JPH09205538A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record long image information through reduction without provision of a large capacity of a page memory upon the receipt of the long image information due to an error by thinning the number of lines by the number of excess lines when image information in excess of the number of the image information of a routine size is stored in the page memory. SOLUTION: Image information received by a modem section 2 is expanded by a companding section 3 to restore the information to original image information and the image information is expanded in a page memory 7 for each line. When data in excess of the number of image information of a routine size are stored in the page memory 7, a main control section 4 educes the length of the image information in the subscanning direction by thinning the lines sequentially from the image information on the page memory 7 based on the excess number of lines so as to contain the information within a routine size and allows a recording section 6 to record the reduced image information on one page of recording paper. The page memory 7 has a capacity to store excess several lines in addition to the number of lines of the image information of the routine size.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for developing image information received via a communication line in a page memory and recording it on recording paper of a fixed size.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a facsimile machine, when the recording paper is a fixed size recording paper, when the length of the image information sent from the transmitting side in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the fixed size,
Image information for one page may be divided and recorded on two sheets of recording paper. This is a limitation due to the capacity of the page memory provided in the facsimile apparatus, and when image information of a length that does not fit in the page memory is received, the image information must be divided and recorded.

However, when the image information of a fixed size is transmitted, the receiving side receives the long image information in many cases, and the transmitting side often causes an error such as a paper jam of the read document.
In such a case, it is desired to reduce the image information received on the receiving side and record it on one recording sheet. Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus that stores all image information in a page memory and then reduces the image information and outputs it to recording paper (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 140969).

[0004]

However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, since the entire image information is once stored in the page memory and then reduced, it is necessary to provide a page memory having a large capacity, which increases the apparatus cost. There was a problem. Also, if the image information is reduced too much,
When recorded on the recording paper, there is also a problem that necessary information of the other party becomes too small and difficult to read. In addition, the image data of a long size that exceeds the standard size may be sent from the other party. Therefore, if such a long size of image data is reduced and recorded, the entire image data becomes too small to check. There was also a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when image information whose length in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the standard size is received due to an error such as a paper jam of a read document on the transmission side, a large size is received. A first object of the present invention is to enable recording by shortening to fit on one page of recording paper of a fixed size without providing a page memory having a capacity.

A second object is to prevent the image information received at that time from being shortened too much and making it difficult to confirm the necessary information such as the other party. Further, a third object is to make an effective recorded image by limiting the shortening of the image information according to the other party on the transmitting side.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a facsimile apparatus for developing image information received via a communication line in a page memory and recording it on recording paper of a fixed size. When the page memory has a capacity for storing an extra number of lines in addition to the number of lines of the standard size image information, and the page memory stores image information in excess of the number of lines of the standard size image information. ,
A thinning means for thinning lines from the image information stored in the page memory by the above-mentioned extra number of lines is provided.

Further, it is preferable that the thinning means has a means for limiting thinning of lines with respect to a predetermined area of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction. Further, it is preferable to provide means for executing the line thinning by the thinning means only when the image information is received from a specific destination or other than the specific destination.

In the facsimile device according to the present invention, when the page memory stores image information in excess of the number of lines of image information of a fixed size, the extra number of lines is added from the image information stored in the page memory. Since the data is thinned out, the image information whose length in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the standard size can be accommodated on one page of the standard size recording paper due to an error such as a paper jam of the read original on the sending side Can be shortened and recorded.

If the thinning of lines is limited to a predetermined area of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction, the received image information can be prevented from being shortened too much. Even if the data is recorded so that it fits within one page, the necessary information such as the other party can always be confirmed.

Further, if the line thinning is executed only when the image information is received from a specific destination or other than the specific destination, the shortening of the image information is limited according to the destination on the transmitting side. By doing so, an effective recorded image can be obtained.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facsimile machine is a network control unit (NC) that controls facsimile transmission / reception.
U) section 1, a modem section 2 that modulates and demodulates a signal of image information, and a compression / expansion (D) that expands and compresses the image information.
(CR) unit 3.

The main control section 4 is implemented by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus and for thinning lines of received image information according to the present invention. A reading unit 5 which is a reading device such as a scanner for optically reading an image on a document, and a printing device such as a laser printer or an inkjet printer which records image information on recording paper of a fixed size such as B4 or A4. The recording unit 6 is provided.

