JPH09107411A - Communication controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control plural terminal equipments such as facsimile equipments and personal computers to attain functional communication by connecting them concentratingly to one and same communication line. SOLUTION: When an incoming call is received and a signal detection section 22 detects a CNG signal, a connection control section 23 is used to connect the controller to a facsimile equipment 15, and when no CNG signal is detected, a telephone set 14 is connected, Furthermore, a data storage section 23 stores received data and a command from a personal computer 16 is analyzed by a means 25. Then the stored data are outputted and data are communicated between the facsimile equipment 15 and the personal computer 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication control device for collectively connecting a plurality of terminal devices such as a facsimile machine and a personal computer to the same communication line so as to perform communication functionally. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, prices of facsimiles, personal computers, etc. have been reduced, and not only telephones but also facsimile communications and personal computer communications have been used at home, and voice information, facsimile information, etc. Various information provision services have also been established, and information exchange is becoming active.

A conventional method for exchanging information using a plurality of terminal devices will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a conventional communication mode for exchanging information. In FIG. 3, 31 is a partner terminal device, 32 is a communication line, 33 is an exchange, 34 is a telephone, 35 is a facsimile device, 36 is a data modem, 37 is a personal computer, and 38 is a printer connected to the personal computer 37. Telephone 34, facsimile machine 35,
Data modem 36 and personal computer 37
Are independently connected to the communication line.

The operation of the above system configuration will be described below. First, when the partner terminal device 31 is a telephone, when the partner terminal device 31 dials the number of the telephone 34, the bell of the telephone 34 rings, and when the telephone 34 is hooked off, a call can be made. The other terminal device 3
Even when 1 is a facsimile device, facsimile communication can be performed by dialing the number of the facsimile 35 from the partner terminal device 31. Similarly, when the partner terminal device 31 is a personal computer, data communication can be performed by dialing the personal computer number from the partner terminal device 31.

[0005]

However, in the above conventional configuration, when the partner terminal device 31 is a facsimile device, the partner terminal device 31 to the facsimile device 35 are used.
If the telephone number of the telephone 34 is mistakenly dialed when calling the telephone, the telephone of the telephone can be ringed, but there is a problem that actual communication cannot be performed even when the telephone 34 is hooked off. Even when the partner terminal device 31 is a personal computer, the partner terminal device 31
When making a call from the personal computer 37 to the personal computer 37, if the number of the telephone 34 is mistakenly dialed, the telephone bell can be rung, but there is a problem that actual communication cannot be performed even if the telephone 34 is hooked off. there were. In other words, if the calling and called terminal devices are not terminals that can communicate with each other, such as telephones, facsimile devices, and personal computers, even if the bell of the called terminal device rings, Cannot communicate. This is also related to the problem of the number of communication lines, and in order to connect multiple terminal devices to the communication lines, the number of communication lines corresponding to the number of terminal devices is required, and the number of communication lines increases. It was very economically inefficient.

It is also possible to use the dial-in service to attach each extension number to each terminal and connect them collectively to the same line, but for that purpose it is necessary to conclude a dial-in service contract. However, it cannot be said that it is economical, and it cannot be said that the problem of the dialing error on the calling side is solved.

If the personal computer 37 is used for data communication but the printer 38 is not, the personal computer 37 prints on the facsimile device 35 even though the facsimile device 35 has a printing function. I can't print out, and the fax machine 35 has a scanner function,
There is also a problem that image data cannot be taken into the personal computer 37 because there is no dedicated scanner for the personal computer 37.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a communication control device for collectively connecting a plurality of terminal devices to the same communication line so as to perform communication functionally. The purpose is to

[0009]

In order to achieve this object, a communication control device of the present invention comprises interface means for connecting to a plurality of terminal devices, and means for detecting a CNG signal sent through a communication line. A means for controlling the connection between the communication line and the terminal device, a means for calling the connected terminal device, and a data storage means and a means for analyzing a command from the terminal device. There is.

