step S1. When the magneto-optical disk is mounted, the portable memory recording / reproducing device 2 outputs a signal indicating that the recording / reproducing device 2 is set to the CPU 100 of the apparatus main body. In response to this signal, the CPU1
00 waits for the input of the operation content in the next step S2. Such input may be designated by providing several switches to that effect on the device. Further, for example, a display unit as shown by reference numeral 38 in FIG. 7 may be provided, various processing menus may be displayed on the display unit, and desired items may be designated by pressing them (known as a touch panel). Hereinafter, various designation operations by the user shall be performed based on the same principle. However, when the magneto-optical disk was mounted, a screen prompting the user to input the operation content was automatically displayed. Of course, the operation content should be displayed only after informing the device that the operation content is instructed. May be. In any case, this does not limit the present invention.

The operation contents may include transmission, reception, input, output, copying, deletion of a facsimile image.
Only facsimile transmission, reception, input, and output will be described here.

In steps S3, S4 and S5, the content of the input instruction is determined. In the case of a facsimile image input, step S6, in the case of transmission, step S10,
If it is received, the process proceeds to step S17, and if it is output, the process proceeds to step S22.

First, the scanner section 4 in the facsimile apparatus
The operation of inputting an image will be described with reference to FIG.

In step S6, the name of the sender and the name of the receiver are input. The information input here is used not only as a file name but also as a source recording attached to the end of the facsimile image. Of course, it is also possible to change it when making a call.

When the sender name and the recipient name have been input, the process proceeds to step S17, in which a series of original images are sequentially read by the scanner section 44 in the facsimile apparatus and created as one image file. The name of this image file is made up of the sender name and the recipient name. For example, the sender name is "ABC" and the receiver name is "ABC".
If you enter "XYZ", the file name is "ABC t
For example, the above-mentioned data is input as the information, but the file name may be arbitrarily set by the user (the person who operates to store the file). The location where the file is stored is checked under the transmission image directory 22 on the magneto-optical disk to see if the input recipient name is the registered partner (this registration is made in advance). If
It is stored under the directory dedicated to the other party, and if it is not registered, it is the directory of today's date (Today is' 9
0, 9, 9) is stored under "'90, 9, 9" (25).

When the recording is completed, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether or not an image of another file is to be input. If yes, the process returns to step S6. If not, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, it is determined whether or not another operation is performed, and if it is performed, the process returns to step S2. If not, the magneto-optical disk is taken out and the operation is completed.

Next, the operation of transmitting a facsimile image will be described.

When this operation is selected, each directory name under the transmission image directory 22 of the magneto-optical disk is read out and displayed on the display section. The directory name includes the one with the date when the image file for the general partner is stored and the one with the image file dedicated to the specific partner.

In step S10, the directory containing the image file to be transmitted is selected from among them. If you select the directory "XYZ",
The file name under it is read and displayed on the display unit.
Reference numeral 39 in FIG. 8 shows such a state.

In step S11, the file name to be transmitted is selected. When the file name is selected, a part of the first page of the file or a reduced image is displayed on the display unit. At this time, scrolling may be performed, or the next page may be sequentially displayed.

In any case, the displayed image is viewed, and an instruction as to whether or not the image is intended is given (step S12). If it is not correct, the process returns to step S10 and the same operation is repeated, but if it is finally confirmed, the process proceeds to step S13 and the telephone number of the transmission destination (recipient) is input. At this time, the name of the sender and the name of the receiver, which are the original records of the sender, may be changed. These input contents are displayed on the display unit 13, and after being confirmed, a telephone number is transmitted, and a connection is established between the facsimile machine of the other party and the telephone line. However, at this time, if the name of the recipient is changed, the image file currently selected is transferred to the directory corresponding to the changed name so that the transmission record is left.

When the line is connected, step S14
At, the image file is reproduced and transmitted. And
When the transmission is completed, the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined whether another file is transmitted. When transmitting, it returns to step S10. When not transmitting, step S1
Then, proceed to step 6 to determine whether to perform another operation. When performing another operation, the process returns to step S2. If not, remove the magneto-optical disk and finish the operation.

Next, the operation of receiving and recording a facsimile image will be described.

