Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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DESCRIPTION
Color Facsimile Apparatus
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a color facsimile
apparatus for transmitting image data obtained by color
reading a color original paper after being color encoding
and for color printing received data.
Background of Art
The provisions of color facsimile apparatus are
present under ITU-T Recommendation 81. The color fac-
simile apparatus is proceeding toward practical
utilization in accordance with the provisions.
In color image data, which the color facsimile
apparatus processes, a size of a data item is generally
large. This causes problems, e.g., a memory for storing
data is liable to overflow, a large amount of time is
required to perform data receiving and transmitting and
printing and outputting, a large quantity of color printing
material (ink) consumed is needed, etc.
The following will specifically explain the troubles
caused by the above problems.
First, there is an ink jet printing method as a method
for printing received data in the color facsimile apparatus.
This method is used in an ink jet printer, and ink of the
respective colors of C (Cyan) , M (Magenta) , Y (Yellow) and
K (Black) in an ink tank is discharged onto a printing paper
to perform the printing. Normally, ink of the respective
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colors of C (Cyan), M (Magenta), Y (Yellow) is uniformly
prepared.
However, receiving and transmitting color data is not
uniformly prepared in its color. As a result, in many cases,
any one of color ink is first used up in the facsimile
apparatus. Since the color original paper has a large
amount of data, ink is easily used up, and the normal color
printing cannot be performed when the absence of ink
occurs.
Unlike the ink jet printer, in the facsimile
apparatus, an operator on a transmitting side cannot know
the remaining quantity of ink. Due to this, in some cases,
ink is used up during the receiving and transmitting, or
ink is already used up before the start of receiving and
transmitting. In this case, even if the absence of ink
occurs in the receiver, a sender often takes it for granted
that the transmission is normally received only if the
transmission normallyended.Thiscausestroubles relating
to the completion of transmission and that of reception.
The following methods are present in order to take
measurements against the case in which the absence of ink
occurs in the facsimile apparatus.
First, there is prior art disclosed in, for example,
un-examined Japanese Patent Publication N0.7-46417.
According to this prior art, if any one of color ink is
absent, the printing is performed using another color ink.
However, it is originally unfavorable that the
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printing is performed using another color ink. In the case
of the facsimile apparatus, even if the receiver receives
a printing paper of a color different from the transmitted
original paper, there is a possibility that the receiver
will not notice the reception. In view of this point, there
is prepared an economy mode in which the consumption of
color ink is low in the ink j et printer. The economy mode
is that the amount of discharging ink as a whole is reduced
as the operator confirms the content of the original paper,
with the result that time elapsing before the absence of
ink can be prolonged.
However, the facsimile apparatus cannot print and
output received data while the operator on the receiving
side is conforming received data before the printing and
outputting data. As a result, it is difficult to change
the mode to the economy mode in accordance with the content
of the received content.
Next, there is a method using a receiving memory.
More specifically, according to this method, when the
absence of ink occurs, the printing and outputting of the
received data is prohibited and all received data is stored
in the receiving memory. Then, stored data is output after
replenishing the ink tank with ink.
However, since there is a limitation in the memory
capacity, the memory for storing received data overflows,
so that received data may be lost. Particularly, when
received data is color data whose size is large, the
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overflow is liable to occur.
In order to deal with this problem, there is prior
art disclosed in, for example, Japanese un-examined Ja-
panese Patent Publication N0.8-79543. According to this
prior art, when the remaining quantity of the memory
capacity for storing received data is below a fixed value,
color data already stored is converted to monochromatic
data to be printed and output and the color data stored
in the memory is erased. Thereby, a memory space area is
reserved. However, according to this method, though the
overflow of the memory can be avoided, there is a
disadvantage in which whether the received data is color
data or monochromatic data cannot be determined.
Secondly, the color facsimile apparatus have come
into wide use gradually. However, most of the facsimile
apparatus, which are put on the market, are ones that
receive and transmit the monochromatic images. An
operator of the color facsimile apparatus must perform the
communication on the assumption of the following two cases.
Specifically, one is that the receiver is the facsimile
apparatus having a function of receiving color images and
the other is that the receiver is the facsimile apparatus
having a function of receiving only the monochromatic image.
Consequently, theoperation becomes complicated. Inother
words, whether the receiver corresponds to the former case
or the latter case is clarified by exchanging a capability
notice in the communication procedure after a call is
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established. For this reason, the operator cannot know the
function of the receiver at time of reading and storing
original paper, which is before the start of the
communication procedure. Therefore, in order to avoid the
5 occurrence of a non-communicating state, the operator must
select whether color data is color coded and stored or
monochromatically coded and stored in advance, depending
on the counterpart.
