JP2002247385A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform appropriate transmission after conforming the functions of one's party. SOLUTION: The facsimile machine having a transmission function of black- and-white and color manuscripts comprises a means for billing a charge where a color additional charge is added to a basic charge according to the total number of manuscripts before transmitting data (step 104), a means for judging the presence or absence of the color manuscript reception capacity of one's party concerned according to a DIS signal from one's party (step 110), a means for converting the color manuscript data to black-and-white manuscript data according to user's instruction by stopping transmission temporarily when it is judged that one's party does not have capacity for reception (steps 116, 118, and 120), a means for transmitting the black-and-white manuscript data after conversion to one's party (step 122), and a means for returning the color additional charge (step 126), thus performing appropriate transmission operation and charge billing according to the result after conforming the functions of one's party.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting black-and-white original data and color original data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile apparatuses having a color document communication function (hereinafter referred to as a color function) have been widely used. However, in facsimile communication, even if color original data is transmitted using the color function, if the receiving facsimile machine does not have the color function, the receiving user cannot receive the color original, and the color function There is no meaning sent in.

On the other hand, recently, in convenience stores and the like, facsimile machines have been installed in stores to provide facsimile use services. In such a facsimile machine such as a convenience store, the transmitting user selects color transmission or monochrome transmission according to whether the transmission original is color or black and white, and pays a facsimile usage fee determined by the selected method. Is the current situation.

[0004]

However, as described above, even if the user pays for the color transmission and performs the color transmission, there is no color function on the receiving side, so that the color transmission is practically meaningless. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the user is incurred useless costs.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-134008 discloses that when reading a document for facsimile transmission, the data type (for example, black and white or color) is determined from the image data of each document, and the data type and processing content are determined. Although the method of charging based on the detailed charging system is described,
This billing method has a problem that it is very complicated and difficult for a user to understand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has as its object to provide a facsimile apparatus which performs an appropriate transmission operation after confirming the function of the other party.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting black and white original data and color original data. Prior to transmitting the data, based on a predetermined signal from the other party's facsimile machine, a determination means for determining whether the other party's facsimile machine has the ability to receive color document data, and the other party's facsimile machine And stopping means for stopping transmission of the image data to the facsimile apparatus of the other party when it is determined that the facsimile apparatus does not have the ability to receive the original data.

The facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting black-and-white original data and color original data, and the judging means determines whether or not to transmit image data including color original data. It is determined from the reception function information included in a predetermined signal from the apparatus, for example, a digital identification signal (DIS signal), whether or not the other party facsimile apparatus has the ability to receive color document data. Here, if it is determined that the other party's facsimile machine does not have the ability to receive color document data, the canceling unit stops the transmission of image data to the other party's facsimile apparatus. As a result, it is possible to prevent the color document data from being transmitted to the other party's facsimile apparatus even though the other party's facsimile apparatus does not have the ability to receive color document data.

The image data including the color original data is a case where all of the image data is color original data and a case where the image data is a mixture of black and white and color including color original data (for example, a black and white page and a color). Page data and a plurality of document data in which pages are mixed).

