JP2005150858A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine capable of identifying image data addressed to a user from image data fax-received and stored once, and of printing out the identified image data. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile machine is provided with a sender registration memory for registering sender information; and a print control means that extracts the sender information from a facsimile communication procedure signal transmitted from a sender at fax-reception of image data, when storing the image data to an image memory, stores the sender information to the sender registration memory in cross-reference with the received image data, references the sender registration memory, when receiving a print command of designating the sender information, discriminates the presence / absence of registration of the designated sender information, reads the image data stored in the image memory in cross-reference with the sender information and prints out the image data, when the sender information is registered. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that temporarily stores image data received by facsimile in an image storage means and then prints it out on a recording sheet.

Conventionally, there is a usage form in which a facsimile machine is installed at a place where a large number of unspecified persons enter and leave, such as a convenience store, and a fee is collected from the user.
In that case, since the user copies the original he / she brings or reads the original and inputs the facsimile number and transmits the facsimile by facsimile transmission, there is no problem. In facsimile reception, the user can receive the image by sending the facsimile number of the facsimile apparatus to the sender side using a mobile phone or the like and sending it by facsimile. Whether or not the image received by the image processing apparatus is addressed to the user cannot be confirmed unless the image is printed out.

However, if the image is not addressed to the user as a result of printing, the image has been viewed by a user who has nothing to do with the sender and is not in morality, and the fee is collected from the user. The printing cost itself is completely wasted.
Therefore, in order to avoid such an unforeseen situation, the facsimile apparatus used by an unspecified number of people has to stop the facsimile reception function and make only transmission possible. There is no prior patent document that solves such problems.

  It is an object of the present invention to prevent the occurrence of an unexpected situation in facsimile reception as described above, and to make it possible for an unspecified number of people to use a facsimile more easily and effectively. For this purpose, an object of the present invention is to propose an image processing apparatus capable of specifying and printing out data addressed to a user from image data received by facsimile.

  In order to solve the problem, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function, a transmission source registration memory for registering transmission source information, and image data received by facsimile in the image memory. When saving, the sender information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal transmitted from the sender when the facsimile is received, stored in the sender registration memory in association with the received image data, and the sender When a print command designating information is received, the sender registration memory is referred to determine whether or not the designated sender information is registered. If there is a registration, it is stored in the image memory in association with the sender information. A facsimile apparatus is provided that includes print control means for reading stored image data and driving a print output unit to print out the image data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function, a transmission source registration memory for registering transmission source information, timer means for presetting a standby time for facsimile reception, and transmission source information When the reception wait command is received, the designated sender information is registered in the sender registration memory, the timer means is started, and every time a reception is received until the reception waiting time elapses. The sender information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal, and the sender registration memory is referred to determine whether the sender information is registered. If there is a registration, the print output unit is driven. A facsimile apparatus having a print control means for printing out is proposed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus having a memory reception function, a transmission source registration memory for registering transmission source information, timer means for presetting a standby time for facsimile reception, and transmission source information When the reception wait command is received, the transmission source information is registered in the transmission source registration memory, the timer means is started, and until the reception standby time elapses, The sender information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal, and the sender registration memory is referenced to determine whether or not the sender information is registered. If there is a registration, the received image data is temporarily stored in the image memory. When the print command specifying the same sender information is received, the image data stored in the image memory is read and the print output unit is driven. And a print control means for character output, proposes a facsimile device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a facsimile apparatus including a radio signal receiving unit and having a function of accepting and processing a print command or a reception waiting command specifying the sender information by communication from a portable radio terminal.

  In the facsimile apparatus proposed in the first aspect, since it is possible to specify and print out the image data addressed to the user from the already received image data, the image data addressed to the third party is erroneously printed out. There is no. Therefore, even in a facsimile machine installed at a place where an unspecified number of people enter or leave, such as a convenience store, the user can use the facsimile reception function.

  In the facsimile apparatus proposed in the second aspect, before receiving a facsimile, the user can input a reception waiting command specifying an arbitrary transmission number and wait for the facsimile reception. Therefore, even in a facsimile machine installed at a place where an unspecified number of people enter or leave, such as a convenience store, the user can use the facsimile reception function.

