JP3118028B2 - G3 / G4 facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a G3 mode for performing facsimile communication using a G3 mode and a G4 mode arbitrarily.
/ G4 facsimile apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ordinary telephone line PSTN (Pub)
like Switch Telephone Ne
2 is provided with a basic function of performing communication in the G3 mode using an optional unit for the G4 mode, so that ISDN (Integrated) is provided.
Services Digital Network
A facsimile apparatus that can communicate even in the G4 mode using k) is in practical use. Also, even in the case of a facsimile apparatus dedicated to ISDN, a facsimile apparatus that can arbitrarily use the G3 mode and the G4 mode is well known.

In the G4 mode, the communication time is shorter than in the G3 mode, and efficient communication can be performed.

Generally, in such a facsimile machine,
When using simple dialing such as one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing, if a communication mode G3 / G4 is registered along with a destination number, communication is performed in the registered communication mode.

When such a facsimile apparatus is used, it is assumed that the other party has registered the G3 mode in the simple dial and started operation.
In practice, it often has a G4 mode communication function, or has a new function after that.

[0006]

However, in order to change the communication mode in response to a change in the function of the destination facsimile apparatus, the operator must periodically check the function of the facsimile apparatus of each destination or register a simple dial. Information had to be updated, and the work was troublesome.

For this reason, conventionally, even if the communication function of the G4 mode is provided, communication is often performed in the G3 mode, and there has been a problem that communication efficiency is poor.

[0008] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and enables G3 to perform efficient communication without troublesome work of an operator.
/ G4 facsimile machine.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a facsimile apparatus having a G4 mode as an optional function has a communication function of the G4 mode when each of the other parties communicates with the other in the G3 mode. And determine if
The result of the determination is stored, and after the optional function of the G4 mode is added, the other party having the communication function of the G4 mode can be called from the beginning in the G4 mode based on the stored contents. It is characterized by having done.

[0010]

[0011]

When communication is performed in the G3 mode in a device having the G4 mode as an optional function, the presence or absence of the G4 mode communication function of each partner is determined and stored, and after the optional function is added, Since a call is made in the G4 mode from the beginning to the other party having the communication function in the G4 mode, efficient communication can be performed without troublesome work of the operator.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a facsimile image processing unit 1 reads a document image and compresses image information obtained by the reading, or restores received image information and records it on recording paper. The G3 communication processing unit 2 converts image information into PCM data corresponding to an audio band,
In addition to inversely converting data into image information, the image information is transmitted and received by executing a predetermined transmission control procedure in the G3 mode. The G4 communication processing unit 3 executes a predetermined transmission control procedure in the G4 mode to transmit and receive image information.
The ISDN interface unit 4 is connected to the ISDN via a network terminating device (not shown), and performs a call setting process or the like when sending / receiving to / from the ISDN.

The operation display unit 5 displays various information such as the operation state of the apparatus while the operator performs various operations. The operation display unit 5 includes a one-touch dial key 5a that can send a call to each destination by operating each key one by one.
Are arranged. The control unit 6 is a microcomputer that monitors and controls the above units. System memory 7
Stores information registered in advance. The system memory 7 stores one-touch dial information 7a for using the one-touch dial key 5a.

When the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment is used with the above-described configuration, the operator first performs a predetermined operation to transmit a communication destination to each of the one-touch dial keys 5a as shown in FIG. The ISDN number and the communication mode of the destination facsimile machine are registered. This registration information is stored in the system memory 7 as one-touch dial information 7a.

Next, when making a call, as shown in FIG.
A calling operation is performed using the one-touch dial key 5a (process 101). When the facsimile apparatus performs a call operation with the one-touch dial key 5a, the one-touch dial information 7 is displayed.
The communication mode of the transmission destination is determined based on the stored information a (step 102). Now, assuming that the communication mode is the G3 mode ("G3" in process 102), the destination ISDN number is set in the call setup message "SETUP" and various information elements indicating the G3 mode are set.
Sends to the SDN network and initiates a call. That is, "3.1k audio" is specified in the "transmission capability" of the information element, and "G3 facsimile" is specified in "higher layer consistency" (process 103).

As shown in FIG. 4, the IDSN network transfers the call setup message "SETUP" to the destination terminal which is the destination of the call, and transmits the call setup acceptance message "C" to the calling terminal.
ALL PROC ”.

Further, the called terminal transmits a call setting message "SE".
Upon receiving the "TUP", the response message "CONN" is transmitted. In this embodiment, at this time, the destination terminal adds user / user information (hereinafter abbreviated as UUI) to the response message “CONN” to be sent, and adds G4 to the UUI as terminal information as shown in FIG. The presence / absence of a mode communication function and, if the function is present, the ISDN number are set.