Thirdly, there is a case in which color data and
monochromatic data are mixed in one communication. If
color data and monochromatic data are separately
transmitted, the transmission operation becomes further
complicated, and the entire transmission process amounts
to a considerable long period of time. In order to deal
with this problem, there is prior art disclosed in, for
example, un-examined Japanese Patent Publication N0.7-
283951. According to this prior art, whether the original
paper is color or monochromatic is determined after reading
the original paper for transmission. Then, an encoding
process is executed in accordance with the result of the
determination. According to this technique, the opera-
tor's load can be somewhat reduced. However, since the
determination process is performed after scanning the
original paper, and the encoding process is further
executed, a large amount of time is required when the
transmission process is executed.
Disclosure of Invention
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The present invention is provided to solve the
above-mentioned conventional problems of the color fac-
simile apparatus and to improve the operability of the
color facsimile apparatus as a whole.
More specifically, an object of the present invention
is to provide a color facsimile apparatus, which reduces
an amount of ink consumption to prevent an absence of ink.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a color facsimile apparatus being capable of obtaining
excellent received data even if an absence of ink occurs.
More specifically, even if the absence of ink occurs and
data is printed and output with ink of a different color,
whether transmitting original data is color or
monochromatic can be determined.
Further another object of the present invention is
to provide a color facsimile apparatus being capable of
transmitting data to either one of the color facsimile
apparatus and the monochromatic facsimile apparatus by a
simple operation and for a short period of time.
The above object can be attained by the color fac-
simile apparatus comprising communication result report
generating means for synthesizing a part of unsent image
data with communication result data of the communication
so as to be output, and data converting means for converting
the part of the color image data to monochromatic image
data so as to generate image data to be synthesized with
the transmission result report when the unsent image data
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is color image data.
In this case, it is preferable that the data
converting means extract only G component data as a part
of RGB component data of color image data so as to be
converted to monochromatic data.
According to the above-mentioned structure, when the
transmission of color image data is not normally ended,
the communication report is converted to monochromatic
data to be output, so that the amount of color printing
material consumed can be reduced. This results in a large
effect on particularly the reduction of the quantity of
the ink consumption in the apparatus using color ink for
printing. Moreover, since the output is performed with
monochromatic data, data can be printed and output for a
short period time as compared with the case of outputting
color data. Therefore, time when the communication result
report output process occupies a printing section can be
reduced to the maximum, and this operation improves an
efficiency of using the apparatus.
Also, the above-mentioned obj ect can be attained by
the color facsimile apparatus ,comprising a memory for
storing received color image data sequentially, printing
means for reading color image data from the memory and
printing the color image data with printing material of
a plurality of colors, and controlling means for converting
the color image data to image data of a single color to
be printed by the printing means when any one of the
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printing material is used up and for displaying data,
showing that the received image data has been color image
data, on a printing paper.
In this case, when the remaining quantity of the
memory capacity is below a fixed value, the color image
data may be converted to image data of a single color to
be printed. Also, data, showing that the received image
data has been color image data, may be displayed on a
printing paper other than a page on which image data is
printed.
Moreover, controlling means can avoid the overflow
of the memory by erasing the color image data stored in
the memory after the color image data is converted to the
image data of a single color and printed by printing means.
By receiving an operator's instruction before the
remaining quantity of the memory capacity is below the
fixed value, the color image data stored in the memory may
be converted to the image data of the single color to be
printed by printing means . In this case, it is unnecessary
to display data, showing that the received image data has
been color image data. The operator, who instructs the
data printing and outputting, knows that the image stored
in the memory is the color image.
According to the above-mentioned structure, even if
the absence of the printing material occurs, the printing
and outputting can be performed without losing the received
data. Also, the outline data of original image data can
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be obtained with a simple structure. Moreover, by adding
a comment showing conversion data to monochromatic data,
the receiver can understand that the original has been
color data.
Further, the above-mentioned object can be attained
by the color facsimile apparatus comprising a memory for
storing mixed image data having both color image data and
monochromatic image data: determination means for
determining the presence of a color printing capability
of a transmission counterpart in the course of the
communication procedure; read controlling means for
reading all mixed image data from the memory when the
determination means determines that the transmission
counterpart has the color printing capability and for
reading only the monochromatic image data when the
determination means determines that the transmission
counterpar t has no color printing capability; and
transmitting means for transmitting image data read by the
read controlling means to the transmission counterpart.
In this case, the transmitting means has multi
destination transmission control means so that either of
color/monochromatic data may be selectively transmitted,
depending on the receiving capability of the communication
counterpart.
