JPS5955676A - Facsimile information storage and playback method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the reduction of transmission speed of a facsimile by storing picture information with a large amount of data in a volatile memory and also storing only control data with a small amount of data in a non-volatile memory. CONSTITUTION:A picture signal is applied to a code compressing part 5 through switches 3, 4 to be controlled by a system controller 2, the encoded output is modulated by an MODEM 7 and the modulated signal is sent from an automatic dialing device 8 to a transmission line. The signal from the transmission line is demodulated by the MODEM 7, the demodulated signal is converted into a picture signal by the compressing part 5 and the converted signal is applied to a printer 11 through switches 9, 10. A facsimile accumulating/reproducing device B is connected to a facsimile body part A and a memory controller 13 in the device B is controlled by an operating part 12 connected to a controller 2. The controller 13 stores the picture information with a large amount of data in a volatile main memory 17 and the control data with a small amount of data in a control data memory 14, so that the data are accumulated and reproduced without reducing transmission speed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a facsimile storage and playback device.

Traditionally, facsimiles have been used to store image information and (1) management information such as transmission time, transmission destination, and sender code, and to provide the necessary information to one's own printer or to the other party at the required time. For this reason, facsimile storage and playback devices have been centralized.

However, since such conventional facsimile storage and playback devices store the image information and management information on a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk or a magnetic drum, a device to drive this storage medium is required, and the overall structure of the device is The inconvenience of growing larger has arisen. Furthermore, in recent years, facsimile transmission speeds have been increased by adopting the so-called G3 mode, but the access speed of the storage medium described above may be slower than the facsimile transmission speed in G3 mode, so the speed of facsimile IJ transmission is The operating speed of the conventional facsimile storage and playback device described above cannot keep up with the
There was also the inconvenience that it could not be adapted to three aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile storage and playback device that can eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

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

(2) The figure shows the configuration of a facsimile storage and playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where A surrounded by a dashed line indicates the main body of the facsimile, and B the facsimile storage and playback device.

At the time of transmission, an image signal obtained by photoelectrically converting a transmission document (not shown) in the photoelectric converter 1 is transmitted through a terminal 3a of a switch 3 and a terminal 4a of a switch 4, which are switched and controlled by a system controller 2, which will be described later. The data is added to the code compression unit 5 and encoded using a predetermined method. The output signal of the code compression section 5 is applied to a modem 7 via a transmission control section 6 that controls facsimile transmission, and after being subjected to predetermined modulation, is sent out to a transmission line via an automatic dialing device 8. .

Further, at the time of reception, a signal transmitted from another facsimile IJ device (not shown) via a transmission line is applied to the modem/demodulator 7 via the automatic dialing device 8, demodulated, and sent to the communication control section 6. It is added to the code compression section 5 through the encoder. The code compression unit 5 decodes this signal and converts it into an image signal. This image signal is applied to the printer 11 via the terminal 9a of the switch 9 and the terminal 10a of the switch 1o, and a received image corresponding to the image signal is printed out. Incidentally, the system controller 2 controls the above-mentioned respective elements at the time of transmission and reception.

Now, in order to perform the storage operation on the illustrated facsimile storage and playback device B, the operator operates the operation unit 12 to specify the storage mode, and also inputs the transmission destination (telephone number) and transmission instruction time. Mode designation data, transmission destination data, and transmission designated time data corresponding to the above are added to the system controller 2. This system controller 2 transfers the transmission destination data and transmission designated time data to the memory controller 13,
At the same time, the switching devices 3 and 10 are connected to the terminals 3b and 10b, respectively. Further, the memory controller 13 stores the received transmission destination data and designated transmission time data in a semiconductor non-volatile memory (EEPROM etc.).
At the same time, switches 15 and 16 are connected to terminals 15 and 15 respectively.
After controlling the switching to a and 16b, a signal is output to the system controller 2 to inform that the preparation has been completed.

Upon receiving this signal, the system controller 2 outputs a reading start command signal to the photoelectric conversion section 1. As a result, the photoelectric conversion section 1 starts its operation, and the image signal outputted from the photoelectric conversion section 1 is transmitted to the semiconductor volatile memory ( Dynamic RAM, etc.) is added to the main memory 17 and stored therein.

When the output of the built-in clock matches the specified transmission time data, the memory controller 13 takes out a signal instructing to start transmission and the transmission destination data from the management data memory 14, The signal is output to the controller 2, and the switch 15 is switched to the terminal 15c. When the system controller 2 receives the instruction signal, (5) it controls the switching device 4 to switch to the terminal 4b, outputs transmission destination data to the automatic dialing device 8, and causes the transmission destination to originate a call. As a result, the image signal stored in the main memory 17 is sent to the transmission line by the actions of the code compression section 5, communication control section 6, modem and automatic dialing device 8 at the time of transmission.

Further, the power supply unit 18 includes the memory controller 13, the management data memory 14, the switching devices 15 and 16, and the main memory 1.
7 and a management data format unit 19 to be described later, and when an external power supply (commercial power supply) is supplied to the power supply unit 18, a large power signal S1 is output to the memory controller 14. ing. However, if the above external power supply stops due to reasons such as a power outage,
After a predetermined period of time (approximately several 100 m+sec) has elapsed from this point, the power supply section 18 stops operating and the stored contents of the main memory 17 disappear. On the other hand, if the signal Sl disappears when the power outage occurs, the memory controller 1
3 stores data indicating the time when this signal s1 disappeared, that is, the time of occurrence of a power outage (6) in the management data memory. Next, when the supply of the external power is resumed,
The memory controller 13 is initial reset, and at the same time, the memory controller 13 stores data indicating the initial reset time, that is, the time when the power is turned on again, in the management data memory 14.