It is desirable that the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention further includes an operation instructing unit for instructing a user to perform a retransmission operation using black and white original data when the transmission is stopped by the canceling unit. In this case, if the transmission is stopped, the operation instructing unit instructs a retransmission operation using the black and white original data, so that the transmitting user stops the transmission because the facsimile machine of the other party does not have the capability of receiving the color original data. The user can recognize that the operation has been performed, and can take appropriate measures such as performing a retransmission operation based on the black and white document data or retransmitting the color document to another facsimile apparatus having a color function.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when the transmission is stopped by the stop means, the color original data included in the image data is converted into the black and white original data by a user operation or automatically. Conversion means;
It is desirable to further provide a post-conversion transmission unit for transmitting image data including the converted black-and-white original data to the facsimile apparatus of the other party. In this case, when the transmission is stopped, the black-and-white conversion means operates by a user operation or automatically.
The color document data included in the image data is converted into black-and-white document data, and the converted transmission unit transmits the image data including the converted black-and-white document data to the facsimile apparatus of the other party. This eliminates the need for the user to perform a retransmission operation such as reading a black-and-white document, and thus can easily perform retransmission using black-and-white document data.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when image data including color original data is obtained at the time of reading an original, black and white data creating means for creating monochrome original data corresponding to the color original data; A black-and-white data storage unit for storing the image data including the black-and-white original data, and an image data including the black-and-white original data which is stored by a user operation or automatically when transmission is stopped by the canceling unit. It is desirable to further provide a black-and-white transmitting means for transmitting to the side facsimile apparatus. In this case, when image data including color original data is obtained at the time of reading the original, the black-and-white data creating means creates black-and-white original data corresponding to the color original data, and the black-and-white data storage means creates the monochrome image data. The image data including the original data is stored. For this reason, when the transmission is stopped by the stop unit at the time of transmission, the conversion process from the color document data to the black and white document data becomes unnecessary, and the black and white transmission unit is operated by the user or automatically,
The image data including the stored black and white original data can be promptly transmitted to the other party's facsimile machine.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when it is determined that the other party's facsimile apparatus has the ability to receive color original data, prior to the transmission of the image data, a basic charge corresponding to the total number of originals is provided. It is desirable to further provide a fee presenting means for presenting a usage fee obtained by adding a color additional fee according to the number of color documents. In this case, if it is determined that the other party's facsimile machine has the ability to receive color document data, the fee presenting means sets a basic fee according to the total number of documents before transmitting the image data.
A usage fee obtained by adding a color additional fee according to the number of color documents is presented. This allows the user to confirm that the facsimile machine of the other party has the ability to receive color document data before transmission, and then recognize the usage fee under an easy-to-understand fee system.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, prior to the transmission of image data, a fee collection is performed in which a usage fee obtained by adding a color surcharge corresponding to the number of color documents to a basic fee corresponding to the total number of documents is collected. It is desirable to further provide means and a charge return means for returning the added color additional charge when it is determined that the other party's facsimile machine does not have the ability to receive color document data. In this case, first, the fee collection unit transmits the image data before transmitting the image data.
A usage fee obtained by adding a color additional fee according to the number of color documents to a basic fee according to the total number of documents is collected. However, if the judging means judges that the other party's facsimile machine does not have the ability to receive color document data, the charge returning means returns the added color additional charge.
This makes it possible to avoid the inconvenience of collecting an additional color charge when the other party's facsimile machine does not have the ability to receive color original data and color transmission does not make sense, and to optimize the usage charge. Can be.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The facsimile apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main control section 16 for controlling the operation of each section of the apparatus, a communication control section 14 equipped with a modem for performing communication control based on the G3 facsimile communication protocol, a network control unit (NCU), and the like. A line controller 12 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside via a communication line 26, a scanner 18 for digitally reading a document to be transmitted, and an image data and line controller 12 input from the scanner 18. A memory 28 for storing image data and the like received from the outside via the printer, a printer 20 for printing the received image data, a type of color / black and white, a level of image resolution (standard / high resolution / ultra high resolution), etc. And a display panel for displaying an operation instruction message and the like. A control panel unit 22 is configured to include a charging unit 24 for performing processing described below relating to billing the user of the facsimile machine 10, which are interconnected via a system bus (not shown).

The line control unit 12 includes a paging signal detection unit 12A for detecting a paging signal at the time of an incoming call. The charging unit 24 includes a charge calculation unit 24A for calculating a usage charge charged to a user. Charging information display unit 24B that displays charging information such as the usage fee calculated by the fee calculating unit 24A.
And a coin depositing / dispensing unit 24C for confirming a deposit from a user and dispensing change, and a coin accumulating unit 24D for accumulating deposited coins and coins for change.

The scanner 18 has a color document reading function, and the printer 20 has a color printing function. The communication control unit 14 and the line control unit 14 also have a function of transmitting and receiving color image data.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
With reference to FIG. 4, processing related to facsimile transmission / reception control of a color document will be described.

First, the processing on the transmitting side will be described. When the transmitting user sets a transmission document including a color document at a predetermined position, performs designation of a transmission destination, color transmission settings, and other desired settings from the control panel unit 22, and then operates a start button, the transmission button shown in FIG. The side process starts to be executed in the transmission-side facsimile machine 10. Step 1 of FIG.
At 02, the transmission originals are read one by one by the scanner 18, and at the next step 104, the subroutine of the fee collection process of FIG. 3 is executed.

