GB2314481A - Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system - Google Patents
Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2314481A GB2314481A GB9612770A GB9612770A GB2314481A GB 2314481 A GB2314481 A GB 2314481A GB 9612770 A GB9612770 A GB 9612770A GB 9612770 A GB9612770 A GB 9612770A GB 2314481 A GB2314481 A GB 2314481A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- audio signal
- signal
- facsimile system
- encoded
- scanned
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32704—Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
- H04N1/32706—Type of the other apparatus
- H04N1/3271—Telephone answering machine
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
- H04M1/65—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party
- H04M1/6505—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party storing speech in digital form
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
- H04N1/00281—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32704—Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32704—Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
- H04N1/32715—Detecting
- H04N1/32719—Detecting a facsimile calling signal, e.g. CNG
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32704—Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
- H04N1/32715—Detecting
- H04N1/32723—Detecting speech signals
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32704—Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
- H04N1/32715—Detecting
- H04N1/32726—Detecting signals other than facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DTMF signals
Abstract
A facsimile system records an audio signal received over a telephone line during an user's absence. The audio signal received through the telephone line is encoded by an A/D converter 12 and a data encoder 10 which compresses the converted digital signal. The encoded data is recorded on printing paper by an image forming unit 18. To playback the stored message, the encoded audio signal is later scanned from the printing paper by an scanner 22 and decoded by a data decoder 20 which decompresses the scanned digital signal and a D/A converter. The analogue signal is amplified 16 and supplied to a speaker unit 8.
Description
AUDIO SIGNAL RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR FACSIMILE SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a facsimile system, and more particularly, to an apparatus for recording an audio signal received during user's absence.
In general, telephone lines of a public telephone network are connected to facsimile machines and automatic answering machines as well as conventional telephones, by which respective intrinsic data are transmitted and received.
When only the facsimile is connected to the public telephone network, since the facsimile generally incorporates a telephone, audio communication using the telephone is also allowed, in addition to transmission and reception of documents.
In use of a facsimile system in a public place such as an office, the facsimile system is often set to an automatic reception mode when there is no person available who can receive a call in the office. If there is an incoming call from an external number, the facsimile system detects a ring signal and switches to a facsimile reception state.
However, if the call is one for audio communication, not a call for transmission and reception of facsimile data, several attempts at communication need to be made until a person comes into the office. Conventionally, if an automatic answering machine or telephone is available, a message to be delivered can be recorded. However, if an automatic answering telephone is not available, considerable inconvenience arises.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for solving these problems of conventional systems.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of recording an audio signal in a facsimile system comprising:
encoding an audio signal received through a telephone line; and
recording the encoded audio signal on printing paper in a predetermined format.
Preferably, the audio signal is encoded by an A/D converter which converts the analog audio signal into a digital signal.
Preferably, the audio signal is further encoded by a data encoder which compresses the converted digital signal.
The encoded signal may be recorded by an image forming unit.
The present invention also extends to a method of reproducing an encoded audio signal recorded on printing paper in a predetermined recording format in a facsimile system comprising:
scanning the encoded audio signal from the printing paper;
decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
reproducing the decoded analogue signal via a speaker unit.
Preferably, the scanned signal is decoded in a data decoder which decompresses the scanned digital signal.
Preferably, the scanned signal is further decoded by a D/A converter which converts the decompressed digital signal into an analog audio signal.
The encoded signal may be scanned by an image scanner.
Preferably, the analogue signal from the scanner is converted by a document image pre-processor (DIPP) into a digital signal.
The converted analog signal may be amplified in a signal amplifier.
Preferably, the said format includes space sections and bar sections where the audio signal is recorded.
The present invention also extends to a facsimile system comprising:
means for encoding an audio signal received through a telephone line; and
means for recording the encoded audio signal on printing paper in a predetermined format.
The present invention further extends to a facsimile system comprising:
means for scanning an encoded audio signal from printing paper;
means for decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
a speaker unit for reproducing the decoded analogue signal.
