JP2002016747A - Facsimile circulation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile circulation system in which a user can circulate a bulletin board even from a facsimile terminal other than a membership facsimile terminal. SOLUTION: In the case of transmission, when an operation section 150 enters a first destination telephone number, a group ID and a telephone number of a final destination, a dialer 101 makes a call to the destination telephone number, a modem 100 adds the group ID and the final destination telephone number respectively to a SUB signal and a SID signal and transmits the resulting signals to a line L and also transmits image information to the line L.

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.

[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, an image information receiving side receives image information in response to a call from a line, and prints out the received image information by 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. 6, 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 transmission source (for example, 1st F
AX device) to a plurality of distribution members (for example,
To the sixth FAX machine), a facsimile circulation board system in which the circulation board is automatically transmitted to the transmission source, or an arbitrary distribution member as proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-129465. There is a facsimile circulation board system in which a circulation board is automatically transmitted to a plurality of distribution members sequentially from the transmission source and finally transmitted to the transmission source.

[0008] In the following, the terminal that first transmits a circular board is referred to as a transmission source, and the terminal that receives a circular board last is referred to as a final destination. Further, in the above-mentioned circulation board system proposed by the present applicant, since the circulation board transmitted from the transmission source is finally transmitted to the transmission source, the final transmission destination and the transmission source are the same device.

In the former circulation board system, a predetermined transmission source to a distribution member is given a group ID which is an identification number of a group composed of a plurality of distribution members together with image information to be a circulation board. When the transmission member's telephone number is transmitted and the circulation member receives the circulation, if the group ID stored in advance and the group ID transmitted from the transmission side match, the distribution member transmits the circulation plate to the next facsimile machine. The circulation is performed, and finally, the circulation board is circulated to a device having the same telephone number as the predetermined transmission source telephone number, and the circulation ends.

In the latter, the group ID and the telephone number of the transmission source, which is an arbitrary distribution member, are transmitted together with the circular board.
If the group ID stored in advance and the group ID transmitted from the transmitting side match, the circulation board is circulated to the next facsimile machine, and finally the telephone number of the transmission source, which is an arbitrary distribution member, is transmitted. The circulation board is circulated to devices having the same telephone number, and the circulation ends.

[0011]

In the above circulation board system, only circulation boards transmitted from within a group composed of a plurality of distribution members are circulated within the group, and transmitted from outside the group. Circulation of the circulars within the group was not considered. In consideration of the convenience of the user, it is more desirable that the circulation board can be circulated from outside the group to a desired group.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve such a problem, and a circulation board can be circulated from a device other than members.

A facsimile circulating apparatus according to the present invention includes a transmitting / receiving means connected to a line for transmitting / receiving various facsimile control signals and image information and making a call, and a group comprising a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which image information is circulated. And input means for inputting information of the first transmission destination for transmitting the image information and the information of the final transmission destination for transmitting the image information, and the transmitting / receiving means transmits the image information from the input means when transmitting the image information. A call is made based on the input first destination information, and the group ID and the last destination information input from the input unit are transmitted by being included in the facsimile control signal.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a circulation device to which the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 6, a group is formed by six member devices of first to sixth FAX devices, and FAX devices other than circulation members are formed. It is possible to circulate a circular board in a desired group with the (for example, the α-FAX apparatus) as a transmission source, and circulate the circular board to a final destination in the group.

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 machine which is the transmission destination.

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 transmitting side, the next FA
The circulation plate is not circulated in the X device.

Further, since the telephone number of the desired final destination is transmitted together with the circular notice from the transmission source device outside the group to the member device, the receiving member device receives the final transmission number if a transmission error occurs. It is possible to report a transmission error to the final destination based on the telephone number of the destination.

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, operating instructions for printing image information stored in the image information memory 120, and the like. The operation unit 150 also has a key for executing a normal circulation board transmission (hereinafter, referred to as a normal circulation) at the time of circulation board transmission, and circulates a circulation board to a different group (hereinafter, referred to as a different group circulation). And a key for

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. The RAM 170 stores an area for storing a telephone number of a transmission source included in an SID signal described later, an area for storing a group ID, an area for storing a telephone number of a next transmission destination of a received circular notice, The group ID, the transmission destination telephone number, and the own telephone number are stored in advance by the user.

