JP2001197218A - Communication equipment, method for controlling communication equipment and computer readable storage medium with control program of communication equipment stored therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow both a communication equipment main body and external communication equipment to reliably utilize an information notification service without depending on the external communication equipment connected to an external terminal. SOLUTION: An NCU 12 is provided with the external terminal 23 connecting the external communication equipment corresponding to the information notification service, a monitor circuit 26 which monitors an information exchange sequence between the external communication equipment and a communication line by a modem 18 so as to acquire notified information, a CI/CAR detection circuit 25 detecting a CI and an information receiving terminal seizing signal (CAR) and a switch 28 switching the connection between the communication line and the external communication equipment on/off, disconnects the communication line from the external communication equipment by the switch 28 in an standby state, and connects the communication line and the external communication equipment by the switch after completing the preparation of the circuit 26 and the monitoring of the modem 18 in the case of detecting the CAR by the circuit 25 when an incoming call arrives.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for receiving information notified from a communication line in a predetermined information transfer sequence after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal upon receiving a call, and performing a specific operation based on the notified information. And a connection means for connecting an external communication device capable of using the information notification service, and a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line. The present invention relates to a communication apparatus having a monitor for receiving information notified from a communication line, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the control program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a public telephone network, a so-called calling number notification (or number display) service, in which a calling telephone number is transmitted from a switch between call signals, is known as one of information notification services. Have been.

In the number display service, after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal (CAR) from a line, information including a calling side ID (such as a telephone number) is notified via a modem signal.

At present, the above information receiving terminal start signal is an AC signal of 75 Vrms, 15 to 20 Hz, a make rate of about 50%, and a modem signal is ITU-T.
Recommendation V. A modulation signal (V.23 modem signal) conforming to H.23 is used.

Conventionally, as a typical use of a calling telephone number transmitted from an exchange through a number display, there has been a method of displaying a detected calling telephone number on a liquid crystal display unit.

When two or more communication apparatuses supporting the number display service are connected to one telephone line, one communication apparatus executes a detection sequence, and the other communication apparatuses monitor the detection sequence. , 1
A technique has also been proposed in which a calling telephone number is displayed on all communication devices connected to one telephone line.

[0007] The calling number notification (number display) service is mainly used for notifying the calling telephone number. Depending on the specifications of the communication device, not only the telephone number but also various information can be notified. It is also conceivable to make the terminal perform a specific operation using the notified information, for example, a dial-in operation for designating an incoming call to a modem for information communication or another terminal device. In this case, the name of the information notification service may be different from the calling number notification (number display) service (such as "modem dial-in service").

[0008]

On the other hand, there is known a communication device such as a facsimile device having an external connection terminal for connecting an external communication device. It is now common that such a communication device main body is compatible with the number display service, and a configuration in which an external communication device compatible with the number display service is connected to its external connection terminal is also conceivable.

In such a connection situation, the communication line and the external communication device are connected, the number display detection sequence is executed, and this is monitored by the communication device main body, thereby transmitting to both (main body and external) communication devices. When the calling telephone number is displayed, the calling telephone number may not be detected properly due to a difference in detection processing speed.

[0010] For example, if the information receiving terminal activation signal (CAR) detection processing of the external communication device connected to the external connection terminal is faster than the communication device main body, the communication device main body may be connected to the CAR.
The primary communication of the external communication device occurs before the communication device is detected, and the communication device itself is set for monitoring the modem signal (for example, switching the modem to the V.23 mode).
In some cases, a modem signal arrives from the line prior to the completion of the process, and the communication apparatus main body cannot detect the calling telephone number.

As a result, conventionally, depending on the type of external communication device to be connected, there has been a problem that communication processing using the number display service cannot be normally executed on the communication device main body side.

In the above description, the calling number notification service is considered as the information notification service. However, a similar problem is expected in the information notification service using the same call connection sequence.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably use the information notification service in both the communication device main body and the external communication device without depending on the sequence processing speed of the external communication device connected to the external connection terminal. It is in.