The mixed image data may be mixed image data of each
page or mixed image data of a row unit in one page.
According the above-mentioned structure, the normal
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color transmission can be performed to the counterpart that
is capable of color printing, and only the monochromatic
portion of the original paper can be transmitted to the
counterpart that is not capable of color printing.
Therefore, according to the latter, the minimum amount of
image data can be transmitted.
Moreover, the above-mentioned object can be attained
by the color facsimile apparatus comprising designating
means for designating either a color transmission or a
monochromatic transmission; storing means for encoding
image data obtained by reading an original paper by either
a color encoding method or a monochromatic encoding method
in accordance with the designation of the designating
means; determination means for determining whether the
image data obtained by reading the original paper is color
image data or monochromatic data; and transmission con-
trolling means for decoding the image data once encoded
by the color encoding method and stored in the storing means
so as to be encoded again by the monochromatic encoding
method, thereafter being transmitted when the color
transmission is designated by the designating means and
the image data is determined to be monochromatic image data
by the determination means.
In this case, the determination on whether image data
is color data not may be performed by imparting an
identifier to either data in advance.
After the image data encoding process for one page
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or the whole pages by encoding means is ended, the
transmission controlling means may execute a decoding
process of image data and a re-encoding process thereof .
According to the above-mentioned structure, when
transmitting data is color data, the transmission process
can be completed for the shortest period of time.
Also, the above-mentioned obj ect can be attained by
the color facsimile apparatus comprising determination
means for determining a color printing capability of a
communication counterpart in the course of the
communication procedure; color selection means for ex-
tracting only the color component, having the highest
composition ratio occupying in the entire image data, from
RGB components obtained by reading a color original paper
when the determination means determines that the printing
capability of the communication counterpart is that only
the color printing with a specific single color can be
performed; and transmitting means for encoding color
component data extracted by the color selection means so
as to be sent.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the
operator on the transmission side can perform the color
transmission without being conscious of the capability of
the receiver, and the operator on the receiving side can
receive the color data though it is pseudo-calor.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color facsimile
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apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the generation
procedure of a communication result report of the color
facsimile apparatus of a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a printing and
outputting operation of receiving data when the absence
of color printing material occurs according to a color
facsimile apparatus of a second embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a transmitting
operation when the transmission is performed from a color
facsimile apparatus of a third embodiment of the present
invention to the other facsimile apparatus;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation when an
original paper in which color/monochromatic image data is
mixed is multi destination transmitted according to a color
facsimile apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a transmitting
operation of color image data or, monochromatic image data
according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a transmitting
operation when the transmission is performed from a color
facsimile apparatus of a sixth embodiment of the present
invention to the other facsimile apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a color selection
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determination process according to the sixth embodiment;
and
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a color selection
determination process according to the sixth embodiment.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
The following will describe the embodiments of the
color facsimile apparatus of the present invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the outline
structure of the color facsimile apparatus of the present
invention. The outline structure of the color facsimile
apparatus can be explained as follows:
A color optical system 101 comprises a color reading
section for color separating a color original paper into
RGB components and a monochromatic reading section for
reading the original paper with general binary data of
black and white. Then, the color optical system 101
outputs data each A/D converted to an image processing
section 102.
The image processing section 102 controls an encoding
and decoding section 103 and a,color converting section
106 (both described later), and executes various image
processes. The encoding and decoding section 103
comprises a color encoding and decoding section 104 for
executing the encoding and decoding of color data such as
JPEG, etc. and a monochromatic encoding and decoding
section 105 for encoding and decoding black and white
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binary data such as MR, MMR, etc.
The color converting section 106 is means for con-
verting a color space between a reading system and a
printing system. The color converting section 106 com-
prises a RGB/CIELab converting section 107 for executing
a mutual color space conversion between the GRB components
and CIELab and a CIELab/MCYK converting section 108 for
executing a mutual color space conversion between CIELab
and CMYK components. Further, the CIELab/MCYK converting
section 108 executes a process in which all CMY signal
components obtained by converting a specific color
component are synthesized to be converted to a K component
(to be described later) in addition to the normal data
conversion between CIELab and the CMYK components . It is
noted that CIELab is one of the standard color spaces
expressed by lightness and chromaticity, which is defined
by CIE (Commission Internationale de 1'Eclairage
(International Commission on Illumination)).
A color memory 109 and a monochromatic memory 110 are
used as a work memory when data is operated by the encoding
and decoding section 103 and the, color converting section
106.