When a circulation board is transmitted from a device outside the group to the inside of the group, the telephone number of the first circulation board transmission destination is stored in the transmission destination number area, and a desired telephone number is stored in the own number area. Stores the telephone number of the device to be the final destination in the group.

In the RAM 170, when a circulation board transmission instruction is given, the instruction is to instruct the facsimile apparatus in the group to circulate the circulation board (normal circulation), or to send a request from a facsimile apparatus outside the group. Is stored (not shown) indicating whether the instruction is to transmit a circular board to the group and circulate (different group).

The buffer memory 180 is, for example, a RAM
(Random Access Memory) or a non-volatile EEPROM (Electrically Erase).
enable Programmable Read
Only Memory), and when transmitting a circular notice from outside the group to a desired group, the RAM 170
Is a memory for temporarily saving various information stored in the.

Since the information storage form of the buffer memory 180 is the same as that of the RAM 170, the description is omitted.

The telephone directory memory 190 is composed of, for example, an SRAM or a non-volatile flash memory. When the telephone directory memory 190 is a member device of a certain group, the telephone directory memory 190 stores the telephone numbers of the member devices constituting the group. On the other hand, if the user does not belong to any group, it is not always necessary to store the telephone number.

The control unit 200 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 200 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 200 proceeds to step S2 when detecting operation of operation unit 150, and proceeds to step S15 (FIG. 4) when no operation is detected.

In step S2, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the operation of the operation unit 150 is for instructing the image information transmission process. If so, the process proceeds to step S3. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S3, the control section 200 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 step S14.

In step S4, the control unit 200 determines whether S1
If it is determined that the operation in the step is a normal circulation key pressing operation, the process proceeds to step S7. If it is determined that the operation is a different group circulation key pressing operation, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the control unit 200 sets the RA
Various data stored in M170 (phone number in SID, group ID, destination phone number, own phone number)
Is saved in the buffer memory 180, and various data stored in the RAM 170 are erased.

In the following S6 step, the control unit 200
The display unit 140 displays, for example, "Please input the final destination telephone number, group ID, and first destination telephone number", and the user wants to set the group ID of the group to be circulated and the last destination in the group. Device phone number
(For example, the second fax machine) and the first transmission destination (for example,
FAX device) and input the group ID, the first destination telephone number, and the last destination telephone number input from the operation unit 150 into the group ID area, destination number area, and And the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the control unit 200 performs a calling process to the next circulation destination.

Specifically, the control unit 200
Is read, and the read number is transmitted from the dialer 101 to the line L. Subsequently, control unit 200 causes modem 100 to transmit a CNG signal to 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 S8 step, the control unit 200
If the modem 100 detects from the line L a signal indicating that a 2100 Hz CED signal indicating that the destination device is a facsimile device and a DIS signal indicating the transmission / reception capability of the destination device are received from the modem L, the process proceeds to step S9. The process proceeds. On the other hand, if no detection is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S9, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the DIS signal contains information indicating that the destination apparatus can transmit and receive the SID signal and the SUB signal, and if the information is included, If so, the process proceeds to step S10, and if not, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S10, the control unit 200 sets R
The SID signal obtained by reading and adding the telephone number stored in the telephone number area of the AM 170 itself, the DCS signal indicating the transmission method (for example, modem speed, etc.) of the transmitting facsimile apparatus, and the group ID in the RAM 170 are added. Modem 1 to send the SUB signal
00, the image information stored in advance in the image information memory 120 or the image information of the document read by the reading means (not shown) is modulated by the modem 100 as a circular board, and then transmitted to the line L. Proceed to step.

In step S11, control unit 200 determines whether or not data is stored in buffer memory 180. If not, control unit 200 returns to step S1 and determines that data is stored. Then S12
Proceed to step.

In step S12, the control unit 200 sets R
The information (SID number, group ID, transmission destination number, own number) stored in the AM 170 is deleted, and various information saved in the buffer memory 180 is stored in the RA 170.
The information stored in M170 and subsequently saved in the buffer memory 180 are deleted. After that, the control unit 20
0 returns the process to the S1 step.

In step S13, the control unit 200 sets
A process corresponding to the operation instruction detected in the step (for example, registration of a telephone directory or printout of image information in the image information memory 120) is performed, and the process returns to the step S1.

In step S14, control unit 200 performs normal facsimile transmission processing, and returns to step S1.

In FIG. 4, in step S15, the control unit 200 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 S16. Returns the process to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S16, the control unit 200 closes the line by controlling the modem 100, and
The process proceeds to step 7.

