JP3279736B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus represented by a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an improvement in technology for smoothly performing various operations with simpler hardware.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many recent facsimile apparatuses are provided with a memory having a considerably large capacity for storing image data. The image data of a document read by an image sensor is encoded, temporarily stored in the memory, and then transmitted. Alternatively, a processing method is used in which received image data is temporarily stored in a memory and then printed out. Further, the recording unit includes a printer buffer (page memory) for temporarily storing decoded image data (raw image data) to be printed in page units. Further, an encoding circuit for compressing and encoding the image data and a decoding circuit for decoding the encoded image data and reproducing the raw image data are provided with an encoding / decoding for selectively executing encoding and decoding processes. LS as conversion circuit
An I-type microprogram control element is used.

In this specification, an operation in which a user sets an original on an image scanner and gives a transmission command is called a "file-in operation". In response to this operation, the original is read by an image sensor and the image is read. "File-in processing" refers to the process of encoding data and storing it in the image memory
Called. The operation of transmitting the encoded image data stored in the image memory from the communication control unit to the line is referred to as “memory transmission processing”.

The process of decoding the encoded image data being received by the communication control unit almost in real time and sequentially storing the decoded image data in the printer buffer is called "paper receiving process". On the other hand, the coded image data being received is stored in the image memory in page units as it is,
The process of decoding as a post process and storing it in the printer buffer is referred to as “memory reception process”. Note that the term “reception data processing” simply refers to both paper reception processing and memory reception processing. Of course, when a predetermined amount of image data is accumulated in the printer buffer, the printer control unit sequentially prints the image data on paper.

[0005] In facsimile communication, a reception mode (referred to as an ECM mode) in which a communication control unit on the receiving side checks received data by a CRC method to detect an error, and a communication control unit does not perform CRC. There is a reception mode (this is called a non-ECM mode) in which the reception data processing unit decodes every line and checks the number of bits. The operation of checking the number of bits of one line while decoding the received data in the non-ECM mode is referred to as “error check processing”.

[0006]

In a recent facsimile apparatus of this kind, reception may be performed during the file-in processing, or a user may perform a file-in operation during the reception data processing. . It is not difficult to perform the reception data processing and the file-in processing in parallel, and there is a facsimile apparatus having such a function conventionally.

In order to realize the above-mentioned parallel operation, a conventional facsimile apparatus uses two expensive encoding / decoding circuits. The first encoding / decoding circuit performs the decoding associated with the received data processing, and the second encoding / decoding circuit simultaneously performs the encoding associated with the file-in processing. in this case,
Since two expensive encoding / decoding circuits are used, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes expensive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object the first object of the invention is to provide a hardware configuration using only one encoding / decoding circuit for cost reduction, / Decoding circuit is appropriately time-divisionally used in a decoding process (referred to as a reception decoding process) accompanying the reception data process and an encoding process (referred to as a read encoding process) associated with the file-in process, and the reception data processing and the file It is an object of the present invention to provide an image communication apparatus in which both operations of the in-process are performed smoothly in parallel without delay.

Second, there is provided an image communication apparatus which can smoothly execute communication control without any trouble when one encoding / decoding circuit is not used. It is in.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention firstly stores a reception buffer for sequentially accumulating received data, and decode data obtained by decoding the received data in page units. A printer buffer, a printer that stores the decoded data of one page in the printer buffer and prints out the image data, an image memory that sequentially stores encoded data obtained by encoding image data output from the document reading unit, and Encoding / decoding means for decoding the received data or for encoding the read image data, and when the read image data is received during the encoding process, a predetermined amount of received data is stored in the reception buffer. If not, the encoding / decoding means continues the encoding process, and if a predetermined amount of received data is stored in the reception buffer, the encoding process is performed. Interrupting the coding / decoding means to execute the decoding process of the received encoded data, said decoding
And control means for performing control for restarting the encoding process when the process is completed .

Second, a receiving buffer for sequentially storing received data, and an encoding device for decoding the received data stored in the receiving buffer and encoding image data output from the document reading means. / Decoding means, an image memory storing encoded data obtained by encoding the received data and the read image data, and storing decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the image memory in page units. A printer buffer that stores the decoded data for one page in the printer buffer and prints out the decoded data, and decodes / prints the received data in the image memory during the re-encoding process of the read image data. Executing the process, if there is no free space in the printer buffer, causing the encoding / decoding means to continue the re-encoding process;
If there is free space in the printer buffer, the encoding / decoding means interrupts the re-encoding processing and executes the decoding / printing processing, and the decoding / printing processing ends.
Then , there is provided control means for performing control to restart the re-encoding processing .

Third, a reception buffer for sequentially accumulating the reception data, and an encoding for decoding the reception data accumulated in the reception buffer and encoding the image data output from the original reading means. / Decoding means, an image memory storing encoded data obtained by encoding the received data and the read image data, and storing decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the image memory in page units. A printer buffer for storing the decoded data for one page in the printer buffer, and printing and outputting the decoded data; and a printer for storing one page in the reception buffer when the read image data is received during the encoding process. If the received data has been accumulated, the encoding process is interrupted, and the encoding / decoding means checks the error of the received data accumulated in the reception buffer. Tsu to execute the click, the provi
And control means for restarting the encoding process when the encoding is completed .

