Color Image Communicating Apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a color image communicating apparatus having a color image reader.

2. Related Background Art

Hitherto, when a destination number or the like is registered into a facsimile apparatus, the operator registers it to a one-touch dial key or the like by operations.

The above conventional method, however, has a drawback such that since the operations are complicated, the registering operation is complicated and it is difficult to operate.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the dialing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a color image communicating apparatus for producing destination information in accordance with the kind of color which has been read by a color image reader.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a facsimile apparatus as a communicating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for a registering operation to a facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for recognizing a destination color of a facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for recognizing a destination of a facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for registering a destination of a facsimile apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a registration special sheet which is used in the embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a keypad and a display.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a facsimile apparatus embodying the present invention. In the diagram, reference numeral 1 denotes a facsimile apparatus comprising: a microprocessor 2 (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) to control the whole facsimile apparatus 1; a timer 3 which is used to monitor various times; a buffer 4 which is used to accumulate and process image data; a memory 5 which is used to temporarily store a destination number or the like; a keypad 6 to execute various kinds of operations; a display 7 to display various kinds of messages; a first I/O (input/output) controller 8 to control the keypad 6 and display 7; a color reader 9 which is constructed by a reading optical system, a line sensor, and the like; a color printer 10 to generate an input document or the like; a second I/O controller 11 to control the color reader 9 and color printer 10; a communication control unit 12 to control the communication to a communication line; a hard disk 13 to store the image data of the input document or the like; and a hard disk controller 14 to control the hard disk 13.

FIG. 7 shows an external view of an operating section of the facsimile apparatus 1 embodying the present invention.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 embodying the invention will now be described.

When a registration key 67 in FIG. 7 is depressed by the operator, a registering operation is started.

As shown in the display 7 of FIG. 7, the operator selects a desired registration method by using cursor keys 64 in FIG. 7 with reference to a selection screen regarding the registration method (step S1 in FIG. 2). When the selected registration method indicates a sheet reading mode, the CPU 2 controls the I/O controller 11 so as to activate the color reader 9, thereby reading a registration special sheet as shown in FIG. 6 (step S2 in FIG. 2) and executing a destination color recognition processing (step S3 in FIG. 2). That is, the CPU recognizes the area in which a destination color is shown from the registration special sheet which has been read (step S14 in FIG. 3) and judges the destination color shown in such an area (step S24 in FIG. 3). On the basis of the result of the judgment, the CPU 2 judges whether the destination color of the area corresponding to the judged destination color is appropriate or not (step S34 in FIG. 3). If a NO result occurs in step S34, the CPU 2 controls the I/O controller 8 so as to allow the display 7 to display a message indicating that the destination color is inappropriate (step S44 in FIG. 3). The processing routine is finished.

When it is decided in step S34 in FIG. 3 that the destination color is appropriate, the CPU 2 executes a destination recognition processing (step S4 in FIG. 2). That is, the CPU 2 recognizes a predetermined area of the read registration special sheet in which the destination number corresponding to the judged destination color is shown (step S15 in FIG. 4). The destination number shown in the area is judged by a character recognition processing (step S25 in FIG. 4). On the basis of the result of the judgment, the CPU 2 judges whether the destination number is shown in the area of the destination number or not (step S5 in FIG. 2). If a NO result occurs in step S5, the elapse of a predetermined time is monitored by using the timer 3 and the CPU 2 judges whether the predetermined time has passed or not (step S8 in FIG. 2). If a NO result occurs in step S8, the CPU 2 discriminates whether a stop key 62 has been depressed or not (step S7 in FIG. 2). When the stop key 62 is not depressed, the processing routine is returned to the time monitoring step. If a YES result occurs in step S7, the registering operation is finished. If a YES result occurs in step S8 in FIG. 2, the registering operation is also finished.

When it is decided in step S5 in FIG. 2 that the destination number is shown, the CPU 2 judges whether the destination color or destination number has already been registered or not (step S56 in FIG. 5). If a YES result occurs, the CPU 2 controls the I/O controller 8 and allows the display 7 to display information to inform the operator of the fact that the designated destination color or destination number has already been registered (step S86 in FIG. 5). The CPU 2 subsequently instructs the operator to select whether the overlaying registration is executed or not by using the keypad 6 (start key 63) (step S96 in FIG. 5). When the overlaying registration is not executed, the information is not registered. When the overlaying registration is executed, the CPU 2 stores the destination color and destination number into the memory 5 in correspondence to each other and performs the overlaying registration of them (step S66 in FIG. 5). The CPU 2 judges whether there is a next designation entry or not (step S76 in FIG. 5). If a YES result occurs, the processing routine is returned to step S56 in FIG. 5 and the processes are repeated. If a NO result occurs, a registration end operation is executed and the registering operation is finished.

When the operator selects the registration by using the key input in step S1 in FIG. 2, the operator inputs color keys 60, 68, and 69 as shown in FIG. 7 (step S9 in FIG. 2). The CPU 2 subsequently executes a destination color recognition processing (step S10 in FIG. 2). That is, a check is made to see if the inputted destination color is appropriate or not (step S34 in FIG. 3). When it is inappropriate, the CPU 2 controls the I/O controller 8 so as to allow the display 7 to display a message indicative of such a fact (step S44 in FIG. 3). After that, the registration end operation is performed and the registering operation is finished. When it is decided that the destination color is appropriate, the operator inputs the destination number by using a ten-key key pad 61 in FIG. 7 (step S11 in FIG. 2). The CPU 2 recognizes the inputted destination number (step S12 in FIG. 2) and executes a registering operation similar to step S6 in FIG. 2 (step S13 in FIG. 2). After the registering operation has been performed, the registration end operation is started from step S7 in FIG. 2 and the registering operation is finished.

Upon originating call, the operator selects the originating call method by using the cursor key 64 with reference to the selection screen of the originating call method of the display 7. When the selected originating call method indicates the sheet reading mode, the CPU 2 reads an originating call special sheet and judges the destination color on which the destination color is shown. In correspondence to the judged destination color, the CPU 2 reads out the destination number registered in the memory 5 and sends from the communication control section 12 to the communication line.

When the selected originating call method is instructed by the key input, the CPU 2 sends the destination number from the communication control unit 12 to the communication line in accordance with the input from the keypad 6.

Although the registration method has been selected by the operator in the above embodiment, it is also possible to predetermine such a selection method by a system parameter of the facsimile apparatus. Although the stop key and timer have been used to execute the registration end operation, a similar effect can also be derived even when the processing routine is finishes on its own.

In case of an apparatus having a color image reader and a color image processing function, a similar effect is obtained by rewriting a registration content to another registration item of the destination number and by executing a registering operation by a similar processing procedure.

The number of destination colors is not limited to two colors (red and blue for YANON CO. LTD. shown in FIG. 6) but can be also set to three or more colors or one color.

The destination color can be also input from the image reader 9. The designation number can be also input from the ten-key keypad 61. In this case, the destination color corresponding to one destination is written on a color destination registration sheet and the destination number is input from the keypad 6.

According to the embodiment as described above, the destination numbers or the like can be classified by a combination of colors which can be easily visually sensed and the number of one-touch dial keys can be reduced or eliminated, so that there is an advantage such that an outside appearance is simplified and the design is improved. Since the troublesome operations are eliminated, the registering operation is simplified.

Although the present invention has been described on the basis of the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment but many modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the appended claims of the invention.