The system may further include a line interface for interfacing the facsimile system with a public telephone network.
The system may further include a ring detector for detecting a ring signal received via the public telephone network.
The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a recording method adopted to the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of an audio reception mode according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the facsimile system includes a line interface 4 for interfacing the facsimile system with a public telephone network. A ring detector 6 detects a ring signal received via the public telephone network. An A/D converter 12 converts an analog audio signal received via the public telephone network into a digital signal. A fax main equipment (CPU) functions as a data encoder for compressing the converted digital signal, as a data decoder for decoding the converted digital signal and as a D/A converter for converting the decoded digital signal into an analog audio signal to reproduce the digital signal as an audio signal.
A recording unit 18 records the encoded signal on recording paper and a reading unit 22 reads the recorded signals. A document image pre-processor (DIPP) 20 converts the read analog image data into a digital signal. A signal amplifier (AMP) 16 amplifies the converted analog signal into a signal having the amplitude necessary to output to a speaker 8 for reproducing the amplified signal as an audible sound. The fax main equipment 10 has an internal memory and performs the procedure for recording and reproducing the audio signal, as shown in FIG. 3.
The functional implementation of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGs. 1 and 3. First, in receiving an audio signal, when the facsimile system is set to automatic audio signal reception mode, if a ring signal incoming through the public telephone network is detected, the facsimile system operates in the automatic audio signal reception mode (steps 202 and 204). An on-line guide message (OGM) may be sent to a calling party through the public telephone network.
In automatically switching the facsimile reception mode or the automatic audio signal reception mode in steps 208 and 210 of FIG. 3, when the facsimile system is set to an automatic switching mode, if a ring signal incoming through the public telephone network is detected, the facsimile system enters an on-line state. An on-line guide message (OGM) may be guided to a calling party through the public telephone network.
In the on-line state, the facsimile system detects a tone of a line terminal and automatically switches to the facsimile reception mode or the automatic audio signal reception mode. In the facsimile reception mode, the tone of the public telephone network is detected during the online state. Then, if a calling tone (a hand shaking signal denoting that the calling part is provided with an automatic transmitter) or a continuous silence (a signal denoting that the calling part is provided with a manual transmitter) is detected, the mode is switched to the facsimile reception mode.
In the automatic audio signal reception mode, when the tone of the public telephone network is detected, a signal other than the calling tone or silence is detected from the line terminal during the on-line state. If the signal power level of the audio frequency band (300Hz-3400Hz) is greater than a predetermined level (generally -48dBm), the detected signal is determined to be an audio signal and then the mode is switched. Also, a predetermined DTMF code for switching from the on-line guide message (OGM) transmitted after switching to the on-line state to the audio signal reception mode may be received. If the predetermined DTMF code is detected from the line terminal, the mode is switched to the audio signal reception mode.
Next, the reception and recording of the audio signal will be described. In receiving the audio signal in step 218 of
FIG. 3, the analog audio signal received via the telephone line is converted into the digital audio signal. The fax main equipment 10 encodes the digitally converted signal using a predetermined coding method to compress the data and reduce the quantity of data to be recorded.
The recording of the audio signal will now be described.
The coded audio signal is a continuous signal of zero-andone combinations. The coded audio signal must be recorded on recording paper and then read back to discriminate the zeroes and ones, which can be reproduced back as an audio signal. Therefore, a recording method by which the audio signal can be reproduced again without error when the recording paper is read must be adopted.
For example, a recording method using bar sections and space sections, which is a bar code representing method is shown in FIG. 2. Data 1 and data 0 are represented by a bar and a space, respectively. The length of the bar is set to about 3mm, which is to avoid errors due to left and right skew of a document during its reading operation. The length of the space for the data 1 is set to about 1/4mm, double the a horizontal resolution of the facsimile system (1/8mm), which is to avoid errors during reading of the document for reproduction. The data encoded and compressed by the aforementioned data representing method (bar code representing method) is printed on the recording paper using the recording unit 18 of the facsimile system.
Therefore, the audio signal is recorded on the recording paper in a bar code format.
Next, the reading and reproducing operation of the audio signal recorded on the recording paper will be described.
First, when the audio signal is to be reproduced, the recording paper having data recorded on it is scanned using the reading unit 22. The scanned analog image data is A/D converted through a document image preprocessor (DIPP) 20 incorporated in the facsimile system. The converted digital signal which is a coded and compressed signal is again decoded and is amplified by an audio amplifier 16. The amplified signal is reproduced as an audio signal via the speaker 8.
As described above, according to the present invention, an audio signal is encrypted and recorded on printing paper even during the user's absence and then the audio signal can be reproduced via a speaker.
Claims (29)
1. A method of recording an audio signal in a facsimile system comprising:
encoding an audio signal received through a telephone line; and
recording the encoded audio signal on printing paper in a predetermined format.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which the audio signal is encoded by an A/D converter which converts the analog audio signal into a digital signal.
3. A method according to claim 2 in which the audio signal is further encoded by a data encoder which compresses the converted digital signal.
4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3 in which the encoded signal is recorded by an image forming unit.
5. A method of reproducing an encoded audio signal recorded on printing paper in a predetermined recording format in a facsimile system comprising:
scanning the encoded audio signal from the printing paper;
decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
reproducing the decoded analogue signal via a speaker unit.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1-4 further comprising:
scanning the encoded audio signal from the printing paper;
decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
reproducing the decoded analogue signal via a speaker unit.
7. A method according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the scanned signal is decoded in a data decoder which decompresses the scanned digital signal.
8. A method according to claim 7 in which the scanned signal is further decoded by a D/A converter which converts the decompressed digital signal into an analog audio signal.
9. A method according to any one of claims 5-8 in which the encoded signal is scanned by an image scanner.
10. A method according to claim 9 in which the analogue signal from the scanner is converted by a document image pre-processor (DIPP) into a digital signal.
11. A method according to any one of claims 5-10 in which the converted analog signal is amplified in a signal amplifier.
12. A method according to any one of claims 1-11 in which the said format includes space sections and bar sections where the audio signal is recorded.
13. A facsimile system comprising:
means for encoding an audio signal received through a telephone line; and
means for recording the encoded audio signal on printing paper in a predetermined format.
14. A facsimile system according to claim 13 in which the means for encoding the audio signal comprises an A/D converter for converting the analog audio signal into a digital signal.
15. A facsimile system according to claim 14 in which the means for encoding the audio signal further comprises a data encoder for compressing the converted digital signal.
16. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1315 in which the means for recording the encoded signal comprises an image forming unit.
17. A facsimile system comprising:
means for scanning an encoded audio signal from printing paper;
means for decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
a speaker unit for reproducing the decoded analogue signal.
18. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1316 further comprising:
means for scanning an encoded audio signal from printing paper;
means for decoding the scanned audio signal into an analogue audio signal; and
a speaker unit for reproducing the decoded analogue signal.
19. A facsimile system according to claim 17 or claim 18 in which the means for decoding the scanned signal comprises a data decoder for decompressing the scanned digital signal.
20. A facsimile system according to claim 19 in which the means for decoding the scanned signal further comprises a
D/A converter for converting the decompressed digital signal into an analog audio signal.
21. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1720 in which the means for scanning the encoded signal comprises an image scanner.
22. A facsimile system according to claim 21 further comprising a document image pre-processor (DIPP) for converting the analogue signal from the scanner into a digital signal.
23. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1722 further comprising a signal amplifier for amplifying the converted analog signal.
24. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1323 in which the said format includes space sections and bar sections where the audio signal is recorded.
25. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1324 further including a line interface for interfacing the facsimile system with a public telephone network.
26. A facsimile system according to any one of claims 1325 further including a ring detector for detecting a ring signal received via the public telephone network.
27. A method of recording an audio signal in a facsimile system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
28. A method of reproducing an encoded audio signal recorded on printing paper in a predetermined recording format in a facsimile system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
29. A facsimile system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9612770A GB2314481A (en) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-06-19 | Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9612770A GB2314481A (en) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-06-19 | Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9612770D0 GB9612770D0 (en) | 1996-08-21 |
| GB2314481A true GB2314481A (en) | 1997-12-24 |
Family
ID=10795511
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9612770A Withdrawn GB2314481A (en) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-06-19 | Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2314481A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH01260970A (en) * | 1988-04-11 | 1989-10-18 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Facsimile equipment |
| JPH0637942A (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1994-02-10 | Funai Electric Co Ltd | Facsimile equipment |
| EP0670555A1 (en) * | 1992-09-28 | 1995-09-06 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Dot code and information recording/reproducing system for recording/reproducing dot code |
| JPH0846740A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-02-16 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image processor and facsimile equipment |
| EP0713194A1 (en) * | 1994-06-02 | 1996-05-22 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Information recording medium and information reproducing device |
-
1996
- 1996-06-19 GB GB9612770A patent/GB2314481A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH01260970A (en) * | 1988-04-11 | 1989-10-18 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Facsimile equipment |
| JPH0637942A (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1994-02-10 | Funai Electric Co Ltd | Facsimile equipment |
| EP0670555A1 (en) * | 1992-09-28 | 1995-09-06 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Dot code and information recording/reproducing system for recording/reproducing dot code |
| EP0713194A1 (en) * | 1994-06-02 | 1996-05-22 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Information recording medium and information reproducing device |
| JPH0846740A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-02-16 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image processor and facsimile equipment |
Non-Patent Citations (4)
| Title |
|---|
| IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Vol.22, No.2, July 1979, page 491 * |
| WPI Abstract Accession No. 89-351160/48 & JP 01 260 970 A * |
| WPI Abstract Accession No. 94-087968/11 & JP 06 037 942 A * |
| WPI Abstract Accession No. 96-165778/17 & JP 08 046 740 A * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9612770D0 (en) | 1996-08-21 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| JP2813181B2 (en) | Wireless data communication device | |
| GB2314481A (en) | Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus having paper as the recording medium in a facsimile system | |
| KR0155002B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for recording and regenerating audio signal of a facsimile | |
| US20030043417A1 (en) | Internet facsimile machine providing voice mail | |
| JPH01260970A (en) | Facsimile equipment | |
| CN1097383C (en) | Audio signal recording/reproducing apparatus for facsimile system and method thereof | |
| JP3450973B2 (en) | Answering machine | |
| CN1429010A (en) | Facsimile apparatus for recording VF signal on recording paper and reproducing | |
| JPH03203466A (en) | Modulator and demodulator | |
| JPH1051564A (en) | Method and device for recording sound for facsimile system | |
| KR0152589B1 (en) | Automatic call answering device of tv | |
| JPH01191560A (en) | Facsimile equipment | |
| JPH0870363A (en) | Image and sound integration transmitter and receiver | |
| KR970003016B1 (en) | Facsimile system | |
| JP2972429B2 (en) | Audio encoding / decoding device | |
| KR100219938B1 (en) | Automatically message notifing method at reserved time using by facsimile | |
| JPH09130473A (en) | Communication terminal equipment | |
| JP3686811B2 (en) | FAX-compatible voice CODEC | |
| JP3256104B2 (en) | Telephone with recording / playback function and method of manufacturing the same | |
| JPH06350773A (en) | Facsimile equipment | |
| JPS63296560A (en) | Facsimile equipment | |
| JPS63248280A (en) | Facsimile transmission system | |
| JPS63300660A (en) | Facsimile equipment | |
| JPH10257205A (en) | Communication terminal equipment with sound function | |
| JPH1051567A (en) | Facsimile equipment |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |