JPH0591286A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a facsimile equipment excellent in economicity by selectively switching the communication of an original information and a speaking in a same call, thereby connecting them. CONSTITUTION:In a line for original information communication with a specific communication destination in a physical I/F circuit 3 and an LAP-D circuit 2, a facsimile communication I/F circuit 4 transmits and receives the original information and its control signal on the line. A speaking communication I/F circuit 5 transmits and receives speaking information and its control signal on the line. A control circuit 1 detects a prescribed control signal from the control signal received by the facsimile communication I/F circuit 4 or the speaking communication I/F circuit 5. A switching control circuit 5 and a switching circuit 7 selectively switch the connection between the circuit 4 or the circuit 5 and the physical I/F circuit 3 in accordance with the detection result at the control circuit 1 with the line with the specific communication opponent set in the physical I/F circuit 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a call function connected to a digital line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile machine which is connected to a digital line and transmits document information at high speed has been developed and put into practical use (for example, a G4 standard facsimile machine). This facsimile device is, for example, an ISDN line (in the case of a basic interface in a public communication network whose standards are standardized internationally.
When connecting to two 64 kbps information channels and one 16 kbps control signal channel), a facsimile machine connected to a conventional analog line (for example, G
6 times as much document information can be transmitted per unit time as compared with a facsimile machine of 3 standards). This makes it possible to transmit an A4 size standard manuscript (manuscript of about 700 characters) in only 3 seconds.

If the facsimile machine is connected to the ISDN line, for example, real-time communication is possible in which a plurality of information channels are simultaneously connected to transmit a document and talk with the destination.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus, although the transmission time of the document information is remarkably shortened by the high-speed transmission, the communication line in which the fee is charged every unit time is shortened. The remaining communication time within the obtained unit time may not be effectively utilized.

This is because, for example, there is a call associated with the communication of document information, and the requirement is a simple and slight requirement such as confirmation of transmission / reception of a document, and the total communication time with the communication of the document information is communication time. Even when the minimum unit time for fee charging is not reached, a separate line is set for each, and a communication fee for two communications is required, resulting in a heavy burden of the communication fee.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can reduce communication charges by effectively utilizing communication time and which is excellent in economic efficiency.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there are provided communication control means for connecting to a digital line and setting a line with a specific communication destination for manuscript information communication, and a line set by the communication control means. An original information communication unit for transmitting and receiving original information and its control signal, a voice communication unit for transmitting and receiving voice information and its control signal on the line set by the communication control unit, and an original information communication unit or a voice information communication unit. The control signal detecting means for detecting a predetermined control signal from the transmitted and received control signals, and the communication control means according to the detection result of the control signal detecting means in a state where a line with the specific communication destination is set. The document information communication control means or the voice communication control means and the switching means for selectively switching the connection between the communication means are provided.

[0008]

In the line for document information communication with the specific communication destination set by the communication means, the document information communication means transmits and receives the document information and its control signal on the line, and the voice communication means transmits voice on the line. Information and its control signal are transmitted and received, the detection means detects a predetermined control signal from the control signals transmitted and received by the manuscript information communication means or the voice information communication means, and the switching means is the communication control means to establish a line with a specific communication destination. In the set state, the connection between the document information communication control means or the voice communication control means and the communication means is selectively switched according to the detection result of the control signal detection means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is connected to an ISDN line K through an 8-pin modular cable 9. In the case of the basic interface, the ISDN line K has two information channels (B channel) of 64 kbit / sec and one control signal channel (D channel) of 16 kbit / sec on one subscriber line. In these channels, a call control signal related to line setting is transmitted and received on a control signal channel (D channel), and data such as voice and image or a control signal related thereto is transmitted and received on an information channel (B channel), and its communication protocol is used. Applies a layering protocol in which each refers to OSI (Open System Interconnection).

