JP2003078739A - Facsimile machine and facsimile transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile machine and a facsimile transmission method that can prevent entry mistake of a destination number without the need for imposing much labor on the entry. SOLUTION: A conventional image entry device such as a line sensor 34 attached to the facsimile machine digitizes bar codes of a form comprising a destination number and particular information (destination/particular information 20) corresponding to the destination number described in advance on facsimile transmission paper and reads the bar codes (S309). Arithmetic processing for conventional bar code recognition using a CPU7 is conducted and the bar code form is converted into a destination number and unique information corresponding to the destination number (S301). A memory temporarily stores the converted destination number and the particular information corresponding to the destination number (S302) to apply connection processing to the destination number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that uses a transmission sheet such as a mail order application sheet in which an address is entered in advance, and a facsimile transmission method for a mail order application.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of facsimile machines in households, message transmission, questionnaire totalization, mail order application, etc. using the facsimile machines are frequently transmitted and received. By the way, in general, the operation procedure of the facsimile device is different depending on the model and machine of the facsimile device used by each user, and the destination may be manually input,
In addition, there are various things such as automatically performing facsimile communication by specifying a destination already registered in the one-touch dial. Regarding the destination input in the facsimile device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-34997 discloses a facsimile device capable of automatically dialing a destination by automatic character recognition. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-59530, a FAX number is input from a cordless cordless handset, and a RAM (random.
There is described a cordless master / slave telephone with a facsimile function capable of transmitting a form of a message using an access memory) storage and capable of inputting a destination number and storing the destination number.

[0003]

However, in a facsimile machine which requires manual dialing of a destination for each transmission, not only is it troublesome to input the data, but an incorrect telephone call may occur due to an input error of the destination number. is there.
Further, regarding the wrong telephone number and the input error of the destination number, in the facsimile devices proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 9-34997 and 2000-59530, only the destination number is automatically recognized, and the result is determined according to the result. Therefore, if an error occurs at the time of automatic character recognition, destination transmission cannot be performed accurately. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus and a facsimile transmission method that require less labor for input and can prevent an input error of a destination number.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by reading a transmission sheet in which a destination number and unique information about the destination are written at a predetermined position,
A data transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving data to / from another device in a facsimile device capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from another device based on a destination number and unique information about the destination entered on the transmission sheet. A reading means for reading the destination number and the destination written on the transmission sheet and the image information on the transmission sheet, and the unique information for the destination number and the destination read by the reading means. And a storage unit for storing the data transmission / reception unit, the data transmission / reception unit being connected to another device corresponding to the transmission destination number based on the transmission destination number stored in the storage unit and unique information about the transmission destination By the above, the above-mentioned object is achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the data transmission / reception unit corresponds to the transmission destination number based on the transmission destination number read by the reading unit and the unique information on the transmission destination. When connecting to another device, if the destination number information of the device and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are received from the other device that is the destination, correspond to the received destination number information and the destination number. The data transmission / reception means confirms that the confirmation information does not coincide with the transmission destination number and the transmission destination number stored in the storage means. In that case, the above object is achieved by not transmitting the image information to another device corresponding to the destination number.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by reading the transmission sheet in which the transmission destination number and the specific information regarding the transmission destination are written at the predetermined positions, the transmission destination number and the transmission destination written in the transmission sheet are read. In a facsimile transmission method of a facsimile device capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from another device based on unique information on the transmission sheet, the unique information on the transmission destination number and the transmission destination written on the transmission sheet and the transmission sheet on the transmission sheet. First to read image information
And a second step of storing the unique information about the destination number and the destination read by the first step, and the unique information about the destination number and the destination stored by the second step. The third step of transmitting the image information by connecting to another device corresponding to the transmission destination number based on the transmission destination number, and the transmission destination read by the first step in the third step. When a connection is made with another device corresponding to the destination number based on the unique information about the number and the destination, the destination number information and the destination number of the facsimile device are handled by the other device that is the destination. When the received unique information is received, the received destination number information and the unique information corresponding to the received destination number are stored in the storage means. A fourth step of checking if it matches the specific information about the spare destination consists,
In the fourth step, the destination number information received from the other device, the unique information corresponding to the destination number, and the destination number and the unique information about the destination stored in the second step do not match. If it is confirmed that the above-mentioned object is achieved by not transmitting the image information in the third step.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment. Although illustration is omitted,
It is assumed that the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is connected to another facsimile apparatus via a public line network or network. In addition, the network is LAN, WA
N, a network such as a captain system connected by wire or wireless, or a communication network by a line via a leased line may be used. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment is, for example, a communication control unit 1 and a NIC (Network).
k Interface Card) 2, speaker 3, modem 4, network controller 5, encoding / decoding unit 6, CP
U (central processing unit) 7, ROM (read only memory) 8, buffer memory 9, character generator 10, scanner 11, document sensor 12, plotter 13,
A sheet sensor 14, an operation display unit 15, an image memory 16, a parameter memory 17, and a battery 18 are provided.

