Facsimile device with which content transmitted and received can be easily known

20~3303 1 FACSIMILE DEVICE WITH WHICH CONTENT TRANSMITTED AND RECEIVED CAN BE EASILY KNOWN The invention relates generally to facsimile devices for transmitting and receiving image information, and more particularly, relates to facsimile devices by which a summary of contents transmitted and received can be easily determined.

In a conventional facsimile device, the date, the time of the transmitting and receiving operation, the name of the transmitting or receiving office, the time period required for the transmitting and receiving operation, the number of pages, the communication result and so on are stored as communication administration information so that an operator can later confirm a communication record of the facsimile device.

The contents thereof are sequentially printed as a daily report administration list in time sequence in each communication unit, for example, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

In the conventional facsimile device, however, though the communication administration information outputted in the daily report administration list can be confirmed by the operator after the transmitting or receiving operation, it is impossible to confirm the contents of an image to be transmitted or received unless, for example, a summary of the contents and a title of an original to be transmitted and transmitting source information from a facsimile at the transmitting office is added as an image to the image to be received.

There is a problem that, unless the operator keeps the transmitted original or the received image and he himself retains and administers a record 2043903 of when the original or the image was transmitted or received, the contents thereof cannot be confirmed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is, in a facsimile device, to easily confirm transmitting source information of a facsimile device of 5 a transmitting office.

Another object of the invention is to easily confirm, in a facsimile device, a summary of an image transmitted from a transmitting office.

Another object of the invention is to enable an operator to easily confirm the contents of a transmitted original in a facsimile device.

Still another object of the invention is to enable an operator to easily confirm a title of a transmitted original in a facsimile device.

Still another object of the invention is to enable an operator to confirm the contents of an image transmitted or received as a daily report administration list, along with communication administration information, for a facsimile device.

Still another object of the invention is to enable an operator to confirm the contents of a transmitted original as a daily report list for a facsimile device, along with transmission administration information in a daily report administration device for the facsimile device.

Yet another object of the invention is to enable an operator to confirm transmission administration information for a facsimile device at a transmitting office.

The administration information, transmitted with image information as transmitting source information, is included in a daily report list 20~903 of the facsimile, along with received administration information, in a daily report administration device of the facsimile device.

The objects of the present invention above are achieved by a facsimile device for receiving image information transmitted from a facsimile 5 device at a transmitting office and reproducing the received image information in accordance with the present invention.

The facsimile device includes a region-setting device for setting any region of image information to be received, a memory for storing the portion of the image information that is in the set region every time the image information is received, and a record device for 10 recording the portion of the image information thus stored in the memory in the order in which those portions are stored in the memory.

The facsimile device according to the present invention includes the above-mentioned elements, so that a selected region of each received image information is stored and reproduced.

As a result, a summary of the 15 received image information can be easily determined for the facsimile device.

Preferably, a region set by the region-setting device is a portion of the transmitting source information received from a facsimile device at a transmitting office as image information.

The transmitting source information is stored and reproduced, so that the transmitting source information can be easily confirmed 20 in the facsimile device.

In another aspect of the invention, a facsimile device for transmitting image information obtained by scanning an original to a facsimile device at a receiving office includes a setting device for setting any region of image information to be scanned, a memory for storing the set portion of the ..~ 20~3903 scanned-image information every time the image information is transmitted, and record means for recording the image information stored in the memory in the order in which it is stored in the memory.

In the facsimile device, any region of the original to be transmitted 5 is set and stored and the stored portion is reproduced.

As a result, in the facsimile device, the operator can easily confirm the contents of the transmitted original.

In another aspect of the invention, a daily report administration device of a facsimile device stores communication administration information 10 and records the communication administration information as a daily report administration list every time image information is transmitted or received from a facsimile device at an opposite end.

The administration report device includes a region-setting device for setting any region of the image information to be transmitted and received, a memory for storing the image information of the set 15 region in connection with the communication administration information, and a recording/reproducing modc sclcct device.