[0014]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, upon receiving a call, after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal, information notified from a communication line by a predetermined information transfer sequence is received. And an information notification service that performs a specific operation based on the notified information is available, and connection means for connecting an external communication device capable of using the information notification service, and the external communication device is connected to a communication line. A communication device having a monitor for receiving a predetermined information exchange sequence executed between the communication devices and acquiring information notified from a communication line, a control method thereof, and a computer-readable storage medium storing the control program, and In the state, the connection between the communication line and the external communication device is cut off, and when an incoming call is received, when an information receiving terminal activation signal is detected, After completing the preparatory operation for setting the monitor means in an operable state, the communication line is connected to the external communication device, and the external communication device receives a predetermined information exchange sequence executed between the communication line and the communication line. A configuration for acquiring information notified from the communication line is adopted.

Alternatively, the information notification service is a calling number notification service, and the specific operation is an operation of displaying the notified calling number.

[0016] Alternatively, the preparatory operation for setting the monitor means in an operable state is to set the monitor means so that the external communication device can receive information exchange with a communication line using a modem signal. The configuration that is the operation is adopted.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, it is assumed that a facsimile apparatus is exemplified as a communication apparatus, and a telephone number compatible with a number display service is connected to an external connection terminal thereof as an apparatus compatible with a number display service.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a communication line such as a public telephone network for communicating with a partner terminal.
The caller number is notified from the exchange through the communication line 11.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an NCU for exchanging connections between the facsimile machine and an external number display telephone connected to the communication line 11 and an external connection terminal.

The functions of the NCU 12 are as follows: electrical insulation between the communication line 11 side and the inside of the device; acquisition and release of the line based on the control of the control unit 15; connection control with an external number display telephone; dial pulse or dial tone; Sending,
For example, line monitoring. Details of the configuration of the NCU 12 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a RAM, which is used for communication control of the facsimile machine. The data stored in the RAM 13 includes, for example, a caller number, telephone directory information, image data, control data, and the like.

A ROM 14 stores a control program of the control unit 15 and initial values of various settings. In the present embodiment, the ROM 14 corresponds to the storage medium of the present invention. The control program of the control unit 15 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a control unit composed of a microprocessor or the like, and controls each of the illustrated functional blocks according to a program described in the ROM 14.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an operation unit, which has a keyboard (or other operation means) for receiving operator operations such as facsimile transmission / reception, outgoing / incoming calls, and the like. Is transmitted.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a display unit composed of an LCD panel or the like, which is used to display a caller number, a state of the apparatus, and the like.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a modem, which modulates a transmission signal for transmission and demodulates a reception signal from the communication line 11 for reception. The modem 18 supports various modulation / demodulation methods of the V series recommendation required for facsimile communication, and furthermore, in the present embodiment, the V.80 used for a calling number notification process (number display). It can also transmit and receive 23 modem signals. This enables communication with the exchange and monitoring in the calling number notification process. In addition, the modem 18 has a tonal signal, DTM
It is assumed that detection and synthesis of the F signal and the like can also be performed.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a speaker for monitoring a line, calling an operator, and generating an error sound.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a printer unit of an electrophotographic system or the like, which outputs a received image, various reports, and the like.
In the facsimile apparatus, a scanner or the like for reading a transmission image is also provided, but is not shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the NCU 12 in detail. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a communication line (the same as that in FIG. 1).
And is connected to the line connection terminal 22.

Reference numeral 23 denotes an external connection terminal. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a number display telephone is connected as an external communication device.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a polarity reversal (polarity reversal) detection circuit which monitors the reversal of the polarity of the communication line 11 and notifies the control unit 15 of the result.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a CI (call signal) and C
CI / CAR for detecting AR (information receiving terminal activation signal)
The detection circuit notifies the control unit 15 of the detection result of the CI (call signal) and the CAR (information receiving terminal activation signal).

In this embodiment, when a device compatible with a number display, such as an external number display telephone, is connected as the external communication device, the sequence of the number display is executed by the external communication device, and the state is monitored by the modem 18. This allows the facsimile machine to display the outgoing telephone number (or various communication processes using the number display service).
Perform

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the monitor circuit 26 is provided in the NCU 12. While the external number display telephone is performing the number display sequence with the exchange via the communication line 11, the V.V. 23 monitors the modem signal and outputs it to the modem 18 side. The modem 18 transmits and receives V.10 signals during the number display sequence. By monitoring 23 modem signals, information notified by the number display sequence is extracted and transmitted to the control unit 15.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a cml relay for connection exchange, which is controlled so that the line is switched to the modem 18 when facsimile reception and transmission are performed.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a switch for disconnecting an external device connected to the external connection terminal 23. This switch 2
The control and function of 8 will be described in more detail in FIG.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described in detail. As described above, in the present embodiment, when a device compatible with a number display, such as an external number display telephone, is connected as an external communication device, the sequence of the number display is executed by the external communication device. By monitoring, the number display service is also used on this device side.

In such a configuration, if the processing speed of the number display service with the external communication device does not match, a problem occurs in which the number display service cannot be used on the device side as described in the subject section. In the present embodiment, the external communication device is disconnected (turned off) by the switch 28 during standby, and when the CAR is detected, the switch 28 is turned off after the monitor circuit 26 and the modem 18 complete the operation of preparing for the monitoring operation of the number display sequence. , An external communication device is connected, the sequence of the number display is executed by the external communication device, and the state is monitored.

Hereinafter, the incoming call control of the number display (ND) of the facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 3 is stored in the ROM 14 (or another computer-readable storage medium) as a control program of the control unit 15.

When the caller number is notified, a CAR (information receiving terminal activation) signal arrives from the communication line 11 before the CI (call signal) after the polarity inversion.

Standby state (step S31 in FIG. 3)
In the example, the cml relay 27 is in the 0 position and has been switched to the external connection terminal 23 side. However, in this state, the control unit 15 has switched the switch 28 to the OFF side, and the communication line 11 is connected to the external number display telephone. Not connected to

In step S32, the CAR / CI detection circuit is made to detect CI, and if CI is detected, the process proceeds to step S312 (in the case of non-caller number notification). In step S33, the CAR / CI detection circuit is caused to detect the CAR. If the CAR is detected, the process proceeds to step S34.

On the other hand, when the CAR from the communication line 11 is detected, in step S34, preparations are made for a monitor operation of the number display sequence.

For example, in step S34, the modem 18 is set to V.V. to monitor the number display information. 23 The processing for setting the reception mode (or the switching of the signal path in the monitor circuit 26 or the adjustment of the amplification degree, if necessary) is performed. When the preparation for monitoring the number display information is completed, the process proceeds to step S35, the switch 28 is turned on, and the external communication device is connected to the communication line 11.

When the switch 28 is turned on, step S
At 36, the external number display telephone (external communication device) connected to the communication line 11 detects the CAR and makes a primary response.

At step S37, the external number display telephone executes the exchange and the number display detection sequence, and in parallel with this, the modem 18 of the facsimile apparatus monitors via the monitor circuit 26 and the modem 18 analyzes the sequence. Get information. In this way, both the external number display telephone and the present facsimile apparatus can acquire the number display information.

In step S38, the number display telephone and the facsimile apparatus display the number display information acquired in step S37 on their respective display units (in this apparatus, the display 17 in FIG. 1).

In step S39, a time-out for detecting the CI after the detection of the CAR is determined. When the time-out is detected, it is determined that the call is disconnected, and the flow advances to step S314 to release the line 11 and return to the standby state.

In step S310, the reciprocity detection circuit 24
To detect the polarity reversal of the line, and when the polarity reversal is detected, it is determined that the call is disconnected.
Release 1 and return to standby state.