Fourth, a receiving buffer for sequentially storing received data, a printer buffer for storing decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the receiving buffer in page units, and a printer buffer for storing the decoded data in units of pages. A printer that stores the decoded data for one page and prints out the image data, an image memory that sequentially stores encoded data obtained by encoding the image data output from the document reading unit, and decodes and decodes the received data. An encoding / decoding means for encoding the read image data; and a decoding processing request for the received data when the processing amount or the processing time from the start of the encoding processing of the read image data exceeds a predetermined value. It monitors whether or not there is, and when there is the decoding processing request, it makes the encoding / decoding means execute the decoding processing.
And control means for performing control for restarting the encoding process upon completion .

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a signal is received during the first process of encoding read image data,
Each time the first process is completed for one page, it is monitored whether or not there is a reception. If there is a reception, it is determined whether or not a predetermined amount of received data is accumulated in a reception buffer, and the reception data is stored in the reception buffer. Is stored in a predetermined amount or more, the first processing is interrupted, and the control means controls the encoding / decoding means to execute the second processing for decoding the received data. The first processing for encoding read image data and the second processing for decoding received data are performed by one encoding / decoding unit without delaying the reading operation as viewed from the user performing Can be executed in parallel. Furthermore, when the reception of one page of the reception data is completed, the first processing is interrupted and the second processing is executed preferentially, so that the first and the second processing are not interrupted. A second process can be performed.

Secondly, in the case where the second process of printing the received decoded data in the image memory and executing the second process of the printing means is performed during the first process of encoding the read image data, Each time one page of processing is completed, it is monitored whether or not there is the second processing request. If there is the second processing request, it is determined whether or not there is an empty area in the printer buffer. If there is an area, the first processing is interrupted, and the control means sends the second processing to the encoding / decoding means.
The first process for encoding the read image data and the second process for decoding the received data are performed without delay in the reading operation as viewed from the user performing the reading operation. 2 can be executed in parallel by one encoding / decoding means.

Third, when an error check of the received data is performed during the first processing for encoding the read image data, the first processing is performed when one page of data is accumulated in the reception buffer. And the control means causes the encoding / decoding process to execute an error check on the received data, so that one encoding / decoding operation can be performed without impeding the handshake control with the communication partner. Parallel processing by means can be performed smoothly.

Fourth, when the original to be read is very long, the interval for monitoring whether or not there is another processing request is set not after completion of one page reading but after the first processing is started. Is monitored when the processing amount exceeds a predetermined amount, so that the execution of other processing is not unnecessarily delayed and a plurality of processings can be smoothly executed in parallel by one encoding / decoding means. can do.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Schematic Configuration of Hardware] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown in The CPU 1 includes a ROM 2 storing a program and the like and an R 2 serving as a temporary storage location for various information associated with control.
Along with AM3, it is a system control unit that performs sequence control and signal processing for controlling the entire facsimile machine. A network control unit (NCU) 4 is connected to a communication line, and performs communication control according to line connection control and facsimile apparatus procedures. The modem 5 is controlled by the CPU 1 to control the system bus B1.
Control for sequentially modulating and transmitting the encoded image data transferred from the image memory 6 through the controller, and controlling to sequentially demodulate and output the received encoded image data to the system bus B1. The image memory 6 is composed of a relatively large-capacity DRAM, and can store encoded image data for a plurality of pages. The image memory 6 is accessed by the CPU 1 through the system bus B1. At the time of reception, the modem 5 interrupts the CPU 1 every time one byte of encoded image data sent from the communication partner is prepared. Every time CP
U1 executes interrupt processing and stores 1-byte reception data in a reception buffer area set in the image memory 6.

A display unit 7 and a key input unit 8 constituting an operation / display panel for a user interface are connected to a panel control unit 9, which performs display control and input processing. The panel control unit 9 is connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus B1. The CPU 1 supplies a display command and display information to the control unit 9 and transmits key input information preprocessed by the control unit 9 to the CPU 1.

An image scanner for reading an image of a document is a CCD one-dimensional image sensor 10, a reading circuit 11 for driving the image sensor 10 and processing an output signal thereof, and sending a document for main scanning by the image sensor 10. A sub-scanning mechanism 12 for sub-scanning, a sensor circuit 13 for detecting the presence or absence of a document in the sub-scanning mechanism 12, detecting the position of the document, and detecting the position of the sub-scanning movable section, and And a scanner control unit 14 that controls to read the original correctly. The scanner control unit 14 controls the CPU 1 via the system bus B1.
, And controls reading of a document in accordance with command information from the CPU 1.

The encoding / decoding circuit 16 is an LSI of a microprogram control system, and operates in an operation mode such as an encoding mode, a decoding mode, a code conversion mode, and a reception data check mode in accordance with command information from the CPU 1 as described later. Selective execution. The thing to note here is that
The facsimile apparatus requires an expensive encoding / decoding circuit 1
6 is that only one is used.

A page printer 17 is provided as a recording unit for printing out image data on paper. The page printer 17 has its own control system for print control. The page printer 17 has a printer interface 18 for operating the control system in accordance with the command information of the CPU 1, and the system bus B1 and the printer 17 are connected. Further, the printer 17 includes a printer buffer (page memory) 19 for storing image data to be printed by the printer 17 in page units. The printer buffer 19 has a capacity capable of storing several pages of raw image data of a standard original. Further, the printer buffer 19
And a memory control unit 20 for controlling access to the memory. The operation mode of the memory control unit 20 is set in accordance with command information given from the CPU 1 through the system bus B1, and operates as follows.