In the charge collection process shown in FIG.
Then, a basic charge is calculated by multiplying the total number of originals including both color and black and white by a basic unit price (for example, 10 yen / sheet), and multiplying the number of color originals by a color additional unit price (for example, 40 yen / sheet). By calculating the color surcharge. In the next step 154, the usage fee is calculated by adding up the basic fee and the color additional fee obtained in step 152, and in the next step 156, this usage fee is displayed on the charging information display section 24B to charge the user. Prompt for payment. Then, in the next step 158, the process waits for the user to pay the fee, and upon completion of the payment, returns from the subroutine of FIG. 3 to the main routine of FIG.

Returning from the subroutine of FIG. 3,
In step 106 of FIG. 2, a call is made to the designated destination, and in the next step 108, for example, in the process of establishing communication with the receiving side in the G3 facsimile communication protocol,
Facsimile information field of digital identification signal (DIS signal) received from the receiving side (field 92 in FIG. 8)
Obtain the receiver's capability information indicated in (1).

FIG. 8 shows the frame structure of various signals used in the binary procedure of facsimile communication. The facsimile control field 90 indicates the type of the signal (for example, the signal is a DIS signal). , And the facsimile information field 92 indicates the receiving function of the receiving facsimile machine.

In the next step 110, it is determined whether or not the receiving side can receive color document data by referring to the capability information of the receiving side. If the receiving side can receive the color original data, the process proceeds to step 112, where the transmission data including the color original data is transmitted to the receiving side, and the process ends when the transmission is completed (the affirmative determination is made in step 114). .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 110 that the receiving side cannot receive the color original data, the flow advances to step 116 to control a message for selecting whether to convert the transmission data from the color original data to the black and white original data or to stop the transmission. It is displayed on the panel unit 22.

The user who sees this message determines whether to convert to black and white original data or to cancel transmission.
Select on 2. In step 118, it is determined whether or not the selection result is conversion to black and white original data. If the selection result is conversion to black and white original data, the process proceeds to step 120, where the transmission data is converted from color original data to black and white original data. Perform image processing. Then, in step 122, the transmission data including the converted black-and-white original data is transmitted to the receiving side. When the transmission is completed (if the determination in step 124 is affirmative), the flow proceeds to step 126. In step 126, the additional color fee collected in the fee collection process in step 104 is returned to the user from the deposit / withdrawal unit 24C, and the process ends. If the result of the selection in step 118 is that transmission has been stopped, the transmission data is not transmitted and step 1 is executed.
The process jumps to 26, returns the user fee collected in the fee collection process of step 104 to the user from the deposit / withdrawal unit 24C, and ends the process.

Next, the processing of the receiving facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIG. On the receiving side, when an incoming call is detected by the call signal detecting unit 12A, the processing of FIG. 4 is started. First, in step 202, for example, in the process of establishing communication with the transmitting side in the G3 facsimile communication protocol, a DIS signal including the reception capability information of the own device is transmitted, and in the next step 204, the transmitting side stops communication. Is determined. If there is a notification from the transmitting side that the communication should be stopped, the process is terminated.
On the other hand, if the transmission data is sent without a notice to stop, the data is received in step 206. When the reception is completed (when an affirmative determination is made in step 208), the process proceeds to step 210, and the above-described fee collection process of FIG. 3 is executed.

Since the contents of this processing are the same as those described above, repeated explanation will be omitted, but in step 152 in FIG. 3, both the basic unit price and the color additional unit price use the same unit price as in copying. That is, the unit price is set lower on the receiving side than on the transmitting side. This is because the sending side needs to collect the communication fee in addition to the usage of the facsimile machine itself, while the receiving side does not bear the communication fee and reduces the paper and toner charges required for print output as well as copying. This is because it is only necessary to bear the burden.

As described above, the fee system is changed between the receiving side and the transmitting side, and the receiving side adopts the same fee system as in the case of copying. Can also give a sense of fairness.

After execution of the fee collection process shown in FIG. 3, printing is performed at step 212 and the process is terminated.

According to the transmission / reception processing of the present embodiment as described above, the color original data is transmitted only when it is confirmed that the receiving side has the color receiving ability. However, it is possible to prevent the color original data from being transmitted to the receiving side despite the fact that the original is not provided.