This operation is interrupted by inputting an interrupt instruction or the like. In step S17, it is first determined whether or not there is an interrupt instruction for interrupting the reception operation. If there is a stop instruction, the process proceeds to step S18, it is determined whether another operation is performed, and if it is performed, the process returns to step S2. If not, the operation of taking out the magneto-optical disk is completed.

If there is no cancel instruction in step S17,
Proceeding to step S19, the reception standby state is entered, and a loop is executed between step S17 and step S19 until a file is received or a stop command is input.

When a call is received from the partner facsimile machine and communication is started, the record of the sender is detected in step S20,
Recognize the sender's phone number and sender's name. It is checked whether or not this number and name are registered, the directory for storing the image is determined, and the file name is determined.

In step S21, the image is received, an image file is created, and the image file is stored under the previously determined directory. When the recording is completed, the process returns to steps S17 and S19 to enter the reception standby state again.

Next, the operation of outputting an image from the printer section in the facsimile apparatus will be described.

When this operation is selected, the directory name under the received image directory 23 of the magneto-optical disk is read and displayed on the display section. When the directory is selected in step S22, the file name under the directory is read and displayed on the display unit.

When the file name to be printed is selected in step S23, a part of the first page of the file or a reduced image is displayed on the display section in the same manner as described above.

In step S24, it is determined whether or not the image to be printed is correct. If an instruction to the effect is received, the process proceeds to step S25, the instructed image file is reproduced, and the printer section 49 prints it out. When the output is completed, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is determined whether or not the image of another file is to be output. If it is performed, the process returns to step S22. If not, the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, it is determined whether or not another operation is performed, and if it is performed, the process returns to step S2. If not, remove the magneto-optical disk and finish the operation.

Although the input and the transmission of the image are described as separate operations as the operation procedure, the file may be transmitted immediately after the input. Further, although the reception and the output of the image are described as separate operations, the file may be output immediately after the reception.

Further, although the explanation is repeated, when a signal indicating whether or not the magneto-optical disk is set is output from the portable memory recording / reproducing apparatus 2 and the signal is not detected, the facsimile image as in the conventional case is displayed. You can send and receive.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the portable storage medium is provided, and the facsimile image is stored in the memory medium by using the information added to the facsimile image at the time of transmission / reception, thereby performing transmission / reception. It has the effect that all images can be recorded and can be stored without taking up space.

The sender record is used as the information added to the facsimile image at the time of transmission / reception, the sender record is detected, and the facsimile image is recorded in the corresponding directory on the portable memory by the detected sender record. By storing the data underneath, the state in which the facsimile image is placed (for example, the name of the destination, the date and time, etc.) is stored and managed separately, so that there is an effect that later retrieval can be facilitated.

Further, even if it is printed out, the information is held in the magneto-optical disk unless the file is deleted or the like, so that it is possible to print again if necessary.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, it becomes possible to easily manage and store images in facsimile communication.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a portable memory recording / playback device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a transmission document.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a directory structure of a magneto-optical disk in an example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another directory structure of the magneto-optical disk in the example.

[Fig. 6-1]

[Fig. 6-2]

[Fig. 6-3]

FIG. 6-4

FIG. 6-5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a message displayed for processing item selection in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a directory in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

[Description of Reference Signs] 1 Facsimile device of the present invention 2 Portable memory recording / reproducing device 3 Input switching circuit 4 Output switching circuit 6 CPU 7 Internal memory 8 Magneto-optical memory recording / reproducing device 9 Source recording detection circuit 10 Command input section 11 Display Part 12 Facsimile image output circuit 13 Facsimile input circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hiroaki Hoshi, Inventor Hiroaki Hoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Susumu Matsumura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Mitsuhiro Hasegawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Ichiro Iida 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Kiyonobu Endo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving an image to and from a destination via a line, wherein a removable information storage medium and an image of a document to be transmitted are given names and stored in the information storage medium. A first storage unit, a second storage unit that adds a name to the received image and stores the image in the information storage medium; a designation unit that designates one of the images stored in the information storage medium; A facsimile apparatus comprising: a unit for transmitting the image designated by the designating unit to a desired destination; and a printing unit for printing out the image designated by the designating unit. 2. When the image is stored in the information storage medium by the first and second storage means, at least a character string specifying the name of the other party is made a part of the name of the image. Facsimile device according to 1. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the images stored in the first and second storage means are stored and managed in a unit corresponding to an attribute of the image.