That is, after storing the decoded image data (raw image data) in the printer buffer 19, the CPU 1
Gives a print command to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20, the printer interface 1
8 checks the status of the printer 17, and if the printer 17 is operable (otherwise, waits until it becomes operable), the memory controller 20 reads the image data in the printer buffer 19 onto the bus B4 and Is supplied to the printer 17 via the printer interface 18. Thus, the image data is printed on the paper. The data transfer control in this case is mainly performed by the control system of the printer 17, and the access system of the printer buffer 19 is independent of the system bus B1. [Regarding Operation Related to Encoding / Decoding Circuit 16] In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the encoding / decoding circuit 16
There is only one. The CPU 1 causes the encoding / decoding circuit 16 and other functional units to cooperate with each other as described later to realize the following various operation modes.

(A) Read-encoding processing mode This is an operation mode at the time of the file-in processing described above. The scanner control unit 14 and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 cooperate,
The original set on the scanner is read, and raw image data sequentially output from the reading circuit 11 is sequentially taken into the encoding / decoding circuit 16 from the bus B2 and MR-encoded, and the encoded data is directed to the system bus B1. Output sequentially. The CPU 1 synchronizes with the encoding operation and the system bus B
1 are sequentially stored in the image memory 6.

(B) Paper Reception / Decoding Processing Mode Processing for decoding the coded image data accumulated in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 almost in real time in parallel with the reception operation and sequentially storing the decoded image data in the printer buffer 19. It is. In this case, the target data in the image memory 6 is supplied from the system bus B1 to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 under the control of the CPU 1, and the decoded data is supplied to the memory control unit 20 from the bus B2. Stores the decoded data in the printer buffer 19.

(C) Memory Reception Decoding Processing Mode Basically, it is started when there is no free space in the printer buffer 19 at the time of reception. Wait for one page of data to be accumulated in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, and when one page of data is ready, mark the reception of memory reception on it. Thereafter, when the printer buffer 19 becomes free, the received memory reception data is sequentially read from the image memory 6 and supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via the system bus B1, and the decoded data is transmitted via the bus B2. The data is sequentially stored in the printer buffer 19 via the memory control unit 20. The process of decoding the received memory reception data and storing it in the printer buffer 19 is referred to as a memory reception data decoding process.

(D) Non-ECM batch error check processing mode This is an operation executed when the reception mode is the non-ECM mode and the memory reception processing is performed. During the memory reception, when the latest received data for one page is arranged in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, the data of the one page is continuously supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 under the initiative of the CPU 1. I do. The encoding / decoding circuit 16 counts the number of bits for each line of the decoded data while sequentially decoding the received data, and determines whether or not the number matches the specified number (if not, a data error occurs. is there). In this mode, the decoded data is discarded sequentially, but the determination result for each line is transmitted to the modem 5. The modem 5 comprehensively determines the determination result for one page and appropriately proceeds with the handshake sequence with the communication partner.

In the case of the paper reception operation in the non-ECM mode, an error check is performed for each line during the page reception decoding process (B), and the result is transmitted to the modem 5.

(E) Code conversion processing mode at transmission When transmitting MR encoded image data stored in the image memory 6 by file-in processing, the image data is converted into MMR encoded data according to the communication partner. Processing. Under the control of the CPU 1, MR encoded data is read out from the image memory 6 by a predetermined amount, and the system bus B is read.
The data is supplied to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via 1 and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 decodes the MR encoded data once and then performs MMR encoding. The MMR encoded data is temporarily stored in a transmission buffer in the image memory 6 via the system bus B1, and is sequentially transmitted.

The operation of the image communication apparatus configured as described above will be described below. [About the schematic flowchart of FIG. 2] FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing a basic procedure of the control operation of FIG. In the idle state of the facsimile machine, the CPU 1 repeats steps 201->202->203->204-> 201 and waits for any processing request to be generated.
When the user sets a document on the scanner and performs a file-in operation with the key input unit 8, the panel control unit 9 sends the CPU 1
Is interrupted, and the file-in request flag F1 is set. Then, the process proceeds from step 201 to 205, and the file-in process is started.

When the reception operation is started by the communication control unit mainly including the modem 5 and the process proceeds to the stage of processing the received data, the reception data processing request flag F2 is set by the interruption from the modem 5. Then step 202 →
Proceeding to 206, the received data processing is started. This reception data processing 206 can be operated in parallel with the file-in processing as described later.

Further, if the transmission execution flag is set, the process proceeds from step 203 to step 207, and the transmission process is started. Although not described in this specification, the transmission process 203 can operate in parallel with the file-in process. Other tasks are collectively shown as step 208. [Regarding the Flowchart of FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of the file-in process in step 205 in FIG. First, in step 301, a line counter C for counting the number of read lines is set.
2 is cleared, and in the next step 302, processing for reading and encoding the original for one line, and writing it to the image memory 6 is performed. Next, after the line counter C2 is incremented, it is determined whether or not reading and encoding of one page of the document has been completed by executing step 302 (step 303 → 3).
04). If it has not reached one page, line counter C
It is determined whether or not the value of 2 has reached the specified value MAX. If not, the process returns to the one-line read encoding process 302.

