JPS6093875A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify message transmission by allowing an operator voice message of an opposite station side to be subject to automatic answering recording when an operator calling signal is received during the absence of the operator. CONSTITUTION:A recording/reproducing means 2 controls the operation of a voice recording means 4, voice reproducing means 5, speaker means 6, and a display means 3 according to the input of the switch means 1. In receiving a calling signal, message representing automatic answering recording is reproduced by the means 5 and transmitted, and the message of the operator of the opposite station transmitted in response thereto is recorded by the means 4. The performance of this recording is displayed by the means 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to a facsimile machine having a function of calling an operator during communication.

[Prior art]

When communicating using a conventional facsimile machine of this kind, if the operator is not present at night, etc., even if an operator call signal is received and the call operation is performed, the communication operator 11@ ends immediately after receiving a response. . Therefore, an operator who issues a call signal to verbally convey a message must use a facsimile machine to retransmit the image of the manuscript in which the message was written after the communication is complete in order to convey the message. However, there was an inconvenience in that it required time, effort, and cost.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned concerns,
In a facsimile machine that has an operator calling function during this type of communication, even if the operator is not present when an operator calling signal is received, the operator on the side sending the calling signal can verbally respond to the receiving side at that time. The purpose is to provide a facsimile device that can transmit messages by voice.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 explains the basic configuration of the present invention, and in the present invention, the configuration shown in the figure is provided in a facsimile machine.

In this configuration, the switch means 1 is used to select a mode between an answering machine recording operation according to the present invention, which will be described later, or a normal calling operation, and is also an input means for instructing the output operation of a recorded message from the other station, which will be described later. Adashi,
It is connected to the recording/playback control means 2.

The recording/playback control means 2 is connected to the audio recording means 4.
, the operations of the audio reproduction means 5, the speaker means 6 and the display means 3 are controlled according to the selection of the switch means 1 and the input of instructions.

The audio recording means 4 and the audio reproducing means 5 are for recording and reproducing voice messages, respectively, and the speaker means 6 connected to the audio reproducing means 5 is for directly outputting the voice messages as audio.

The message display means 3 informs the operator that a message from the other station has been recorded.

In the present invention, in the above configuration, a message is recorded in the voice recording means 4 to the effect that the operator of the own station is absent and a voice message of the other station is to be recorded (hereinafter referred to as an answering machine recording). Furthermore, a mode selection input is made via the switch means 1 so that an answering machine recording operation is performed when a calling signal for an operator in communication is received before the operator becomes absent.

When a call signal is received, a message to the effect that an answering machine recording will be performed is played back by the voice reproduction means 5 and sent to the other station, and the voice message from the operator of the other station sent in response to this is recorded as an audio recording. It is recorded in means 4. The fact that this recording has been performed is later notified to the operator at the own station by the display means 3. When the notified operator inputs an instruction to output the recorded voice message of the other station via the switch means 1, the recorded message is reproduced by the voice reproduction means 5 and directly audibly by the speaker means 6. is output as follows.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of an embodiment in which the above structure is embodied and installed in a facsimile machine. Here, illustrations of parts of the facsimile machine that are not related to the present invention are omitted, and explanations thereof are also omitted.

In the figure, a signal line designated by the reference numeral 7 is connected at the left end of the figure to a telephone line via a known network control device (not shown).

A modem 8 for modulating and demodulating the image signal is connected to the signal line 7, and the modem 8 is connected to a CPU (central processing unit) 9.

The CPU 9 controls the operation of the overall configuration of the device according to the control program stored in the memory 10 connected thereto, and is configured to also play the role of the recording/playback control means 2 of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 described above. and CPU 9
A switch 11 corresponding to the above-mentioned switch means 1 for
, an audio recording/reproducing device 12 corresponding to the audio recording means 4 and the audio reproducing means 5, and a display section 13 corresponding to the display means.
is connected.

Further, one output of the audio recording/reproducing device 12 is connected to the signal line 7, and a speaker 14 corresponding to the above-mentioned speaker means 6 is connected to the other output via an amplifier 15.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Here, in FIG. 3, during the operation of this embodiment, the apparatus for communicating with the other station is the called station in the upper stage, which receives the image signal and receives the operator call signal. Furthermore, the communication control procedure shall follow the procedure for Group 3 equipment that conforms to CCITT's T.4 recommendation.

