JPS63211960A - Telephone/facsimile switching system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate a manual reception operation by means of an operator by providing two switching control means, permitting a first switching control means to connect a facsimile equipment part with a line when a call identification signal is detected, and permitting a second switching means to connect a telephone set part with the line when the call identification signal is not detected. CONSTITUTION:The control part 16 of a network control unit NCU is provided with a first switching control means and 1 second switching control means. The first switching control means monitors the arrival of the call identification (CNG) signal and switches a change-over switch 11 on the side of a facsimile control part 4 when the CNG signal arrives within a prescribed time T1. The second switching control means switches the change-over switch 11 on the side of a telephone set circuit 31 when the CNG signal has not arrived with in the prescribed time T1. When a system is in an automatic answering telephone mode, a recording equipment 6 is driven to record the voice of a call opposite after the transmission of a voice message is terminated. Consequently, the telephone set part and the facsimile equipment part are automatically switched in accordance with a communication form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an improvement in a telephone/facsimile switching system applied to a communication terminal device including a telephone section and a facsimile device section.

(Prior Art) Generally, a facsimile device is connected to a line together with a telephone, and can be used alternatively to the telephone by switching a changeover switch. ing. That is, the facsimile machine has a manual reception mode and an automatic reception mode as reception modes. First, when the manual reception mode is set, the selector switch is switched to the telephone side during standby, and if an incoming call occurs in this state, the facsimile machine does not operate and the telephone bell rings to notify the operator of the incoming call. be notified. In response, the operator responds by telephone and speaks with the caller, and in response to the caller's request to receive a facsimile, operates the communication switch on the facsimile machine. After that, the facsimile machine side is switched to the facsimile machine side, and facsimile reception operation is performed thereafter. Note that if you do not operate the communication switch of the facsimile machine, you can directly make a telephone call. Therefore, by setting this manual reception mode, the device can be used primarily for telephone calls.

On the other hand, when the automatic reception mode is set, when an incoming call occurs, this incoming signal is detected by an incoming call detection circuit provided in the facsimile machine.

Then, at the time of this detection, the changeover switch is automatically switched from the telephone side to the facsimile machine side, and facsimile reception operation is thereafter performed. Therefore, by setting this automatic reception mode, the apparatus can be used exclusively for facsimile communication.

By the way, facsimile machines have traditionally been used exclusively for facsimile communication in offices, factories, etc., and since many machines are equipped with an automatic call function, they are actually set to automatic reception mode when used. It is normal to do so. However, as facsimile machines have recently become more popular and their convenience has been recognized, they are increasingly being used in general stores and homes. In the case of personal use, since the frequency of facsimile communication is not very high in offices and factories, it is desirable to efficiently switch between a telephone and a facsimile device. In order to achieve this usage pattern, the facsimile device can be set to manual reception mode, but with the conventional telephone/facsimile switching method, even if the calling party uses the facsimile device and uses the automatic call function, Each time an incoming call occurs, the operator must answer the call using the telephone, check the communication mode of the other party, and then operate a communication switch to receive the call manually, which is extremely troublesome. Also, if you set the automatic reception mode to omit this operation, the inconvenience is that you will not be able to answer even if the phone receives an incoming call because it will unconditionally switch to facsimile reception when an incoming call occurs. was there.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional switching method, when set to manual reception mode, all incoming calls must be answered manually, and when set to automatic reception mode, However, in view of this problem, the present invention has been designed to solve the problem of not being able to respond to an incoming call to the telephone, and the present invention has been designed to address this problem, and when an incoming call occurs, the telephone unit and the facsimile device This makes it possible to use both the telephone section and the facsimile section efficiently and reliably without the need for switching operations, and to ensure proper switching even when the telephone section and facsimile section have an answering machine function. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a telephone/facsimile switching system that can perform the following operations.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, when a facsimile machine makes an automatic call, it is possible to send a call identification signal to the called party indicating that the facsimile call is an automatic call. Focusing on the mandatory points, the first
As shown in FIG. , an operation mode notification means C for transmitting information representing the operation mode of the own device set by the operation mode setting means to the calling party after answering the incoming call, and monitoring the arrival of a call identification signal from the calling party after answering the incoming call. The first switching control means E and the second switching control means F are provided, and the first switching control means E detects the call identification signal by the call identification detection means. is detected, the switching means connects the facsimile device to the line, and the second switching control means F causes the operation mode setting means to connect the facsimile device to the line when the call identification signal is not detected by the call identification detection means. If the telephone facsimile reception mode is set by A, the switching means connects the telephone unit to the line and makes a telephone call, and if the operation mode setting means A sets the answering machine mode, switching is performed. The recording section is connected to the line by a means to record when the user is away.