The specified value MAX is the maximum number of lines for which the encoding process is performed without interruption when the length of the original to be read is longer than the normal size. That is, if the length of the original to be read is very long, different from the normal size, the file-in processing in FIG. 3 takes longer time than usual. The CPU 1 monitors whether or not there is a reception data processing request (step 202) or a transmission / reception request (step 203) after the encoding process for one page is completed.
If the encoding processing time for one page is long, the start of other processing is delayed. The specified value MAX is determined by the processing amount or the processing time since the start of the file-in processing, and plays a role in preventing the start of other processing from being delayed.

When reading and encoding of one page of the original is completed by executing step 302, it is determined whether there is a next original to be read. If there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. The process is terminated after resetting (steps 304 → 305 → 306).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. If the value of the line counter C2 has reached MAX1 even if the process is in the middle of one page, the process is terminated without resetting the flag F1.

When the file-in process 205 has been entered as described above, one page of the original is read, the process routine is exited, and the state of another process request flag is checked as shown in FIG. Received data processing request flag F
If 2 is set, the process proceeds to step 206, where the received data processing and the file-in processing are executed in parallel. [Regarding the Flowchart of FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the details of the reception data processing of step 206 in FIG. This includes the paper reception processing 402
And a memory reception process 403 and a memory reception data decoding process 406. In each of these processes, a file-in process can be executed in parallel as described below.

When the reception data processing is started, it is first checked whether or not there is an empty area of a predetermined amount or more in the printer buffer 19 (step 400). It is determined whether or not has been completed (step 401). If there is no space in the printer buffer 19 and it is not necessary to decode the memory reception data, the flow advances to step 402 to perform the paper reception decoding processing of one page of data. Printer buffer 19
If there is no free space or if the decoding of the memory reception data has not been completed, the process proceeds to step 403, where the memory reception decoding process is performed.

If one page of received data has been processed in step 402 or 403, the process proceeds to step 404,
It is checked whether the reception of all pages has been completed or the data of the subsequent page is continuously received. If there is a subsequent page, the process returns to the first step 400, and if not, the process proceeds to the next step 405.

In step 405, it is determined whether or not the process of decoding the received data received in the memory receiving process in step 403 and storing the decoded data in the printer buffer 19 has been completed. If the processing has not been completed, the remaining processing is terminated in step 406. Then, in step 407, the reception data processing request flag F2 is reset, and the processing ends. [Flowcharts in FIGS. 5 and 6] FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing details of the paper receiving process in step 402 in FIG. When entering this processing routine, first, it is checked in step 500 whether or not the reception of the received data being processed (to be processed first) has been completed to the end of one page. Since the reception has not been completed at first, the state of the file-in processing request flag F1 is checked in the next step 501.

(A) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is reset In this case, it is possible to concentrate on the paper reception decoding processing. That is, after one line of data to be processed is prepared in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, the data for one line is decoded and written into the printer buffer 19 (step 502 → 503). Step 503 is performed until the processing of the entire page is completed by executing step 503.
→ 504 → 500 → 501 → 502 → 503 are repeated.

When all of the received data for one page has been decoded, a print command is issued to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20. This completes the one-page paper reception decoding processing, and exits the processing routine.

Before detecting the end of processing of one page in step 504, if the end of reception of the page is detected in step 500, the flow advances to step 508 to decode the remaining data of the page at once. 50
In step 5, a print command is issued, and the processing routine is exited. Therefore, no response is made even if the file-in request flag F1 is set during this time.

(A) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is set In this case, the file-in processing 507 is executed between the paper reception decoding processing. First, F1 = "1"
Then, the process proceeds from step 501 to step 506, and it is checked whether or not the data to be subjected to the paper reception decoding processing is stored in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 by 4 Kbytes or more. If the data is 4K bytes or more, the above step 50 is performed.
The process jumps to 3 to perform the paper reception decoding process. If the data is less than 4 Kbytes, the process enters the file-in process of step 507.

FIG. 6 shows the details of the file-in process in step 507. The outline of this processing routine is the same as the file-in processing of FIG. 3 already described in detail.

That is, the line counter C2 is cleared, the original is read for one line and encoded, and the image memory 6 is read.
After the line counter C2 is incremented, it is determined whether or not reading and encoding of one page of the document has been completed (steps 509 → 510 → 511).
→ 512). If it has not reached one page, it is determined whether or not the value of the line counter C2 has reached the specified value MAX (steps 512 to 515).
The process proceeds to step S16, and it is determined whether or not one page of the data to be processed for paper reception has been completely received.

The judgment at step 516 (step 50)
3 is different from the processing in FIG. If you have not finished receiving one page of data for paper reception,
The process returns to the one-line read encoding process 510.

When the reading and encoding of one page of the document is completed by executing step 510, it is determined whether there is a next document to be read. If there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. It resets and ends the processing (steps 512 → 513 → 514).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. Even if the process is in the middle of one page, if the value of the line counter C2 has reached MAX, the process ends without resetting the flag F1.