Here, the protocol on the control signal channel is OSI layers 2 and 3 (layer 2 defines the frame format for transmitting control signals in the data link layer and management thereof, and layer 3 is the network layer). Protocols based on control procedures for circuit switching and packet switching and additional services such as communication fee notification), which are defined in TTC Recommendations JT-I430, Q921, Q931 and the like.
Also, the protocol of data communication on the information channel after the line setting differs depending on the usage pattern of the information channel, for example, in facsimile communication, TTC recommendation JT-T90.
The protocol defined in “Terminal characteristics and protocol for telematic service in ISDN” and the like is applied. This recommendation defines management of transmission / reception of data between terminals (session layer) and management of structure of data transmitted / received between terminals (document layer).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 is an operation circuit provided with various switches for operating the facsimile apparatus such as instructions for reading and transmitting original information, inputting a telephone number of a destination, requesting a telephone call, and 2 is an OSI. LAP-D circuit for realizing Layer 3 and Layer 2 of 3 is a communication control means for realizing OSI Layer 1 (Layer 1 is a physical layer that defines electrical / physical connection between a network and a communication terminal device). Physical I / F circuit, 4 is TTC recommendation JT-T
Facsimile communication I / C as a document information communication unit that realizes 90 and sends the transmission document information stored in a code memory (not shown) to the ISDN line K, or stores the document information received from the ISDN line in the code memory. The F circuit 5 adds processing such as analog / digital conversion to voice information input from a handset (not shown) and sends it to the ISDN line K, or performs processing such as digital / analog conversion on voice information received from the ISDN line. In addition, a voice communication I / F circuit as voice communication control means for detecting a voice communication switching signal added to the voice signal while being sent to the handset, and 7 is input / output to / from the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4 and voice. Communication I / F circuit 5
A switching circuit as switching means for selectively switching and connecting input / output to / from the B channel of the physical I / F circuit 3 according to an instruction from the control circuit 1 via the switch control circuit 6, 1 is connected to each functional circuit Is a control circuit that controls the control of.
Further, the control circuit 1 serves as a control signal detecting means for detecting a control signal indicating a request for switching between communication of document information and telephone call from control signals transmitted and received by the facsimile I / F circuit 4 or the voice communication I / F circuit 5. Also works.

A description will be given of the case where such a device communicates with a facsimile device having the same configuration and successively communicates original information and voice information on the same call.

In FIG. 1, when the control circuit 1 detects the insertion of a document into a document input circuit (not shown) and the input of a destination telephone number to the operation circuit 8, the control circuit 1 selects the control signal channel (D channel) of the ISDN line K. LAP-D circuit 2 connected
Pass the other party's dial number information to. And the control circuit 1
In order to connect the lines, the LAP-D circuit 2 is controlled to compose a "call setup" message defined in layer 3, and this is used as D channel call setup information in the ISDN network K via the physical I / F circuit 3. Send it out. Here, in the "call setting" message configured by the LAP-D circuit 2, the line is connected by unrestricted digital (transfer capability), and the connected terminal is G4 facsimile (higher layer compatibility). An information element for setting a line indicating that there is something is included.

On the other hand, a document inserted in a document input circuit (not shown) is being binarized and read and is being stored in a code memory as coded data.

Then, the control circuit 1 accepts the above "call setup" message from the network, calls the partner terminal, and sends information that the partner terminal has responded to the D channel (L).
When it is received via the AP-D circuit 2), the connection of the line is confirmed, and the switching circuit 7 via the switching control circuit 6 is instructed to connect the specific information channel to the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4. After connecting the information channel to the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4, the control circuit 1 controls the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4 to start the facsimile communication.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a control signal transmitted / received on the information channel when the facsimile communication is started.

In FIG. 2, the control circuit 1 controls the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4, and a session start command "CSS" 21 which means start of data transmission / reception between terminals.
To wait for a response from the communication partner terminal. This "C
The SS "command is provided with an item to add an information element (non-standard terminal function) for the manufacturer of the facsimile device to realize the function unique to the facsimile device. In the present invention, the device has a telephone call function. Then, the control circuit 1 causes the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4 to correctly accept the "CSS" 21 command from the communication partner terminal. When receiving the session start affirmative command "RSSP" 22 indicating that, the information in the command confirms whether or not the other terminal has a telephone calling function, and negotiates with the other terminal such as a data structure of manuscript information. , Instructing the communication start 23 of the document information.
Then, the original document information is communicated by sending the original document information stored in the code memory (not shown) to the ISDN line K under the control of the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4 by the control circuit 1.

When the transmission of the manuscript information is started, the control circuit 1 performs a normal communication operation procedure, and the communication partner terminal has a telephone call function by the "CSS" 21 and "RSSP" 22 commands at the start of the session. If it is confirmed, the presence or absence of a telephone call request from the operator to the operation circuit 8 is monitored.

