Transmitting method and transmitting apparatus of stored information of memory

• US 5,268,768 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 12/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Terasaka, Teiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Joseph L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hiep T.
• Application Number:
  US07/980,432
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS, 364/900 MS, 395/400, 395/425, 358/401, 358/403, 358/404, 358/405, 358/261.4, 358/440, 358/467, 358/468, 358/444
• US Class Current: 358/404
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32363 at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32368 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with transmission

Abstract

In an apparatus for transmitting stored information from memory, the store area of memory is divided according to a predetermined store capacity. The data is transmitted from the divided store area. A transmission for the store areas is also stored. When transmitting, the stored information is sent out according to this transmission sequence, and the transmitted data is erased from the memory. Afterwards, the apparatus searches the store areas in which stored data is to be transmitted to continue the transmission. Thus, if the quantities of data to be transmitted should vary, it is not necessary to shift the store areas within the memory to erase the transmitted data, and hence the transmission time is shortened.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting image data stored in a memory of a facsimile apparatus comprising the steps of:

(a) producing image data;

(b) storing, in a first memory, the image data, the first memory being divided into individual storage areas such that a single message of image data is stored in a single individual storage area, each individual storage area having a distinct label;

(c) storing, in a second memory, a start address for each individual storage area of the first memory;

(d) storing, in a third memory having a plurality of locations, the distinct labels of each individual storage area, the distinct labels being stored in the third memory according to a transmission sequence order such that the label corresponding to the single message of image data that is to be transmitted first is stored in a first location of the third memory;

(e) storing, in a fourth memory having a plurality of individual compartments wherein each compartment corresponds to an individual storage area, data in separate compartments, the data indicating if the individual storage area corresponding to that compartment in the fourth memory has image data stored therein or no image data stored therein;

(f) coding a single message of stored image data;

(g) transmitting the coded message of image data; and

(h) updating the fourth memory such that the compartment corresponding to the individual storage area of the transmitted single message of image data indicates that the individual storage area is available for storing a new message therein.

2. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

image means for producing image data;

a first memory for storing the image data, said first memory being divided into individual storage areas such that a single message of image data is stored in a single individual storage area, each individual storage area having a distinct label;

a second memory for storing a start address for each individual storage area of said first memory, said second memory having individual locations corresponding to the individual storage areas such that one location will, for all operations, have the start address for a same individual storage area;

a third memory for storing the distinct labels of each individual storage area, the distinct labels being stored in said third memory according to a transmission sequence order such that the label corresponding to the individual storage area having the single message of image data to be transmitted first is stored in a first location of said third memory;

a fourth memory, having a plurality of individual compartments, each compartment corresponding to an individual storage area, for storing data indicating if the individual storage area corresponding to that compartment in said fourth memory has image data stored therein or no image data stored therein;

coding means for coding a single message of image data;

transmitting means for transmitting the single message of coded image data; and

control means, operatively connected to said image means, first memory, second memory, third memory, fourth memory, coding means, and transmitting means, for updating data in a location of said fourth memory corresponding to the individual storage area having the transmitted single message of coded image data to indicate that the individual storage area is available for storing a new message of image data therein.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said image means comprises image pickup elements.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transmitting means transmits the single message of coded image data through telephone lines.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second memory stores a last address of the single message of image data and information corresponding to a destination code to which the single message of image data is to be transmitted.

6. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

image means for producing image data;

first memory means for storing the image data, said first memory means being divided into individual storage areas such that a single message of image data is stored in a single individual storage area, each individual storage area having a distinct label;

second memory means for storing a start address for each individual storage area of said first memory means, said second memory means having individual locations corresponding to the individual storage areas such that one location will, for all operations, have the start address for a same individual storage area;

third memory means for storing the distinct labels of each individual storage area, the distinct labels being stored in said third memory means according to a transmission sequence order such that the label corresponding to the individual storage area having the single message of image data to be transmitted first is stored in a first memory location of said third memory means;

fourth memory means, having a plurality of individual compartments, each compartment corresponding to an individual storage area, for storing data indicating if the individual storage area corresponding to that compartment in said fourth memory means has image data stored therein or no image data stored therein;

coding means for coding a single message of image data;

transmitting means for transmitting the single message of coded image data; and

control means, operatively connected to said image means, first memory means, second memory means, third memory means, fourth memory means, coding means, and transmitting means, for updating data in a location of said fourth memory means corresponding to the individual storage area having the transmitted single message of coded image data to indicate that the individual storage area is available for storing a new message of image data therein.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said image means comprises image pickup elements.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said transmitting means transmits the single message of coded image data through telephone lines.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second memory means stores a last address of the single message of image data and information corresponding to a destination code to which the single message of image data is to be transmitted.