Even if the file-in process is in the middle of one page and the value of the line counter C2 has not reached MAX, it is recognized in step 516 that "the reception of one page of the paper reception target data has been completed". in case of,
The file-in process is interrupted in the middle of the page, the process jumps to step 508, and the paper reception decoding process is performed at once for the data of the page whose reception has been completed as described above. Then follow the route already described in step 50
7, the file-in process will be reentered. [Flowcharts in FIGS. 7 and 8] FIGS. 7 and 8 are flow charts showing details of the memory reception processing in step 403 in FIG. As described above, the memory reception process includes a pre-process for receiving one page of data and a post-process for decoding the received one page of data and writing the decoded data to the printer buffer 19. If the reception mode is the non-ECM mode, the non-ECM
Includes batch error check processing.

(A) Pre-processing Upon entering the memory reception processing routine, it is checked in step 600 whether reception of the reception data to be processed has been completed up to the end of one page. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the reception of one page of the processing target data has been completed. At this time, if the reception mode is the ECM mode, the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 is marked with reception for the encoded image data for one page, and a page counter C1 for counting the number of received pages (the initial value is zero)
Is incremented (steps 601 → 603 → 60
4). Thus, the pre-processing is completed, and the processing routine is temporarily exited.

If the reception mode is the non-ECM mode, the process proceeds from step 601 to step 602, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 collectively processes the encoded image data of one page in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 as described above. To perform error checking. Then, an acceptance mark is added to the image data of the page, the page counter C1 is incremented (step 603 → 604), and the process routine is temporarily exited.

(A) Post-processing The post-processing or the file-in processing is performed while waiting for the reception of the reception data to be processed to the end of one page to be completed. First, when NO is determined in step 600, the process proceeds to step 605 to check the value of the page counter C1. If the value of the page counter C1 is not zero, it means that the received encoded image data to be subjected to post-processing exists in the image memory 6. If there is data to be post-processed, the process proceeds to step 606, and it is checked whether or not there is a free area of a predetermined amount or more in the printer buffer 19, which is the storage destination of the post-processed decoded data.

If there is free space in the printer buffer 19, the process proceeds to step 607, where the target data in the image memory 6 is decoded by a predetermined amount and stored in the printer buffer 19. In this processing, it is confirmed whether or not the processing of one page data has been completed in the next step 607. The processing returns to step 600 until the processing of one page is completed, and 600 → 605 → 606 until the determination in step 600 changes. → 607 → 6
08 → 600 is repeated.

If the processing of one page has been completed by executing step 607, the flow advances to step 609 to give a print command to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20, and in the next step 610 the page counter C1 is decremented. Return to 600.

(C) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is reset The reception of one page of the pre-processing target data has not been completed, and there is no post-processing target data. If there is no free space, the process proceeds to step 611, and the state of the file-in processing request flag F1 is checked. If the flag F1 has been reset, step 600
Return to

(D) When the file-in processing request flag F1 is set When it is recognized in step 611 that the flag F1 is set, the file-in processing in step 612 is started. FIG. 8 shows the details of the file-in process in step 612. The outline of this processing routine is the same as the file-in processing of FIG. 3 and the file-in processing of FIG. 6 which have already been described in detail.

That is, the line counter C2 is cleared, and the original is read and encoded for one line.
Is performed, and after the line counter C2 is incremented, it is determined whether or not reading / encoding of one page of the document has been completed (steps 613 → 614 → 615).
→ 616). If it has not reached one page, it is determined whether or not the value of the line counter C2 has reached the specified value MAX (steps 616 → 619).
Proceeding to 20, it is determined whether the reception mode currently being processed is the ECM mode or the non-ECM mode. 1 if ECM mode
The process returns to the line read encoding process 614. In this case, the process is exactly the same as the file-in process of FIG.

If the mode is the non-ECM mode, step 62
Then, as in step 516 of FIG. 6, it is checked whether the reception of one page of the data to be preprocessed for memory reception has been completed to the end. The difference from the other file-in processing is that the determinations in steps 620 and 621 are performed. If one page of data to be preprocessed for memory reception has not been received yet, the process returns to the one-line read encoding process 614.

If the reading and encoding of one page of the document is completed by executing step 614, it is determined whether there is a next document to be read. If there is no next page, the file-in request flag F1 is set. It resets and ends the process (steps 616 → 617 → 618).
If there is a next page, the process ends without resetting the flag F1. Even if the process is in the middle of one page, if the value of the line counter C2 has reached MAX2, the process ends without resetting the flag F1.

Even if the file-in process is in the middle of one page and the value of the line counter C2 has not reached MAX2, the mode is the non-ECM mode. are doing"
If it is recognized, the file-in process is interrupted in the middle of the page, the process jumps to step 602, and a batch error check process is performed on the data of the page whose reception has been completed as described above. Thereafter, the file-in process of step 612 is re-entered through the already described route. [Regarding the Flowchart of FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the decoding processing of the memory reception data in step 406 in FIG. In this processing routine,
The remaining tasks of the post-processing of the memory reception in the step 403 are ended. Here also, the file-in process 707 can be executed in parallel.

First, at step 701, the printer buffer 1
9 is checked to see if there is a vacant area equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. In step 703, a print command is issued to the printer interface 18 and the memory control unit 20. Then, the page counter C1 is decremented, and it is checked whether or not the value of the counter C1 has become zero (step 704 → 705). Page counter C1
Is zero, it means that all the remaining tasks of the post-processing of the memory reception have been completed. In this case, the processing routine is exited, and the reception data processing request flag F2 is reset in step 407 of FIG.