  In the facsimile apparatus proposed in claim 3, in the facsimile apparatus proposed in claim 2, before receiving the facsimile, the user inputs a reception waiting command designating an arbitrary transmission number and temporarily changes the place. Even if you are away or not at the site, if there is a facsimile reception within the waiting time, you can print the received image by simply entering the print command specifying the same sender information again. Can be maintained, and usability is further improved.

  In the facsimile apparatus proposed in the fourth aspect, the user can transmit and input arbitrary source information with the portable wireless terminal, so that convenience is improved.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure, a facsimile apparatus having a facsimile function includes a CPU 1 that controls other parts of the apparatus, a ROM 2 that stores software and data executed by the CPU 1, an LCD that displays information on the apparatus function, and its A display unit 3 formed by a controller, a modem unit 4 that transmits and receives image data via a communication line, a RAM 5 that stores image data and the like, an interface unit 6, and a wireless reception unit 30 are connected via a local bus. Are connected to each other.

  Further, the interface unit 6 includes an operation unit 7 for inputting instructions using a keyboard, a conveyance unit 8 for conveying a recording paper as a medium, a printer unit 9 for printing out a copy or facsimile received image on the recording paper, and a copy. Alternatively, a mechanism unit such as the scanner unit 10 that reads an image to be transmitted by facsimile is connected.

  The CPU 1 controls each of the above components by software processing. In particular, every time the modem unit 4 performs facsimile reception, a function as a transmission source information acquisition unit that acquires the transmission source information from a facsimile communication procedure signal, and printing A function as a print control means for judging a command and printing out an image on a medium is mounted.

  The modem unit 4 has an NCU that cuts off the communication line and sequentially modulates the data written by the CPU 1 and outputs it to the communication line. On the other hand, the modem 4 sequentially demodulates the signal received from the communication line and prepares data to be read by the CPU 1 To do.

FIG. 2 is a memory map for explaining the allocation of the RAM 5.
In the embodiment, the RAM 5 is divided into an image memory 51 and a sender registration memory 52. These image memory 51 and sender registration memory 52 are divided into blocks and used in order to accommodate a plurality of facsimile receptions.

  In the image memory 51, image data for each facsimile reception is stored in a block whose size is adjusted according to the data size. In the transmission source registration memory 52, the transmission source information acquired from the facsimile communication procedure signal is stored together with a pointer that specifies the block position of the image memory 51 that stores the transmitted image data, while the operation unit 7 The sender information specified by the key operation or the print command input from a personal computer or the like is stored together with the value indicating the reception or print processing status.

The wireless receiving unit 30 allows printing conditions to be input from a portable wireless terminal (not shown), and is not an essential component for the first invention or the second invention to be described later. However, in the facsimile apparatus provided with the wireless receiving unit 30, the user can input printing conditions not only from the operation unit 7 but also from his / her portable wireless terminal, so that the usability is improved.
The facsimile apparatus has a copy function and a facsimile transmission / reception function. However, the copy function and the facsimile transmission function are the same as those of the conventional facsimile apparatus, and thus the description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the first feature of the present invention will be described. The facsimile reception function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that image data corresponding to transmission source information input by a user is printed out from a plurality of image data that has already been received and temporarily stored. The CPU 1 executes the process of the flowchart based on software.

FIG. 4 is a partial description of the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the facsimile apparatus F is activated, it waits for an incoming facsimile reception until a print command designating sender information is input from the operation unit 7 or the like (101 to 102).
When the facsimile reception is started, the transmission source information is acquired from the facsimile communication procedure read from the modem unit 4 (1001). Then, the acquired sender information and the pointer for specifying the block position of the image memory 51 in which the image data being received are stored are combined and stored in the sender registration memory 52 (1002). Thereafter, when image data is assembled from the data read from the modem unit 4, it is encoded in a predetermined format and stored in the image memory 51 (1003). Accordingly, the sender information of the facsimile sender is stored in the sender registration memory 52 in association with the received image data.