In step S311, the CAR / CI detection circuit 25 detects CI. If CI is detected, the process proceeds to step S312. If CI is not detected, the process loops to step S39.

Step S32 or step S311
In step S312, the speaker 19 is sounded to inform the operator that the CI has arrived.

In this embodiment, the sound is generated by the speaker, but the facsimile apparatus may be provided with a handset via a relay, and the relay may be connected to make the handset sound by CI.

In step S313, a normal telephone call or facsimile communication after calling the operator is executed, and the communication is terminated. In step S313 (or in step S38), of course, the facsimile apparatus or the external communication device can perform a specific operation using information received by the number display sequence.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
If the CAR is detected (S33), preparation for the monitoring operation of the number display sequence is completed (S34), and an external communication device is connected via the switch 28 (S3).
5) Then, since the number display sequence is executed by the external communication device and the status is monitored, for example, when the CAR detection processing of the external communication device is fast and the detection period is short, that is, the external communication Even in a situation where the detection processing speed of the information receiving terminal start signal between the communication device and the communication device is not consistent, the communication device main body can stably monitor the number display information, and the facsimile device and the external communication The information notified via the number display service can be used in both devices.

In the above, the calling number notification (number display) service is exemplified as the information notification service. However, according to the technique of the present invention, the call connection sequence is started by the information receiving terminal activation signal (or similar signal), and one of the two is started. What kind of information notification can be used as long as both communication devices can use the information notification service by monitoring the transmission and reception of the modem signal of the other communication device connected to the external connection terminal. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to communication devices intended for services.

Although the configuration of the facsimile apparatus has been described above, it goes without saying that the communication control of the present invention can be applied not only to a facsimile dedicated machine but also to other forms of communication apparatus. For example, the present invention relates to a method in which a facsimile modem or the like is externally connected to a general-purpose terminal such as a personal computer.
The present invention can also be implemented in a configuration in which facsimile communication is performed by software control. In that case,
It is conceivable that the NCU portion shown in FIG. 2 is mounted inside a single modem configured as a modem card or a peripheral device, and the above-described incoming call control is performed by a CPU of a terminal body (a personal computer or the like). In that case, the control program of the present invention can be stored and supplied not only in the ROM 14 described above but also in any computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a memory card. .

[0058]

As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, upon receiving a call, after receiving the information receiving terminal activation signal, information notified from the communication line in a predetermined information transfer sequence is received and notified. Connection means for connecting an external communication device capable of using the information notification service, which performs a specific operation based on the received information, and the external communication device being executed with a communication line. A communication device having monitor means for receiving a predetermined information transfer sequence and obtaining information notified from a communication line;
In a computer readable storage medium storing the control method and the control program, in a standby state, a communication line and the external communication device are disconnected from each other. When detected,
After completing the preparatory operation for setting the monitor means in an operable state, the communication line is connected to the external communication device, and the external communication device receives a predetermined information exchange sequence executed between the communication line and the communication line. Since the configuration to acquire the information notified from the communication line is adopted, even if the detection processing speed of the information receiving terminal activation signal between the external communication device and the external communication device is not matched, the external connection to the external connection terminal There is an excellent effect that the information notification service can be reliably used in both the communication device main body and the external communication device without depending on the sequence processing speed of the communication device.

[0059] Alternatively, the information notification service is a calling number notification service, and the specific operation is an operation of displaying the notified calling number. Can be performed.

