Image communication method and apparatus therefor

Abstract: Image data received via a communication line is stored in a data memory. The image data that has been stored in the image memory is not outputted intact but is subjected to a pixel reducing operation by a CPU. As a result, the image data is compressed in such a manner that an integral number of image pages will fit on one page on the receiving side. The resulting image is developed in a bit-map memory. Upon observing an output of the compressed image, the operator selects the necessary data and designates the required image using a keyboard. The designated image is read out of the data memory, developed intact in the bit-map memory and printed out in the received size.

Description: This invention relates to an image communication method in a facsimile machine or the like, and to an apparatus therefor. An image communication apparatus such as one for facsimile communication employs two methods for outputting received image data. In one method, data received by the image communication apparatus is outputted immediately upon being received, and all of the image data sent by the transmitting side is outputted on the receiving side. In the other method, the received image data is temporarily saved in a memory such as a hard disk by a microprocessor the like incorporated within the image communication apparatus on the receiving side. According to this method, the operator verifies the received data on a monitor and selects the desired page to be outputted. In many cases, an image communication apparatus of this kind, particularly a facsimile machine, is used by a plurality of individuals (such as the individuals on one floor). In such case, the received image data is recorded on paper or the like and often is distributed to each addressee when reception is completed. With this method of use, the necessary data must be picked up by each individual operator. This is a very inefficient operation and therefore is undesirable, but the method is effective in terms of providing immediate print-out. With the conventional method of immediate print-out, however, a large quantity of recording paper is consumed when many pages are received and recorded on recording paper in a single receiving operation. US-A-4342052 discloses an image transmission method wherein multiple images are compressed in size for transmission to reduce transmission time. The multiple compressed images are received and printed to thus reduce the printing required. EP-A-0435174 discloses an image storing method wherein scanned images are stored in compressed manner and an abstract document of multiple images of compressed size is printed as an index to the stored images. To retrieve stored images the abstract is scanned and the indexed images are read and printed. EP-A-0534320 discloses an image communication apparatus for receiving and printing image data, the apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of received pages of image data, each of the pages having a predetermined size; edit means for reducing the size of the pages of the image data stored by said storage means and for combining the reduced pages of the image data for the printing of a predetermined number of pages on one sheet of paper; and first print means for printing the image data edited by said edit means. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication apparatus in which it is possible to reduce the consumption of recording paper on which received image data is recorded. According to one aspect the present invention provides an image communication apparatus for receiving and printing image data, the apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a plurality of received pages of image data, each of the pages having a predetermined size; edit means for reducing a size of the pages of the image data stored by said storage means and for combining the reduced pages of the image data for the printing of a predetermined number of pages on one sheet of paper; and print means for printing the image data edited by said edit means; characterised by: designation means for designating a desired page of the image data which is stored by said storage means to be printed in the predetermined size, after the edited image data edited by said edit means has been printed; and said print means being arranged for printing the designated page of the image data, designated by said designation means in the predetermined size. In accordance with the arrangement described above, each page of received image data is compressed to a size that will allow a predetermined number of pages to fit on a single page, the predetermined number of pages are gathered together and edited to a single page, and the resulting data is then outputted. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a facsimile apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which images are compressed in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a flow chart of image reception performed by the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment; Fig. 4 is a flow chart of image output performed by the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment; Fig. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing examples in which images are compressed in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment; Fig. 7 is a flowchart of image edition performed by the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of image reception performed by the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment; Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a laser-beam printer. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of an ink-jet printer; and Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing the printer of Fig. 10. First Embodiment A facsimile apparatus having a memory in which image data is stored temporarily will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1 which controls the operation of the overall apparatus. A telephone line 2 is employed for sending and receiving data when the facsimile apparatus is used. A data transceiver 3 is for performing an exchange of data between the interior of the facsimile apparatus and the telephone line. An input/output unit 4 for a personal computer is for performing an exchange of data with an external personal computer. A data memory 5 stores data received by the data transceiver. A printing unit 6 outputs the received data on paper. Information that is to be printed out is stored in a bit-map memory 7 as a print image. A floppy-disk drive (FDD) 8 stores a duplicate of the information in the data memory 5. A memory 9 for the CPU is used by the central processing unit 1 when it executes a program. A scanner 10 is for reading images, and a keyboard 11 is used by an operator to input data for operating the facsimile apparatus proper. An operation for receiving data performed by the facsimile apparatus constructed as set forth above will now be described. Data sent via the telephone line 2 is accepted within the facsimile apparatus by the data transceiver 3 and is stored in the data memory 5. This operation continues until the processing for receiving one mass of image data is completed. By way of example, when data of a plurality of pages is transferred on the sending side, the data composed of this number of pages is stored in the data memory 5. Next, the received data is compressed and is outputted from the printing unit 6 to one sheet of paper in a form in which the plurality of pages are grouped together. At this time, the number of pages of received data collected together on one sheet of paper is capable of being designated by the user. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is assumed that the user makes a designation to the effect that four pages of received data of size A4 is to be outputted upon being collected together on a single page of size A4. If the output size is A4 in this case, then the received image data is compressed to 1/4 so that the four pages of data will fit on one page. If, when printing is performed in this format, the total number of received pages is not a whole-number multiple of the number of pages to be collected on one sheet of paper, the number of pages fit on the final page will be a fractional number. In such case, the user selects to output the final page as is, i.e., with a fractional number of the received pages printed thereon, or to receive ensuing image data and then output the final page as a portion equivalent to one page. Upon observing an output of a designated number of pages that have been compressed and collected together, the user of the facsimile apparatus selects the necessary pages (the pages which the user desires to be printed in the standard size), designates the necessary pages and outputs them. There are two methods through which this can be accomplished. One is to operate the facsimile apparatus itself by using the keyboard 11 so as to output the data in the data memory 5 by means of the printing unit 6. The other method is to transfer the data to the external personal computer and print out the data by means of the computer. There are two methods of transferring the data to the external personal computer. One method relies upon a communication cable employing the microprocessor input/output unit 4, and the other method is through the intermediary of a floppy disk utilizing the FDD 8. Furthermore, since it is conceivable that a plurality of documents may be stored in the memory, each document is assigned an identification number. The operator specifies a desired document by designating its identification number. Fig. 3 illustrates the procedure of processing executed by the CPU 1 from reception of the image data to printout thereof through the method described above. First, at step S31, image data is stored successively in the data memory 5 as it is received. This operation is repeated until reception of a mass of image data ends. When reception of the image data ends, the program proceeds to step S33. Here the received image data is edited in such a manner that a predetermined number of pages thereof will fit on one page, and the edited image data is developed in the bit-map memory 7. The developed image data is printed out at step S34. An arrangement can be adopted in which the number of pages collected on one page is designated by the user. In such case, a procedure will be necessary for storing the value designated by the user in the memory 9 from the keyboard 11. Printout is repeated until all of the received pages have been printed. In a case where output waits until the final page becomes full, as mentioned above, the system waits for transmission of image data and then prints out the final page when the data to be fitted on one page has been gathered. Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the CPU 1 from operator selection of the pages to be outputted in the size sent from the sending side to output of these pages. First, at step S41, the operator enters the document number and stores this number in the memory 9. Next, at step S42, a page number desired to be outputted is designated and this also is stored in the memory 9. Though it is permissible to output pages while designating the page numbers, here the required number of pages is designated collectively. When page designation ends, the stored pages of the document whose document number has been stored in the memory 9 along with the pages are printed out intact in the form of the received image. By printing out received image data using the facsimile apparatus having the foregoing construction and using the foregoing procedure, it is possible for the operator to pick out and print in the original size only those pages which would be inadvisable to print out in compressed form. This makes it possible to avoid wasteful use of recording paper. Second Embodiment In this embodiment, a facsimile apparatus is connected to a host computer, and information received from the host computer and data received by the facsimile apparatus are printed together on a single sheet of recording paper, in accordance with the following procedure. The facsimile apparatus has printing function. A description will be given as to how the data flows when the facsimile apparatus functions as a printer. Data is taken into the facsimile apparatus via an input/output unit 4 connected to a hostcomputer, and the data thus taken is developed as an output image on a bit-map memory 7. The developed output image is then outputted from a printing unit 6. Meanwhile, data received by the facsimile apparatus through a telephone line is stored in a data memory 5 and is then developed on the bit-map memory and finally printed by the printing unit 6 as in the printer mode operation of the facsimile apparatus. When information corresponding to four pages is compressed and recorded in a single sheet of recording paper as shown in Fig. 5, image data from the host computer is printed in, for example, areas 1 and 2, and facsimile communication output is printed in areas 3 and 4. By using this technique, it is possible to obtain a single page of recording paper carrying both the print