When the user inputs the print command from the operation unit 7 to specify and print out the image data addressed to himself / herself, the characters input from the operation unit 7 are read via the interface unit 6 and designated. The sender information is assembled and stored in the sender registration memory 52 (103).
Next, a plurality of pieces of sender information associated with the image data are sequentially read out from the sender registration memory 52 to check whether or not the sender information designated by the print command is registered (1004 to 1006). Therefore, if registered, the image data is read from the block of the image memory 51 specified by the pointer and a print bitmap is created. Then, the printer unit 9 is activated and the print data is transmitted via the interface unit 6. To print out (1007 to 1008).

Here, if the sender information associated with the image data that matches the sender information specified by the print command is not found, a warning is displayed on the display unit 3 (104), and the process is terminated.
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image data corresponding to arbitrary source information input by the user can be specified and printed out from a plurality of image data that has already been received and accumulated once. .

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, a facsimile apparatus having a facsimile function includes a CPU 21 that controls other parts of the apparatus, a ROM 22 that stores software and data executed by the CPU 21, an LCD that displays information about the apparatus function, and its A display unit 23 formed by a controller, a modem unit 24 that transmits and receives image data via a communication line, a RAM 25 that stores image data and the like, an interface unit 26, and a timer means that sets a waiting time for facsimile reception in advance. 20 are connected to each other via a local bus.
Further, the interface unit 26 includes an operation unit 27 for inputting instructions using a keyboard, a transport unit 28 for transporting a copy sheet as a medium, a printer unit 29 for printing out a copy or facsimile received image on the copy sheet, A mechanism unit such as a scanner unit 210 that reads an image to be copied or transmitted by facsimile is connected via a serial bus.

The CPU 21 controls each of the above components by software processing. In particular, each time the modem unit 24 performs facsimile reception, a function as a transmission source information acquisition unit that acquires the transmission source information from a facsimile communication procedure signal and reception. A function as a print control means for determining a waiting command and printing out an image on a medium is mounted.
The modem unit 24 has an NCU that cuts off the communication line. The modem unit 24 sequentially modulates the data written by the CPU 21 and outputs the data to the communication line. On the other hand, the modem 24 sequentially demodulates the signal received from the communication line and prepares data to be read by the CPU 21. To do.

FIG. 6 is a memory map for explaining the allocation of the RAM 25.
In the embodiment, the RAM 25 is divided into an image memory 251 and a sender registration memory 252. These image memory 251 and sender registration memory 252 are divided into blocks and used in order to accommodate a plurality of facsimile receptions.

In the image memory 251, image data for each facsimile reception is stored in a block whose size is adjusted according to the data size. In the transmission source registration memory 252, the transmission source information acquired from the facsimile communication procedure signal is stored together with a pointer for specifying the block position of the image memory 251 in which the transmitted image data is stored. The sender information specified in is saved together with a value indicating the reception or print processing status.
In order to limit the reception time, the timer means 20 notifies the CPU 21 when the facsimile reception waiting time set after activation elapses.

  The facsimile apparatus has a copy function and a facsimile transmission / reception function. The copy function and the facsimile transmission function are the same as those of the conventional facsimile apparatus, so that the description thereof will be omitted. The following is a feature of the second invention. The facsimile reception process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. A part of the flowchart is divided and described in FIG. 4 as described above.

The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the facsimile reception operation, if a user inputs arbitrary source information in advance, the image is printed out when image data corresponding to the source information is received. is there.
First, when the facsimile apparatus is activated, it waits for an incoming facsimile reception until a reception waiting command specifying the sender information is input from the operation unit 27 (201 to 202). The operation when an incoming call is detected is the same as in the case of the first invention (1001 to 1003).
When a user inputs a reception waiting command from the operation unit 27 to specify and print out image data addressed to him / her, the characters input from the operation unit 27 are read out via the interface unit 26, and the sender information Are stored in the transmission source registration memory 252 (203).
At this time, the timer means 20 is started (204).

  Next, a plurality of pieces of sender information associated with the image data are sequentially read from the sender registration memory 252 to check whether or not the sender information designated by the reception waiting command is registered (1004 to 1006). Therefore, if registered, the image data is read from the block of the image memory 251 specified by the pointer, and when the print bitmap is created, the printer unit 29 is activated and the print data is transmitted via the interface unit 26. Are printed out (1007 to 1008). That is, in this embodiment, even if it is a reception waiting command, if the image has already been received, it is printed out.