A image memory 111 is one that stores read data or
received data in a data encoding state, and color data is
encoded by JPEG, etc. in the color encoding and decoding
section 104, and monochromatic data is encoded by MMR, etc.
in the monochromatic encoding and decoding section 105.
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A printing memory 112 is one that stores printing data in
a state in which encoded data is decoded. In a printing
control section 113, a printing head 114 prints data stored
in the printing memory 112 . The printing head 114 is formed
of, for example, printing heads for four colors CMYK like
an ink jet printing head, and a remaining quantity of
printing material of each head is monitored by a sensor
115 for a remaining quantity.
A ROM 116 stores control programs of various
operations corresponding to the flow chart to be described
later. A RAM 117 is a work memory. A line control section
118 for data receiving and transmitting from/to an outer
terminal and a control panel 119 for designating various
operations are provided. Then, a CPU 120 controls the
entire apparatus. .
The following will specifically explain each
operation of the above-structured color facsimile
apparatus with reference to the flow charts.
(First Embodiment)
The color facsimile apparatus of the present
invention outputs a communication result report of a case
in which the transmission of the color original paper is
not performed. The output operation will be explained
along the flow chart shown by FIG. 2.
The communication result report is generated by a
communication management section (not shown) every time
when the receiving and transmitting are performed, and
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printed in a part of the image memory 111 in a code form.
If the transmission procedure is not normally performed,
it is determined that a transmission error is generated
(ST201). Then, transmission result data including a
transmission result, a transmission N0, a destination
address ID, transmission start time, and a transmission
mode is transferred to the RAM 117 from the image memory
111 (ST202) .
Next, it is determined whether or not image data
corresponding to the communication is color data (ST203) .
The determination is performed by the known method in which
a vector value of CIELab coordinate data of the image data
is determined.
If the image data of the communication error is color,
image data stored in the image memory 111 is decoded by
the color encoding and decoding section 104 under the
control of the image process section 102 (ST204). The
decoded data is once decoded to the color memory 109, and
then converted to RGB data by the RGB/CIELab converting
section 107 (ST205). Further, among the RGB data, R and
B components are set as zero outputs, and only data of G
component is extracted therefrom (ST206). Binary
conversion of multivalued G component data is performed
at a predetermined slice level (ST207), the binary data
is converted to K (black) data by the image process section
102 (ST208), and temporarily stored in the monochromatic
memory 110. Only the G component having the highest
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density can be extracted as component data from color data
by the conversion process.
Further, the K component data is transferred to the
RAM 117 (ST209), and synthesized with the previous
transmission result data so that the transmission result
report is generated (ST210). The synthesized data is
transferred to the printing memory 112 and read out
sequentially, and printed by the printing head for black
114 under the control the printing control section 113.
On the other hand, If the image data of the
communication error is color, under the control of the
image process section 102, image data stored in the image
memory 111 is decoded by the monochromatic encoding and
decoding section 105 (ST212), and transferred to the
printing memory 112 (ST213) . Thereafter, transferred data
is read out sequentially, and printed by the printing head
for black 114 in the printing control section 113 (ST211) .
According to the above-mentioned structure, if the
transmission of color image data is not normally ended,
the communication result report is converted to
monochromatic data to be output, As a result, the amount
of color printing material consumed can be reduced. This
results in a large effect on particularly the reduction
of the quantity of the ink consumption in the apparatus
using color ink for printing. Moreover, since the output
is performed with monochromatic data, data can be printed
and output for a short period time as compared with the
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case of outputting color data. Therefore, time when the
communication result report output process occupies a
printing section can be reduced to the maximum, and this
contributes an efficient use of the apparatus.
According to the first embodiment, only extraction
of the G component from color image data and the conversion
of the G component to the K component resulted in obtaining
monochromatic data. Thereby, profile data of the original
data can be obtained with the simple structure without
providing the special image process. Also, since data of
all RRB is not reproduced, an output processing speed can
be improved. The image of the transmission result report
obtained in this way is, of course, different from the
original image data. However, since a person, who confirms
the transmission result report, is a possessor of the
original paper, the person does not have trouble in
confirming the identity of both the original data and the
transmission result report.
In the first embodiment, the G component data was
extracted. However, the color allocation thereof is
different from that of the original paper. Therefore, if
the RGB components are compared with each other and the
color component whose composition ratio is in a fixed range
is suitably selected, the transmission result report
having a suitable profile data can be always obtained.
Further, in the first embodiment, the black was used
in printing the communication result report. The ink to
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be used is not always the specific color. To avoid the
situation in which the ink of the specific color is used
up quickly, there may be modifications such as a selective
use of ink which is consumed most so as to constantly keep
the balance of the ink consumption of the entire ink
cartridge.
