JP2001313804A - Facsimile circulation unit and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile circulation unit that can circulate a circular notice, without imposing an operation load onto a user and allows an arbitrary member to be a circulation source. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a SUB signal with an ID which is the same as a group ID stored in a RAM 170 and an SID signal attached with a circulation source telephone number, different from its own telephone number stored in a RAM 170 from a line L at the arrival of an incoming call, the circular notice from the line L is stored in an image information memory 120 and circulated to a succeeding circulation destination. When the circulation source telephone number in the received SID signal is the same as its own telephone number, the circulation is finished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile circulation device and system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is one of apparatuses for transmitting image information to a partner.

Normally, when image information is transmitted using the facsimile apparatus, when the transmitting side performs an image information reading operation and a user's dial input operation, the image information is transmitted to the receiving side.

On the other hand, the image information receiving side receives the image information in response to the call from the line, and prints out the received image information with a printer or stores it in a memory.

[0005] Using such a facsimile apparatus, it has been considered that circularly printed matter (circulation board) normally circulated manually is sequentially transferred using the facsimile apparatus. By doing so, especially in towns and villages where the distance between heavy snowfall areas and private houses is large (for example,
It can be expected to improve the transmission speed of entertainment information such as festivals).

However, when using a conventional facsimile machine to circulate the circulation boards in the order of the first to sixth facsimile apparatuses as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the user of the apparatus that has received the circulation board receives the data. Each time, the received circulation board must be transmitted and set again, and subsequently, the fax number of the next destination must be input to perform the transmission operation, which causes a problem that it takes much time and effort.

As an example of an apparatus for solving such a problem, as proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-91080, a predetermined circulation source (for example, 1st F
AX device) to a plurality of distribution members (for example,
To a sixth facsimile machine).

In the circulation board system, a circulation ID is transmitted from the circulation source to the distribution member together with image information to be a circulation board and a group ID which is an identification number of a group composed of the circulation source and the distribution member. The member circulates the circulation board to the next facsimile machine if the group ID stored in advance and the group ID transmitted from the transmitting side match.

[0009]

In such a facsimile circulation system, the only device (circulation source) that can start transmission of a circulation board is a fixed circulation source, so that a distribution member (for example, FIG. When the second to sixth facsimile machines want to circulate a desired circulation plate, the circulation source has to make a circulation request to the circulation source, which is very inconvenient.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and allows any member of a group consisting of a plurality of members to start transmission of a circular notice.

A facsimile circulating apparatus and system according to the present invention are constituted by transmitting / receiving means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving various facsimile control signals and image information and making a call, and a plurality of facsimile apparatuses for circulating image information. Information storing means for storing a group ID indicating a group to be transferred, a circulation destination telephone number, and a circulation source telephone number, and when transmitting image information, the transmission / reception means is stored in the information storage means. Make a call to the circulation destination telephone number and enter the group ID
And a circulation source telephone number included in the facsimile control signal and transmitted.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A circulation system to which the present invention is applied is composed of six members of first to sixth FAX apparatuses as shown in FIG. ) Becomes a circulation source and circulates the circulation board to other members (for example, the third to sixth FAX apparatuses and the first FAX apparatus) in order.

[0013] Further, in order to enable circulation of the circulation board between predetermined members, a group ID is transmitted together with the circulation board from the facsimile apparatus which has been the circulation source.

The group ID is an identification number of a group composed of a plurality of members.
If the group ID stored in advance in the X device does not match the group ID transmitted from the transmission side, the next FAX
The circulation board is not circulated on the device.

[0015] Further, since the telephone number of the circulating member is transmitted from the circulating member to the other members together with the circulating board, the receiving side member receives the circulating telephone when a transmission error occurs. It is possible to notify the circulation source of the transmission error based on the number.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus applied to each facsimile apparatus of the above-described system. A modem 100 modulates and demodulates various signals (image information and the like) used for facsimile communication transmitted and received via a line L. I do. The modem 100 has a built-in dialer 101 for transmitting a dial signal to the line L.

