GB2253969A

GB2253969A - Sending control of a facsimile device by secret number

Info

Publication number: GB2253969A
Application number: GB9204125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joon Woo Lee
Original assignee: Sindo Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sindo Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-02-28
Filing date: 1992-02-25
Publication date: 1992-09-23
Also published as: JPH07115475A; GB9204125D0; DE4205602A1; KR930005128B1; KR920017437A

Abstract

Sending control for a facsimile device with facsimile mode and telephone mode includes requesting a secret number 10 or identification data when an off-hook state 6 is detected, and if the secret number or identification data matches data stored in a memory 9 then performing a normal sending mode. The sending control switches to facsimile mode for the secret number input. Voice and document communication is only possible by a person who knows the secret number. The secret number may be changed (101, Fig 2A). <IMAGE>

Description

A SENDING CONTROL METHOD OF A FACSIMILE DEVICE The present invention relates to a sending control method of a facsimile device, and more particularly, relates to the sending control method that just the particular person who knows a secret number makes possible of voice communication or document sending.

Recently the facsimile device has been used widely and generally, and its operation has been very simple.

This simple operation, however, caused various problems.

For example, the corporations or offices use one facsimile device in common, and any person can send secret document or personal document to external device at ease and can call freely by using the telephone attached to it.

In the conventional case to prevent said problems, some corporations or offices required permission regarding facsimile use from the corresponding manager, or gave a person charge of the facsimile device. This artificial method, however, delayed the execution of work and still had problems in manpower management.

It is an object to provide a sending control method of a facsimile device which just the person who knows a secret number stored in advance in the facsimile device makes possible of voice communication or document sending.

To achieve said object, this invention comprises a first step of detecting the OFF HOOK state through an OFF HOOK detector in an initial state of phone mode, a second step of setting the switching means to facsimile mode if the OFF HOOK state is detected, a third step of requiring a secret number input, a fourth step of identifying whether or not the inputted secret number is exactly the same as a secret number stored in memory means, and a fifth step of performing normal sending mode by setting the switching means to the phone mode if said two secret numbers are same.

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile device to which this invention is applied; Fig 2A and Fig. 2B are flowing diagrams of showing the sending control method of this invention.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile device to which this invention is applied, and in Fig. 1, the reference number 1 shows a relay, 2 is a transformer, 3 an amplifier, 4 a modulation/demodulation part, 5 a ring detector, 6 an OFF HOOK detector, 7 an input/output buffer, 8 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), 9 a memory part, 10 a key pad, and 11 a telephone, respectively.

As shown in Fig. 1, the facsimile device shows the general facsimile device being used generally. This facsimile device comprises the relay 1 for selecting a facsimile mode or a phone mode, the transformer 2 connected to the relay 1, the amplifier 3 for amplifying signals transmitted from the line, the modulation/demodulation part 4 connected to the amplifier 3, the telephone 11 connected to the relay 1, the ring detector 5 for detecting the ring signal from the line, the OFF HOOK detector 6 for detecting the OFF HOOK state of the handset of telephone, the input/output buffer 7 connected to the ring detector 5 and the OFF HOOK detector 6, the CPU 8 connected to the input/output buffer 7 and the modulation/demodulation part 4, the key pad 10 connected to the CPU 8, and the memory part 9 connected to the CPU 8 and for storing the data of the operating program, secret number, etc.

In said facsimile device, this invention stores the secret number in the memory part 9 in advance, and controls the sending by having the corresponding secret number inputted through the key pad 10 in case that any person wants to send a document to external facsimile device or wants to call through the telephone attached to the facsimile device.

Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are flowing diagrams for performing a sending control method of this invention, and particularly Fig 2A is a flowing diagram for performing a secret number registration/alteration mode and Fig. 2B is a flowing diagram for performing a sending control function under the state that the secret number is registered.

First, in case of registering or altering the secret number, the user selects the secret number registration/alteration mode by using the buttons on the key pad (101). And then a determined secret number is inputted (102). If the input has been finished (103), the inputted secret number is stored in the memory part (104). The user is always possible to register or alter the secret number by selecting and performing the said mode.

Next, in Fig. 2B, the relay 1 is generally set to the phone mode at the standby state not using the facsimile device. At this state (105), if the user hold up the handset for sending operation, OFF HOOK state is detected at the OFF HOOK detector (106) (this operation also can be made in the buttons operation on the key pad). If the detecting result is ON HOOK state, the standby state is kept or other job except the mode of this invention is performed (107), and if it is OFF HOOK state, the relay is set to the facsimile mode (108) and requires the user to input the secret number (109).

At this time, a timer can be operated (114) so that said mode operation can go back to the initial state in case that the user doesn't input the secret number in a given time (115). And also if ON HOOK state is occurred in the middle of performing the secret number input mode (110), said mode operation goes back to the initial state.

If the OFF HOOK state is kept on, the next step identifies whether or not the inputted number is exactly the same as the number registered in the memory part (111). At this time, if two numbers are not same, this step goes back to the secret number input mode, and if two numbers are same, the phone mode is set (112) and the general sending mode of the facsimile device is performed (113).

The facsimile device of this invention performs the sending control function through said steps.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. In a facsimile device comprising switching means for selecting a facsimile mode or a phone mode, a transformer connected to the switching means, and amplifier connected to the transformer, modulation/demodulation means connected to the amplifier, a telephone connected to the switching means, a ring detector connected to the switching means and for detecting a ring signal on telephone line, an OFF HOOK detector for detecting an OFF HOOK state of the telephone handset, an input/output buffer connected to the ring detector and the OFF HOOK detector, a CPU connected to the input/output buffer and the modulation/demodulation means, a key pad connected to the CPU, and memory means connected to the CPU and for storing data of an operating program and a secret number, a sending control method comprising:: a first step of detecting the OFF HOOK state through the OFF HOOK detector in an initial state of phone mode; a second step of setting the switching means to facsimile mode if the OFF HOOK state is detected; a third step of requiring a secret number input; a fourth step of identifying whether or not the inputted secret number is exactly the same as a secret number stored in the memory means; and a fifth step of performing normal sending mode by setting the switching means to the phone mode if said two secret numbers are same.

2. A sending control method according to Claim 1, further comprising a sixth step of storing the secret number to the memory means before start of the first step.

3. A sending control method accoridng to Claim 2, further comprising a seventh step of setting a timer after the second step, and an eighth step of starting again from the first step in case of not inputting the secret number in a predetermined time after the second step.

4. A method of operating a facsimile device comprising in an initial phone mode, detecting an OFF HOOK state of a telephone handset associated with the facsimile device, setting the device to a facsimile mode if the OFF HOOK state is detected, requesting identification data and, on receipt of said data, identifying whether or no the inputted data matches secret identification data stored in the device; and performing normal sending mode by setting the device to the phone mode if said inputted data matches said stored data.

5. A method of operating a facsimile device substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

6. A facsimile device comprising switching means for selecting a facsimile mode or a phone mode, an OFF HOOK detector for detecting an OFF HOOK state of the telephone handset, processing means coupled to the switching means and to the OFF HOOK detector, data input means connected to the processing means, memory means connected to the processing means and for storing data of an operating program and secret identification data, the processing means being operable to compare identification data input to the device with said secret identification data and to actuate a normal sending mode if said data matches.

7. A facsimile device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.