information acquired from the host computer and the data received by the facsimile. The number of areas contained in the single page of recording paper, as well as arrangement of such areas, can be changed and determined by the user from the host computer or from the facsimile apparatus. This series of operation is performed by a CPU 1. The flow of the process conducted by the CPU 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 7 which is a flow chart showing the steps employed in the process. Image data from the host computer and the image data from the telephone circuit are read in Step S81 and are then stored in the memory in Step S82. When receipt of the series of image data is finished, an answer YES is given to the question posed in Step S83, and the received data is developed on the bit-map memory 7 in Step S84 so that data on a predetermined number of pages are arranged on a single page to be outputted. The data thus arranged is then output for printing in Step S85. The printout operation is continued until the data on all the received data pages are printed. When the data of the final page has been printed, an answer YES is given in Step S86, thus completing the printing process. Third Embodiment According to the invention, when data of a plurality of received data pages are compressed and outputted on a single sheet of recording paper, it is possible to change the sizes of the pages data outputted on the single sheet of recording paper in a manner shown in Fig. 6 by way of example. Such an embodiment will be described as a third embodiment. When it is required to determine the arrangement of received data pages on the single sheet of recording paper such that different data pages have different sizes, the user can determine the sizes and arrangement of the received data pages while monitoring an image displayed on a display which is provided on the facsimile apparatus and which has a display area large enough to show such an image. If such display function is not available on the facsimile apparatus, the received data are transferred to the host computer to enable the user to designate the sizes of the received data pages through the host computer. The described process is performed under the control of the CPU 1 in accordance with flows which will be described hereinunder with reference to Fig. 8, which shows the flow which is followed when the compression and layout are conducted at the receiving side. Referring to Fig. 8, image data is received through a telephone line 2 in Step S91 and the received data is stored in a memory in Step S92. A series of data is thus read and stored. In Step S93, if storage of the series of data is completed, the process proceeds to Step S94 in which, as shown in Fig.6 , plurality of received images are compressed and laid out on the area of the bit-map memory 7 which corresponds to a single sheet of recording paper on which such images are to appear. The thus edited composite image composed of the plurality of compressed images is then printed in Step S95. Then, in Step S96, if the output printing of all the images is completed, the series of operation is terminated. It is thus possible to output the data with layout freely determined by the operator. In the second and third embodiments as described, the printing unit 6 may be of any suitable printing type. An electrophotographic printing system and an ink jet printing system will be described as typical examples of such printing section 6, with specific reference to Figs. 9 and 10. In these Figures, components which are not directly related to printing, such as a scanner, FDD and so forth, are omitted. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a laser beam type electrophotographic printing system which is referred to as an LBP unit. This printing system has a main part 8100 which forms an image of an image data on a recording medium, under the control of a control section 8101. The printing unit may be equipped with a function for forming a pattern in accordance with the input code data so as to print data acquired from the host computer, as in embodiment 2 Various operation switches and display device such as of LED type are arranged on an operation panel 8300, and the keyboard 11 shown in Fig. 1 also is mounted in the operation panel 8300. The control unit 8101 includes the components of the facsimile apparatus shown in Fig. 1, such as the CPU 1, data transmission/receiving section 3, I/O section for connection to microcomputer, data storage section 5 and the bit-map memory 7. The control unit 8101 controls the whole LBP 8100 by executing, for example, the flow of any one of the described embodiments. The laser driver 8102 is a circuit for driving a semiconductor laser unit 8103. The laser driver 8102 generates a laser beam 8104 by driving the semiconductor laser unit 8103. A polygon mirror 8105 rotating at a constant speed reflects the laser beam 8104 with one of the side faces so that the laser beam 8104 scans and exposes on an electrostatic drum 8106 by being swept back and forth along a perpendicular direction to a conveying direction of a recording sheet. An electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 8106. A developing unit 8107 arranged around the electrostatic drum 8106 develops the latent image and transfer the image onto a recording sheet. The recording sheet is a cut-sheet type recording sheet set in a cassette 8108 attached to the LBP 8100. A paper feeding roller 8109, document feeding rollers 8110 and 8111 convey the sheet into the LBP 8100 and supply the sheet to the electrostatic drum 8106. Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of an ink jet recording system IJRA. In Fig. 10 numeral 5013 denotes a driving motor. Numeral 5004 is a lead screw which rotates interlocking with the forward/reverse rotation of the driving motor 5013 via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009. A carriage HC having a pin (not shown) which engages with a spiral groove 5005 of the lead screw 5004 is reciprocally moved toward an arrows a and b directions. An ink-jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. Numeral 5002 denotes a paper holder to press a recording sheet against a platen 5000 along a moving direction of the carriage HC. Numeral 5003 denotes a carriage guide. Photocouplers 5007 and 5008 are home-position detectors for recognizing a lever 5006 of the carriage HC and switching over the rotational direction of the motor 5013. A support member 5016 supports a cap member 5022 to cap the front face of an ink-jet head IJH. A suction member 5015 sucks the recording