The mode-select device selects one of a first mode in which the communication administration information is only recorded as a daily report administration list, a second mode in which the image information stored in the memory is recorded along with the communication 20 administration information as a daily report administration list, and a third mode in which the image information stored in the memory is recorded in the order in which it is stored in the memory.

In the daily report administration device of the facsimile device, the operator can select among a recording of the communication administration 20~3903 information only, a recording of a desired region of the image transmitted and received along with the communication administration information, and a recording of the image information transmitted or received only.

As a result, inthe daily report administration device of the facsimile device, the operator canalso confirm the contents of the image transmitted and received, along with the communication administration information, as a daily report administration list.The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a facsimile device according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow chart of a process for setting a region to be stored.

Figures 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing respective examples of an original image and a received image.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of a transmission process.

Figure 5 is a flow chart of a receive process.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a daily report printing process.

Figure 7A is a list of transmission administration information only.

Figure 7B is a list of receive administration information only.

Figures 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing respective examples of a list of transmitted set-region images only and a list of received set-region images only.

20~3303 Figures 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams showing respective examples of a list of transmission administration information and transmitted setregion Images and a list of receive administration information and received set-region Images.

Referring to Figure 1, a network control circuit 1 generally known as an NCU is connected to a public telephone network L. A telephone set for conversation 2 is connected to the network control circuit 1 and calls up a receiving office by a dialing operation. A modem 3 modulates a digital compressed signal of image information generated in the facsimile device into an analog signal to transmit it to a facsimile device at the receiving office, or receives an analog signal transmitted from the facsimile of the transmitting office to demodulate it to a digital compressed signal. A transmission control circuit 4 is connected to the modem 3, for controlling signal transmission with a facsimile device of the transmitting office or the receiving office.

An encode/decode circuit 5 is connected to the transmission control circuit 4, for encoding a digital bit string of image information to be transmitted into a digital compressed signal, or decoding the digital compressed signal demodulated by the modem 3 to a digital bit string of image information. A daily report administration control circuit 6 for administering transmission/receive administration information generated in each transmission or communication (for example, the date, the time, the name of the transmitting or receiving office, the required time, the number of pages, the result of communication and so on) is connected to a clock circuit 7 for generating clock information required for thedaily report administration and to a calendar circuit 8 for generating calendar - 2043903 information.

The transmission/receive administration information generated with each communication is controlled by the daily report administration control circuit 6 and stored in a daily report totalization memory 9 in time sequence.

A scanner 10 for reading an original image to be transmitted is driven and 5 controlled by a read control circuit 11. A printer 12 is controlled by a record control circuit 13 and records the receiving image information and the transmission/receive administration information administered by the daily report administration control circuit 6.

The received image or, part of or all of the image information read by the scanner 10 is stored in an image memory 14.

10 An area and an address where the image information is to be stored are controlled by an image memory control circuit 15 in connection with the transmission/receive administration information administered at the daily report administration control circuit 6. A main control circuit 16 exercises general control over each of these control circuits.

An operation command and an 15 information input to the control circuit 16 is supplied by an operator panel 17 through an operator panel control circuit 18.

A specific operation of a facsimile device according to the present invention will now be described with respect to a process of setting a region to be stored, a transmission process, a receive process and a daily report printing 20 process, respectively.

I.

Process of setting a region to be stored A description follows of methods for determining what region of the image is to be stored.

There are two region-setting methods as described below.

20~3903 (1 ) First method.

In this method, numerical value keys are provided on the operator panel 17 for inputting the distances e1, e2, and these distances are set for each transmission and reception, wherein e~ represents a distance from a position 5 where the scanner 10 starts reading to a position where storing of a region TM to be stored of the image to be transmitted is started, and e2 represents a distance from a position where the scanner 10 starts reading to a position where storing of the region TM is finished.

In this case, there are provided function keys, i.e., a region-setting 10 mode key, a transmission-image/reception-image selection key, an e1/e2 selection key (which is not required if it is fixed that e2 should be set after setting e1 (i) Transmission mode A region to be stored of an original image is set at the time of 15 setting the original, which will be described later in Figure 4.