(Second embodiment)
The color facsimile of the present invention adds a
comment and performs the printing when the absence of the
printing material such as color ink occurs . The printing
output operation of the received data will be explained
along the flow chart of FIG. 3.
First of all, if there is a printing output
designation, it is determined whether output data is color
or monochromatic (ST301). Similar to the explanation of
the first embodiment, the determination is performed based
on CIELab coordinate data of the image data.
If printing output data is color, it is checked
whether or not color printing material (color i.nk in this
case) is present (ST302). If the absence of color ink
occurs, printing data is read from the image memory 111,
decoded by the color coding and decoding section 104, and
once decoded to the color memory 109 (ST303). Then, the
RGB/CIELab converting section 107 converts the decoded
data to RGB data (ST304) . Further, only G component data
is extracted from the RGB data (ST305) . Binary conversion
of multivalued G component data is performed at a
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predetermined slice level (ST306) . Thereafter, the binary
data is converted to K (black) data by the image process
section 102 (ST307), and temporarily stored in the
monochromatic memory 110, and then transferred to the
5 printing memory 112 (ST308).
Next, it is determined whether a printing output job
being executed is an operation by an output designation
from the control panel 119 due to the operator's intention
or an automatic output for preventing the overflow of the
10 image memory 111 (ST309).
If the printing output job being executed is the
operation by the output designation from the control panel
119, page data is read from the printing memory 112
sequentially, and printed by the printing head for black
15 114 under the control of the printing control section 113
(ST310/ST311).
Conversely, if the printing output job is the
automatic output for preventing the overflow of the image
memory 111, printing is performed for a comment page
20 (ST312) . Then, page data is read from the printing memory
112 sequentially, and printed by the black printing head
for black 114 under the control of the printing control
section 113 (ST313/ST313) . On the comment page, a message
showing "printing and outputting data is data received as
color image data" is displayed. The comment is stored in
the ROM 116, and synthesized with received data to be output
by the printing memory 112 prior to the printing and output.
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On the other hand, if color ink is present (ST302) ,
color printing is normally executed. In other words, color
data is once decoded by the color encoding and decoding
section 104 to be decoded to the color memory 109 (ST314) .
Then, the decoded data is converted to MYK data by the
CIELab/CMYK converting section 108 (ST315), and trans-
ferred to the printing memory 112 (ST316). Thereafter,
page data is read sequentially, and printed by the printing
head 114 for color CMYK under the control of the printing
control section 113 (ST317).
If printing output data is not color, data, which is
read from the image memory 111 and decoded by the
monochromatic encoding and decoding section 105, is
transferred to the printing memory 112. The printing head
114 for black K prints the transferred data under the
control of the printing control section 113 (ST320).
In any case, every time when page printing is ended
(ST310/ST313/ST317/ST320), the page data is erased from
the image memory 111. Thereby, the remaining capacity of
the image memory 11 is increased in a page output unit.
As mentioned above, according to the second
embodiment, even if any one of printing material is used
up, the printing and output can be performed without losing
received data. Similar to the first embodiment, since only
the G component can be extracted from color image data so
as to output profile data, the profile data of the original
image data can be obtained with the simple structure. The
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significance of the facsimile for receiving and
transmitting data from/to the remote site lies in the point
that data can be transmitted by outputting even if data
is complete data such as profile data.
Further, when the normal CMYK conversion of image
data is performed by the CIELab/CMYK converting section
108 and synthesized with each other, and printed and
outputted with black ink, the density level of the entire
image is increased. As a result, in many cases, the entire
image may be block.
However, one of the RGB components is selectively
extracted, appropriate profile data can be obtained.
Similar to the first embodiment, the color component to
be extracted is not limited to the G component.
Since the output image obtained in this way is
different from the original image data, a comment showing
conversion data to monochromatic data is added. In the
second embodiment, the comment is output only in the case
of the automatic output for preventing the overflow of the
image memory 111. The comment is not output in the case
of the output designation from the control panel 119. The
reason is as follows:
Specifically, in the case of the output designation
from the control panel 119, the operator knows the presence
of received data stored in the image memory 111 due to the
absence of ink and designates the output, there is no need
of adding the comment.
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Also, in the second embodiment, the comment was
output on the front page. The color data was output on
another page so that the image was output as it was since
the image was drawn on the entire page. It is of course
possible that the same comment data can be synthesized with
the top portions of all pages or the rear end portions to
be output.
Though the comment may be printed with black ink, the
use of color ink, which has the lowest amount of consumption,
can keep the balance of the ink consumption of the entire
ink cartridge, including the black ink, constantly.