The CPU 7 controls each unit in the facsimile apparatus according to the firmware program stored in the ROM 8. At the time of transmitting a document, the communication control unit 1 controls the modem 4 and the network control device 5 to make the scanner 1
The image information read from 1 is sent to the public line network. Further, the communication control unit 1 controls transmission / reception of various information to / from another facsimile apparatus connected to the network via the NIC 2. The operation display unit 15 captures the input information by the button operation of the user, and displays the operation state and the like on the operation display unit 15 of the facsimile apparatus itself according to the input information. When the facsimile device is in the on-hook mode, the CPU 7 causes the network control device 5 to close the line with the public line network, and the communication control unit 1
At, control is performed to adjust the output volume level of the speaker 3. In the CPU 7, the communication control unit 1 is the network control device 5
When print data from a computer connected to a network via the NIC 2 or the facsimile transmission data from another facsimile apparatus is received, it is confirmed whether the plotter 13 is usable or not, and printing is executed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a facsimile transmission sheet. In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, a sheet as shown in FIG. 2 is used as a facsimile transmission sheet in order to save time for inputting. It is assumed that the destination number information is written in advance at a predetermined position on this facsimile transmission sheet. Further, since it is easy to make an error only with the destination number, it is assumed that the unique information corresponding to the destination number is also entered in advance. The information of this destination number and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are
The address / unique information 20 is printed in a bar code format at a predetermined position on the facsimile transmission sheet. As the unique information corresponding to the destination number, for example, "(ABC) Co., Ltd.
Information such as “D” and “XX Co., Ltd. YY department ZZ staff” that is easy to distinguish as the destination corresponds to the destination. As described above, in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, since the facsimile transmission sheet in which the information of the destination number is previously written in the predetermined position is used, the trouble of inputting the destination can be omitted. In addition, since the facsimile transmission form is pre-filled with unique information corresponding to the destination number,
By displaying unique information on the display unit of the facsimile device, the user can confirm the display and then start transmission, and it is possible to reduce erroneous phone calls that are likely to occur only with the destination number.

As shown in FIG. 2, such a facsimile transmission sheet can be assumed to be an application sheet attached to a mail-order catalog or a response sheet for various questionnaires inserted in newspapers. For example, the destination number may be a toll-free number so that answers to questionnaires or mail-order orders can be returned easily. Further, the unique information corresponding to the destination number can be set to “(ABC) Co., Ltd.” to make it easier to distinguish the destination than when only the destination number is registered. As described above, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment reads not only the destination number but also the unique information corresponding to the destination number before the facsimile transmission by reading the destination / specific information on the facsimile transmission sheet. Can be displayed in. Further, since the destination / unique information 20 is valid information, it is possible to allow the user to select the transmission start after confirming this display. Further, in the facsimile transmission form, the pre-filled destination number is a number (toll-free number) set to pay the communication charge at the destination, which is effective in reducing false calls to ordinary households. Further, since the toll-free number does not require a transmission fee, the user can feel free to send back the questionnaire answers and mail order orders. Further, the trader side can improve the response collection rate to the questionnaire and the number of product orders.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of reading the destination / unique information by the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the barcode format of the destination number and the unique information (destination / unique information 20) corresponding to the destination number which is pre-filled on the facsimile transmission sheet is similar to that of the line sensor 34 attached to the facsimile apparatus. It is digitized and read by such a general image input device (the scanner 11 in the present embodiment) (step 30).
0). Then, general arithmetic processing for barcode recognition using the CPU 7 is performed, and the barcode format is converted into a destination number and unique information corresponding to the destination number (step 301). The converted destination number and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are temporarily stored in the memory (buffer memory 9 in the present embodiment) (step 302), and the connection process to the destination number is performed. After connecting to the destination, first receive the destination number information and the unique information corresponding to the destination number from the destination fax machine, and the destination number that has already been read from the barcode format of the facsimile transmission paper and temporarily stored in memory, The unique information corresponding to the destination number is compared. As a result of the comparison, when it is automatically confirmed that the information received from the destination matches the information in the memory, the content (information) to be transmitted is automatically transmitted to the destination. If the destination number information received from the destination and the unique information corresponding to the destination number do not match the destination number temporarily stored in the memory of the facsimile and the unique information corresponding to the destination number, the contents (information) to be sent Stop sending automatically.

