JP3264499B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having an image memory for functions such as transmission reservation, proxy reception, confidential reception, and relay broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of apparatus, the total amount of usable memory capacity of each function described above is determined by the memory capacity mounted in hardware, and the amount of available image memory for each function is reduced. It is predetermined. Each function sequentially cuts the memory from the memory pool each time the function is executed, and returns the memory to the memory pool when the function is no longer used.

Here, if the sum of the predetermined available memory capacities for each function is larger than the memory capacity mounted in hardware, each function uses another function to store the memory. If it was used and there was not enough memory for the function, the function was not executed due to lack of memory.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a disadvantage that a function necessary for the user may not be executed because another function uses a memory. For example, when the memory is mostly used by the transmission reservation function, the substitute reception function is not executed, and a necessary document for the user cannot be obtained. Although the importance of each function differs depending on the environment in which the device is used, the available memory capacity for each function is predetermined and cannot be changed by the user. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and has as its object to enable a user of an apparatus to define a minimum memory capacity that can be secured for each function. Is to provide a facsimile machine that performs

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing data used in various communication functions, and an available memory capacity allocated to each of the communication functions. Management means for managing, and execution of each communication function according to the total available memory capacity of the storage means and the available memory capacity of each communication function.
Normal operation of each communication function when memory is available for
Control means for performing the operation.

[0007]

According to this structure, the storage means stores data used in various communication functions, and the management means manages the usage of the storage means for each communication function.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
In the figure, 1 is a reading unit, 2 is a recording unit, 3 is a communication control unit, 4 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”),
Reference numeral 5 denotes an image memory for storing image data; 6, a management memory for storing management data of the use state of the image memory 5; 7, an operation having keys and a display unit for instructing a facsimile function and the like. And 8, a ROM storing a program for operating the CPU 4, and 9 a RAM used as a work area for operating various programs.
Are respectively shown. The programs stored in the ROM 8 include programs according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image memory 5 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the management memory 6 according to the first embodiment. Actual image memory 5
Are divided into (N + 1) blocks as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the management memory 6 for managing the actual use status of the image memory 5 includes a total memory block number (N + 1), an alternate reception use permission memory block remaining number (M1), and a transmission reservation use permission. Memory block remaining number (M2), confidential reception use permission memory block remaining number (M
3) And it is configured to include management data such as the remaining number of relay broadcast use permitted memory blocks (M4). To simplify the following description, only the remaining use-permitted memory blocks M1 to M4 for each function are used. Note that the total memory
The number of locks (N + 1) does not use any function
Used by one of the functions based on the total number of blocks at the time
The number of blocks used is subtracted, and each communication function
The amount of memory not used by
Means the total available memory capacity in the system. Also,
The above M1 to M4 are used for each communication function.
Memory capacity of unused part of memory capacity,
That is, it means the available memory capacity in the present invention.
You.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image memory 5 is divided into N blocks and has a memory pool function. For functions such as transmission reservation, proxy reception, confidential reception relay broadcasting, etc., a memory block necessary for the operation of each function is secured from the image memory 5, and when the use of the memory block is completed, this is stored in the image memory 5. Shall be returned.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the memory management operation of the transmission reservation function according to the first embodiment.
Is a flowchart for explaining the memory management operation of the alternate reception function according to the first embodiment.

The memory management of each function counts down the total memory block number (N + 1) shown in FIG. 3 every time one block is secured from the image memory 5. The memory management of each function counts up the total memory block number (N + 1) shown in FIG. 3 every time one block is released to the image memory 5. In the memory management of each function, each time one block is secured from the image memory 5, the total number of memory blocks (N + 1) shown in FIG. From the remaining (M1 to M4), the total number of remaining memory blocks (N
When +1) is small, use of the block of the image memory 5 is prohibited.

First, the transmission reservation function and the alternate reception function will be described as examples. In securing the memory blocks for each function, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the transmission reservation function or the alternate reception function is instructed by the operation unit 7, the necessity of securing the memory blocks is confirmed. . When it is necessary to secure the memory block, the transmission reservation use permission block or the alternate reception use permission block is compared with the total block remaining number. Remaining number (M2)
Alternatively, the remaining number (M2) of the alternate reception use permission blocks is counted down by one, the management memory 6 is rewritten, and the securing of the memory blocks is completed.

The remaining number of use permission blocks (M1 to M4) for each function in FIG. 3 can be changed from the operation unit 7 in FIG.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the number of usable memory blocks is defined for each function, and this function can be executed by comparing this number of blocks with the remaining number of total blocks. Judgment as to whether or not the problem can be prevented beforehand when the memory capacity becomes insufficient during the execution of the function. In this case, by assigning a smaller number of used blocks to the function other than the function that the user considers important as compared with the function that is important, the memory block is temporarily used along with the execution of the function. Even if the number of blocks used is small, it is possible to alleviate the problem that the user cannot execute a target function that is important.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management memory according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, since the configuration other than the management memory 6 'in FIG. 6 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the management of the block memory of each function is managed as the remaining number of usable memory blocks, but the present invention is not limited to this. The method can be variously modified. Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of usable memory blocks for each function and the number of used memory blocks indicating the current usage status of each function are stored in the management memory 6 'as management data. It is something to memorize.

In this case, when each function tries to secure a block memory, the number of used memory blocks stored in the management memory 6 'is compared with the number of permitted memory blocks of the same function, and the number of used memory blocks is determined. Has reached the number of use-permitted memory blocks, it is sufficient to determine that a memory block cannot be secured and perform error processing. In other words, the upper limit of the number of memory blocks that can be used is specified for each function,
By judging whether or not the number of blocks currently used for the function has reached this upper limit, memory management can be performed for each function.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to alleviate the problem that the user cannot use the important function because the memory is used for a function other than the function that the user considers important.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image memory 5 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a management memory 6 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a memory management operation of a transmission reservation function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a memory management operation of an alternate reception function according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management memory according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 reading unit 2 recording unit 3 communication control unit 4 CPU 5 image memory 6, 6 'management memory 7 operation unit 8 ROM 9 RAM

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A storage means for storing data used in various communication functions; a management means for managing an available memory capacity allocated to each of the communication functions; a total available memory capacity of the storage means; Depending on the available memory capacity for each communication function,
Each communication function when memory is available for execution
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit for performing a normal operation . 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said managing means includes a changing means for changing a usable memory capacity for each communication function. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said management means includes means for storing said usable memory capacity for each communication function unit.