Further, FIG. 4 shows the control operation procedure of the CPU 9 in FIG. 2 related to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the called station first issues a DIS (digital identification) signal 101 to inform the calling station of the function of the coating. In response to this, the calling station sends a DC8 (digital command) signal 102 that informs the other party of the desired mode of communication, and a TCP () training check) signal that performs a training check on the modem that continuously transmits image signals. Send 103. In response, the called station issues a CTi'R (reception preparation confirmation) signal 104 indicating that preparations for image signal reception have been completed, and upon confirming this, the calling station starts transmitting the image signal 105. do.

Here, in order for the operator on the calling station side to contact the operator on the called station side for some reason, T'RT-! EOP
(Procedure interrupt requesting operator call) signal 106
Upon receiving this, the device of this embodiment on the called station side issues a PIF (Procedure Interruption Affirmation) signal 107 indicating recognition of the request, and its CPU 9 executes the procedure shown in FIG. control.

That is, when the CPU 9 detects a procedure interruption signal requesting an operator call for the PRI-Q signal, PIN signal, and T) IP double signal during the communication procedure in step S1 of FIG. It is determined whether or not the answering machine recording mode has been selected.

If it has not been selected, the process advances to step S3 to perform normal calling operations such as outputting an operator ringing tone.

If the mode selection for the answering machine recording operation is indicated, the process advances from step S2 to step S4, and a voice message is sent to the calling station informing the calling station that the answering machine recording will be performed, which has been previously recorded in the voice recording/reproducing device 12. We will be recording your answering machine right now, so please say a message after the signal tone.'' etc.
2, and the voice message signal is selected from the voice recording/reproducing device 12 to the calling station via the signal line 1 and the network control device. That is, the voice message signal shown at 108 in FIG. 3 is transmitted from the called party to the calling party.

Subsequently, when the transmission of this voice message is completely completed, the process proceeds to step S5, and the voice message signal 109 (see FIG. 3) sent from the calling station in response to the transmitted message is recorded in the voice recording/reproducing device 12.

This recording operation is performed for a predetermined time by measuring whether or not the recording time has reached a predetermined time in step S6. When the recording time reaches the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S7 and the audio recording/reproducing device 12 starts recording. will be stopped.

The process then proceeds to step S8, where the display section 13 is driven to display a message informing the operator that there is a recording of the voice message from the calling station.

In the next step S9, the switch 11 is input to wait for an instruction to directly output the recorded message of the calling station, and if the instruction is input, the process proceeds to step 810, where the call is recorded on the voice recorder/player 12. The voice message on the station side is played back, and the playback signal is sent to the amplifier 15.
The signal is amplified via the speaker 14 and output as a direct audio output.

According to the configuration of this embodiment described above, the operator can switch 1
The answering machine recording operation mode can be selected before the operator becomes absent by simple operation 1, and if the operator receives a call signal during communication while the operator is absent, the voice message of the operator at the other station that made the call will be recorded. Then, the display unit 13 notifies the operator of the local station that the recording has been performed, and the notified operator can listen to the voice message by operating the switch 11.

It goes without saying that the configuration of the present invention described above can also be applied to facsimile machines belonging to other systems such as Groups 1 and 2.

〔effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, a voice message is sent to the other party's station in response to an operator call signal during communication, and a voice message is sent to the other party's station in response to the voice message. Means is provided for recording a voice message, and the operation of this means and the normal operator call operation are selected via a switch.
When an operator call signal is received when the operator is absent, the voice message of the operator at the other station that sent it is recorded on the answering machine, significantly reducing the effort, time, and cost of transmitting the message to the operator at the other station. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures explain the present invention in detail. Figure 1 is a block diagram explaining the basic configuration of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows the main parts of an embodiment that embodies the configuration of Figure 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing signal exchange with the other station during operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control operation procedure of the CPU in FIG. 2. 1... Switch means 2... Recording/playback control means 3.
...Display means 4...Audio recording means 5...Audio reproduction means 6...Speaker means 9...CPU 11...
・Switch 12...Audio recording/player 13...Display section 14...
Speaker (11) Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A facsimile machine having a function of calling an operator during communication is provided with means for transmitting a voice message in response to reception of an operator call signal and recording a voice message from a partner station, and a switch is provided. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the operation of the means and the operation of calling an operator are selected through the facsimile apparatus. 2) The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for notifying that the voice message from the partner station has been recorded, and means for reproducing and outputting the recorded message. .