(Function) As a result, when an incoming call occurs, the connection of the facsimile device section and the telephone section to the line is automatically switched depending on whether or not a call identification signal arrives from the calling party. This eliminates the need for the operator to perform manual reception operations at all, thereby greatly improving operability and making it possible to reliably support the communication format requested by the calling party. Further, even when the answering machine mode is set, it is possible to reliably switch between facsimile reception and answering machine recording according to the communication form of the calling party.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of a network control unit (NCu) of a telephone built-in facsimile device to which a telephone/facsimile switching system is applied in an embodiment of the present invention.
1 indicates NCU.

In this figure, for convenience of explanation, circuit parts necessary for making a call such as a dial pulse generation circuit in the NCU and parts other than the facsimile control section of the facsimile machine are omitted.

The NCU1 is equipped with an externally controlled changeover switch 11 having three changeover contacts, and the movable contacts of the changeover switch 11 are connected to the subscriber line 1 via a DC control circuit 15 for forming a DC loop. . Further, among the three switching contacts, a telephone circuit 31 equipped with a handset 32 and a facsimile control unit 4 are connected to the first contact and the second contact, respectively, and the CNG detection circuit 12 and the RBT are connected to the third contact. Generation circuit 13 and message generation circuit 1
4 is connected. The CNG detection circuit 12 detects the presence or absence of a call identification signal (CNG signal) sent from the calling side after an incoming call occurs, and when a CNG signal is detected, the NCU
A detection signal is output to the llJm section 16. The RTB generation circuit 13 generates a pseudo ringback tone RBT and sends it to the calling side when a drive instruction is generated from the NCU control unit 16. The message generation circuit 14 generates a voice message indicating an operation mode specified by a mode setting key (not shown) according to instructions from the NCLI control section 16, and sends this voice message to the calling terminal. Here, the operation modes include a telephone facsimile reception mode and an answering machine mode.

In addition, NCU1 includes an NCU control unit 16 and an incoming call detection circuit 1.
7 and a ringing tone generating circuit 18. Of these, the incoming call detection circuit 17 detects the presence or absence of a 16-channel ringing signal that arrives from the exchange via the subscriber line 2 in a standby state.When an incoming call is detected, the incoming call detection signal is sent to NCU at that point. Output to M111 section 16. Further, the ringing tone generation circuit 18 generates a signal for a telephone call according to instructions from the NCU Ill 111 section 16, and causes the speaker 5 to amplify and output a ringing tone for notifying the operator of the telephone call.

By the way, the NCLJ control section 16 has, for example, a microcomputer as a main control circuit, and has first switching control means and second switching control means as its functions. The first switching control means, after forming a DC loop in the subscriber line 2 when an incoming call occurs, first generates a voice message representing the operating mode of the device from the message generation circuit 14 and sends it to the called party, and then generates an RBT. CN while sending out the pseudo ringback tone RBT from the circuit 13.
The arrival of the CNG signal is monitored based on the detection signal of the G detection circuit 12, and when the CNG signal arrives within a certain time T1 in this state, the changeover switch 11 is switched to the facsimile control unit 4 side. First, when the operation mode of the device is set to the telephone facsimile reception mode, the second switching control means switches the changeover switch 11 to the telephone circuit 31 when the CNG signal does not arrive within the predetermined time T1.
At the same time, the ring tone generation circuit 18 is driven to generate a telephone ring tone. In the case of the answering machine mode, the recording device 6 is activated to record the voice of the calling party after the voice message is sent, and during this recording, the CN
When the G signal arrives, stop recording and press selector switch 1.
1 to the facsimile control unit 4 side. Note that 33 in the figure is a contact that is linked to the hook switch, and is closed when the handset 32 is off-hook.

Next, the telephone/facsimile switching system of this embodiment will be explained based on the above configuration. In the standby state, the changeover switch 11 first switches the CNG detection circuit 12 and RBT generation circuit 1.
Switching to side 3.

Further, the NCU control unit 16 performs step 3 as shown in FIG.
In Steps a to 3C, operation mode setting monitoring, call monitoring, and call reception monitoring are repeatedly performed, and in this state, when the operation mode setting key on the operation panel (not shown) is operated, the operation mode of the device is changed to the specified mode. Set to .

Further, when a call operation is performed (4), call control is executed according to a predetermined procedure.