Here, when the control circuit 1 detects the telephone call request 24 during the communication of the document information or at the end of the communication, it controls the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4 after the transmission of the document information to control the terminal. Information indicating that there is a telephone call request is added to the session end command "CSE" 25, which indicates the end of data transmission / reception between terminals, as a non-standard terminal function, and sent out, and a response from the communication partner terminal is waited for. Then, when the control circuit 1 detects a response (session end affirmative response "RSEP" 26) from the communication partner terminal from the facsimile communication I / F circuit 4, the facsimile communication I
The / F circuit 4 is controlled to end the facsimile communication procedure in each layer of the information channel, and the information channel is switched to the voice communication I / F circuit 5. The switching of the information channel to the voice communication I / F circuit 5 is performed by the control circuit 1 setting the switching circuit 7 via the switching control circuit 6. Further, the control circuit 1 controls the voice communication I of the information channel.
When the switch to the I / F circuit 5 is confirmed, the voice communication I / F
The circuit 5 is controlled to notify the operator that the other party is calling by using, for example, a ringer, a chime, or a buzzer, and a ring back tone signal is sent to the other party. The sending of the ringback tone signal to the communication partner enables the handset receiver to notify the communication partner of a telephone call even when the handset is hooked up at the communication partner terminal.

If a hookup of the handset is detected by the telephone call to the operator and the communication partner or the notification during the telephone call, the control circuit 1 causes the voice call I / F circuit 5 to operate.
Instructing the analog / digital conversion of voice information and various voice information processing, the call 32 is started. Also, when there is no response such as a hook-up to the telephone call with respect to the telephone call, time measurement is started, and after a predetermined time is reached, the line disconnection procedure is performed.

In the above embodiment, only the case where the sender side of the facsimile communication requests as a telephone call request during the communication of the document information or at the end of the communication has been described, but the invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to request a telephone call from the receiving side. In the communication control procedure in this case, as shown in 27 to 29 of FIG. 3, the receiving side terminal device receives the session end command “C” which the receiving side terminal device receives at the end of the communication of the document information.
A response in which information indicating a telephone call request is added to the SE "27 (session end affirmative response" RSEP "2
8) is returned, the sender accepts it and “CSE” 29
Perform by checking.

In the above embodiment, the switching from the facsimile communication to the voice call has been described, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the voice communication state may be switched to the facsimile communication state again. At this time, the facsimile communication I / F connected to the information channel
The switching of the circuit 4 or the voice communication I / F circuit 5 is performed by the control circuit 1 setting the switching circuit 7 via the switching control circuit 6 as in the case of switching the connection from the facsimile communication to the telephone call described above. .. Further, the timing of switching may be confirmed by, for example, the operators in a call by voice communication, and a facsimile communication request may be instructed from the operation circuit 8, or a facsimile communication request of a specific frequency may be made in the voice signal. The signal may be added and detected by the voice communication I / F circuit 5.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can be realized by transmitting the original information communication control signal from the transmitting side or the receiving side during the original information communication on the digital line which is set for the original information transmission. If a call request is detected,
After the manuscript information transmission is completed, the call is transmitted by transmitting the digitally processed voice information on the same call for the manuscript information transmission without disconnecting the line. A communication fee is charged for each communication time, and a wasteful communication time that is less than the unit time of each communication is reduced, so that it is possible to provide a facsimile apparatus excellent in economic efficiency.

Further, according to the present invention, by transmitting or detecting a request signal for manuscript information communication within the sound information communication after switching the communication state from the communication of manuscript information to the communication of sound information, the manuscript information is again detected. Since the communication can be switched to the above communication, it is possible to provide the facsimile apparatus excellent in operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control signal diagram of facsimile communication transmitted / received on an information channel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Circuit 2 LAP-D Circuit 3 Physical I / F Circuit 4 Facsimile Communication I / F Circuit 5 Voice Communication I / F Circuit 6 Switching Control Circuit 7 Switching Circuit 8 Operation Circuit 9 8-Pin Modular Cable

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukari Shiki 2-18 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Communication control means for connecting to a digital line and setting a line with a specific communication destination for document information communication,
A document information communication unit for transmitting and receiving document information and its control signal on the line set by the communication control unit, and a voice communication unit for transmitting and receiving voice information and its control signal on the line set by the communication control unit. A control signal detecting means for detecting a predetermined control signal from a control signal transmitted / received by the manuscript information communication means or the voice information communication means, and the control in a state where a line with the specific communication destination is set by the communication control means. A facsimile apparatus comprising: switching means for selectively switching a connection between the document information communication control means or the voice communication control means and the communication means according to the detection result of the signal detection means.