However, the memory controller 13 reads from the management data memory 14 the code data, transmission destination data, power failure occurrence time data, and power restart time of the facsimile storage/reproduction device, which have been stored in advance in the management data memory 14. add these data to the management data format section 19, and at the same time add these data to the switching device 1.
5 and 16 to terminals 15b and 16a, respectively, and further outputs data to the system controller 12 indicating the occurrence of a power outage. As a result, the system controller 2 connects the switch 10 to the terminal 10.
Control the switching to b.

The above code data, transmission destination data, power outage time data and power re-on time data are predetermined code data in ASCII code. The data is converted into pit image data. The bit image data is applied to the printer 11 via the switch 16, switch 15, and switch 10, thereby printing out the management data.

By the way, if an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs in the printer 11 during reception and the printer 11 does not operate normally,
Alternatively, in the case of a received image signal designated as confidential, the system controller 2 controls the switching device 9 to switch to the terminal 9b, and notifies the memory controller 13 accordingly.

Accordingly, the memory controller 13 switches the switch 15 to the terminal 15d and the switch 16 to the terminal 16b, and stores the received image signal in the main memory 17. Thereafter, the system controller 2 controls switching of the switch 10 to the terminal 10b according to instructions from the operating section 12, and also transmits the instructions to the memory controller 13. Accordingly, the memory controller 13 switches the switch 15 to the terminal 15b, and outputs the image signal stored in the main memory 17 to the printer 11 via the switches 16, 15 and 10.

In this way, the received image signal is temporarily transferred to the main memory 1.
When the external power supply applied to the power supply unit 18 is stopped when outputting the received image to the printer 11 after storing it in the memory controller 7, the memory controller 13 stores the power failure occurrence time data and the power supply restart in the same manner as described above. The power-on time data is stored in the management data memory 14, the switching devices 15 and 16 are switched to the terminals 15e and 16m, respectively, and the system controller 2 is informed of the power outage and the source. Outputs the hail code data (telephone number data). Thus, the system controller 2 controls switching of the switch 9 to the terminal 9b, and also controls the automatic dialing device 8.
(9) to call the originator, and this causes the above management data format section 1 to be called.
The output signal of 9 is transmitted to the source, and the management data is printed out at the source.

The facsimile storage and playback device B as described above is used as a relay station for a plurality of facsimile devices A, and the necessary data is transmitted between each facsimile device at the required time via this facsimile storage and playback device B. You can also.

Furthermore, the facsimile storage and playback device B may be configured to be able to be attached to and separated from the facsimile device A, and may be used by connecting only to the necessary facsimile device.

As explained above, the device according to the present invention stores image information with a large amount of data in a volatile memory, while storing only management data with a small amount of data in a nonvolatile memory. The inconvenience that has arisen can be resolved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile storage and playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Photoelectric conversion unit, 2... System controller,
(10) 3.4゛, 9,10,15.16...switcher, 5...
- Code compression unit, 6... Transmission control unit, 7... Modulator/demodulator, 8... Automatic dialing device, 11... Printer, 1
2... Operation unit, 13... Memory controller, 14
...Management data memory, 17...Main memory, 1
8...Power supply unit, 19...Management data format unit. Procedural amendment (spontaneous) July 13, 1930, Commissioner of the Patent Office, Maru 1, Indication of the case, Patent Application No. 166007 of 1982, 2, Name of the invention, Facsimile storage and playback device 3, Person making the amendment, Relationship to the case Patent applicant address: 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Name (67
4) Ricoh Co., Ltd. - Representative Takeshi Inue
4, Agent Address: 105 1. Column 2 for “Detailed Description of the Invention” in the Specification, 6 Drawings, Copy of Attachment 9 stating the contents of the amendment 1. Column “Detailed Description of the Invention” in the Specification (1) ) [Terminal 15aJ is corrected to "terminal 15b" on page 5, line 2 of the specification. (2) "Memory controller 14" on page 6, line 13 of the same book.
" is corrected to "memory controller 13." (3) In line 17 of the same page of the same book, "operation to power supply section 18" is changed to "
The operation of the power supply section 18 is corrected to "." (4) Change "terminal 15b" on page 7, line 15 of the same book to [terminal 1
Corrected to 5aJ. (5) "System controller 12" in line 16 on the same page of the same book
Corrected to "Jor system controller 2". (6) "Terminal 15b" on page 9, line 4 of the same book is corrected to [terminal 15aJ. (7) In lines 12 and 13 of the same page of the same book, "storing the power-on time data in the management data memory 14" is changed to "storing the power-on time data, etc. in the management data memory 14." When the power supply is resumed (2), the memory controller 13 is corrected to ``. (8) Correct "Switcher 9 to terminal 9b" to "Switcher 4 to terminal 4b" in line 19 of the same page of the same book. Above, (3)゛

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile storage and playback device that stores management information consisting of at least a transmission destination, a specified transmission time, and a sender code, as well as image information, and reproduces it when necessary, the image information is stored in a volatile memory. Furthermore, the facsimile storage and playback apparatus is characterized in that the management information is stored in a non-volatile memory. (2. In claim 1, the device power on/off time is also stored in the nonvolatile memory as the management information, and when the device power is turned on after being turned off, it is stored in the nonvolatile memory. A facsimile storage and playback device characterized in that it automatically plays back recorded information.