[0010]

With this configuration, when an incoming call arrives, it is possible to select and call the terminal device to be connected, store data, and use the facsimile device as a printer or a scanner.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a partner terminal device, 12 is a communication line,
Reference numeral 13 is a communication control device. Reference numeral 14 is a telephone, 15 is a facsimile device, 16 is a personal computer, and 17 is a printer, which are connected to the communication control device 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the communication control device 13 of FIG. 1. Reference numeral 20 is a main control unit for centrally controlling the operation of the communication control device 13, and reference numeral 21 is a communication line 12 connected thereto. Line interface unit 22 and communication line 12
A signal detector 23 for detecting a CNG signal sent through the communication line 23, a telephone 14, a facsimile 1
5, a connection control unit that controls the connection of the personal computer 16 and the printer 17, 24 is a data storage unit that stores data received by the communication control device 13, 25 is a command analysis unit that analyzes a command from the personal computer 16, Is the terminal device 1 to which the communication control device 13 is connected
A terminal calling unit that sends a calling signal to 4 to 17, and 27 is a terminal interface unit to which a plurality of terminal devices such as the telephone 14, the facsimile device 15, the personal computer 16 and the printer 17 can be connected.

Regarding the operation of the communication control device 13 in the above system configuration, as a first embodiment, first, in the case where the communication control device 13 receives a call from the partner terminal device 11 and selects and calls a terminal device to be connected. Will be described.

(Embodiment 1) The communication control device 13 has a frequency of 16 Hz.
When the line interface unit 21 detects the call signal of, the main control unit 20 receives an incoming call, saying, "I am calling now. FAX users, please send. Please wait for a while." The signal detection unit 22 monitors the CNG signal of the facsimile communication transmitted to the terminal device 11 and simultaneously transmitted through the communication line 12. When the CNG signal is detected by the signal detection unit 22, the partner terminal device 11 is regarded as a facsimile device, and the terminal calling unit 26 causes the facsimile device 15 to operate.
A call signal of 1300 Hz is sent to. When the terminal interface unit 27 detects the hook-off of the facsimile device 15, the connection control unit 23 connects the facsimile device 15 and the communication line 12 so that the facsimile device 15 can receive a fax.

When the CNG signal is not detected during the voice guidance transmission, the partner terminal device 11 is regarded as a telephone and the terminal calling unit 26 transmits a 16 Hz calling signal to the telephone 14. When the terminal interface unit 27 detects the hook-off of the telephone set 14, the connection control unit 23 connects the telephone set 14 and the communication line 12 to enable communication between the telephone set 14 and the partner terminal device 11.

If a terminal device to be connected when an incoming call arrives is set in advance, for example, if it is set to connect to the personal computer 16, the communication control device 13 sends a call signal of 16 Hz to the line. When it is detected by the interface unit 21, the incoming call is not received, and the connection control unit 23 connects the personal computer 16 which is a connection destination preset and the communication line 12. In this case, since the call signal of 16 Hz sent through the communication line 12 directly calls the terminal device of the connection destination,
It is not necessary to call the personal computer 17 from the terminal calling unit 26. Telephone 14 and facsimile machine 1
It is very convenient that the user can use 5 as a terminal device dedicated to making an outgoing call and all incoming calls are made by the personal computer 16.

(Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment, the data sent from the partner terminal device 11 is temporarily stored in the data storage unit 24, and the "retrieval of stored data" command from the personal computer 16 is issued. A case where stored data is taken out from the facsimile device 15 will be described. When the line interface unit 21 detects a call signal of 16 Hz, the communication control device 13 receives the call, and sends voice guidance from the main control unit 20 to the partner terminal device 11 at the same time as in the first embodiment. Communication line 12
When the CNG signal of the facsimile transmitted through the device is monitored by the signal detection unit 22 and the CNG signal is detected by the signal detection unit 22, the partner terminal device 11 is regarded as a facsimile device and controlled by the main control unit 20. The sent image data is stored in the data storage unit 24. When the image data stored in the data storage unit 24 is to be taken out, first, the command “take out stored data” is input from the personal computer 16. The command input from the personal computer 16 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 25, and when the command is a “retrieve stored data” command, the main control unit 20 controls the stored data to be output. The personal computer 1
When inputting the command of “retrieve stored data” from 6, if the retrieval destination is designated to the facsimile device 15 by the command option, the image data of the data storage unit 24 is output from the facsimile device 15 and the printer 1
If specified as 7, image data is output from the printer 17. This embodiment is very convenient when there is no paper in the facsimile device 15 or when receiving a document or the like that should not be seen by others by facsimile.