The encoding / decoding unit 110 encodes and decodes image information.

The image information memory 120 is, for example, a DRAM
And stores image information data.

The printing unit 130 includes, for example, heat transfer,
It consists of an electrophotographic or inkjet printer,
Prints image information and the like.

The display section 140 is composed of, for example, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or a display such as a CRT.
The current communication status, the fax number of the destination at the time of dial input, and the like are displayed.

The operation unit 150 includes a numeric keypad and various function keys, and is used for inputting a fax number of a destination and for giving an operation instruction such as printing of image information stored in the image information memory 120.

ROM (Read Only Memory)
y) 160 stores various programs (control programs) for operating the facsimile machine.

RAM (Random Access M)
The memory 170 stores various types of data necessary for a facsimile operation.

FIG. 2 shows a storage form of various data stored in the RAM 170. In the RAM 170, an area for storing a telephone number of a circulation source included in an SID signal to be described later, an area for storing a group ID, an area for storing a next telephone number of the next circulation board received, and an area to be described later. T
An area for storing the transmitting-side telephone number at the time of circular reception included in the SI signal, an area for storing the transmitting-side telephone number received by the number display function described later, and an area for storing its own telephone number. The group ID, the circulation destination telephone number, and the own telephone number are stored in advance by the user.

The telephone directory memory 180 is composed of, for example, an SRAM or a non-volatile flash memory, and stores at least pairs of telephone numbers and names of members constituting the circulation group.

The control section 190 controls the above circuits based on program data (control program) stored in the ROM 160, and detects an incoming call from the line L and various facsimile signals.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts showing the control of the control unit 190 based on the program data in the ROM 160. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described according to this flow.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 3, control unit 190 proceeds to step S2 when detecting operation of operation unit 150, and proceeds to step S10 (FIG. 4) when no operation is detected.

In step S2, control unit 190 determines whether or not operation of operation unit 150 instructs image information transmission processing. If so, control proceeds to step S3. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S3, the control section 190 determines whether or not the operation signal of the operation section 150 is a circulation board transmission instruction, and if so, proceeds to step S4.
On the other hand, if not, the process proceeds to S9.

In step S4, the control unit 190 performs a calling process to the next circulation destination.

More specifically, the control unit 190
Is read, and the dialed number is transmitted from the dialer 101 to the line L. Subsequently, after the line is closed by the incoming call response of the other party, the control unit 19
0 causes the modem 100 to transmit a CNG signal to the line L.

The CNG signal is a signal consisting of a single tone having a frequency of 1100 Hz and indicating a facsimile transmission notice.

In the following S5 step, the control unit 190
If the modem 100 detects from the line L a signal indicating that a 2100 Hz CED signal indicating that the circulation destination device is a facsimile device and a DIS signal indicating the transmission / reception capability of the circulation destination device are received from the modem L, the process proceeds to step S6. The process proceeds. On the other hand, if no detection is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), the process returns to step S1.

In step S6, the control unit 190 determines whether or not the DIS signal contains information indicating that the circulation destination device can transmit and receive the SID signal and the SUB signal. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S7. If it is not determined, the process returns to step S1.

In step S7, the control unit 190
SI with own phone number read from M170
D signal, a DCS signal indicating the transmission method (for example, modem speed, etc.) of the transmitting facsimile machine, and RAM 1
70 and a SUB signal to which a group ID in
The modem 100 is controlled to transmit the TSI signal added with its own telephone number in the M170 to the line L, and the image information stored in the image information memory 120 in advance or the image of the original read by a reading unit (not shown) is read. The information is modulated by the modem 100 as a circular board and then transmitted to the line L, and after the communication is completed, the process returns to the step S1.

In step S8, the control unit 190 performs a process corresponding to the operation instruction detected in step S1 (for example, registration of a telephone directory, printout of image information in the image information memory 120, etc.), and proceeds to step S1. return.

In step S9, control unit 190 performs a normal facsimile transmission process, and returns to step S1.

In step S10 of FIG.
Determines whether there is an information terminal activation signal (hereinafter referred to as an activation signal) received from the line L.

The start signal is a signal used by a number display service currently provided by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) and first sent from the exchange to the telephone.

Specifically, the control unit 190 controls the modem 10
The presence / absence of the start signal at 0 is detected, and if it is detected, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S11, the control unit 190 controls the modem 100 to close the line L, and detects a transmitting-side telephone number transmitted from the line L together with the start signal.
The detected number is stored in the number area of the number display of the RAM 170, and then the line L is released by the modem 100.

In the following S12 step, the control unit 190
Detects the presence or absence of a call signal having a frequency of 16 Hz from the line L, and if detected, proceeds to step S13. If not detected, returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S13, the control unit 190 closes the line by controlling the modem 100, and
The process proceeds to four steps.

In step S14, the control unit 190
It is determined whether an NG signal has been detected. If it is determined that the NG signal has been detected, the process proceeds to step S16. If it is determined that the NG signal has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, control unit 190 performs other processing such as, for example, a telephone call process with the calling side, and returns the processing to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S16, the control unit 190 first sets the frequency 21 indicating that it is a facsimile machine.
A 00 Hz CED signal is transmitted, and then a DIS signal indicating its own transmission / reception capability is transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S16, information indicating that the DIS signal has the capability of transmitting and receiving the SID signal and the SUB signal is added to the transmitted DIS signal.

In step S17, upon detecting a DCS signal from line L, control unit 190 proceeds to step S18.

In the following S18 step, the control unit 190
Determines whether a TSI signal is being transmitted from the transmitting facsimile, and if it is determined that a TSI signal is being transmitted, S
The process proceeds to step S19, and if not, the process proceeds to step S20.

In step S19, control unit 190 reads the transmitting-side telephone number included in the TSI signal, and
It is stored in the number area in the TSI of M170, and the process proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, control section 190 determines whether or not an SID signal has been received from the transmitting facsimile. If it is determined that the SID signal has been received, control section 190 proceeds to step S21. The process proceeds to step S24.

In step S21, the control unit 190 reads the circulation source telephone number included in the SID signal, and
M170 is stored in the circulation source number area in the SID, and S22
Proceed to step.

In step S22, control unit 190 detects the presence or absence of a SUB signal from the transmitting side, and if this signal is detected, proceeds to step S23. If not detected, proceeds to step S24.

In step S23, control section 190 proceeds to step S25 (FIG. 5) when a group ID is detected from the SUB signal, and otherwise proceeds to step S24.

In step S24, control unit 190 performs a normal facsimile reception process.

More specifically, the control unit 190 controls the modem 10
0 is stored in the image information memory 120, or the demodulated image information is stored in the encoding / decoding unit 110.
After the decryption, the printing is performed by the printing unit 130, and the process returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S25 of FIG.
Indicates that the group ID detected in step S23 is R
It is determined whether or not the ID matches the group ID stored in the AM 170. If it is determined that the ID matches, the process proceeds to step S26. If it is determined that the ID does not match, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S26, the control unit 190
It is determined whether or not the telephone number stored in the number display number area of AM 170 is stored in telephone directory memory 180, and when it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S29, while it is determined that they do not match. Sometimes S2
The process proceeds to step 7.

In step S27, control unit 190 sets R
It is determined whether or not the telephone number stored in the TSI number area of the AM 170 is stored in the telephone directory memory 180, and when it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S29. , The process proceeds to step S28.

In step S28, the control unit 190 disconnects the line L by controlling the modem 100, and
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

In step S29, control unit 190 stores the image information demodulated by modem 100 in image information memory 120, and proceeds to step S30 (FIG. 6).

As described above, in steps S25 to S29,
When the transmitting telephone number in the number display or the TSI signal matches the telephone number of the member device stored in the telephone directory memory 180 in advance, memory reception is performed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a third party other than the member from operating the group ID to circulate the unwanted circulation to the member.

In step S30, control unit 190 sets RA
If it is determined that the number stored in the M170 SID circulation source telephone number area matches the number stored in its own telephone number area, the process proceeds to step S31.
If it is determined that they do not match, the process proceeds to step S33.

In step S31, the control unit 190 controls the image information memory 120 to
Is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S32.

In step S32, the control unit 190 controls the display unit 140 to display, for example, "end of circulation" indicating that the transmitted circulation has returned.
The process returns to one step (FIG. 3).

In step S33, the control unit 190 controls the display unit 140 to display a display indicating that the circulation has been received, for example, display "circulation board present", and proceeds to step S34.

The user can confirm that the circular board has been received by viewing such a circular board reception display.
By performing a predetermined operation on the control unit 190, the control unit 190
The circulation board received in the memory in step 29 can be printed by the printing unit 130.

In step S34, the control unit 190 performs a circulation transmission process to the next circulation destination.

More specifically, the control unit 190
0 is dialed from the dialer 101 to the line L, and the modem 10 is connected after the line is closed.
From 0, a CNG signal is sent to the line L, and the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, when the control unit 190 detects the CED and DIS signals from the receiving terminal, the control unit 190 executes S3.
The process proceeds to step S7, and if no detection is performed for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S36.

At step S36, the control unit 190
The circulation source telephone number is read from the SID circulation source number area of the AM 170, and the dialer 101 dials out the line L to notify the circulation source device that a transmission error has occurred (for example, image data, audio data, Then, the process returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S37, the control unit 190
It reads the circulation source telephone number, the group ID, and its own telephone number from the AM 170, adds them to the SID signal, the SUB signal, and the TSI signal, causes the modem 100 to transmit the line L, and adds the transmission method information of the transmission-side facsimile apparatus. The transmitted DCS signal is transmitted to the line L.

In the following S38 step, the control unit 190
Modulates the circulation board stored in the image information memory 120 by the modem 100 and then sends it out to the line L, and proceeds to step S39.

In step S39, after transmitting the contents of the circulation stored in the memory 120, the control unit 190 determines whether transmission is normally completed by confirming the transmission / reception of the facsimile control signal (eg, EOP, MCF signal, etc.). Is S4
The process proceeds to step S0. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the process ends normally, the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S40, the control unit 190 disconnects the line L by controlling the modem 100, and
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

As described above, when the device of this embodiment receives the circular notice, it detects the group ID from the received SUB signal, and the same group ID as the received group ID is stored in the RA.
If it is stored in M170, it is received in memory. Thereafter, when the circulation source telephone number included in the SID does not match the telephone number of the own device, the received circulation plate is transmitted to a predetermined next circulation destination.

For this reason, a problem that arises when configuring a circulation system using a conventional facsimile machine is that the user transmits and sets the received circulation board and dials the next circulation destination. Does not occur.

Further, if a member transmits an SID signal to which a member's own telephone number is added together with a group ID and a circulation board, any member can be a circulation source.

Further, in the event of a transmission error, a member other than the circulation source notifies the circulation source that a transmission error has occurred based on the circulation source telephone number in the received SID. Because of this,
It is possible to avoid the problem that the circulation board does not return to the circulation source forever.

In this embodiment, the first FA in FIG.
One group is formed by a total of six apparatuses from the X apparatus to the sixth FAX apparatus. However, the number of FAX apparatuses is not limited to three as long as the number is three or more.

In this embodiment, in steps S25 to S29, the received group ID matches the group ID stored in the RAM 170 and the transmitting telephone number or T
If it is not determined that the sender's telephone number in the SI signal matches the member's telephone number stored in the telephone directory memory 180, the received data is not circulated, but the received group ID is stored in the RAM 170. The memory reception may be performed only by matching with the stored group ID.
The telephone number of the transmitting side stored in the telephone number memory 170 and received by the number display function is stored in the telephone directory memory 18.
The memory reception may be performed on condition that the telephone number stored in 0 and included in the TSI signal is stored in the telephone directory memory 180.

[0083]

According to the facsimile circulation device and system of the present invention, the circulation plate can be circulated without imposing a burden on the user, and any member can be the circulation source.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the form of data stored in a RAM 170.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a circulation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 modem 101 dialer 110 encoding / decoding unit 120 image information memory 130 printing unit 140 display unit 150 operation unit 160 ROM 170 RAM 180 telephone directory memory 190 control unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Narito Matsubara 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Within Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazushi Honjo 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Sanyo Tottori Within Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuharu Kishida 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Pref. EE02 FF90 5K030 GA17 HA07 HB04 HC01 JT05 KA06 LB02 LD09 LD10 9A001 BB04 CC02 DD10 JJ13 KK56

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transmission / reception means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving various facsimile control signals and image information, and making a call, and a group ID indicating a group including a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which image information is circulated. An information storage means for storing a circulation destination telephone number and a circulation source telephone number, wherein when transmitting image information, the transmission / reception means calls the circulation destination telephone number stored in the information storage means And transmitting the group ID and the circulation source telephone number in the facsimile control signal. 2. A transmission / reception unit connected to a line for transmitting and receiving various facsimile control signals and image information, detecting an incoming call, and making a call, and an image information memory for storing the image information received by the transmission / reception unit. Information storage means for storing a group ID indicating a group composed of a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which image information is circulated, a circulation destination telephone number, and its own telephone number; and detecting the group ID from the facsimile control signal. A function to include the group ID in the facsimile control signal; a function to determine whether the same group ID as the detected group ID is stored in the information storage means; The function for detecting from the facsimile control signal and the same telephone number as the circulation source telephone number detected by the detection function are stored in the information storage device. Control means having a function of determining whether or not it is stored in a stage. When an incoming call arrives, the transmission / reception means receives a facsimile control signal, and the control means detects a group ID detected from the facsimile control signal. And the group ID in the information storage means
When the control means determines that the numbers are the same, the image information is received and stored in the memory, and the circulation source telephone number detected by the control means from the facsimile control signal and the information are stored in the information storage means. If the control means determines that the telephone number does not match the own telephone number, the transmitting / receiving means calls a circulation destination telephone number stored in the information storage means, and transmits the circulation information together with the image information in the image information memory. A facsimile circulation device for transmitting a facsimile control signal including an original telephone number and the group ID. 3. A transmitting / receiving means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving various facsimile control signals and image information, and making a call, an image information memory for storing the image information received by the transmitting / receiving means, Information storage means for storing a group ID indicating a group composed of a plurality of facsimile devices to be circulated, a circulation destination telephone number, and its own telephone number; a function of detecting the group ID from the facsimile control signal; A function of including a group ID in the facsimile control signal, a function of determining whether or not the same group ID as the detected group ID is stored in the information storage means, and a function of transmitting a circulation source telephone number to the facsimile control signal. , A telephone number of the circulation source detected by the detection function and its own telephone number stored in the information storage means. Control means having a function of determining whether or not the numbers match each other. When an incoming call arrives, a group ID in a facsimile control signal received by the transmission / reception means and a group I in the information storage means
If the control means determines that D is the same, the transmitted image information is stored in the image information memory, and the control means is stored in the circulation source telephone number in the facsimile control signal and the information storage means. A facsimile circulation device which deletes the image information stored in the image information memory if it is determined that the telephone number of the facsimile coincides with its own telephone number. 4. A facsimile circulation system in which a circulation board is sequentially circulated in a group composed of a plurality of facsimile circulation devices, wherein each of the facsimile circulation devices is the facsimile circulation device according to claim 1. Facsimile circulation system featuring.