head IJH in contact with an opening 5023 in the cap member 5022 for preventing choking of the recording head with ink. A cleaning blade driving member 5019 drives a cleaning blade 5017. A main body support plate 5018 supports the cleaning blade 5017 and the cleaning blade driving member 5018. Note that a general cleaning blade can also be applied to this ink-jet printer. Numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting the suction by the suction member 5015. The lever 5021 moves with the motion of a cam 5020 which engages with the carriage HC. The cam 5020 is driven by a driving force from the driving motor 5013 transmitted by well-known transmission means such as a switching over of a clutch. When the carriage HC comes to the home position side area, the recording head receives desired processings of the above capping, cleaning and sucking at corresponding positions, led by the lead screw 5005. Next, the structure of a control circuit for performing recording control of the above-described ink-jet printer will be described with reference to a block diagram of Fig. 11. In Fig. 11, numeral 1700 denotes an interface to which recording signals are input. A MPU 1701 controls the overall printer. A ROM 1702 stores control program(s) performed by the MPU 1701. A D-RAM 1703 is used as a work area of the MPU 1701 and also used for storing bit map data. A gate array 1704 controls the supply of recording data to a recording head 1708, and controls data transfer among the interface 1700, the MPU 1701 and the RAM 1703. A carrier motor 1710 carries the recording head (IJH) 1708, and a convey motor 1709 conveys a recording sheet. Motor drivers 1706 and 1707 drive the carrier motor 1710 and the convey motor 1709 respectively. A print buffer 1711 stores image data to be recorded by one printing motion of the recording head 1708. A head driver 1705 drives the recording head 1708 in predetermined timing in accordance with image data in the print buffer 1711. A recording signal entered the interface 1700 is converted into recording data for printing between the gate array 1704 and the MPU 1701, and is stored in the D-RAM 1703. The image data stored in the D-RAM 1703 are transferred at one printing motion of the recording head 1708. In the described arrangement, the MPU 1701 may be the CPU 1 shown in Fig. 1, or may be a processor which is used exclusively for the purpose of controlling the printing unit 6. It is possible to output and print the data received from a host computer, by using the arrangements described hereinbefore. Obviously, various other printing systems that those described above can be used equally well. As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims: An image communication apparatus for receiving and printing image data, the apparatus comprising: storage means (5,7) for storing a plurality of received pages of image data, each of the pages having a predetermined size; edit means (1) for reducing the size of the pages of the image data stored by said storage means (5,7) and for combining the reduced pages of the image data for the printing of a predetermined number of pages on one sheet of paper; and first print means (6) for printing the image data edited by said edit means (1); characterised by: designation means (1,11) for designating a desired page of the image data which is stored by said storage means (5,7) to be printed in the predetermined size, after the edited image data edited by said edit means has been printed; and said print means being arranged for printing the designated page of the image data, designated by said designation means (1,11) in the predetermined size. An image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image communication apparatus is a facsimile apparatus. An image communication apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising: selection means for, when the number of pages of the image data stored by said storage means is not a whole number multiple of the predetermined number, selecting whether or not a final page including remaining reduced pages of the image data is to be output on a fraction of one sheet of paper on their own or with ensuing image data on the remainder of the sheet of paper. An image communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising means for designating the predetermined number of pages to be printed on one sheet of paper. An image communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising means for changing the size of the reduced pages printed on one sheet of paper so that they need not all have a same size. An image communication method for receiving and printing image data, the method comprising: a storing step (S31) of storing a plurality of received pages of image data, each of the pages having a predetermined size; an editing step (S33) of reducing the size of the pages of the image data stored in said storing step and combining the reduced pages of the image data so as to print a predetermined number of pages in one sheet of paper; and a first printing step (S34) of printing the image data edited in said editing step; characterised by: a designating step (S42) of designating a desired page of the image data which is stored in said storing step to be printed in the predetermined size, after the edited image data edited in said editing step has been printed; and a second printing step (S44) of printing the designated page of the image data, designated in said designating step, in the predetermined size. An image communication method according to claim 6, wherein the image communication method is carried out in a facsimile apparatus. An image communication method according to claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising: a selecting step of, when the number of pages of the image data stored in said storing step is not a whole number multiple of the predetermined number, selecting whether or not a final page including remaining reduced pages of the image data is to be output on a fraction of one sheet of paper on their own or with ensuing image data on the remainder of the sheet of paper. An image communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 further comprising the step of designating the predetermined number of pages to be printed on one sheet of paper. An image communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising size changing step of changing the size of the reduced pages printed in one sheet of paper so that they need not all have a same size.

Inventors: TAKAYANAGI MASAHIRO, TAKAYANAGI, MASAHIRO
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N1, G06T3