(Third embodiment)
The color facsimile apparatus of the present
invention can transmit a part of data in performing the
transmission to the counterpart having no color printing
capability. This transmittingoperation willbe explained
along the flow chart shown in FIG. 4.
First, in performing the transmission of the color
original paper, color data read by the optical system 101
including a color scanner is encoded by the color encoding
and decoding section 104 under.the control of the image
processing section 102. Then, the encoded data is stored
in the image memory 111, regardless of whether or not the
color facsimile apparatus on the counterpart side has the
color printing capability (ST401).
Next, a call is given to the communication
counterpart (ST402) , and it is checked whether or not the
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apparatus on the counterpart side is capable of color
receiving on the communication procedure (ST403) . If the
apparatus is capable of color receiving, encoded color
image data stored in the image memory 111 is sequentially
transmitted (ST404). If the apparatus is not capable of
color receiving, color image on the image memory 111 is
read for each predetermined block, and once decoded to raw
data by the color encoding and decoding section 104 so as
to be decoded to the RAM 117 (ST405). Next, it is
determined whether each block is data including a color
image or data having only a monochromatic image (ST406) .
This determination process is performed in the same way
as the first and second embodiments. However, since color
image data is stored in the image memory 111 in the CIELab
data form, the image processing section 102 may perform
the color/monochrome determination at the data restoring
time.
If all blocks are ones that have no monochromatic data
(a case in which color image data is included in all blocks) ,
the communication is error ended (ST407/ST408) . Since the
apparatus on the counterpart side has no data which can
printed and output even if the receiving is performed, the
error ending is executed. Though read color image data can
be, of course, converted to monochromatic data to be
transmitted, the error ending is executed in the third
embodiment.
If the monochromatic block having only monochromatic
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
image data is present in transmitting image data in ST407,
the block is encoded again by the monochromatic encoding
and decoding section 105 (ST409) , and transmitted from the
line control section 118 (ST410).
5 Thus, there may be a case in which the transmission
of the character portion has the significance itself even
if the color image data portion of the original paper such
as a photograph is not transmitted. In this case, the normal
color transmission is performed to the counterpart having
10 the apparatus, which is capable of color printing. Then,
only the monochromatic portion of the original paper is
transmitted to the counterpart having the apparatus, which
is not capable of color printing. As a result, the minimum
image data can be transmitted. Since data deleting image
15 data of the color portion is transmitted, the operator on
the transmitting side does not have to prepare an original
paper in which only monochromatic image data portion is
edited.
The determination process in ST406 can be performed
20 in a line unit. In this case, only the monochromatic data
of transmission data of one page can be transmitted. Also,
the determination process can be performed in a page unit.
In this case, it is determined whether or not the
transmission is performed in the page unit. If the unit
25 when the determination is performed is structured to be
suitably changeable, the operator can select the unit,
depending on the circumstances of the distribution of color
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
26
data in the transmitted data, so that the operability of
the apparatus can be improved.
(Fourth embodiment)
The color facsimile apparatus of the present
invention can multi destination transmission to sent the
original paper in which color/monochrome data is mixed to
a plurality of facsimile apparatus including the facsimile
apparatus having no color receiving capability. The
transmitting operation will be explained along the flow
chart shown in FIG. 5. The fourth embodiment is different
from the third embodiment in the points that whether or
not the transmission is needed is determined in the page
unit and that the multi destination transmission is
performed to a plurality of addresses.
First, the CPU 120 checks whether or not there is a
color reading designation from the control panel 119
(ST501) . When there is the color reading designation, the
color optical system 101 reads the color reading
designation, the color encoding decoding section 104 JPIG
encodes read data, and stores in the image memory 111
(ST502) . When there is no color. reading designation, the
monochromatic encoding decoding section 105 MR encodes
read data, and stores in the image memory 111 (ST502 ) . This
process is repeated until the encoding and storing of all
pages are ended (ST504).
Next, a call is given to a first communication
counterpart (ST505) . Thereafter, it is checked whether or
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
27
not the apparatus on the counterpart side is capable of
color receiving on the communication procedure (ST506).
If the apparatus on the counterpart side is not
capable of color receiving, it is checked whether or not
there is a monochromatic page in the transmitted data by
the dame method as the third embodiment (ST507) . If there
is no monochromatic page therein, the error end is executed
since the apparatus on the counterpart side has no data
that can be received. If there is the monochromatic page
therein, the page is selectively transmitted similar to
the third embodiment (ST508 ) . Next, if there is the other
address to be multi destination transmitted, the process
in ST509, the call process in ST505, and later processes
are repeatedly executed.
