JP2844256B2 - Memory management method for facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention accumulates a volatile memory image, accumulates the management information of the image in a non-volatile memory, and
When the image stored in the volatile memory is lost, a process for printing out information on the lost image is performed on the management information in the nonvolatile memory, and if the process is not completed, The present invention relates to a memory management method for a facsimile apparatus configured so that a volatile memory cannot be used.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus having an image memory using an inexpensive volatile memory for a large-capacity image memory is known.

In such a facsimile apparatus, by storing the management information of the image stored in the volatile memory in the nonvolatile memory, even if the power is turned off and the image in the volatile memory is lost, From the management information stored in the non-volatile memory, various information of the lost image is created as a clear report, and this is output from the recording device, so that the user is notified of what image has been lost. It has become.

After the clear report is output, by erasing the management information left in the nonvolatile memory, the memory previously occupied by the image is released, a new image can be input, and the destroyed image can be input. The risk of being sent or printed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In other words, when the volatile memory is used as the image memory as described above, the image is occupied unless the management information of the lost image is erased when the power is turned on. The normal operation cannot be performed because the memory area that has been used cannot be used, and there is a risk that the destroyed image may malfunction.

On the other hand, after erasing the management information, a report on the lost image cannot be created, so the management information is erased after the report is output.

Therefore, in such a facsimile apparatus, when power is turned off once, all other new operations cannot be accepted until the clear report is output.

Therefore, especially in a model such as a laser facsimile which has a relatively long start-up time from when the power is turned on until the recording device becomes recordable, the recording device is in a recordable state even when performing an operation that does not require recording. And there is a problem that the user waits for a long time until the clear report is output.

If recording is not possible due to running out of recording paper when the power is turned on, a clear report will not be output, and the management information will be deleted or all operations will be prohibited until a clear report is output. In any case, there is a problem that the practicality is significantly reduced.

According to the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus which obtains a glare report of an image lost from a volatile memory when a power failure occurs, other operations can be performed without waiting for the start-up of the recording apparatus and can be performed reliably. It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which can obtain the above clear report and is excellent in reliability.

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, an image is stored in a volatile memory, management information of the image is stored in a non-volatile memory, and the image stored in the volatile memory is lost due to power-off. In the case, the facsimile apparatus is configured to perform a process for printing out information on the lost image on the management information in the non-volatile memory, and to use the volatile memory unless the process is completed. In the memory management method of
After the power is turned on, the management information in the nonvolatile memory is
From the position of the management information in the volatile memory, perform a process of changing to the position of the management information for printing and outputting information about the lost image, and after the completion of the position change process, return to the standby state, When the recording unit is in a recordable state, information on an image lost from the management information whose positioning has been changed is printed out.

The present invention also provides a method of storing an image in a volatile memory, storing management information of the image in a nonvolatile memory, and losing the image stored in the volatile memory due to power-off. A process for printing out information on the management information in the nonvolatile memory is performed on the management information in the nonvolatile memory. If the process is not completed, the memory management method of the facsimile apparatus configured to be unable to use the volatile memory. After the power is turned on, a report on the lost image is created from the management information in the nonvolatile memory, and this is stored as a text file in another area, and then all the management information in the nonvolatile memory is initialized. When it returns to the standby state and then becomes recordable,
The text file is printed out.

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

This facsimile machine has a CPU 1 that controls the entire machine.
A communication device 3 including a modulation / demodulation circuit and a network control circuit; a recording device 4 for recording an image; a CPU bus 5 connecting the CPU 1 to each circuit;
An image memory 6 configured by a volatile memory such as a RAM and storing images; a RAM 7 configured by an SRAM backed up even during a power failure and configured as a work area of the CPU 1;
A ROM 8 for storing a program.

In the above configuration, the image read by the reading device 2 and the image received by the communication device 3 are stored in the volatile image memory 6.

On the other hand, the management information of each image is stored in the RAM 7 and held even when a power failure occurs.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of such a facsimile apparatus when the power is turned on after a power failure.

When the power is turned on, first, the file management information is checked to determine whether there is any lost image (S1).

If there is no image, the report flag is turned off (S4), and all management information is initialized (S4).
5) Enter the standby state.

If an image is present, the management information is transferred to another area in the RAM 7 (S2), a flag indicating that a report is present is turned on (S3), and the original management information is initialized (S5). , Enter the standby state.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation from a standby state to outputting a report.

First, in the standby state, the plug with the report is regularly checked (S6). If the flag with the report is turned on, it is checked whether recording is possible next (S7).

If the report flag is off or recording is disabled, the process returns to step S6 to continue the check.

If recording is possible in S7, a clear report is created from the management information transferred to another area in the RAM 7 when the power is turned on, and is printed on recording paper by the recording device 4 (S8).

When the recording is completed, the flag indicating that there is a report is turned off in S9 (S9), and the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of power-on in another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation until a report is output from a standby state in the embodiment. is there.

In the above embodiment, the management information in the RAM 7 was directly transferred to another area when the power was turned on (FIG. 2, S2). However, in this embodiment, a clear report was created before this transfer, and the It is transferred as a file (S2 ').

Then, when outputting the clear report, the transfer file is output as it is (S8 ').

In the above embodiment, the backed-up RAM is used as the storage area for the management information, and the transfer destination when the power is turned on is a separate area in the same RAM. Storage medium of any nature,
For example, an EEPROM or a magnetic medium may be used.

Further, there is no restriction on the transfer destination, and the use of a medium different from the medium in which the management information is stored does not impair the effects of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, even if a power failure or the like occurs in the absence of recording paper, it is possible to reliably print out information relating to a lost image, thereby improving the reliability of the facsimile apparatus. be able to.

In addition, even when using a recording device that takes a long time for the recording unit to be in a recordable state when the power is turned on, the recording unit becomes recordable and waits for information about a lost image to end printing. Without this, it is possible to use parts other than the recording apparatus, and the practicality can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at power-on in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation from a standby state to outputting a report in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of power-on in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation from the standby state to the output of a report in the embodiment. 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Reading device, 3 ... Communication device, 4 ... Recording device, 5 ... CPU bus, 6 ... Image memory, 7 ... RAM, 8 ... ROM.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An image is stored in a volatile memory, management information of the image is stored in a non-volatile memory, and when the image stored in the volatile memory is lost due to power-off, the lost image is stored. A process for printing out information on the management information in the nonvolatile memory is performed on the management information in the nonvolatile memory. If the process is not completed, the memory management method of the facsimile apparatus configured to be unable to use the volatile memory. After the power is turned on, the management information in the nonvolatile memory is
From the position of the management information in the volatile memory, perform a process of changing to the position of the management information for printing and outputting information about the lost image, after the completion of the position change process, return to the standby state, A memory management method for a facsimile apparatus, wherein when a recording unit becomes recordable, information relating to an image lost from management information whose positioning has been changed is printed out. 2. An image is stored in a volatile memory, management information of the image is stored in a nonvolatile memory, and when the image stored in the volatile memory is lost due to power-off, the lost image is stored. A process for printing out information on the management information in the nonvolatile memory is performed on the management information in the nonvolatile memory. If the process is not completed, the memory management method of the facsimile apparatus configured to be unable to use the volatile memory. After the power is turned on, a report on the lost image is created from the management information in the nonvolatile memory, and this is stored as a text file in another area, and then all the management information in the nonvolatile memory is initialized. A memory for the facsimile apparatus, wherein the memory returns to the standby state and thereafter prints out the text file when it becomes recordable. Management method.