JPH0454426B2 - - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and more particularly to a facsimile device having an automatic reception function and a call reservation function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, facsimile devices are known that have a so-called automatic reception function that automatically receives a document transmitted from a calling party in response to a call signal from the calling party's facsimile machine. There are also known facsimile devices that have a call reservation function that calls devices that are directly connected to the line, such as when the facsimile device is set to automatic reception mode or when images are being sent or received. There is.

Let us consider the operation of a conventional facsimile device when the device is set to automatic reception mode and the calling party makes a reservation for a call. For example, in this case, the operator on the calling side dials the telephone number of the called side, hears an answer tone, and then presses a telephone button to make a reservation for a call. This activates the pseudo-bell tone generator of the called device, and the called operator is called.

However, if the operator on the called side does not respond to this call, the reservation becomes invalid and the line is disconnected. The telephone ringing time for this reservation function is from 5 seconds to maximum according to CCITT recommendation T30.
Since the time limit is 15 seconds, if the operator is far away from the device, there is a possibility that the operator will fail to respond. Therefore, in the conventional device, the operator on the calling side had to call again to make a call reservation, if necessary.

Moreover, unlike a normal telephone call, the line is captured during this call reservation operation.
The disadvantage is that the more times you repeat this operation, the more your phone bill will increase.

Purpose The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of conventional devices, and provides a facsimile device that has a simple and inexpensive structure and is capable of reliably making call reservations for devices set to automatic reception mode. The purpose is to provide a facsimile device that can perform

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. However, in the following explanation, CCITT
This is explained in detail using G3 equipment that complies with Recommendation T4 as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a facsimile device according to the present invention. In the figure, the reference numeral 12 is a control device, including a CPU (central processing unit), ROM, etc.
(read only memory), RAM (random access memory), a control section, etc., and controls the entire device according to a program stored in a known ROM.

An image reading section, an image recording section, etc. (not shown) are connected to this control device 12, but only relevant parts are illustrated here.

The control device 12 includes an NCU (network control device) not shown.
A telephone line is connected through this NCU
switches the line connection between the facsimile device and the attached telephone.

Furthermore, the control device 12 receives a call signal sent from the other party via the telephone line and a PRI.
A call signal detection circuit 1 and a PRI-EOP signal detection circuit 5, which detect -EOP signals (procedure interruption signals), are connected via signal lines 1a and 5a, respectively. Each of these detection circuits generates a pulse on its respective output line when detecting the corresponding signal.

In addition, the control device 12 further includes a CED signal (called station identification signal), an NSF signal (non-standard equipment signal),
CED signal sending circuit 2, NSF signal sending circuit 3, DIS signal sending circuit 4, and PIP signal sending circuit 6 that send out DIS signal (digital identification signal) and PIP signal (procedure interruption confirmation signal) are connected to signal lines 12a to 12d.
connected via. However, these signal lines are for control pulses, and the call signal, CED signal, etc.
Sent and received via NCU. It is assumed that these circuits each send a predetermined signal to the line by receiving a pulse to the respective input signal lines 12a to 12d.

As shown on the right side of the figure, a known pseudo-bell sound generation circuit 7 is connected to the control device 12 via a signal line 12e, and when a high level is generated on this signal line 12e, the pseudo-bell sound generation circuit 7 generates a pseudo bell sound.

Further, a known telephone button press detection circuit 8 is connected to the control circuit 12 via a signal line 8a, and when the telephone button is pressed, it generates a pulse on the signal line 8a, thereby detecting the depression of the telephone button. The press is notified to the control circuit 12.

Further, a mode switching circuit 9 is connected to the control device 12 via a signal line 12f, and this mode switching circuit 9 sets the facsimile apparatus to an automatic reception mode when the signal line 12f is at a low level, and when the signal line 12f is at a high level. This allows you to switch to manual reception.

Furthermore, a display device 10 using an LCD, LED, etc. is connected to the control device 12 via a signal line 12g, and the display device 10 displays an indication that the automatic reception state is in effect when the signal line 12g is at a low level. ,
It is assumed that when the signal line 12g is at a high level, a display indicating that the manual reception state is in effect is provided.

The control device 12 also includes signal lines 11a and 12h.
A timer circuit 11 is connected through the circuit, and this timer circuit 11 starts measuring time when a pulse is generated on the signal line 12h, and after a certain period of time (1 minute in this embodiment) has elapsed, it sends a pulse to the signal line 11a. This signal is generated to notify the control device 12 of the passage of time.

The flow of the above-mentioned processing of the control circuit 12 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. However, the following processing routine is entered when the automatic reception mode is switched.

In step S20 of FIG. 2, first, the signal line 1
A low level is output to 2e to initialize the pseudo-bell sound generating circuit 7 to prevent the pseudo-bell sound from being generated.

Next, in step S21, the state of the signal line 1a is checked, a call is received from the calling side, and a pulse is generated on the signal line 1a.

When a call is received from the other party, the process moves to step S22, a pulse is generated on the signal line 12a, and the CED signal sending circuit 1 sends out a CED signal to the other party.

Next, in step S23, a pulse is generated on the signal line 12b, and the NSF signal sending circuit 3 sends the signal to the other party.
Sends NSF signal.