If the page counter C1 is not zero, the flow returns from the step 705 to the first step 701 to check for an empty space in the printer buffer 19. If there is no free space in the printer buffer 19, the flow advances to step 706 to check the state of the file-in processing request flag F1. If the flag F1 is not set, the process waits for a space in the printer buffer 19, and if the flag F1 is set, the process proceeds to the file-in process of step 707. The file-in process of step 707 is the same as the file-in process of FIG. 3 described in detail above, executes the file-in process for one page of the document, and exits from the process. [About the processing data unit of the encoding / decoding circuit 16]
In order to use one encoding / decoding circuit 16 to execute the decoding associated with the received data processing and the encoding associated with the file-in processing in a time-division manner within a page, the respective processings are divided in line units. There is a need to. Encoding / decoding circuit 1
Since input / output of data to / from the memory 6 is performed in byte units, in order to simplify the time division processing, data of a plurality of bytes for one line must not include data of another line. As is well known, a line end code is inserted at the end of one line of data. In one byte of data including the line end code, data of the next line is included following the line end code. It must not be.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the raw image data is MR-encoded by the file-in processing and stored in the image memory 6, if the line end code does not match the end of one byte, the zero fill is performed following the line end code. Are added as appropriate to make one byte, and the data of the next line starts from a new one byte. This can be realized by setting a predetermined parameter that determines the operation mode of the encoding / decoding circuit 16 to that effect.

When the encoding method of adding a zero fill in units of lines as described above is used, the redundancy is increased by the amount of the added zero fill. Data was separated by bytes). However, if the present invention described above is adopted, it is desirable to adopt a zero-fill addition method in line units. [Regarding Line Control] The internal control of the image communication apparatus for executing a plurality of processes in parallel using only one encoding / decoding circuit 16 has been described in detail above. Has also been affected. That is, if new data is received during an operation of printing out received data, the encoding / decoding circuit 16 must execute decoding of the received data and error checking of the new received data. . In the facsimile control procedure, CC
According to the rules of the ITT, the sender indicates the end of the page by M
When the PS is transmitted, the receiving side must perform an error check on the received data and return some response. Delaying the transmission of the signal to be returned may cause a disconnection of the line and cause a communication error.Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize communication control. Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize error checking of received data and suspend printing of received data. Operation will be hindered. Further, rejecting new reception in order to avoid trouble in the recording operation is extremely inconvenient as an image communication device.

Therefore, in the present invention, when the MPS signal indicating the end of the page arrives, the printout operation of the received data is interrupted, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 is used to check the error of the new received data. When the error check is completed, a response signal is returned and the printer operation is restarted.

The details will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating control when a new incoming call is received during the printout operation of the received data.

First, when a new incoming call is received during the printout operation of the received data (ST1), even if the encoding / decoding circuit 16 is occupied for decoding the received data during the printout operation, A line is connected to receive new incoming data (ST2). It is checked whether or not the reception buffer area of the image memory 6 has a capacity for storing new reception data (ST3). If there is no capacity, image memory 6
Is expanded (ST4), and if there is a capacity, the data is sequentially stored in the reception buffer area (ST5).

Here, when the reception of one page of new reception data is completed and the MPS signal arrives, the CPU 1 checks whether or not the printer 17 is operating (ST6).
If the printer 17 is in operation, it is checked whether the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted, that is, whether or not one page of data is being printed out (ST7). Since the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted after the printing of one page of data and before the printing of the next page starts, the CPU 1 instructs the printer 17 to interrupt the printing operation. When the encoding / decoding circuit 16 decodes the received data for one page, the encoding / decoding circuit 16 interrupts the decoding processing of the received data, and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 Naturally, error checking of new received data may be performed. However, if the operation of the printer 17 is interrupted and the encoding / decoding circuit 16 checks the error of the new received data, the printout operation will not be hindered.

If the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted in ST7, the CPU 1 issues an instruction to interrupt the operation of the printer 17 (ST8), and is stored in the encoding / decoding circuit 16 in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6. The received data is checked for errors (ST9). After the error check, MC indicates that data has been received on the line.
The F signal is transmitted, and the operation of the printer 17 is internally resumed to print out the remaining pages (ST10).

In step ST7, it is determined whether the MPS signal has been detected a predetermined number of times (three times in this embodiment) (ST11). If the number of detections is three or less, ST7
Then, it is determined whether or not the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted. If the operation exceeds three times, no error check is performed, the data has been received for the line, and the process proceeds to phase B. An RTP signal is transmitted (ST12). As a result, if the operation of the printer 17 cannot be interrupted even after ignoring the MPS signal three times, the operation returns to the phase B to determine the transmission / reception mode and confirm the synchronization state again. It is possible to save time until the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted while the operation is stopped. Communication procedure failed
Then, the next page is received.

As described above, even when a new incoming call is received while the printer 17 is operating, new incoming data is received, an operation interruption instruction is issued to the printer 17 when an MPS signal arrives, and the operation of the printer 17 is stopped. Until can be interrupted, the arrival of the MPS signal is ignored, and the operation of the printer 17 can be interrupted, and an error check of new received data is executed, so that the operation of the printer 17 is not hindered. Also, the decoding / printing operation of the received data and the error check of the new received data are executed in parallel by one encoding / decoding circuit 16 without interrupting the facsimile communication procedure. Can be.