Now, in the standby state, when an incoming call signal of 1682 arrives from the exchange and is detected by the incoming call detection circuit 17, the process moves to step 3d, where first the DC control circuit 15
It outputs a control signal to form a DC loop for the subscriber line 2. That is, this establishes a connection with the calling party. Once the connection is established with the calling party, N CU II
The J111 unit 16 first determines the currently set operating mode of the device in step 3e. Now, if the telephone facsimile reception mode is set, the NCU
The control unit 16 causes the message generation circuit 14 to generate a voice message indicating that the telephone facsimile reception mode is set in step 3f, and transmits this voice message for a certain period of time Tl (for example, 10 seconds) set in step 3g.
only to be sent to the calling party.

As a result, the calling party is notified that he or she can make a telephone call or receive a facsimile. Then, when the transmission of this voice message is finished, the NCU control unit 16
Next, the process moves to step 3h, where the RBT generation circuit 13
A pseudo ringback tone RBT is generated from the device, and this pseudo ringback tone RBT is sent to the calling party, thereby notifying the calling party that the device is in a calling operation. In step 31, the call timer N00811m unit 16 monitors the arrival of a CNG signal from the calling side based on the detection signal of the CNG detection circuit 12, while monitoring the predetermined time Tl (for example, 10 seconds) in step 3j. Here, the CNG signal is a signal that is first output before entering the facsimile procedure when a facsimile machine makes an automatic call, and is a signal that is transmitted for 0.5 seconds and interrupted for 3 seconds at 1100)+2.

Now, in this state, if the arrival of a CNG signal is detected within a certain time T1, the NCU 11+'1ll1 section 16 determines that the calling party is a facsimile machine, moves from step 31 to step 3k, and here First, the transmission of the pseudo ringback tone RBT is stopped, and then, at step 3° C., a switching control signal is output to the changeover switch 11 to switch the contact to the facsimile control unit 4 side. As a result, the facsimile control section 4 is connected to the subscriber line 2,
Thereafter, facsimile communication is performed with the calling facsimile machine according to well-known facsimile procedures. That is, automatic facsimile reception is performed. Therefore, at this time, the operator does not need to perform any switching operations on the device.

On the other hand, if the CNG signal is not detected within the predetermined time T1, the NCU control unit 16 determines that the caller is a telephone, and shifts to the telephone switching control shown in FIG. That is, first, in step 4a, a drive signal is output to the ringing tone generation circuit 18 to generate a signal for voice calling, and the speaker 5
The telephone ringtone is audibly output. And step 4
The process moves to step b, where off-hook operation monitoring is performed. In this state, when the operator notices the telephone call and picks up the handset 32 to answer it, the NCU control unit 16 detects this off-hook by the closing signal of the contact 33 interlocked with the hook switch, and proceeds to step 4d. In step 4d, the telephone ringing tone is first stopped, and then in step 4e, a switching control signal is output to the changeover switch 11 to switch the contact to the telephone circuit 31 side. Then, the telephone circuit 31 is connected to the subscriber line 2, and from then on, a conversation can be made between the handset 32 connected to the telephone circuit 31 and the caller's telephone. That is, in this case as well, switching to the telephone is automatically performed. Therefore, when the caller is using a telephone, the operator can respond reliably using the same operations as when using a normal telephone. In addition, for the pseudo ringback tone RBT, the changeover switch 11 is placed on the telephone circuit 31 side.
゛It will be stopped before switching.

In addition, while monitoring the above-mentioned off-hook operation, the NCU control unit 16 monitors whether a certain period of time T2 (for example, 20 seconds) has elapsed since the start of the telephone call in step 4C. If no operation is performed, it is determined that the operator is absent and the process moves to the next operation. That is, since there is a possibility that the calling party requests facsimile communication by manual calling, the NCLI control unit 16 moves to step 4f when the above-mentioned predetermined time T2 has elapsed, and here first sends the pseudo ringback tone RB.
Then, in step 4q, a switching control signal is output to the changeover switch 11 to switch the contact to the facsimile control unit 4 side. As a result, the facsimile control unit 4 is connected to the subscriber line 2, and the facsimile control unit 4 sends an initial identification signal (CED signal) to the calling party. Therefore, if the calling side requests facsimile communication by manual calling, the operator on the calling side can confirm this CED signal and thereafter shift to facsimile communication.

