Facsimile apparatus

A facsimile apparatus for shortening a period of time necessary for setting up a transmission modem rate set-up and, thereby, a period of time for which it occupies a line is disclosed. Every time the apparatus transmits video data to a remote apparatus, or destination, it stores a modem rate set up then. Later on, when the apparatus is to transmit another video data to the same destination, it searches for one of the stored past modem rates associated with the particular destination and corresponding in time to the present transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of 
shortening a period of time necessary for setting up a transmission modem 
rate and, thereby, a period of time over which it occupies a transmission 
line. 
Generally, a facsimile apparatus is operated in conformity to a 
transmission control procedure (Recommendation T.30) standardized by CCITT 
(Consultative Committee of International Telegraph and Telephone). The 
transmission control procedure is roughly made up of five sequential 
phases: phase A for setting up a call, phase B for confirming functions 
and others of a terminal before transmitting video data, phase C for 
transmitting video data, phase D for confirming continuation of the 
transmission condition after the transmission of video data, and phase E 
for disconnection. 
In the phase B mentioned above, a modem rate for the transmission of video 
data is also set up. Specifically, an apparatus at a calling station 
performs modem training with an apparatus at a called station, starting 
with the maximum modem rate (e.g. 9600 bits per second). When the calling 
apparatus has failed to train the called apparatus at the maximum modem 
rate, it repeats modem training while sequentially shifting down the modem 
rate, thereby determining a usable modem rate. Such modem rate set-up is 
dependent upon the condition of the line interconnecting the calling and 
called stations and, usually, a relatively high modem rate is set up if 
the line is well conditioned. A transmission control procedure signal per 
ce is transmitted at a rate as low as 300 bits per second which insures 
transmission with no regard to the line condition. 
Meanwhile, in the case where a calling station knows an upper limit of 
modem rates assigned to a remote station, which it intends to call, 
through the past communications with the latter and/or a line condition is 
approximately presumable from the traffic in a particular time zone chosen 
for transmission, the calling station to some extent can select an 
adequate modem rate relying on such known and presumable information. In 
addition, where the call is meant particularly for an overseas station, it 
is possible to determine to a certain degree an adequate modem rate taking 
the season into account since the line condition in some measure is 
dependent upon the season. 
As described above, considering a particular remote station and the dates 
or times of past communications therewith will enable a calling station to 
select a usable modem rate to a certain degree. Nevertheless, since the 
prior art apparatus starts modem training at the maximum modem rate as 
previously discussed, it inevitably consumes an extra time in setting up a 
modem rate. Such is reflected by an increase in the period of time for 
which the calling station occupies the line and, therefore, in 
transmission cost. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile 
apparatus which saves a time period necessary for setting up a modem rate 
and, thereby, a line occupation time. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a generally 
improved facsimile apparatus. 
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile 
apparatus comprising a storage for storing sequentially and destination by 
destination transmission mode data associated with past transmissions of 
video data, a setting device for setting up a transmission mode for 
transmitting video data to any selected destination by referencing the 
stored transmission mode data associated with the selected destination, 
and an updating device for updating the transmission mode data associated 
with the selected destination. 
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile 
apparatus comprising a storage for storing sequentially and destination by 
destination times at which video data are transmitted and modem rates 
which are set up for the respective transmission, a setting device for 
setting a modem rate for transmitting video data to any selected 
destination by selecting one of the stored modem rates associated with the 
past transmissions which is substantially coincident in time with a 
present transmission, and an updating device for updating the stored 
transmission modem rates associated with the selected destination. 
In accordance with the present invention, a facsimile apparatus for 
shortening a period of time necessary for setting up a transmission modem 
rate set-up and, thereby, a period of time for which it occupies a line is 
disclosed. Every time the apparatus transmits video data to a remote 
apparatus, or destination, it stores a modem rate set up then. Later on, 
when the apparatus is to transmit another video data to the same 
destination, it searches for one of the stored past modem rates associated 
with the particular destination and corresponding in time to the present 
transmission. 
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present 
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description 
taken with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
While the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of 
numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment and 
requirements of use, a substantial number of the herein shown and 
described embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all have 
performed in an eminently satisfactory manner. 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a facsimile apparatus in accordance 
with the present invention is shown and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10. As shown, the facsimile apparatus 10 includes a 
communication control unit 12 for executing a predetermined transmission 
procedure with a remote apparatus over a switching network (not shown), a 
modem 14 for modulating video data to be transmitted and demodulating 
received video data, an encoder/decoder 16 for encoding a video signal to 
be transmitted and decoding a received video signal, a buffer 18, a reader 
20 for transforming images on a desired document into video signals, and a 
recorder 22 for recording received images. The apparatus 10 further 
includes a central processing unit (CPU) 24 for controlling the operation 
timings and modes of various sections of the apparatus, a read only memory 
(ROM) 26 for storing a control program assigned to the CPU 24, a random 
access memory (RAM) 28 for providing a work area for the CPU 24 and the 
like, a transmission mode storage 30 for storing transmission mode data 
destination by destination, an operation input section 32 furnished with 
displays and input means necessary for operator's manipulations, and a 
system bus line 34 for interconnecting the various elements mentioned. 