If the receiving side does not have the color receiving capability, the user can select whether to perform black-and-white conversion or cancel transmission, so that the user can read the black-and-white original to the same destination without resetting the original. The data can be transmitted, or the transmission can be stopped and the color original data can be retransmitted to another facsimile apparatus having a color receiving function. That is, the flexibility and the degree of freedom for the user are improved.

In the above description, before transmitting the image data,
The usage fee is calculated by adding the basic fee according to the total number of documents and the additional color fee according to the number of color documents,
If it is determined that the receiving side does not have the ability to receive the color original data, a color surcharge will be returned, so if the receiving side does not have the ability to receive the color original data and color transmission does not substantially make sense, The inconvenience of collecting an additional fee can be avoided, and the usage fee can be optimized.

It should be noted that it is also possible to set in advance such that the conversion to the black-and-white original data is automatically performed without waiting for the selection by the user, and to perform the automatic conversion to the black-and-white original data according to the setting.

The charge collection process shown in FIG. 3 may be executed after it has been confirmed that the receiving side has the ability to receive color document data. In this case, the user can confirm that the other party's facsimile machine has the ability to receive color document data before transmission, and then recognize the usage fee under an easy-to-understand fee system.

When image data including color original data is obtained at the time of reading an original, black and white original data corresponding to the color original data may be created and stored in advance. In this case, at the time of transmission, when transmission of the color original data is stopped because the other party's facsimile machine does not have a color original receiving function, the conversion process from the color original data to the black and white original data becomes unnecessary. The image data including the stored black and white original data can be promptly transmitted to the other party facsimile apparatus by a user operation or automatically.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, a billing process in a facsimile machine which has a function of transmitting a read original by facsimile and a function of transmitting the read original by electronic mail will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire network system including the facsimile machine 30 according to the second embodiment. The facsimile machine 30 shown in FIG.
A facsimile communication unit 30B having the same configuration as the facsimile apparatus 10 of the embodiment and performing facsimile transmission / reception,
It has a configuration similar to that of a personal computer and includes an e-mail communication unit 30A for transmitting and receiving e-mail.

The facsimile communication unit 30B has a communication line 4
0 (for example, a public telephone line or the like) and facsimile communication with an external facsimile machine 42 can be executed. The e-mail communication unit 30A is connected to a local area network (LAN) 32 under the control of a network server 34, and is connected to the personal computer 38 of a desired mail address via the LAN 32, the network server 34, and the Internet 36. E-mail transmission can be performed.

Next, as an operation of the second embodiment, a billing process in a case where facsimile transmission and e-mail transmission are simultaneously executed at the same time will be described with reference to FIG.

When the user sets the transmission original at a predetermined position, designates both the facsimile machine 42 and the personal computer 38 as the destination and operates the start button, the processing in FIG. 6 is started. In step 172 of FIG. 6, the transmitted originals are read one by one by the scanner, and in the next step 174, the sum of the number of originals transmitted by facsimile transmission and the number of originals transmitted by e-mail (total transmitted originals). Total unit number) and basic unit price (for example, 10 yen /
) Is calculated by multiplying the number of originals to be transmitted by e-mail by an additional unit price for e-mail (for example, 40 yen / sheet).

In the next step 176, step 174
The usage charge is calculated by adding the basic charge and the additional charge for e-mail calculated in step (1), and in the next step 178, this usage charge is displayed on the charging information display section 24B (see FIG. 1), and the charge is displayed to the user. Prompt for payment. Then, in the next step 180, the process waits for the payment of the fee from the user, and when the payment is completed, the process proceeds to step 182, where the broadcast transmission to the facsimile machine 42 and the personal computer 38 is performed, and the process ends after the transmission. I do.

In the above-described second embodiment, in the case of the broadcast transmission in which the facsimile transmission and the e-mail transmission are mixed, the basic charge corresponding to the total number of the transmitted originals and the base charge corresponding to the total number of the e-mail transmissions are used. Since the usage fee obtained by adding the additional fee for e-mail is collected, appropriate charging can be performed under an easy-to-understand fee system.