If the apparatus on the counterpart side is capable
of color receiving, a mode data notice for transmitting
color data to the apparatus on the counterpart side is
executed (ST510). Thereafter, encoded data, which is
color encoded, for one page is sequentially read from the
image memory 4 and transmitted (ST511) . After the end of
the data transmission for one page, it is checked whether
or not the transmission of all pages are ended (ST512).
If there is a next page, it is checked whether the next
page is color data or monochromatic data (ST513).
If the next page is color data, the transmission mode
is unchanged and the next page is transmitted. If the next
page is monochromatic data, it is regarded that the
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
28
transmission mode has been changed, a mode data notice for
transmitting black and white binary data is executed
(ST510). Thereafter, the next page is transmitted. After
the end of the transmission of all pages, if there is the
other address to be multi destination transmitted (ST509) ,
the call process (ST505) and later processes are repeated.
Thus, all image data is transmitted to the facsimile
apparatus having the color receiving capability. On the
other hand, the monochromatic image data portion is
transmitted to the facsimile apparatus having no color
receiving capability. As a result, the operator can ex-
ecute the multi destination transmission without con-
sciousness of the capability of the apparatus on the
counterpart side.
It is assumed that the kind of the apparatus, which
is capable of color receiving and the kind of the apparatus,
which is not capable of color receiving, are mixed as a
multi destination transmission address. Even in~such a
case, the transmission method for transmitting all image
data and the transmission method for transmitting only the
monochromatic portion can be suitably switched, depending
on the receiving capability of the apparatus on the
counterpart. Thereby, the multi destination transmission
can be efficiently executed, and time required for the
entire multi destination transmission can be reduced.
(Fifth embodiment)
The color facsimile apparatus of the present
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29
invention can rapidly transmit the original paper of either
one of color image data and monochromatic data. The
operation will be explained along the flow chart shown in
FIG. 6.
First, the color optical system 101 separates the
color original paper into the RGB components to be read
(ST601). The image processing section 102 determines
whether read data is color data or monochromatic data from
the color component data (ST602) . If data is color, a color
flag, which shows that the page includes color data, is
set at the head of the page of a read data row (ST603).
The color/monochrome determination process and the flag
setting may be performed at any timing. However, if they
are performed just after reading the original paper, the
efficiency of the performance is improved.
Next, read data is converted to CIELab data by the
RGB/CIELab converting section 107, and encoded by the color
encoding and decoding section 104 to be stored in the image
memory 111 (ST605/ST606). These operations are repeated
for each page until all pages are ended, and the image data
storage is ended (ST607/ST608).. Thus, all read data is
once stored in the image memory 111 as color image.
Then, the processes in which data stored in the image
memory 111 is read and transmitted are repeated. First,
stored color image data is read in order of page, and the
color flag, which is added to the head of each page, is
checked (ST609) . If the color flag is detected, the page
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
data is directly incorporated into a transmission queue
and transmitted from the line control section 118 (ST610) .
If the color flag is not detected in step ST610, the
page is data having only the monochromatic data image and
5 the following conversion process is executed so that color
multivalued data is converted to monochromatic binary data,
thereafter the transmission process (ST610) is executed.
First, color encoded image data is read from the image
memory 111, and decoded by the color encoding and decoding
10 section 104 to be decoded to the color memory 109 (ST611) .
The image processing section 102 sequentially fetches
lightness data "L" of CIELab data one bit by one to
determine whether or not lightness data is a predetermined
slice "n" or more, thereby determining whether the bit is
15 black data or white data (ST613/ST614).
As a result of the determination, the bit of white
data is set to "0" (K=0) , and the bit of black data is set
to "1" (K=1) (ST615/ST616). Then, data obtained by
executingthemultivalue/binaryconversion processforone
20 line is MR encoded by the monochromatic encoding and
decoding section 105 (ST617), and transferred and stored
to the image memory 111 (ST618).
If the lightness data "L" is the fixed value "n" or
more, the bit is regarded as a block, and the slice level
25 determination is suitably fixed with reference to a
standard value of psychological measuring lightness.
In the above case, the color/monochrome conversion
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31
is performed by the level determination of lightness data
"L". However, there may be used the method in which G
component data is converted to K (black) data after the
RBG conversion of CIELab data.
The above-mentioned processes are repeated until one
page is ended (ST619) . At the time when one page is ended,
color data for one page on the image memory 111 is deleted
(ST620) . Next, the transmission of the monochromatic data
of the page is executed (ST610).
