Facsimile system for recording received picture data having buffer with selectable storage

A method for recording received picture data for facsimile transmission comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving and decoding transmitted picture to produce original picture data;
• (b) compressing the original picture per unit line to produce compressed picture data;
• (c) determining whether the number of bits of one unit line of compressed picture data is smaller than the number of bits of one unit line of original picture data;
• (d) inputting into a buffer storage the one unit line of compressed picture data and a header bit indicating compressed picture data when in said step (c) the number of bits of one unit line of compressed picture data is smaller than the number of bits of one unit line of original picture data;
• (e) inputting into buffer storage the one unit line of the original picture data and a header bit indicating original picture data when in said step (c) the number of bits of one unit line of compressed picture data is not smaller than the number of bits of one unit line of original picture data;
• (f) restoring the one unit line of picture data from compressed picture data when the header bit of the one unit line of picture data indicates compressed picture data;
• (g) reading the original picture data for one unit line from the buffer storage when the header bit of the one unit line of picture data indicates original picture data;
• and
• (h) printing one of the one unit line of picture data from compressed picture data and original picture data.

A system for recording a received facsimile transmitted signal of picture data, comprising:

• decoder means for decoding the received signal of the picture data to produce original picture data;
• compressor means for receiving the original picture data per unit line and compressing to produce compressed picture data;
• decision means for deciding which of a number of bits of each unit line of the compressed picture data or a number of bits of each unit line of the original picture data is smaller and outputting a control signal representing a decision result;
• buffer storage means for storing either the compressed picture data or the original picture data based on the decision result indicating a smaller number of bits decided by said decision means and for storing a header bit to indicate whether compressed picture data or original picture data has been stored;
• output decoder means for outputting and uncompressing picture data from said buffer storage means when the header bit indicates that the data from said buffer storage means is compressed picture data and outputting the picture data from said buffer storage means when the header bit indicates that the data from said buffer storage means is original picture data;
• and
• printing means for printing the picture data output from said output decoder means.