The ISDN sends the response message "CO
NN "is transferred to the calling terminal, and a response confirmation message" CONN ACK "is sent to the receiving terminal.

When receiving the response message "CONN", the calling terminal reads the terminal information set in the UUI (process 104). Then, it is determined whether or not the destination facsimile machine has the communication function of the G4 mode (process 105). Here, for example, at the time of the one-touch dial registration process, the communication function of the other party is:
It is assumed that only the G3 mode has been used, but the functions have been expanded thereafter to enable communication in the G4 mode. Then
That will be notified by the UUI.

When the other party has the G4 mode communication function (Y in step 105), the call disconnection procedure is executed once. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a disconnection message "DISC" is transmitted. The ISDN network transmits the disconnect message "DISC" to the destination terminal, and responds to the calling terminal with a release message "REL". Next, the calling terminal sends a release completion message “REL COMP”, and the ISDN network sends the release completion message “REL COMP”.
“COMP” is transferred to the destination terminal (process 106).

Thereafter, the facsimile apparatus sets various information elements indicating the G4 mode in the call setting message "SETUP" and calls again. That is, "unrestricted" is designated in the "communication capability" of the information element, and "G4 facsimile" is designated in the "higher layer consistency" (process 10).
7). As a result, the same call control procedure as described above is executed again, and a response message “CONN” is returned from the ISDN network.

When the facsimile apparatus receives the response message "CONN", it receives the response confirmation message "CON".
NN ACK ". As a result, a communication link is formed with the other party. Therefore, image information is transmitted according to a predetermined G4 mode procedure (process 108).

When the transmission of the image information is completed, the call is disconnected in the same manner as described above (process 109). Next, the communication mode of the one-touch dial information 7a corresponding to the destination that has just communicated is set to G.
The mode is rewritten to the 4 mode (process 110), and the communication operation ends.

By the way, as described above, examples of the case of updating the communication mode include the following.

One case is that, as shown in FIG. 6, the destination terminal was originally connected to the ISDN, and initially had only a G3 mode communication function, but later also had a G4 mode communication function. Is the case. In this case, the information of the one-touch dial information 7a is, as shown in FIG.
The destination number is the same and only the communication mode is changed.

Another case is as shown in FIG.
The terminating terminal is first connected to the PSTN, and the calling terminal has communicated with the terminating terminal via the ISDN via the PSTN. After that, the terminating terminal further connects to the ISDN and communicates in the G4 mode. Is the case. In this case, the information of the one-touch dial information 7a changes both the destination number and the communication mode as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if a call is made in the G3 mode and the communication function of the other party is not expanded (N in process 105),
The image information is transmitted in the G3 mode (process 111), and when the transmission is completed, the call is disconnected (process 112) and the operation is terminated as it is.

If the destination communication function is registered as the G4 mode in the one-touch dial information 7a at the time of making a call ("G4" in process 102), the G function is immediately executed.
A call is made directly in the 4 mode (to process 107).

As described above, in this embodiment, when a call is made in the G3 mode and the other party has a communication function of the G4 mode, the call is temporarily disconnected and the call is re-established in the G4 mode for communication. Thus, efficient communication can always be performed.

When communication is performed by switching to the G4 mode, the fact that the other party has entered the G4 mode is registered in the one-touch dial information 7a, so that the operator has to perform a troublesome operation such as updating the one-touch dial information 7a. No call can be made directly in the G4 mode from next time.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. The difference from FIG. 1 is that a PSTN interface unit 8 is provided, and the G4 communication processing unit 3 and the ISDN interface unit 4 are accommodated in a G4 option unit 9.

The PSTN interface section 8 is provided with a PSTN
Is connected to and performs an outgoing / incoming operation for the PSTN,
The image information is transmitted in accordance with the operation of the G3 communication processing unit 2. The G4 option unit 9 is mounted by the user as necessary, and by mounting it,
G4 mode communication becomes possible with ISDN. In the one-touch dial information 7a of this embodiment, two destination numbers and two communication modes can be registered for each one-touch dial key 5a.

When the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is used in this configuration, first, one-touch dial information is registered as in the above-described embodiment. It is assumed that the G4 option unit 9 has not been mounted at the time of this registration. In this case, the communication mode is G3 for each destination.
Register as a mode. In this case, in the one-touch dial information 7a, as shown in FIG. 11, one of two storage areas of each key stores a destination number and a communication mode of G3 mode.

Next, when making a call, as shown in FIG. 12, the one-touch dial key 5
A transmission operation is performed at a (process 201).

When the facsimile apparatus performs a transmission operation,
It is determined whether or not the G4 option unit 9 is mounted (process 202). If the G4 option unit 9 has not been installed yet (N in process 202), the communication mode is determined to be the G3 mode, and the PSTN interface unit 8 operates to call the PSTN to the destination (process 203). ). Then, when the destination responds, a known transmission control procedure is executed.