Subsequently, in step S24, a pulse is generated on the signal line 12c, causing the DIS signal sending circuit 4 to send out the DIS signal.

The above signal transmission is a standard pre-transmission procedure for G3 facsimile equipment.

Next, in step S25, it is waited for a pulse to be generated on the signal line 5a. In other words, from the other side
Wait for the PRI-EOP signal to be sent. however,
At this time, if the other party's device transmits a DTC signal (digital command signal) in an attempt to perform normal image transmission, a detection circuit (not shown) detects this signal.
A DTC signal is detected and normal image transmission operations are interrupted.

If the operator at the other end requests a call and presses the telephone button after hearing the signal tone mentioned above to reserve the call, the PRI-EOP signal is sent here. This is detected in step S25, and the process moves to steps S26 and subsequent steps.

In step S26, a pulse is generated on the signal line 12d, and the PIP signal sending circuit 6 sends a PIP signal to the line.

Subsequently, in step S27, a high level signal is output to the signal line 12e, and the pseudo-bell sound generation circuit 7 generates a pseudo-bell sound to inform the operator that the operator on the other side requests a call. Next, the process moves to step S28, where a built-in timer 1 (not shown) is set to 15 seconds and started.

Next, in step S29, it is determined whether or not the timer 1 has timed out, that is, 15 seconds have elapsed. If 15 seconds have not passed, step S
At 30, it is determined whether a pulse has occurred on the signal line 8a. That is, in steps S29 to S30, the state of the signal line 8a is checked for 15 seconds to wait for the operator to press the telephone button.

The operator presses the telephone button within 15 seconds, and this is detected by the telephone button press detection circuit 8,
If a pulse is generated on the signal line 8a, the process moves to step S31, the generation of the pseudo-bell sound is stopped, and the line is switched to the attached telephone, allowing the operators to talk to each other.

If there is no response from the operator after 15 seconds in step S29, the process moves to step S32.
A high level signal is output to the signal line 12f to cause the mode switching circuit 9 to switch the reception mode to manual reception mode. This causes the line to be switched from the facsimile device to the attached telephone.

Subsequently, in step S33, the signal line 12g
outputs a high level to cause the display device 10 to display "manual reception".

Next, the process moves to step S34, where a pulse is generated on the signal line 12h and the timer circuit 11 is started. This timer circuit 11 has a set time of one minute, for example, and sets the device to manual reception mode only during this time.

Next, the process moves to step S35 and waits for a pulse to be generated on the signal line 11a. When a pulse is generated on the signal line 11a after one minute has elapsed, the process moves to step S36, outputs a low level to the signal line 12f, returns the reception mode to automatic reception mode, and moves on to step S37, and outputs a low level to the signal line 12f. outputs a low level to cause the display device 10 to display "automatic reception".

As described above, when a caller makes a reservation for a call to a device that is in automatic reception mode, if the operator does not respond to the call within 15 seconds, the device can be set to manual reception for one minute. can.

As a result, the first call reservation for a facsimile device that is set to automatic reception mode may end in an error, but the second time it will shift to manual reception mode for one minute, so you can make a normal call. You can make a call using the same operations as when making a call.

Also, the set time of each timer shown above is
Those skilled in the art can freely change the settings within the scope of the CCITT recommendations.

Effects As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, there is an automatic reception mode in which images are automatically received in response to a call signal from a line, and a telephone call can be made using a normal telephone and in response to manual instructions. In a facsimile apparatus having a manual reception mode in which images are received by using a facsimile apparatus, an operator calling means calls an operator in response to a call request signal from a called party in the automatic reception mode, and detects an operator's response to the call by the operator calling means. detecting means calls an operator in response to the call request signal, and if the detecting means does not detect an operator's response within a predetermined period of time, the automatic reception mode is temporarily switched to the manual reception mode; Since it has a configuration that includes a switching means to return to reception mode, the ring tone will not be heard if a call is scheduled while the telephone line is directly connected to the facsimile device, such as in automatic reception mode or while image transmission is in progress. This eliminates the shortcomings of conventional devices, such as the operator on the called side failing to respond due to the length of the call, or not being able to call the operator no matter how many times a reserved operation is performed, and making it possible to reliably communicate by phone between the sender and the receiver. An excellent facsimile device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the control device of FIG. 1. 1... Calling signal detection circuit, 2... CED signal sending circuit, 3... NSF signal sending circuit, 7...
Pseudo bell sound generation circuit, 8...Telephone button press detection circuit, 9...Mode switching circuit, 11...Timer circuit, 12...Control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1 It has an automatic reception mode in which images are automatically received in response to a call signal from a line, and a manual reception mode in which it is possible to make a call using a normal telephone and images are received in response to a manual instruction. In the facsimile apparatus, the apparatus comprises: operator calling means for calling an operator in response to a call request signal from the other party in the automatic reception mode; detecting means for detecting an operator's response to the call by the operator calling means; and a switching means for temporarily switching from the automatic reception mode to the manual reception mode and then returning to the automatic reception mode if the operator's response is not detected by the detection means within a predetermined time period. A facsimile device featuring: