Document transmission module connectable to data source for transmitting data in standard or high speed modes

Abstract

A document transmission module is connected between a conventional document digitizing device (host unit) and a communication interface. The module receives conventional data output from its host unit and re-transmits them to a destination document transmission protocol machine in one of standard and high speed modes depending on the compatibility of the destination document transmission protocol machine. The standard mode communication employs an image data format for both text and graphics. The high speed mode distinguishes text from graphics and performs optical character recognition on suspected character information. When characters are successfully recognized, only a code, e.g. ASCII, and the location of the character is transmitted, realizing significant improvements in compression ratios over conventional data transmission. Graphics and unrecognizable characters are transmitted as bit-mapped pixels or in conventional compressed fax format. The document transmission module is also capable of receiving incoming data from transmitting machines through the communication interface in both the standard and high speed modes. Data sent and received in the high speed mode contain codes for text characters and bit-mapped or compressed pixels for graphics and unrecognized characters and are either printed or recorded in a storage medium. Since text characters are received as codes, any desired printing resolution can be selected for them.

81 ) A method of discriminating between text and graphics information in a physical or digital document which is destined for electronic transmission to a destination device, said method incorporating the transmission of recognized text data as character codes, and unrecognized character and/or graphics information as graphics information, and including the step of supplying information sufficient for the substantial reconstruction of the original document in a destination device from the received character codes and graphics information.  
     
     
         82 ) A method as described in claim  1 , including the steps of determining whether a destination device is able to perform substantial reconstruction of the original document in a destination device from the received character codes and graphics information, and if it is not, sending the document as graphics information.  
     
     
         83 ) A system for electronically transmitting physical or digital documents, said system comprising means for discriminating between text and graphics information in a physical or digital document which is destined for electronic transmission to a destination device, means for the transmission of recognized character data as character codes, and unrecognized character and/or graphics information as graphics information, and means for supplying information sufficient for the substantial reconstruction of the original document in the destination device from the received character codes and graphics information.  
     
     
         84 ) A system as claimed in claim  3 , further comprising means for determining whether a destination device is able to perform substantial reconstruction of the original document in a destination device from the received character codes and graphics information, and if it is not, means for sending the document as graphics information.