In this embodiment, the destination terminal sends out the NSF signal in this transmission control procedure, and as shown in FIG. 13, whether or not there is a G4 mode communication function as terminal information in the NSF signal. If the function is provided, an ISDN number is set.

This facsimile machine on the originating terminal side is NS
Upon receiving the F signal, the terminal information set is read (step 204), and it is determined whether the other party has a G4 mode communication function (step 205). Here, if the communication function does not exist (N in process 205),
The image information is immediately transmitted in the G3 mode (process 206),
End the communication.

Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, it is assumed that the destination terminal is connected to both the PSTN and the ISDN, and the ISDN has a G4 mode communication function. In this case, the NSF signal notifies that the G4 mode is provided and the ISDN number. In this way, the other party is G
When it is notified that four modes are provided (processing 20
5), it is checked whether the fact is registered in the one-touch dial information 7a (process 207).

When the above notification is received for the first time, it has not been registered yet.

In this case (N in the process 207), FIG.
As shown in (1), the fact that the received ISDN number and the G4 mode are provided is registered in the one-touch dial information 7a (process 208). Thereafter, the image information is transmitted in the G3 mode (process 206).

Next, it is assumed that the G4 option unit 9 is mounted and the transmission operation is performed again. When the G4 option unit 9 is mounted (Y in step 202), the facsimile apparatus checks whether the destination has the G4 mode function based on the one-touch dial information 7a (step 209). If not registered (N in process 209), a call is made in PSTN in the G3 mode in the same manner as described above (to process 203).

On the other hand, like the destination shown in FIG.
If the destination has the mode function (process 209)
(Y), the ISDN interface unit 4 is operated to make a call to the ISDN number registered in the one-touch dial information 7a (process 210).

Here, for example, a registration number error or G4
If there is no optional unit 9 or a line failure, the call is connected to the other terminal. When the call connection is completed (Y in process 211), image information is transmitted in the G4 mode (process 212). If the call connection has failed (N in process 211), a call is originated on the PSTN side as described above (to process 203).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the optional unit 9 is not mounted, and when communicating with each other in the G3 mode, it is determined whether or not each other has the communication function of the G4 mode. , If you have that feature,
To that effect and the ISDN number, one-touch dial information 7a
I am trying to register it. Then, when the G4 option unit 9 is mounted, a call is made from the beginning in the G4 mode to the other party having the G4 mode communication function based on the stored contents of the one-touch dial information 7a.

Thus, the operator can perform efficient communication in the G4 mode without troublesome work such as updating the one-touch dial information 7a in accordance with the expansion of the function of the other party.

In the above embodiment, when the G3 mode communication is also performed by ISDN, the type of network to be used may be stored for each destination.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the terminal information of each destination is stored corresponding to the one-touch dial, but it is needless to say that the terminal information may be stored corresponding to the speed dial. . Furthermore, the information may be stored separately from such a simple dial, and the operator may select the corresponding storage information when making a call.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, G4
When communication is performed in the G3 mode in a device having the optional function, the presence / absence of the G4 mode communication function of each partner is determined and stored. After the optional function is added, the G4 mode Since a call is made in the G4 mode from the beginning to the other party having the communication function, efficient communication can be performed without troublesome work such as the operator managing the state of the other party apparatus one by one. become.

[0051]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of stored information of one-touch dial information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission operation.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a call setting procedure between a calling terminal and a called terminal.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of user / user information transmitted in a response message “CONN”.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication mode.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of updating one-touch dial information.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a communication mode.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of updating one-touch dial information.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of stored information of one-touch dial information.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a transmission operation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of terminal information transmitted by an NSF signal.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of the communication mode.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing still another example of updating one-touch dial information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile image processing part 2 G3 communication processing part 3 G4 communication processing part 4 ISDN interface part 5 Operation display part 5a One-touch dial key 6 Control part 7 System memory 7a One-touch dial information 8 PSTN interface part 9 Optional unit for G4

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. It has a G3 mode communication function,
A communication function of the G4 mode is added by adding the unit. When a call is made, one of the G3 mode and the G4 mode is selected, and a call is made in the selected communication mode to perform facsimile communication. In a G3 / G4 facsimile apparatus for performing communication function determination means for determining whether each destination has a G4 mode communication function when communicating with each destination in the G3 mode, and storage means for storing the determination result After the unit is added, the other party having the communication function of the G4 mode based on the storage contents of the storage means is provided with the calling means for calling in the G4 mode from the beginning. Characteristic G3 / G4 facsimile machine. 2. The G3 / G4 facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores the presence / absence of a G4 mode communication function of each destination corresponding to one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing. .