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown exemplary data which are stored in the 
transmision mode storage 30. The storage 30 manages transmission mode data 
as tables Tb.sub.1, Tb.sub.2, . . . which are associated with destinations 
in one-to-one correspondence. The table Tb.sub.1 comprises a destination 
label LB.sub.1 and a transmission mode data table Td.sub.1. All the other 
tables Tb.sub.2 . . . are identical in format with the table Tb.sub.1. 
The transmission mode data table Td.sub.1 has a capacity large enough to 
store a predetermined number of transmission mode data sets each of which 
comprises, as enclosed by brackets { } in FIG. 2, a time of transmission, 
a modem rate, a pixel density and a transmission procedure type. For 
example, the first data set in the transmission mode data table Td.sub.1 
shows that a transmission ocurred on August 10, 10 o'clock, at a modem 
rate of 9600 bits per second, in a standard pixel density STD 
(8.times.3.85 dots per millimeter), and in the GIII standard transmission 
procedure. The other possible modem rates are 7200 and 4800 bits per 
second. Another possible pixel density is the double pixel density DTL 
(8.77.times.dots per millimeter). Further, another possible transmission 
procedure is a nonstandard or optional procedure OP. 
The tables Tb.sub.1, Tb.sub.2, . . . are updated every time the apparatus 
10 sends video data to their associated destinations and, when any of the 
tables Tb.sub.1, Tb.sub.2, . . . becomes full, the oldest transmission 
mode data stored therein is automatically discarded. Hence, the content of 
each of the tables Tb.sub.1, Tb.sub.2. . . is always updated in conformity 
to the season. 
Reference will be made to FIG. 3 for describing the operation of the 
apparatus 10 for transmitting video data to a desired destination. As the 
operator loads the reader 20 with a document and, then, enters data 
representative of a desired remote station (e.g. telephone number or 
abbreviated dialing) through the operation input section 32 (manual 
operation I), the CPU 24 references the transmission mode storage 30 to 
read a transmission mode out of one of the tables Tb.sub.1, Tb.sub.2, . . 
. which is associated with the particular destination (processing II) and, 
then, displays it on the operation display 32 (processing III). 
In detail, in the processing II, the CPU 24 reads present time from a 
callendar section (not shown) so as to search for transmission mode data 
which contains a time coincident with the present time. If any of the 
stored transmission mode data coincides in time, the CPU 24 reads out the 
whole content of that particular transmission mode data. If none 
coincides, the CPU 24 sees if any of the transmission mode data include 
times which are just before and just after the preset time and, if the 
answer is positive, reads modem rate data contained in those transmission 
mode data. If the modem rate data read out are the same, the CPU 24 adopts 
it for the present transmission and displays it. On the other hand, if the 
modem rates in the specific transmission mode data differ from each other, 
the CPU 24 checks the other transmission mode data around the 
above-mentioned particular one to search for the most frequently set up 
modem rate and adopts it while displaying it. 
The operator, watching the display, may suitably modify the transmission 
mode data if necessary. In response to the optional modification (the 
result of decision IV is YES), the CPU 24 modifies the displayed data 
(processing V). As the operator depresses a start key of the apparatus 10, 
the CPU 24 sets the display data in necessary elements (e.g. reader 20, 
modem 14, communication control 12, etc.) and, then, starts on a 
transmission control (processing VI). Upon completing the transmission 
control, the CPU 24 updates the above-mentioned transmission mode table 
with the transmission mode set up this time, i.e. data having been 
displayed. The transmission control and the operations of the other 
sections of the apparatus 10 are the same as those of a prior art 
apparatus and, therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted for 
simplicity. 
The modem rate set-up in the processing II may be effected with any other 
suitable principle. For example, a day may be divided into "morning", 
"day", "evening" and "night". In such a case, past transmission mode data 
belonging to the same zone as the present transmission will be searched 
for and, if one them shares the same time zone with the present 
transmission, a modem rate contained therein will be set up for the 
present transmission while, if a plurality of them do so, then the most 
frequently set modem rate. 
In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a facsimile 
apparatus which saves time necessary for modem training and, thereby, 
shortens the line occupation time to promote cost-effective transmissions 
of video data. This advantage is derived from the fact that the apparatus 
sets up a modem rate which matches with a particular destination and a 
particulat time of transmission on the basis of the past transmission 
data. 
Various modifications will become apparent for those skilled in the art 
after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing 
from the scope thereof.