Alternatively, the preparatory operation for setting the monitor means in an operable state is to set the monitor means so that the external communication device can receive information exchange with a communication line using a modem signal. According to the configuration that is an operation, after setting the monitoring unit to a state in which a modem signal can be received, the information communication sequence can be started by the external communication device, so that both the communication device body and the external communication device can be used. The information notification service can be reliably used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an NCU of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of incoming call control in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Communication line 12 NCU 13 RAM 14 ROM 15 Control part 16 Operation part 17 Display part 18 Modem 19 Speaker 110 Printer part 22 Line connection terminal 23 External connection terminal 24 Polarity reverse detection circuit 25 CI / CAR detection circuit 26 Monitor circuit 27 cml relay 28 SW1

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information notification service for receiving information notified from a communication line by a predetermined information transfer sequence after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal upon receiving a call, and performing a specific operation based on the notified information. Connecting means for connecting an external communication device that is usable and capable of using the information notification service, and receives a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line and notifies the communication line of the information. A communication device having monitor means for acquiring information to be received, an information reception terminal activation signal detection means for detecting an information reception terminal activation signal, a switch means for turning on / off a connection between a communication line and the external communication device, In the standby state, the connection between the communication line and the external communication device is disconnected by the switch means, and when a call is received,
When the information reception terminal activation signal is detected by the information reception terminal activation signal detection means, a preparation operation for setting the monitor means to an operable state is completed, and then the communication line is connected to the external communication device by the switch means. And a control unit for receiving a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line by the monitor unit and acquiring information notified from the communication line. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the information notification service is a calling number notification service, and the specific operation is an operation of displaying the notified calling number. 3. A preparatory operation for setting the monitor unit to an operable state is an operation of setting the monitor unit so that the external communication device can receive and transmit information exchanged with a communication line using a modem signal. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein 4. An information notification service for receiving information notified from a communication line in a predetermined information transfer sequence after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal upon receiving a call, and performing a specific operation based on the notified information. Connecting means for connecting an external communication device that is usable and capable of using the information notification service, and receives a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line and notifies the communication line of the information. A method of controlling a communication device having a monitor for acquiring information to be received, an information reception terminal activation signal detection step of detecting an information reception terminal activation signal, and turning on / off a switch for connecting a communication line to the external communication device. In the standby state, the connection between the communication line and the external communication device is disconnected by the switch control step. Upon receiving an incoming call, when the information receiving terminal activation signal is detected by the information receiving terminal activation signal detecting step, a preparation operation for setting the monitor means to an operable state is completed, and then the communication line and the communication line are connected by the switch control step. Connect an external communication device,
A control method for a communication device, comprising: a control step of receiving a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line by the monitor means and acquiring information notified from the communication line. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information notification service is a calling number notification service, and the specific operation is an operation of displaying the notified calling number. 6. A preparatory operation for setting the monitor unit to an operable state is an operation of setting the monitor unit so that the external communication device can receive and transmit information exchanged with a communication line using a modem signal. The control method for a communication device according to claim 4, wherein: 7. An information notification service for receiving information notified from a communication line by a predetermined information transfer sequence after receiving an information receiving terminal activation signal upon receiving a call, and performing a specific operation based on the notified information. Connecting means for connecting an external communication device that is usable and capable of using the information notification service, and receives a predetermined information exchange sequence executed by the external communication device with a communication line and notifies the communication line of the information. An information receiving terminal activation signal detecting step of detecting an information receiving terminal activation signal in a computer-readable storage medium storing a control program of a communication device having a monitor for acquiring information to be received, a communication line and the external communication device A switch control step of turning on / off a switch means for connecting the switches; When the connection between the communication line and the external communication device is cut off and an information receiving terminal activation signal is detected by the information receiving terminal activation signal detecting step at the time of an incoming call, preparation for setting the monitor means to an operable state After completing the operation, connect the communication line and the external communication device by the switch control step,
A control program for a communication device, wherein said monitor means stores a control step of receiving a predetermined information transfer sequence executed by said external communication device with a communication line and acquiring information notified from the communication line. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer. 8. The communication program according to claim 7, wherein the information notification service is a calling number notification service, and the specific operation is an operation of displaying the notified calling number. A computer-readable storage medium that stores therein. 9. A preparatory operation for setting the monitor unit to an operable state is an operation of setting the monitor unit so that the external communication device can receive and transmit information exchanged with a communication line using a modem signal. A computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a communication device according to claim 7.