Next, the data in the image memory 6 is decoded /
Control performed when a new incoming call is received during the operation of printing and outputting will be described.

In the present embodiment, the reception buffer for storing the reception data as described above is constituted by providing a reception buffer area in the image memory 6. Therefore, during the operation of decrypting the received data already stored in the image memory 17 and printing it out, if there is a new incoming call,
A mixture of received data and incoming data to be printed in the same image memory 6 may cause an unmanageable state. That is, the received data stored in the image memory 6 is temporarily moved to the receiving buffer area, and then passed to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 via the system bus B1 for every predetermined number of lines and decoded. Thereafter, the decoded data is sequentially stored in the printer buffer 19 via the bus B2, and is printed out by the printer 17. Therefore,
The received data transferred to the encoding / decoding circuit 16 and the newly received data are mixed in the reception buffer area of the image memory 6, and an unmanageable state of the data occurs. This means that even if there is a new incoming call while the data in the image memory 6 is being printed out, the received data is completely removed from the receiving buffer and the incoming call is made without connecting the line until the operation of the printer 17 is stopped. It can be solved by waiting.

However, even if an incoming call is made to wait until the printer operation stops, the pre-procedure of facsimile communication must be performed after the line is connected and before the data is received. It cannot be started immediately.

Therefore, when an incoming call is received during the printing operation, a line is immediately connected, so that image data reception can be started immediately after the operation of the printer is stopped. In this case, when the line is connected, the CPU 1 sends an operation stop command to the printer 17, and if there is no response of the operation stop from the printer 17 by the end of the training, the CPU 1 suspends the reception of the image data.

The control when a new incoming call is received during the printout of the received data in the image memory 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

First, upon receiving an incoming call (ST1), it is determined whether or not the printer 17 is operating (ST2). If the operation is in progress, an operation stop command is issued (ST3). Printer 1
7 returns a response signal (ST4).
Sends a line connection instruction to the modem 5 (ST5), and the line is connected.

In step ST2, the process proceeds to step ST3 to issue an operation stop instruction to the printer 17. Therefore, in step ST6, the process proceeds to step ST7 to determine whether or not an operation stop notification has been received from the printer 17 before the training of the communication procedure is completed. I do. If the operation stop notification has not been received, it means that it is not ready to accept incoming data, and the modem 5 sends a training failure signal (FTT) (STT).
8) The sending side is suspended from sending the image data.

If the printer 17 is not operating in ST2, the process proceeds from ST6 to ST9, or proceeds to ST7.
When the operation stop notification is received from the printer 17 in
The process proceeds from ST7 to ST9, and a reception preparation confirmation signal (CF
R) is transmitted to the modem 5 (ST9), and reception of image data is started (ST10).

As described above, even if there is an incoming call during the operation of the printer 17, the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication is executed by immediately connecting the line.
Upon completion of the printing operation, the reception of the image data can be started immediately. If the printer operation is not stopped after the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication is completed, the pre-procedure of the facsimile communication which has transmitted the training failure signal is repeated again to suspend the start of transmission of image data. In the receive buffer area No. 6, the received data and the newly arrived data are not mixed. [Journal Creation Control] The journal creation processing in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the journal creation processing in this embodiment. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a process for creating a communication error file from a journal, and FIG. 14 is a memory diagram showing states of a journal and a communication error file.

First, when reception is started, the communication counter is incremented (ST1). The value of the communication counter becomes information indicating the number of communications, and is set in a temporary buffer for journal creation (ST2). When the receiving process is completed (ST3), the journal file is stored in FIG.
It is created for each communication as shown in (a) of 2 (ST4). The reason why the journal is created at the end of the receiving process is to make effective use of software resources. That is, there are two types of reception: paper reception and memory reception. In the case of memory reception, there is a time until paper is output, so a journal is created after reception. In the case of paper reception, a journal may be created after paper output, but it is created after reception according to memory reception. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a separate journal creation process for paper reception and memory reception.

After the reception, it is determined whether or not a communication error has occurred (ST5). If a communication error has occurred, a communication error file is created as shown in FIG.
6). The communication error file is created by transferring the data of the corresponding communication in the journal memory to the communication error memory as shown in FIG.

If the reception is paper reception (ST7),
The received data is recorded by the printer (ST8). If a print error occurs due to a paper jam or the like during the printer output (ST9), a situation occurs in which the error information at the time of journal creation and the error information after paper output are different.

Therefore, when a print error occurs,
The contents of the journal memory and the contents of the communication error memory are rewritten (ST10, ST11). When the rewriting process of the journal memory and the communication error memory is completed, the correction is made as shown in FIG.

As a result, while the software resources for creating the journal are effectively used, the situation in which the error information at the time of creating the journal and the error information after outputting the paper do not occur.

[0086]

As described in detail above, the present invention provides
First, when a reception is performed during an encoding process (file-in process) for encoding image data obtained by a document reading process and storing the encoded image data in an image memory, a predetermined amount of received data is stored in a reception buffer. Then, the control unit interrupts the encoding process and causes the encoding / decoding unit to execute a decoding process of decoding the received data and printing out the received data. The encoding process and the decoding process can be smoothly executed in parallel. Further, when the encoding process is started, the process for one page is continuously executed, so that the parallel process is executed without delaying the file-in process from the viewpoint of the user who has performed the reading operation. be able to. Further, even if the amount of received data stored in the receiving buffer is less than the predetermined amount, when the reception of one page is completed, the encoding process is interrupted and the decoding process is executed. It is possible to execute parallel processing without coming.