As described above, the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment can read the destination number and the unique information corresponding to the destination number, which are written in advance on the facsimile transmission sheet, and can automatically transmit to the read destination number. As the recording method of the destination number and unique information corresponding to the destination number, barcode format, printing of numbers / letters at predetermined positions for easy character recognition, paper such as punch holes that can be read optically / mechanically Examples include recording due to changes in shape. It should be noted that since a line sensor for reading a transmission image is attached to a general facsimile apparatus, a bar code format which can be realized relatively easily and inexpensively is suitable. Further, by setting the facsimile transmission paper in a predetermined direction (the direction of the black arrow in the figure), the destination / specific information 20 can be read before reading the information to be facsimile-transmitted, so that the transmission time can be shortened. It is possible. Further, generally, reading the information to be transmitted requires more time than reading the destination / unique information 20, but since connecting to the destination number also requires much time, the book In the facsimile device of the embodiment,
The connection to the destination number and the reading of the information to be transmitted can be performed at the same time, and the speed of the entire transmission process can be increased. Further, before the transmission from the facsimile apparatus, the information (for example, “(ABC) Co., Ltd.”) obtained by reading the destination / specific information 20 is displayed on the display unit of the facsimile apparatus, and after the display is confirmed, the user can It is also possible to prevent wrong calls by manually starting transmission.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the information can be read by reading the information on the facsimile transmission paper in which the destination number and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are previously written at a predetermined position on the paper. You can automatically send to the destination number. Further, in the facsimile device of the present embodiment, after the facsimile transmission paper is set in a predetermined direction, the facsimile device reads the destination number and the unique information corresponding to the destination number which are written in advance on the facsimile transmission paper, Automatically connect to the read destination number, receive the destination number information and the unique information corresponding to the destination number from the destination, and compare and match the destination number already read by the sender and the unique information corresponding to the destination number. Since it includes a procedure of transmitting the contents (information) to be transmitted to the destination after confirming the above, it is possible to reduce the number of erroneous calls and provide the method as an effective facsimile transmission method.

[0014]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the data transmitting / receiving means is connected to another device corresponding to the transmission destination number based on the transmission destination number stored in the storage means and the unique information about the transmission destination. It is possible to save the trouble of inputting the destination.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the data transmitting / receiving means does not transmit the image information to another device corresponding to the destination number when the confirmation means confirms that they do not match, a wrong telephone call or a wrong transmission is prevented. can do.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the fourth step, the destination number information received from another device, the unique information corresponding to the destination number, the destination number stored in the second step, and the transmission If it is confirmed that the unique information regarding the destination does not match, the image information is not transmitted in the third step, so that a wrong call or a wrong transmission can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a facsimile transmission sheet.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of reading destination / unique information by the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Communication Control Unit 2 NIC (Network Interface)
Card) 3 Speaker 4 Modem 5 Network control device 6 Encoding / decoding unit 7 CPU (Central processing unit) 8 ROM (Read only memory) 9 Buffer memory 10 Character generator 11 Scanner 12 Original sensor 13 Plotter 14 Paper sensor 15 Operation Display unit 16 Image memory 17 Parameter memory 18 Battery 20 Destination / unique information

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transmission form in which specific information regarding a destination number and a destination is written at a predetermined position is read based on the specific number regarding the destination number and the destination described in the transmission form. A facsimile device capable of transmitting / receiving data to / from another device, a data transmitting / receiving unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from the other device, and a transmission destination number and unique information on the transmission destination written on the transmission sheet, And a storage unit for storing the destination number and the unique information about the destination read by the reading unit, wherein the data transmitting / receiving unit is the storage unit. Based on the stored destination number and unique information about the destination, the device can be connected to another device corresponding to the destination number. Facsimile apparatus according to claim. 2. When the data transmission / reception unit connects to another device corresponding to the transmission destination number based on the transmission destination number read by the reading unit and unique information about the transmission destination, When the destination number information of the device and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are received from another device, the received destination number information and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are stored in the storage means. The data transmission / reception unit corresponds to the destination number when the confirmation unit confirms that the image information does not match the destination number and the unique information about the destination number. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile apparatus does not transmit to another apparatus. 3. A transmission form in which specific information about a destination number and a destination is written in a predetermined position is read based on the specific information about the destination number and a destination written on the transmission form. A facsimile transmission method of a facsimile device capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from another device, the first information for reading the transmission destination number and the specific information about the transmission destination and the image information on the transmission paper which are written on the transmission paper; And a second step of storing the destination number and the unique information about the destination read by the first step, and a unique number about the destination number and the destination stored by the second step. The third step for transmitting the image information by connecting to another device corresponding to the destination number based on And a connection with another device corresponding to the destination number is made in the third step based on the destination number and the unique information about the destination read in the first step. When the destination number information of the facsimile device and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are received from the other device that is the transmission destination, the received destination number information and the unique information corresponding to the destination number are stored in the storage means. And a destination number information and a destination number received from the other device in the fourth step. When it is confirmed that the unique information corresponding to the number does not match the unique information about the destination number and the destination stored in the second step, Facsimile transmission method characterized by by the serial third step does not transmit the image information.