Firstly, the region setting mode key is operated and then (it is assumed that the transmission is selected by not operating the transmissionimage/reception-image selection key) a value of a distance corresponding to e1 (the distance from the top of the original to the region TM) is inputted by the 20 numerical value key (for example in mm).

After that, the e1 key is operated, so that setting of the value of e1 is completed.

This e~ value is held in a memory MTM 11.

Subsequently, a distance value corresponding to e2 (a distance from the top of the original to the rear end of the region TM) is inputted by the numerical value key.

Setting of the 20~3303 value of e2 is completed by operating the e2 key.

The value of e2 is held in a memory MTM 21.

(ii) Receiving mode In this case, the operation is carried out in a similar way as in the 5 case of the transmission mode.

In the case of the receiving mode, the transmission-image/reception-image selection key is operated subsequently to the operation of the region-setting mode key, and a region of the image to be received is set.

e, is held in a memory MRM 11 and e2 is held in a memory MRM 10 21.

These values are reset every time transmission/reception is completed.

(2) Second method.

In this method, the above-mentioned region is fixed in advance.

A function key of a lock mode key is provided in addition to each key stated above.

In this case, before the operation of (1) above, this lock 15 mode key is operated, so that the values e~ and e2 are held in memories MTM 10 (for the value of transmission e1)~ MTM 20 (for the value of transmission e2)~ MRM 10 (for the value of reception e,), MRM 20 (for the value reception e2), respectively.

A method in which these memories MTM 10, MTM 20, MRM 10, 20 MRM 20 are used will be described later.

Priority is given to the first method (1) when the first method is set, while priority is otherwise given to the second method (2).

Referring to Figure 2, a process of determining a region to be stored will now be described, in which an original image to be transmitted and . , 2043903 a region of the received image to be stored are preset before facsimile communication.

An operator selects between setting a region to be stored of the image to be transmitted (step S11, "step" will be hereinafter referred to as "S") 5 and setting a region to be stored of the image to be received (S17) after he has selected a process for setting a region to be stored using the operator panel 17.

If the operator selects setting a region to be stored of the image to be transmitted (S13), he sets a storable region TM of the image to be transmitted as shown in Figure 3A. A distance e, from a position where the scanner 10 10 starts reading to a position where storing is started in the region TM, and a distance e2 from the position where the scanner 10 starts reading to a position where storing is ended in the region TM, are inputted as numerical values.

When the respective distances e1, e2 are inputted, the main control circuit 16 notifies the image memory control circuit 15 that the region TM to be stored of 15 the image to be transmitted has been set.

The image memory control circuit 15 stores the distances e1, e2 as position information of the region TM to be stored in preparation for a transmission process.

It is preferable that a portion of a name of the case or a title such as "as to publication of the new product" as in Figure 3A is set as the region TM so that the operator can easily confirm the 20 contents of the transmitted original later.

If a format of an original to be transmitted is fixed (for example, manuscript papers on which predetermined ruled lines are printed and the like), it may save the trouble of setting the position information e" e2 of the region TM every time a transmission is effected.

2043903 11 If the operator selects the process of setting what region is to be stored of the image to be received (YES in S17, S19), he sets a region RM as shown in Figure 3B. A distance e, from a position where the printer 12 starts recording and reproducing to a position of the region RM where storing is 5 started (not shown, since e, = 0 in this embodiment), and a distance e2 from the position where the printer 12 starts recording and reproducing to a position of the region RM where storing is ended are inputted as numerical values.

When the distances e" e2 are inputted, the main control circuit 16 notifies the image memory control circuit 15 that the region TM to be stored from the image to be 10 received has been set.

The image memory control circuit 15 stores the distances e1, e2 as position information of the region RM in preparation for a receive process (S21).