The above-mentioned processes are repeated until all
pages are ended, so that the transmission operation is
completed (ST621).
Thus, in the fifth embodiment, on the precondition
that all original papers are color transmitted, data was
color-read, color-encoded, and stored in the image memory.
Thereafter, it was determined whether transmitting data
was color or monochromatic. Therefore, if transmitting
data is color, the transmission process can be completed
for the shortest period time. Conversely, if transmitting
data is monochromatic, the time that elapses before the
transmission process of monochromatic data is completed
is increased. However, since the process of monochromatic
data is finished for a short period of time, it does not
take much time to perform the process of monochromatic data
in view of the entire communication time.
Whether or not the read page is color is easily
determined using the RGB component data just after reading
CA 02358342 2001-10-05
32
data. On the other hand, the conversion of color data to
monochromatic data is precisely determined in the bit unit
using CIELab data. As a result, both the speedup of the
color data process and the maintenance of the
reproducibility of monochromatic data can be realized.
Also, the color/monochrome is changed based on the
detection result of the color flag, and transmission data
is incorporated into the transmission queue in the page
unit. As a result, if the transmission data is mixed data
of color/monochrome, the transmission process and the
color/monochromatic conversion process are executed in
parallel, so that the efficiency of the process can be
improved.
In the fifth embodiment, the color flag detection
process was performed after color encoding and storage
process for all pages was completed. However, this process
can be performed for each page. In this case, the later
page transmission process and the color/monochrome
conversion process are executed at that time so as to
improve the efficiency of the performance. Thereby, the
transmission of the first page. can be started for the
shortest period of time.
(Sixth embodiment)
The color facsimile apparatus of the present
invention can transmit color image data to the facsimile
apparatus having the color receiving function whose
capability is less than a fixed value. The transmission
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33
operation will be explained along the flow chart shown in
FIG. 7. To simplify the explanation, the explanation of
the process common to the above-mentioned processes will
be omitted.
First, it is checked whether or not the apparatus on
the counterpart side is capable of printing of mixed colors
on the communication procedure (ST701). For example,
there is the kind of apparatus, which can perform the
printing of the single color of CMYK, and which cannot
obtain an intermediate color generated by mixing these
colors of CMYK and reducing them. In the case where the
counterpart uses such a kind of apparatus, the image
processing section 102 determines whether or nct a target
bit is mixed data (ST702) . The determination is executed
by determining the ratio of the respective components of
read RGB data.
Next, a color selection determination process for
determining the bit as any one of R, B, B is executed
(ST703) . This process replaces data with color data, which
the apparatus on the counterpart side can print, and
replaced data is encoded by the color encoding and decoding
section 104 so as to be transmitted (ST704/ST705) . If the
apparatus on the counterpart side is capable of printing
of mixed colors on the communication procedure (ST701),
read color data is encoded by the color encoding and
decoding section 104 so as to be transmitted (ST706/ST705) .
The color selection determination process in ST703
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34
will be explained along FIGS. 8 and 9.
First, it is assumed that the receiver has the
printing function of only the red. The image processing
section 102 extracts R data of RGB data read by the color
optical system 101 in the bit unit, and determines whether
or not the R component is the fixed value or more
(ST801/ST802) as shown in FIG. 8. If the R component is
the fixed value or more, the pixel is regarded as R data
"1." On the other hand, if the R component is below the
fixed value, the pixel is regarded as no R data "0"
(ST803/ST804).
It is assumed that the receiver has the printing function
of two colors of red and green. The image processing
section 102 extracts R and G data of RGB data read by the
color optical system 101 in the bit unit, and determines
whether or not each of R and G components is the fixed value
or more as shown in FIG.9 (ST901/ST902/6T 903/ST904). On
the assumption that both components are the fixed value
or more, either one of the color components having a larger
value is regarded as a color of the pixel
(ST905/ST906/ST907).
If both R and G components are below the fixed value,
the pixel is regarded as no presence of data (white)
(ST908).
The above processes are executed when the color
receiving capability of the apparatus on the counterpart
side becomes clear on the communication procedure.
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Therefore, the operator on the transmission side can
perform the color transmission without being conscious of
the capability of the receiver, and the operator on the
receiving side can receive the color data though it is
5 pseudo-color.
The present invention is not limited to the
above-explained embodiments. Accordingly, various modi-
fications may be made without departing from the sprit or
scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the
10 appended claims and their equivalents.
Industrial Applicability
As is obvious from the above explanation, the color
facsimile apparatus of the present invention can be applied
to the color facsimile apparatus for transmitting image
15 data obtained by color reading the color original paper
after being color encoding and for color printing received
data.