At this time, if it is finally determined that there is no registration, the transmission source information designated by the reception waiting instruction is stored in the transmission source registration memory 252 as a state indicating reception standby.
Thereafter, until the timer means 20 notifies the CPU 21 of the elapse of a predetermined time, the sender information designated by the reception waiting instruction is read from the sender registration memory every time there is an incoming facsimile reception (205 to 206). Then, a plurality of pieces of sender information associated with the image data are sequentially read out from the sender registration memory 252 to check whether or not the sender information designated by the reception waiting command is registered (1004 to 1006). If there is registration, the image data is read from the block of the image memory 251 specified by the pointer and a printing bitmap is created. Then, the printer unit 29 is activated via the interface unit 26, and the print data is transferred. Send and print out (1007 to 1008)
If the elapse of a predetermined time is notified, a warning is displayed on the display unit 23 (207), and the process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the second aspect, if the user inputs a reception waiting command specifying any source information in advance, the image data is printed when a facsimile transmission of the source information is received. Is output.

Finally, the third aspect of the present invention will be described.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a user inputs arbitrary sender information, the user can specify and input that printing is not performed at the time of reception.
For this purpose, in the above processing procedure, the state of the sender information input by the user may be stored in the sender registration memory as a non-printable state. The CPU determines the value of the state of the transmission source information designated by the reception waiting command, and determines whether or not to perform print output.
Thereafter, when the user inputs a print command designating the same sender information, the image data stored in the image memory is read, and the print output unit is driven to print out.

  In the second and third aspects of the present invention, if the wireless receiver described in the first aspect of the present invention is provided, the user can input the printing conditions even from his / her portable wireless terminal. Usability is improved.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention. FIG. It is a memory map figure explaining allocation of RAM. It is a flowchart explaining the basic processing procedure at the time of facsimile reception in the facsimile apparatus which is the first embodiment of the present invention. It is drawing which divided and described a part of flowchart shown in FIG. It is a block diagram explaining the basic composition of the facsimile apparatus which is the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a memory map figure explaining allocation of RAM. It is a flowchart explaining the basic process sequence at the time of the facsimile reception in the facsimile apparatus which is a 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,21 CPU
5, 25 RAM
20 Timer means 51, 251 Image memory 52, 252 Source registration memory

Claims (4)

In a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function,
A sender registration memory for registering sender information;
When the image data received by facsimile is stored in the image memory, the transmission source information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal transmitted from the transmission source when the facsimile is received, and the transmission source registration memory is associated with the received image data. When the print command specifying the sender information is received, the sender registration memory is referred to determine whether the specified sender information is registered. A facsimile apparatus comprising: print control means for reading out and printing out image data stored in the image memory in association with the sender information. In a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function,
A sender registration memory for registering sender information;
Timer means for presetting the waiting time for facsimile reception;
When receiving a reception waiting command specifying the sender information, register the specified sender information in the sender registration memory, start the timer means,
Until the reception waiting time elapses, each time a facsimile reception is received, the sender information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal, and the sender registration memory is referred to determine whether or not the sender information is registered. A facsimile apparatus, comprising: a printing control means for printing out image data received by facsimile when it is determined and registered. In a facsimile machine having a memory receiving function,
A sender registration memory for registering sender information;
Timer means for presetting the waiting time for facsimile reception;
When receiving a reception waiting command specifying the sender information, register the sender information in the sender registration memory, start the timer means,
Until the reception waiting time elapses, each time a facsimile reception is received, the sender information is extracted from the facsimile communication procedure signal, and the sender information is registered with reference to the sender registration memory. If there is a registration, the received image data is temporarily stored in the image memory,
Thereafter, when receiving a print command designating the same sender information, the facsimile apparatus comprises a print control means for reading out the image data stored in the image memory and printing it out. Any one of claims 1 to 3,
A facsimile apparatus comprising a wireless signal receiving unit and configured to receive a print command or a reception waiting command specifying the above-mentioned transmission source information by communication from a portable wireless terminal.

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