1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to a facsimile machine and a method for forwarding facsimile data.
2. Description of Related Art
Multi-function peripherals (MFPs) including scanner units, printer units and facsimile units are popular because the MFPs are relatively small in size, have low noise and may perform color copying, printing, scanning, and transmitting facsimiles at low cost. The MFPs are capable of receiving facsimile data transmitted from facsimile sending machines over a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and printing the received facsimile data on sheets of paper. A user of an MFP may not always be the desired facsimile recipient, or the user may wish to forward the facsimile transmission to another recipient. Such a user may need to use the MFP to scan the printed paper file to retrieve the facsimile data and send the facsimile data to another recipient manually. Therefore, there is a need for a technique for automatically forwarding the facsimile data to another facsimile recipient.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
In general, the word “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media comprise CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives.
The CPU 101 is a processor for controlling the MFP 10 overall. The MFP 10 is controlled by running one or more programs (firmware) stored in the ROM 102.
The ROM 102 is non-volatile memory for storing the program(s) for controlling the MFP 10.
The RAM 103 is volatile memory which is used as a working area when the CPU 101 runs the program(s) stored in the ROM 102.
The printer unit 104 may print image data or facsimile data on a sheet of paper, an overhead projector (OHP) sheet, or the like (hereinafter, these will be referred to generically as a “printing medium”). In one embodiment, the printer unit 104 is an inkjet printer which comprises a printhead, a motor, and an ink cartridge. The printer unit 104 causes the ink carriage in the printhead to scan on the printing medium in a reciprocating manner, and to apply ink to the printing medium. Printing is performed by transporting the printing medium according to the scanning perpendicularly to the scanning direction of the carriage.
The scanner unit 105 may scan an image on a sheet of paper, a plastic sheet, a film, or any flat surface, and generate image data. The scanner unit 105 temporarily buffers, in the RAM 103, image data generated by scanned images.
The scanner unit 105 may comprise a scanner head which has a scanning width corresponding to an overall width of a largest readable medium (for example, A4-size paper). In the scanner head, a plurality of charge-coupled devices (CCDs) or a plurality of CMOS image sensors (CISs) may be arranged in the scanner head, in a line along the scanning width direction. Image data is obtained by the plurality of CCDs detecting light from the image, and converting the detected light into electrical signals. Further, the scanner head may be mechanically moved along a linear direction in a stepwise fashion by a motor of the scanner unit 105, with the linear direction being perpendicular to the line of the plurality of CCDs. An entire image is scanned by a combination of an electrical scanning of the plurality of CCDs and a mechanical movement of the scanner head. In the present disclosure, a direction of the electrical scanning performed by the line of the plurality of CCDs at any one time is called a “main scanning direction”, and the direction of the mechanical movement of the scanner head is called a “sub scanning direction.”
As described above, the scanner unit 105 may scan an image line-by-line, and may generate color image data. The color image data is image data in which the color components including red, green, and blue (RGB) components are represented in, for example, 8 bits (0 to 255). A number of bits representing each pixel can be freely set within a capability range of the plurality of CCDs or the plurality of CISs. The number of bits representing each pixel is called “image level” or “color depth.”
The facsimile unit 106 may receive facsimile data transmitted from a facsimile sending machine or send facsimile data to a destination facsimile machine over a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The RAM 103 is also used as buffer memory for temporarily storing the facsimile data.
The I/F 107 is an interface for allowing the MFP 10 to communicate with various external devices. The external devices may comprise, for example, a personal computer (PC), and a drive for reading and writing data in a storage medium such as a memory card. The I/F 107 may comprise USB and IEEE 1394 capabilities.
The operation unit 108 may be operated by a user to provide the MFP 10 with various instructions. An instruction may comprise, for example, a scan instruction for causing the scanner unit 105 to perform scanning, a print instruction for causing the printer unit 104 to perform printing on a printing medium, and a facsimile instruction for causing the facsimile unit 106 to send facsimile data to a facsimile receiving machine over the PSTN. The instruction to the MFP 10 may be provided from a PC, or the like, through the I/F 107.
The display unit 109 may notify the user of various information, and comprises an LCD, an LED, or the like. The various information provided to the user may comprise, for example, a state of the MFP 10 (scanning, printing, faxing, or idling), and a setting menu of the MFP 10.
The DMA controller 110 is a controller for transferring data between constituent elements of the MFP 10.
In step S301, the facsimile unit 106 receives facsimile data transmitted via the PSTN 15 from the facsimile sending machine 20.
In step S302, the MFP 10 obtains a source facsimile number of the facsimile sending machine 20.
In step S303, the MFP 10 determines whether the source facsimile number of the facsimile sending machine 20 matches a pre-stored source facsimile number stored in a mapping table 40.
In step S304, the MFP 10 obtains from the mapping table 40 a destination facsimile number corresponding to the source facsimile number of the facsimile sending machine 20.
In step S305, the facsimile unit 106 sends the facsimile data to a destination facsimile machine associated with the destination facsimile number.
In step S401, the facsimile unit 106 receives facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile sending machine 20 over the PSTN 15.
In step S402, the MFP 10 obtains a source facsimile number of the facsimile sending machine 20.
In step S403, the MFP 10 determines whether the source facsimile number of the facsimile sending machine 20 matches a pre-stored source facsimile number in a mapping table 50.
In step S404, the MFP 10 obtains a two-dimensional (2D) bar code from the facsimile data.
In step S405, the MFP 10 decodes the destination facsimile number from the 2D bar code 50.
In step S406, the facsimile unit 106 sends the facsimile data to a destination facsimile machine having the decoded destination facsimile number.
In step S501, the facsimile unit 106 receives facsimile data transmitted from the facsimile sending machine 20 over the PSTN 15.
In step S502, the MFP 10 obtains a two-dimensional (2D) bar code from the facsimile data.
In step S503, the MFP 10 decodes a source identification number from the 2D bar code 60.
In step S504, the MFP 10 determines whether the source identification number matches a pre-stored source identification number stored in a mapping table 70.
In step S505, the MFP 10 obtains from the mapping table 70 a destination facsimile number corresponding to the source identification number of the facsimile sending machine 20.
In step S506, the MFP 10 obtains from the mapping table 70 a destination identification number corresponding to the source identification number of the facsimile sending machine 20 and update the facsimile data by replacing the source identification number with the destination identification number.
In step S507, the facsimile unit 106 sends the updated facsimile data to a destination facsimile machine associated with the destination facsimile number.
Although numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Depending on the embodiment, certain steps or methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. The description and the claims drawn for or in relation to a method may comprise some indication in reference to certain steps. However, any indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100114527 | Apr 2011 | TW | national |