On the other hand, if the operating mode of the device is set to answering machine mode, switching control is performed as follows. That is, after forming the DC loop of the subscriber line 2, if it is determined in step 3e that the answering machine mode is set, the NCU
As shown in FIG. 5, in step 5a, the control section 16 first causes the message generation circuit 14 to generate a voice message to the effect that the answering machine mode is set and send it to the caller. Then, the voice message is sent out at a certain time.
1T3 (e.g. 10 seconds) and repeat this in step 5b.
If detected, the process moves to step 5C and the recording device 6 is operated. As a result, for example, when the calling party is a telephone and the speaker speaks, the voice is recorded in the recording device 6 as a message.

In addition to this recording control, the NCLI control unit 16 also monitors the arrival of the CNG signal in step 5d.

If the arrival of a CNG signal is detected within a certain time 111T3 (for example, 20 seconds), it is determined that the calling party is a facsimile machine, and the process moves to step 5f, where the recording device 6 is activated. After the recording operation is stopped, a switching control signal is output to the changeover switch 11 in step 5Q to switch the contact to the facsimile control section 4 side. Thereafter, facsimile automatic reception is performed. Therefore, even if the answering machine mode is set, the calling party
? If it's a Kushimiri device, it's definitely 7? Shift to Kushimiri reception. Further, in this case, the operator does not need to perform any response operation.

In addition, even if a certain period of time T4 has passed during the above recording period, the CN
If the G signal has not arrived, the NCU control unit 16 determines that the calling party may be requesting facsimile communication by manual calling, and in step 5e the NCU control unit 16 determines that the calling party is requesting facsimile communication by manual calling, and in step 5e
After checking the progress, the process moves to step 5f, and after stopping the operation of the recording device 6 in step 5f, the contact of the changeover switch 11 is changed to the facsimile control unit 4 in step 5Q.
from then on to facsimile automatic reception control. Therefore, even if the called party requests facsimile communication by manual calling, this request can be reliably met.

If the calling party abandons the call during each of the above switching control operations, the N CLI III m section 16 recognizes this from the detection output of the polarity reversal detector provided in the DC υ control circuit 15. At this point, the control operation is stopped and the standby state is returned.

As described above, this embodiment provides the following various effects.

■ Based on the presence or absence of a CNG signal, it is determined whether the calling party is requesting facsimile communication by automatic calling or by telephone, and the changeover switch 11 is automatically changed according to the result of this determination. Therefore, if the calling party is using a facsimile machine that automatically makes calls, the operator can perform facsimile communication in automatic reception mode without having to perform manual operations each time, and if the calling party is a telephone, the operator can In response to this, it is possible to reliably respond by telephone.

■ If the operator does not perform an off-hook operation even after a certain period of time T2 has elapsed after the start of a telephone call, the selector switch 11 is automatically switched to the facsimile control unit 4 side, so the calling party cannot make a manual call. It is possible to reliably respond to facsimile communication requests due to

■ Even if the answering machine mode is set, if the calling party is using a facsimile machine, whether the call is an automatic call or a manual call, the system will detect the presence or absence of a CNG signal. By switching the changeover switch to the facsimile control unit 4 side after recording has been performed for a certain period of time T4, it is possible to reliably shift to the facsimile reception operation.

■ Until the communication mode requested by the calling party is determined, a message indicating the operating mode of the own device is sent and a pseudo ring bank tone is sent, so that the calling party cannot It is possible to reduce the anxiety and confusion caused by the system, and thereby ensure reliable switching.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, instead of the pseudo ringback tone, another tone signal or a voice message indicating that a call is in progress may be sent. Furthermore, once the communication mode requested by the calling party is determined, it may be displayed on the display each time or stored in the memory as a communication record. moreover,
In the above embodiment, a facsimile machine with a built-in telephone with an answering machine function was described, but facsimile V
tW1 may be applied to a communication terminal device in which a telephone and a recording station with an answering machine function are separated and independent.

In addition, the control procedures and control contents of the first and second switching control means, the configurations of the operation mode notification means and the call identification detection means, etc. may be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, the operation mode setting means selectively sets the telephone facsimile reception mode and the answering machine mode as the operation mode of the apparatus, and the an incoming call response means for responding to an incoming call; an operation mode notification means for transmitting information representing the operating mode of the own device set by the operation mode setting means to the calling party after answering the incoming call; A call identification detection means for monitoring the arrival of a call identification signal, a first switching control means and a second switching control means are provided, and the first switching control means detects the call identification by the call identification detection means. When the signal is detected, the switching means connects the facsimile device to the line, and the second switching control means causes the operation mode setting means to connect the facsimile device to the line when the call identification signal is not detected by the call identification detection means. When the telephone facsimile reception mode is set, the switching means connects the telephone unit to the line and makes a telephone call, and when the operation mode setting means sets the answering machine mode, the switching means makes a recording. By connecting the part to the line and recording the answering machine, when an incoming call occurs, it is possible to automatically switch between the telephone part and the facsimile part according to the communication form requested by the called party. To provide a telephone/facsimile switching system which eliminates the need for switching operations, allows efficient and reliable use of both the telephone section and facsimile device section, and enables accurate switching even when an answering machine function is provided. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the telephone/facsimile switching system of the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 5 are circuit block diagrams showing the configuration of the device, and FIGS. 2 is a flowchart showing a control procedure and control contents. A: Operation mode setting means, B: Incoming call response means,
C... Operation mode notification means, D... Call identification detection means, E... First switching control means, F... Second switching control means, 2... Subscriber line, 4 ...Facsimile control unit, 5...Speaker, 6...Recording device, 11...
・Selector switch, 12... CNG detection circuit, 13...
・RBT generation circuit, 14...Message generation circuit, 1
5... DC control circuit, 16... NCU control section, 17
... Incoming call detection circuit, 18 ... Ringing tone generation circuit, 31
...Telephone circuit, 12...Handset, 13...
・Contacts linked to hook switches. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 4 - 5 Procedural amendments Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Kuro 1) Akio Tono 2. Name of the invention Telephone/Facsimile switching system 3. Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent Applicant (30?) Toshiba Corporation 4, Agent 3-7M2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo I am correcting the request for correction of the UBE Building code. 2. Scope of Claims (1) Telephone unit and one-no-axis unit @W1 and away? l Equipped with a recording section for telephones, these telephone sections, f? comb
In the telephone/facsimile switching system in which the millimeter unit and the recording unit are selectively connected to the line by a switching means to perform telephone calls, facsimile communications, and answering machine recording, the operating modes of the device are telephone facsimile receiving mode and answering machine mode. an operation mode setting means for selectively setting a mode; an incoming call response means for responding to the incoming call on the line when an incoming call occurs; One stage of operation need notification that sends information representing the operation mode, and the @
call identification detection means for detecting the incoming call identification signal from the called party after a call response; a first switching control means for connecting to a telephone line; and when a call identification signal is not detected by the call identification detection means, the operation mode setting means controls the telephone
When the facsimile reception mode is set, the switching means connects the telephone unit to the line and makes a telephone call, and when the operation mode setting means sets the answering machine mode, the switching means connects the telephone unit to the line and makes a telephone call. a second means for connecting the recording section to the line;
A telephone/facsimile switching system characterized by comprising a switching control means. ■ The calling identification detecting means is configured to send a signal indicating that a call is being made to the calling party at least during the incoming call identification signal period. Telephone/7-door system switching system. (a) The second switching control means controls the switching means when there is no response from the telephone unit within a predetermined period after the start of a telephone call or when a call identification signal is not detected within a predetermined period after the start of answer recording. A telephone/facsimile switching system according to claim (1), wherein the facsimile device is connected to a line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) It is equipped with a telephone section, a facsimile device section, and a recording section for an answering machine, and these telephone section, facsimile device section, and recording section are selectively connected to the line by a switching means to make calls, facsimile communications, and In a telephone/facsimile switching system for recording an answering machine, an operation mode setting means selectively sets a telephone facsimile reception mode and an answering machine mode as the operation mode of the device, and an incoming call that responds to the line when an incoming call occurs. response means; operation mode notification means for transmitting information representing the operation mode of the own device set by the operation mode setting means to the calling party after responding to the incoming call; a call identification detection means for monitoring incoming calls; a first switching control means for causing the switching means to connect the facsimile device section to the line when a call identification signal is detected by the call identification detection means;
When the call identification signal is not detected by the call identification detection means and the telephone/facsimile reception mode is set by the operation mode setting means, the switching means connects the telephone unit to the line and makes a telephone call. and second switching control means for connecting the recording section to the line by the switching means when the answering machine mode is set by the operation mode setting means. Facsimile switching method. (2) The calling identification detection means is configured to send a signal indicating that a call is being made to the calling party at least during the arrival monitoring period of the calling identification signal. Telephone/fax switching method. (3) The second switching control means switches the switching means when a response is not made by the telephone unit within a predetermined period after the start of a telephone call, and when a call identification signal is not detected within a predetermined period after the start of answer recording. A telephone/facsimile switching system characterized in that the facsimile unit is connected to the line by the following.