It is preferable that transmitting source information (for example, the transmission date, the transmission time, the transmitter, pages and the like) which is normally transmitted as an image at the head portion of 15 an original image should be set as the region RM, as shown in Figure 3B, so that the operator can later easily confirm when and from whom the original image was transmitted.

Il.

Transmission process Referring to Figure 4, a transmission process will be described in 20 which an image of an original is read and transmitted to a facsimile device of a predetermined receiving office.

The operator sets an original to be transmitted on the scanner 10 (S31), and calls up a predetermined receiving office by dialing the telephone 2 (S33).

When the lines are connected and there is a facsimile response from the 20~9U3 12 predetermined receiving office, the operator gives instructions to start transmission by the operator panel 17 (S35).

When the instructions to start transmission are given, the main control circuit 16 directs the daily report administration control circuit 6 to prepare transmission administration 5 information.

The daily report administration control circuit 6 prepares transmission administration information (including, for example, the transmission date, the transmission time, the name of the receiving office and so on) based on the clock information from the clock circuit 7 and the calendar information from the calendar circuit 8, and stores the same in the daily report totalization memory 9 in time sequence (S37).

Then, the main control circuit 16 directs the read control circuit 11 to start reading the original (S39).

The read control circuit 11 counts the number of original pages and prepares information on pages, and also reads the image to be transmitted (S41).

When the original read is the first page (YES in S43), the read control circuit 11 notifies the main 15 control circuit 16 of such.

The main control circuit 16 receives that notification and directs the encode/decode circuit 5 to encode the read image to be transmitted, and also directs the image memory control circuit 15 to store the image to be transmitted.

The image memory control circuit 15 receives the instructions to store the image from the main control circuit, makes a 20 determination as to whether the region TM to be stored in advance has been set (S45), and, if it has been set, starts storing information of the predetermined region TM of the first-page image that is transmitted, as shown in Figure 3A (S47).

20~3903 13 A description will now be made of a method for detecting the region TM.

The step of reading the original image, indicated by S39 of Figure 4, is started after finishing procedures to be performed before image transmission, such as connection to the network and handshaking procedures, 5 by the facsimile device.

At this time, the step of reading the original image is carried out on a resolution basis determined in the procedure before image transmission (1 line, for example, is 1/7.7mm).

When reading of 1 line is completed, the original is transported simultaneously with an encoding process of the read image; furthermore, a counter CNT for counting the number of read 10 lines is updated.

The counted value of the counter CNT1 is converted into millimeters using the above resolution, and a check is made to see if it is between the value of e~ stated above (MTM 10 or MTM 11) and the value of e2 MTM 20 or MTM 21.

Whether the distance value is set in the memories 15 MTM 11/MTM 21 or not determines which memories, the memories MTM 10/MTM 20 orthe memories MTM 11/MTM 21, are used.

The process above is repeated and if the value of the counter CNT coincides with the value of the memory MTM, the image is stored in a predetermined position of a transmission image storing area of the daily report 20 memory 9 simultaneously with the image transmission (S49).

The encode/decode circuit 5 starts encoding the image to be transmitted, constituted by a digital bit string, to a digital compressed signal based on the encode instructions from the main control circuit 16.

.....

~- 20~39U.~ 14 If the original read is the second or later page (NO in S43), or if the region TM has not been set in advance (NO in S45), the read image to be transmitted is not stored but is sequentially encoded to a digital compressed signal by the encode/decode circuit 5 with the start of reading operation (S49).

5 The image to be transmitted which has been encoded to the digital compressed signal is modulated to an analog signal at the modem 3 under control of the transmission control circuit 4, sent to the public telephone network L through the network control circuit 1 and transmitted to the facsimile device of the predetermined receiving office (S51).

The same is true of a case in which the 10 original to be transmitted has a plurality of pages.

If an error occurs for some reason during transmission (YES in S51), the transmission control circuit 4 stops transmission at that point and notifies the main control circuit 16 of the occurrence of the transmission error.

The main control circuit 16 receives the notification, directs the daily report 15 administration control circuit 6 to prepare transmission administration information that the transmission error has occurred, and directs the record control circuit 13 to record that the transmission error has occurred.

