GB2210234A

GB2210234A - Interface simulating exchange line signals to set up connection between computer and facsimile machine

Info

Publication number: GB2210234A
Application number: GB8722307A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-09-26
Filing date: 1987-09-22
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Also published as: FR2621145B1; FR2621145A1; DE3732533A1; GB8722307D0

Description

1 TITLE: DEVICE FOR COMMUNICATION OF A COMPUTER AND A FAX MACHINE - This

invention relates to a device as an interface for communication between a computer and a fax machine.

A fax machine now becomes one of popular rapid tools in office communication. The fax machine transmits and receives informations printed on papers directly via telephone lines of Central Office / Private Branch exchanger (C0/PBX) and then the transmitted or received informations will be reprinted in duplicate on a corresponding fax machine. Using fax machine for communication is more convinent and time-saving than the telex one. But there are also two disadvantages as follows:

(1) The informations should first be printed or copied on a paper; (2) If the telephone lines are busy, then the transmission time will be delayed; and (3) The re-printed informations 'are easily distorted.

To solve the above-mentioned disadvantages, there is an application using a personal computer to perform as a fax machine presently. Such system is convinent since it does not need to pre-print the desirable informations on papers but directly transmit them from " A n ng 6.t 1- 2 1 -j J- 2 the memory of the personal computer. While, as shown in Fig. 4, the personal computer should connect with two external devices: a scanner and a printer for transmission and receipt. Both of the external devices are very expensive. Further, in such application, an original used fax machine will be discarded since the personal computer performs as a fax machine, so as to result in economic waste.

Another communication system is to utilize a RS- 232 interface for connecting a fax machine with a personal computer. By means of a specific software program in the personal computer, the fax machine can directly transmit or receive the desirable informations from the memory of the personal computer. But its is applied region is limited because such communication is just applied in specific-typed machine (such as highend ones) so that it is not popular.

Therefore, this invention is made to design an interface device which is installed between a fax machine and a computer so that the fax machine can directly print the informations transmitted or stored in the computer and scans desirable informations to the computer. Therefore, the fax machine performs as an I/0 device. Additionally, the communication system according to this invention is applicable in any-typed system. Further, there is no need to add external device (like a scanner or a printer) so that the cost will be largely decreased.

ill 3 In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interface device wherein comprises a CO/PBX simulation circuit for replacing the actual CO/PBX to execute communication functions and therefore a fax machine may perform as an I/0 device of a computer without no external devices.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interface device to make a fax machine as an I/0 device so that there is no need additional devices and the cost is largely decreased.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interface device which connects with the fax machine via telephone lines so that the applied region of this system in accordance with this invention is not limited.

In accordance with further objects and advantages, the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this invention. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 25 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic embodiment showing a communication system in accordance with this invention; FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing the functions of the interface device of this invention; 4 FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit corresponding with the diagram of FIG. 2 of this invention; and FIG. 4 shows a conventional communication system using a computer combining a scanner and a printer to 5 perform as a fax machine.

Referring to all the figures, especially to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the interface device (called FAXPRO) is connected to a fax machine, a CO/PBX and a telephone via telephone lines. A controller 4 is installed between a computer and the interface device, which receive commands from the computer to provide the FAXPRO with specific operations. By means of the interface device FAXPRO of this invention, the. fax machine directly receive informations from the computer is and printer them, which operates as a printer, or scans informations to the computer as a scanner for processing and store.

Now referring to Fig. 2, it shows that the interface devicce of this invention with reference number 1 comprises relay switches 1, a ring generator 12, an bff-hook detector 13 and a DC power supply 14. The controller 3 controls the off- hook detector 13 and the ring generator 12 and which connects to the interface device 1 via a data access arrangement 5 and a switch 6. The switch 6 is selective to determine the computer if communicable with the fax machine 2 or with the Central Office. If the computer 3 should transmit and the 20 Therefore, informations to the fax machine 2, then the ring generator 12 alarms first and the off-hook detector 13 starts to detect if the fax machine 2 is on-hook or off-hook. If the fax machine is off-hook, then the computer will start to transmit informations.

The following describes three principle operations determined by the interface device FAXPRO:

1) The communication between the computer 3 and the fax 2:

At the time, each of the pins 4 and 13 of each switch (Relay 2 and Relay 1) is respectively connected to the pins 8 and 9. A ring signal controlled by the controller 4 occurs via frequency-oscillation and is coupled to the terminal of the pin 9 of the switch (Relay 2). If the fax machine is off-hook, then the off-hook detector circuit 2 is conducted and the output terminal LOHIN will be changed to low which will make the pin 4 of the switch (Relay 2) connected to pin 6 pin 13 thereof be connected to pin 11.

the computer can transmit/receive the information to/from the fax machine. This is,-the fax machine now becomes an I/0 device which has scanning and printing functions.

2) The communication between the fax machine 2 and the Central Office:

Such transmission is the same as a general transmission of the fax machine. At the time, the pin 4 and 13 of the awitch (Relay 1) are respectively 6 connected to pin 6 and 11 therefore, then the fax machine and the Central Office is communicable. 3) The communication between the Central Office and the computer 3: 5 Such communication is dependent on the selection of the switch 6. The switch 6 has two states which is selective to make the computer 3 communicate with the fax machine 2 or the Central office. Another alternative embodiment also can be accompanied with a ring detector 15 and a telephone detector 16 for detecting if the Central Office would transmit/receive informations to the computer 2 and detecting if the telephone is one the line.

Obviously, via the interface device 1, the fax machine 2 is performed as an I/0 device according to the above-mentioned description. When the fax machine 2 should transmit informations to another fax machine or to the Central Office, it needs not to pre-print the desirable informations on papers, but directly transmit them from the computer 3. Similiarly, the fax machine 2 also directly transmit informations to the computer 3 as a scanner. Therefore, the communication system in accordance with this invention will save large money resulted from buying external devices (a printer and a scanner). Please note the above-mentioned descriptions are just an embodiment of this invention. As various possible embodiments might be made of the above

1 i 11 1 1 i i I 1 1 i i i i i i i 1 i i i 7 invention without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus it will be appreciated that the drawings are exemplary of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

8

Claims

1 CLAIM:

1. An interface device for communication of a computer and a fax machine comprising:

a ring generator which is controlled by a controller controlled by said computer for generating a ring signal for alarm before said computer transmits/receives informations to/from said fax machine; -- an off-hook detector which starts to detect if said fax machine is off- hook when said ring signal being generated; -- relay switches being controlled by said controller for selectively shift to determine said computer to be communicable with said fax machine or said Central Office or to determine said fax machine to be communicable with said Central Office; and -- a DC power supply for providing said ring generator and said off-hook detector with electrical power.

2. An interface device for communication of a computer -and a fax machine as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Publis' e:! 1986 at The Patent OMM SWle House 66 71 Righ Londor WC1R 4TP 7',1rhCr CCp'CS rna%, be obtained frcn The Patent Wice.

Wes Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Mu3tiplex techniques ltd, St Maxy Cray. Kent. Con. 1.87.

1 R,