(Third Embodiment) As a third embodiment, a command from the personal computer 16 is used to transfer the data in the personal computer 16 to the facsimile device 15.
The case of printing out from will be described. First,
A command of "print out by facsimile" is input to the personal computer 16. The command input from the personal computer 16 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 25, and when the command is a “print with a facsimile device” command, the connection control unit 23 connects the personal computer 16 and the facsimile device 15, Under the control of the main controller 20, the data in the personal computer 16 can be printed out from the facsimile device 15. This allows the printer 17
It becomes possible to print out with the facsimile device 15 without having the.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, as a fourth embodiment, a case will be described in which the image data transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 15 is fetched into the personal computer 16 by a command from the personal computer 16. In this case, the original document to be taken into the personal computer 16 is set in the facsimile device 15 in advance, and the facsimile device 15 is set to the polling state. After that, the command of “capture image by facsimile” is input from the personal computer 16. The command input from the personal computer 16 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 25, and if the command is “image capture by facsimile device”, the connection control unit 23 connects the personal computer 16 and the facsimile device 15, Under the control of the main control unit 20, the facsimile machine 1
The data sent from 5 is the personal computer 1
6 can be incorporated. As a result, the original document at hand can be taken into the personal computer 16 as image data by the facsimile device 15 without having a scanner.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, as a fifth embodiment, a case in which data in the personal computer 16 is printed out from the printer 17 by a command from the personal computer 16 will be described. First, the command “print out with printer” is input to the personal computer 16. The command input from the personal computer 16 is analyzed by the command analysis unit 25, and when the command is a “print and print out” command, the connection control unit 23 determines that the personal computer 1
6 is connected to the printer 17, and the data in the personal computer 16 can be printed out from the printer 17 under the control of the main control unit 20.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the means for detecting a predetermined communication signal sent through the communication line, and the means for controlling the connection between the communication line and the terminal device when the predetermined communication signal is detected. And a means for calling the connected communication control device, and further a data storage means and a means for analyzing a command from a personal computer to connect a plurality of terminal devices to one communication line. , When an incoming call arrives, it is possible to automatically select and connect the terminal device to be connected from multiple terminal devices, accumulate data, and use the facsimile device as a printer or scanner. It is possible to realize an excellent communication control device capable of performing the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an entire communication device according to first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of a communication control device according to first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a conventional communication device as a whole.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 partner terminal device 12 communication line 13 communication control device 14 telephone 15 facsimile device 16 personal computer 17 printer 20 main control unit 21 line interface unit 22 signal detection unit 23 connection control unit 24 data storage unit 25 command analysis unit 26 terminal calling unit 27 Terminal interface unit 31 Remote terminal device 32 Communication line 33 Switch 34 Telephone 35 Facsimile device 36 Data modem 37 Personal computer 38 Printer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An interface means for connecting a plurality of terminal devices including a telephone, a facsimile machine, a personal computer, and a printer, a means for detecting a CNG signal transmitted through a communication line, and a plurality of the plurality of terminals when there is an incoming call. Means for controlling the connection between the communication line and the plurality of terminal devices according to the setting of which terminal device to connect to the communication line from among the terminal devices or the detection of the CNG signal, and the connected terminal device. A communication control device capable of calling a selected terminal device to be connected to a communication line and calling the selected terminal device when an incoming call is received. 2. A means for accumulating data and a means for analyzing a command from a plurality of terminal devices, wherein when there is an incoming call, the data sent from the partner terminal device through the communication line is stored in the data accumulating means. 2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the data stored in the terminal device and output by the terminal device from the terminal device can output the data stored in the data storage means by a command of “retrieve stored data” from the terminal device. 3. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the data in the personal computer can be printed out from the facsimile device when a "print out by facsimile device" command is received from the terminal device. . 4. The image data transmitted from the facsimile device can be taken into a personal computer when a command of “image capture by facsimile device” is received from the terminal device. Communication control device. 5. The communication according to claim 1, wherein the data in the personal computer can be printed out from the printer when a "print out in printer" command is received from the terminal device. Control device.