The daily report administration control circuit 6 receives the instructions to create transmission administration information from the main control circuit (including for example, 20 the number of pages transmitted, the required time period, the result of transmission and so on) and to store that information in the daily report totalization memory 9 in connection with the transmission administration information stored previously (S57).

The record control circuit 13 receives the instructions to record the occurrence of the transmission error from the main 20~39~3 control circuit, drives the printer 12, and instantly records the transmission result that the transmission error has occurred, terminating the transmission process.

If the transmission of the image to be transmitted to the receiving office is terminated without the occurrence of a transmission error (NO in S53), 5 only transmission administration information (for example, the number of pages transmitted, the required time period, the transmission result and so on) is stored in the daily report totalization memory 9 by the daily report administration control circuit 6 (S55, S57) before termination of the transmission process.

Ill.

Reception process Referring now to Figure 5, a reception process will be described in which an original image transmitted from a facsimile device of a transmitting office is received.

When the operator responds by telephone to a calling tone from the telephone of the transmitting office (S61) to confirm that the message is 15 transmitted through the facsimile device, he instructs the main control circuit to start receiving through the operator panel 17 (S63).

When the instructions to start receiving are given, the main control circuit 16 instructs the transmission control circuit 4 to control the facsimile signal transmitted and instructs the daily report administration control circuit 6 to prepare reception administration 20 information.

The transmission control circuit 4, based on instructions from the main control circuit 16, demodulates the analog facsimile signal, that is transmitted by the modem 3 from the transmitting office, to a digital compressed signal.

The daily report administration control circuit 6 receives the instructions to prepare reception administration information from the main control circuit 16, 20~3903 16 prepares reception administration information (including for example, the receive date, the receive time, the name of the receiving office and so on), based on the clock information from the clock circuit 7 and the calendar information from the calendar circuit 8, and stores the same in the daily report totalization memory 5 9 in a time sequence (S65).

Then, the main control circuit 16 instructs the encode/decode circuit 5 to decode the demodulated digital compressed signal.

The encode/decode circuit 5 starts decoding the received image, demodulated into a digital compressed signal, into a digital bit string (S67).

When decoding of the received image starts, the main control circuit 16 instructs the record 10 control circuit 13 to effect recording and reproduction.

The record control circuit 13 drives the printer 12 to start recording and reproducing of the received image decoded to the digital bit string.

The record control circuit 13 counts the number of pages of the original received, creates page information (S69) as well as records, reproduces the received image and, if the original received is the first 15 page (YES in S71), notifies the main control circuit 16 of such.

The main control circuit 16 receives the notification and instructs the image memory control circuit 15 to store the received image.

The image memory control circuit 15 receives the instructions to store the image from the main control circuit and makes a determination as to whether the region RM to be stored in advance 20 has been set (S73).

If it has been set, it starts storing information in the predetermined region RM of the received image on the first page shown in Figure 3B (S75).

A method for detecting the region RM will now be described.

In the step of decoding the received image, shown in S67 of Figure 5, the number ~., 20~3!~U~ 17 of image lines received is counted using the counter CNT in accordance with the above-mentioned resolution, simultaneously with recording and reproducing the image on recording paper in the image transmission procedure.

This is similar to the method described above for detecting the region TM.

5 Furthermore, a check is made during reception to see if the counted value is between the value of e1 above (the memory MRM 10 or MRM 11) and the value of e2 (MRM 20 or MRM 21).

When these values coincide with each other, the image is stored in a predetermined position of a reception-image-storing area of the daily report memory 9 (S75).

If the original received is the second or later page (NO in S71), or if the region RM has not been previously set (NO in S73), the printer 12 is driven by the record control circuit 18, and recording and reproduction is effected without the received image being stored.

The same is true of a case in which the original received includes a plurality of pages.

If an error occurs for some reason during receiving (YES in S79), the transmission control circuit 4 stops receiving at that point and notifies the main control circuit 16 of the occurrence of the reception error.

The main control circuit 16 receives the notification and instructs the record control circuit 13 to record the result that the reception error has occurred, and also instructs 20 the daily report administration control circuit 6 to create reception administration information that the reception error has occurred.

The daily report administration control circuit 6 receives instructions from the main control circuit to prepare the reception administration information (including, for example, the number of pages received, the required time period, the reception result and so 20~3~03 18 on), and stores that information in the daily report totalization memory 9 in connection with the reception administration information stored previously (S83).

The record control circuit 13 receives instructions from the main control circuit to record the occurrence of the reception error, to drive the printer 12, instantly 5 recording the result that the reception error has occurred, and to terminate the reception process.

If facsimile-receiving from the transmitting office is terminated without occurrence of a reception error, (NO in S79), only storing of reception administration information (including for example, the number of pages received, 10 the required time period, the reception results and so on) in the daily report totalization memory 9 is effected by the daily report administration control circuit 6 in terminating the steps of the reception process (S81, S83).

IV.

Daily report printing process Referring to Figure 6, a daily report printing process will be 15 described for list-printing the daily report administration information, prepared and stored by the transmission process and the reception process at the direction and request of the operator.

The operator selects a daily report printing process in the facsimile device using the operator panel 17, in order to confirm the transmission and 20 reception results of the facsimile communication.

The main control circuit 16 instructs the daily report administration control circuit 6 to recall the administration information of the transmission and reception operation stored sequentially, and to instruct the image memory control circuit 15 to recall the image information of the transmitted image region TM and the received image 20~390~ 19 region RM which are stored sequentially.

If at this time no daily report information on transmission and reception or image information of transmitted and received image regions is stored (NO in S91), the daily report printing process is terminated and the operator is given an indication through a display 5 means (not shown) that there is no daily report information stored.

If daily report information is stored, the operator selects a list mode (S93).

There is a list mode in which only list-printing of the transmission and reception administration information is effected as in Figures 7A, 7B (administration information list), a list mode in which only list-printing of the 10 image of the set region to be transmitted and received is effected as in Figures 8A, 8B (image information list), and a list mode in which list-printing of both of the transmission and reception administration information and the image of the set region image is effected as in Figures 9A, 9B (administration/image information list).

If the administration information list is selected (YES in S95), the transmission and reception administration information stored in the daily report totalization memory 9 sequentially with each communication (for example, the transmission and reception date, the time, the name of the transmitting or receiving office, the required time period, the number of pages, the 20 communication result and so on) is recalled by the daily report administration control circuit 6 (S97).

The printer 12 is activated by the record control circuit 13, and a list edited into a predetermined list form such as in Figures 7A, 7B is printed out (S99).

If the image information list is selected (YES in S101), the image information of the transmitted and received image regions TM and RM, - 20~3~o3 respectively, stored in the image memory 14 sequentially with each communication is recalled by the image memory control circuit 15 (S103).

The printer 12 is activated by the record control circuit 13, and a list edited into a predetermined list form as in Figures 8A, 8B is printed out (S105).

If the 5 administration/image information list is selected (YES in S107), both the transmission and reception administration information and the image of the set region are called (S109, S111).

They are collated with respect to time sequence in each communication (S113), and the transmission and reception administration information and the image of the set region in the same 10 communication, which have been stored independently, are printed out as pairs of daily report information in each list, as in Figures 9A, 9B (S115).

A method in which they are collated with respect to time sequence in each communication will now be specifically described.

The daily report memory is divided into transmission administration information, reception 15 administration information, transmission image information and reception image information, respectively, as shown in Figures 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B.

Each divided portion is further divided as in Figures 7A and 7B.

Each transmission/reception is assigned an administration number which is incremented with each transmission/reception, as represented in numbers in Figures 7A, 7B, 8A and 20 8B.

Administration and image information for transmission and reception in one communication is stored in positions given the same administration numbers.

The collation of the administration information/image information shown in Figure 6 is carried out using these administration numbers.

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20.~3go3 Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

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