Second, it decodes the received encoded data stored in the image memory during the encoding process (file-in process) for encoding the image data obtained by the original reading process and storing the encoded image data in the image memory. When a decoding process for printing and outputting is performed, if there is free space in the printer buffer, the coding process is interrupted, and the control unit controls the coding / decoding unit to execute the decoding process. The encoding process and the decoding process can be smoothly performed in parallel by the number of encoding / decoding means. Also,
When the encoding process is started, the process for one page is continuously performed, so that the parallel process can be performed without delaying the file-in process from the viewpoint of the user who performed the reading operation. it can.

Third, if a reception is performed during the encoding process (file-in process) for encoding the image data obtained by the original reading process and storing the encoded image data in the image memory, the reception mode is set to the non-ECM mode. If there is, when the reception of one page of received data is completed, the encoding process is interrupted, and the control unit controls the encoding / decoding unit to execute an error check process of the received data. The encoding process and the error check can be smoothly performed in parallel by one encoding / decoding unit without any trouble in control.

Fourth, if the document is very long, even if the file-in processing for one page has not been completed, a predetermined amount of image data is processed or the processing is performed for a predetermined time from the start of the file-in processing. And the control means goes to monitor whether there is another processing request, so that the encoding / decoding means is not occupied for a long time in the file-in processing, and the reception operation is not delayed. One encoding /
A plurality of processes can be smoothly executed in parallel by the decoding means.

[0090]

[0091]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a main routine executed by a CPU 1 in the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a detailed flowchart of step 205 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of step 206 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detailed flowchart of step 402 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of step 402 in FIG. 4 subsequent to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of step 403 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of step 403 in FIG. 4 subsequent to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detailed flowchart of step 406 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of internal control corresponding to communication control in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of internal control corresponding to communication control in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating journal creation control according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing processing when a communication error file is created from a journal.

FIG. 14 is a memory diagram showing a journal memory and a communication error memory before and after correction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 5 Modem 6 Image memory 16 Encoding / decoding circuit 19 Printer buffer

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-119059 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/21 G06T 9/00 H04N 1 / 41

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving buffer for sequentially storing received data, a printer buffer for storing decoded data obtained by decoding the received data in page units, and storing one page of the decoded data in the printer buffer. Printer for printing and printing, an image memory for sequentially storing coded data obtained by coding the image data output from the document reading means, and coding / decoding for decoding the received data or coding the read image data Encoding means for receiving the read image data during the encoding process; and receiving the encoded data if a predetermined amount of the received data is not stored in the reception buffer.
Decoding means continues the encoding process, and when a predetermined amount of received data is stored in the reception buffer, the encoding process is interrupted and the encoding / decoding means decodes the received encoded data. Process, and the decryption process
An image communication device comprising: control means for performing control for restarting the encoding process when the processing is completed . 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein when the reception of one page is completed, the first processing for encoding the read image data is interrupted even if the reception data is not stored in the reception buffer in a predetermined amount. 2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to cause the converting means to execute a second process of decoding the received encoded data. 3. A receiving buffer for sequentially storing received data, and an encoding / decoding means for decoding the received data stored in the receiving buffer and encoding image data output from the document reading means. An image memory that stores encoded data obtained by encoding the received data and the read image data; and a printer buffer that stores decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the image memory in page units. A printer for accumulating one page of the decoded data in the printer buffer and printing out the data;
When the decoding / printing process of the received data in the image memory is executed during the re-encoding process of the read image data, when there is no free space in the printer buffer, the encoding / decoding means sends the re-encoding When the processing is continued , and when there is free space in the printer buffer, the encoding / decoding means interrupts the re-encoding processing and executes the decoding / printing processing. When the decoding / printing processing is completed, Re
An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs control for restarting an encoding process . 4. A receiving buffer for sequentially accumulating received data, and an encoding / decoding means for decoding the received data accumulated in the receiving buffer and encoding the image data output from the original reading means. An image memory that stores encoded data obtained by encoding the received data and the read image data; and a printer buffer that stores decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the image memory in page units. A printer for accumulating one page of the decoded data in the printer buffer and printing out the data;
When receiving during the encoding process of the read image data,
To execute the error check of the received data accumulated in the reception buffer in interrupting the encoding process when the reception data of one page in the receiving buffer has been accumulated the encoding / decoding means, said error Check ends
And a control unit for restarting the encoding process . 5. A receiving buffer for sequentially storing received data, a printer buffer for storing decoded data obtained by decoding the received data stored in the receiving buffer in page units, and one page in the printer buffer. A printer for accumulating the decoded data and printing out the image data, an image memory for sequentially accumulating encoded data obtained by encoding the image data output from the document reading means, decoding the received data, and reading the read image data. Encoding / decoding means for encoding the read image data, and determining whether there is a request for decoding the received data when the processing amount or the processing time from the start of the encoding processing of the read image data exceeds a predetermined value. And when the decoding processing request is received, the encoding / decoding means is caused to execute the decoding processing, and when the decoding processing is completed,
An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs control for restarting the encoding process .