The method of calculating the usage fee by adding the additional fee for using the additional function to the basic fee as described above is based on the method shown in FIG.
Also, the present invention can be applied to a case where a template 50 is used. For example, when a facsimile transmission is performed during a hot summer time, if the template 50 containing the words “Please visit during the summer” or a picture of a watermelon is used as shown in FIG. Transmission image data of the inserted image is generated and transmitted by facsimile.

In this case as well, a usage fee obtained by adding a template additional fee corresponding to the number of used templates to the basic fee corresponding to the total number of transmitted originals is collected, so that the fee is easy to understand. Appropriate billing can be performed under the system.

In the first embodiment described above, a case where color originals and black-and-white originals are mixed has been described. However, there are many cases in which only color originals or only black-and-white originals are actually used. Therefore, the following fee system that is more easily understood by the user may be adopted.

A fee system may be adopted in which a predetermined fixed color additional fee is added to the above-mentioned basic fee without depending on the amount of communication information (number of sheets) and the communication time. this is,
There is an advantage that the fee system is simplified and is easy for the user to understand.

A charge system in which an additional charge corresponding to the total number of transmissions is added to the above basic charge (ie, basic charge + (predetermined fixed amount unit price × total transmission number)) may be adopted. This has the advantage that the unfairness of the user with a small number of transmissions in the above method can be eliminated.

A fee system in which an additional fee corresponding to the transmission time is added to the basic fee described above (that is, the basic fee + (predetermined fixed time unit price × transmission time)) may be adopted. For example, a fixed fee is added every 15 seconds. This has the advantage that a fee corresponding to the communication cost can be collected.

Of course, the above fee system is the second
The present invention can be applied to the charging of the additional charge for electronic mail in the embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

The present invention is not limited to a normal facsimile apparatus having only a facsimile transmission / reception function, but may be applied to any apparatus having a facsimile transmission / reception function, for example, a multifunction machine having a facsimile function.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to home appliances, other electric appliances, and the like.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
After confirming the function of the other party, it is possible to perform an appropriate transmission operation or billing process according to the result.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a facsimile transmission control process for a color document.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a fee collection process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a facsimile reception control process for a color document.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire network system including a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a broadcast transmission process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a template.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a frame configuration of various signals used in a binary procedure of facsimile communication.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Facsimile apparatus, 12 ... Line control part, 14 ... Communication control part, 16 ... Main control part, 24 ... Charge part, 24A ... Charge calculation part, 24B ... Charge information display part, 24C ... Payment / payment part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Tomokazu Kaneko 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Kohei Tanaka 3-1-1 Honcho, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama No. WATS U Building West Building 4F Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C075 BA13 CA01 CD20 CD25 CE02 CE09 GG03 5C079 HA02 HA11 HA13 MA02 MA11 MA19 NA29 5K101 KK01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a function of transmitting black-and-white original data and color original data, wherein, prior to transmitting image data including color original data, a facsimile apparatus based on a predetermined signal from a partner facsimile apparatus. Determining means for determining whether the other party's facsimile machine has the ability to receive color document data; and determining that the other party's facsimile machine does not have the ability to receive color document data, to the other party's facsimile machine. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a stop unit for stopping transmission of the image data. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation instructing unit for instructing a user to perform a retransmission operation based on black-and-white original data when transmission is stopped by said canceling unit. 3. A black-and-white conversion unit for converting color original data included in the image data into black-and-white original data by a user operation or automatically when transmission is stopped by the stop unit. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a post-conversion transmission unit that transmits image data including black-and-white original data to the facsimile apparatus of the other party. 4. When black and white image data including color document data is obtained at the time of reading a document, black and white data creation means for creating black and white document data corresponding to the color document data, and an image including the created monochrome document data A black-and-white data storage unit for storing data; and transmitting the image data including the stored black-and-white original data to the counterpart facsimile apparatus by a user operation or automatically when the transmission is stopped by the stop unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a black-and-white transmitting unit. 5. When the other party's facsimile machine is determined to have the ability to receive color document data, a basic charge according to the total number of documents and a color additional charge according to the number of color documents prior to transmission of image data. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a fee presenting means for presenting a usage fee obtained by adding the following. 6. A fee collecting means for collecting a usage fee obtained by adding a color additional fee according to the number of color originals to a basic fee according to the total number of originals before transmitting the image data; The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: charge return means for returning the added color additional charge when it is determined that the additional color data does not have the ability to receive the original data.