Further, a page memory 7 for storing image information
And an operation unit 8 such as a keyboard for designating and inputting various operation information at the time of facsimile transmission / reception and for inputting various settings related to the limitation of the line thinning processing according to the present invention. This operation unit 8 is a work screen for inputting various designations,
A display unit such as an LCD for displaying guidance and messages is provided. Further, the memory unit 9 of the main control unit 4 is
Various settings and input information regarding the limitation of the line thinning process according to the present invention are stored.

This facsimile machine compresses and expands (DC) image information (coded data) received by the modem unit 2.
The R) unit 3 decompresses and restores the original image information, and the image information is expanded line by line in the page memory 7. Then, when the main control unit 4 stores data in the page memory 7 in excess of the number of lines of image information of a fixed size, lines are sequentially thinned from the image information in the page memory 7 based on the number of exceeded lines. The length of the image information in the sub-scanning direction is shortened so that the image information fits within the standard size, and the recording unit 6 records the shortened image information on one page of the recording paper.

That is, the main control unit 4 develops the image information received via the communication line in the page memory 7 and then records the image information on a recording paper of a fixed size by the recording unit 6, and the page memory 7 stores the fixed size. In addition to the number of lines of the image information, the capacity for storing an extra number of lines is provided.

Then, when the page memory 7 stores image information in excess of the number of lines of image information of a fixed size, the main control unit 4 adds an extra number of lines from the image information stored in the page memory 7. Fulfills the function of thinning means. It also functions as a means for limiting thinning of lines in a predetermined area of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction. Further, it also functions as a means for executing line thinning only when image information is received from a specific destination or other than the specific destination.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the format of the page memory. The page memory 7 has a memory capacity for storing image information of recording paper of the maximum recording size used in this facsimile apparatus. For example, if the recording linear density of the B4 size image information is 8 × 7.7 at the maximum, 365 ×
7.7 x 256 (main scanning: 256 mm x sub-scanning 365 m
m) = 71948 bytes ≈ a capacity of about 702k is required. The number of recording lines at that time was 2810 lines (8 ×
It becomes 3405 at 1405 line).

Furthermore, a capacity for 20 lines is secured as a reduction area. When the main control unit 4 receives image information that exceeds the length of the standard size in the sub-scanning direction using the reduction area, the main control unit 4 performs thinning processing for lines from the image information to accommodate the length of the standard size. .

The main control unit 4 stores the received image information in the page memory 7, and when it is stored in the reduction area over 2810 lines, the thinning rate for evenly thinning out with the number of recordable lines. To calculate. In this case, the thinning rate is 2810 / 20≈140, which is once every 140 lines. Therefore, when 2810 lines are exceeded when receiving B4 size image information, the data of the previous line in the page memory 7 is overwritten and rewritten every 140 lines.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of overwriting at the time of thinning out. Since one line is thinned out every 140 lines, for example, the data of the 140th line is 13
Overwrite the data on the 9th line. In this way, the image information is continuously received, and the thinning-out processing is repeated every time the portion corresponding to 20 lines of the page memory 7 is stored. Then, when the final line is less than 20, the thinning rate is calculated by the number of lines and the thinning process of the line of the image information on the page memory 7 is performed.

Further, when the process of thinning lines is repeated a plurality of times in this way, image information of continuous lines will be lost if the same thinning is performed. Therefore, for example, the thinning line for the second time is thinned for the first time. Lines 10 lines apart from the line are thinned out, and lines thinned out a third time are thinned out by 5 lines apart from the line thinned out at the first time.

The thinning-out process is executed by the main control unit 4 by software, but it may be executed by intervening some hardware such as DMA.

4 and 5 are flow charts showing the image information reception control processing in this facsimile apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4, this reception control exceeds the maximum number of lines, which is the number of lines of image information of a fixed size, every time one line is expanded in steps 1 and 2 (indicated by “S” in the figure). If it is over, it is judged in step 3 whether or not the image information is over, and if it is over, the process proceeds to step 5, where the thinning rate is calculated based on the excess line at that time, and in the thinning process in step To execute.

If it is determined in step 3 that the image information has not ended, the process proceeds to step 4 to determine whether the number of lines exceeds 20 lines. If not, the process returns to step 3; The thinning rate is calculated based on the excess of the line, and the thinning process is executed in step 6. Then, in step 7, it is judged whether or not the image information is finished. If it is not finished, the process returns to step 3, and if it is finished, this process is finished.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the decimation process of step 6, the decimation number counter of the main control unit 4 is prepared in step 11, the first line position is calculated by the decimation number counter, and steps 12 to 13 are performed. Then, the data of the line is repeatedly overwritten from the first line position in accordance with the thinning rate, and when it is completed, the process proceeds to step 14 to increment the thinning number counter (increment the counter value by 1) and return.

In this way, if a paper jam occurs during the reading of a document due to a malfunction of the reading mechanism on the transmission side,
The sending side will send the original corresponding to the paper jam detection time, and the receiving side will receive the image information whose sub-scanning direction is longer than the standard size. By thinning and shortening the lines of the image information at appropriate intervals so that the information fits on the recording paper of a fixed size and recording, it is possible to record on one recording paper without wasting the recording paper. Moreover, since the above processing can be executed without increasing the capacity of the page memory so much, the cost of the facsimile apparatus does not increase.

Next, a description will be given of a process of limiting the thinning to a predetermined area during the thinning process in this facsimile apparatus. First, a line position of a predetermined area in which the thinning processing for a standard size is restricted and the number of times the thinning is limited in the predetermined area are input from the operation unit 8 in advance. The input set value is stored in the memory unit 9.

When receiving the image information, the main control section 4 judges whether or not the maximum number of lines, which is the number of lines of the image information of the standard size, has been exceeded every time the above-mentioned one-line expansion is carried out. In the thinning process, the value of the thinning number counter is compared with the value of the thinning limit number stored in the memory unit 9, and when the values match, the calculation of the first line number after that is performed in the memory. It starts from the line position of the predetermined area stored in the unit 9.

In this way, for example, if a predetermined area is set at the beginning of the received image information, when the image information intentionally longer than the standard size is received from the transmitting side, the name of the destination at the beginning part It is possible to limit the thinning out of the image information of, and not to thin out the name of the other party when recording on the recording paper, and it is possible to easily check the content when recording on the recording paper. .

Next, the processing for limiting the thinning processing for the image information from a specific destination in this facsimile apparatus will be described. First, from the operation unit 8, the transmission terminal identification information: TSI and the transmission terminal identification information within the non-standard function setting: NSS (TSI) of a specific partner for which the thinning process is restricted are input in advance. The input setting information is stored in the memory unit 9. This TSI, N
SS (TSI) is information that means a name registered in advance on the transmitting side, and the receiving party can identify the transmission partner by discriminating these pieces of information.

When receiving the facsimile, the main controller 4 receives the TSI and NSS (TSI) sent from the transmitting side at the timing indicated by the arrow (1) shown in FIG.
Is compared with the TSI and NSS (TSI) stored in, the line thinning process for the image information received from the transmitting side or the line thinning process for the predetermined area is executed.

Further, the memory unit 9 stores the information of a specific destination other than the one for which the thinning processing is restricted, and the line thinning is executed only when the image information from other than the destination is received. Good.

In this way, depending on the other party, there is a case where long image information whose length in the sub-scanning direction exceeds the standard size is sent, and such image information from the other party is thinned out by lines. Without shrinking, it can be divided into multiple recording sheets and recorded, and only the image information from a specific destination can be thinned out, and the received image information can be divided without being reduced You can also specify a good partner.

[0035]

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an image whose length in the sub-scanning direction is longer than the standard size due to an error such as a paper jam of the reading original on the transmitting side. When you receive the information,
Even if a large-capacity page memory is not provided, it can be shortened and recorded so that it fits on one page of a fixed size recording paper.

Further, according to the facsimile apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the received image information from being shortened too much so that it becomes difficult to confirm the necessary information such as the other party. Can be surely confirmed. Further, according to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effective recorded image by limiting the shortening of the image information according to the other party on the transmitting side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format of a page memory shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of overwriting when thinning out on the page memory shown in FIG.

4 is a flowchart showing a reception control process of image information in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of the thinning processing shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure of facsimile transmission / reception.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Network control unit (NCU) part 2: Modem part 3: Compression / decompression (DCR) part 4: Main control part 5: Reading part 6: Recording part 7: Page memory 8: Operation part 9: Memory part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for developing image information received via a communication line on a page memory and recording the image information on a recording paper of a standard size, wherein the page memory has a number of lines of the image information of the standard size. In addition, the page memory has a capacity to store an extra number of lines, and when the page memory stores image information that exceeds the number of lines of image information of a fixed size, the extra information is stored in the page memory. A facsimile machine having thinning means for thinning lines by the number of lines. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thinning-out means has means for limiting thinning-out of lines with respect to a predetermined area of the received image information in the sub-scanning direction. apparatus. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for executing line thinning by the thinning means only when image information is received from a specific destination or other than the specific destination. Characteristic facsimile machine.