In step S17, the control unit 200 sets C
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 S19. If it is determined that the NG signal has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, control unit 200 performs other processing such as, for example, processing for talking with the calling side, and returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S19, the control unit 200 first sets the frequency 21 indicating that the control unit 200 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 S20.

In step S19, 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 S20, when detecting a DCS signal from line L, control unit 200 proceeds to step S21.

In step S21, control unit 200 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 unit 200 proceeds to step S22. The process proceeds to step S25.

In step S22, control unit 200 reads the source telephone number contained in the SID signal and
It is stored in the circulation source number area in the SID of M170, and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, control unit 200 detects the presence or absence of a SUB signal from the transmitting side, and if this signal is detected, proceeds to step S24, while if not detected, proceeds to step S25.

In step S24, when detecting the group ID from the SUB signal, control section 200 proceeds to step S26, and when not detected, proceeds to step S25.
Proceed to step.

In step S25, control unit 200 performs a normal facsimile reception process.

More specifically, the control unit 200
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 S26, the control unit 200 stores the group ID detected in step S24 in the RAM1.
It is determined whether or not they match the group ID stored in 70, and if they match, the process proceeds to step S28, while if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, the control unit 200 disconnects the line L by controlling the
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

In step S28, control unit 200 stores the image information demodulated by modem 100 in image information memory 120, and proceeds to step S29 (FIG. 5).

As described above, in steps S26 to S28,
When the group ID in the SUB matches the group ID stored in the RAM 170, memory reception is performed. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a person who does not know the group ID from circulating an undesired circulation to the member, such as a third party other than the member or a person having no relation to the member.

In step S29, control unit 200 sets RA
If it is determined that the number stored in the SID number area of M170 and the number stored in its own telephone number area match, the process proceeds to step S30. If it is determined that they do not match, the process proceeds to step S32.

In step S30, the control unit 200 controls the image information memory 120 to
Is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S31.

In step S31, the control section 200 controls the display section 140 to display, for example, "circulation end" indicating that the transmitted circulation has returned.
The process returns to one step (FIG. 3).

In step S32, the control section 200 controls the display section 140 to display a display indicating that the circulation has been received, for example, display "circulation board present", and proceeds to step S33.

The user can confirm that the circular board has been received by viewing such a circular board reception display.
The control unit 200 prints the circular notice received in the memory in step S28 by the printing unit 13
0 can be printed.

In step S33, the control unit 200 performs a circulation transmission process to the next circulation destination.

More specifically, the control unit 200
0 is dialed from the dialer 101 to the line L from the dialer 101, and the modem 10 is connected after the line is closed.
From 0, a CNG signal is transmitted to the line L, and the process proceeds to step S34.

In step S34, when the control unit 200 detects the CED and DIS signals from the receiving terminal, the control unit 200 executes S3.
The process proceeds to step S6. On the other hand, if no detection is performed for a predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S35, the control unit 200 sets R
The telephone number stored in the SID number area of the AM 170 is read out, and the dialer 101 dials out to the line L to notify that a transmission error has occurred (for example, image data, voice data, code data, etc. indicating a communication error). Transmission), and the process returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S36, control unit 200 sets R
The number of the SID number area and the group ID are read from the AM 170, and added to the SID signal and the SUB signal, respectively, and transmitted from the modem 100 to the line L. To send to.

In the following S37 step, the control unit 200
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 S38.

In step S38, after transmitting the contents of the circulation stored in the memory 120, the control unit 200 determines whether the transmission is normally completed by confirming the transmission and reception of the facsimile control signal (eg, EOP, MCF signal, etc.). Is S3
The process proceeds to step S9. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the process ends normally, the process proceeds to step S35.

In step S39, the control unit 200 disconnects the line L by controlling the
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user of the transmission source outside the group (for example, the α-FAX apparatus in FIG. 6) transmits the group ID and the final transmission destination (for example, When the telephone number of the second facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 6 and the telephone number of the first transmission destination which is a member of the group to be circulated are input, these information are stored in the RA.
It is stored in M170.

The transmission source makes a call based on the first transmission destination number stored in the RAM 170, and
The group ID and the final destination telephone number stored in M170 are transmitted together with the circular notice.

On the other hand, the first transmission destination detects the group ID from the received SUB signal when the circular board is received, and the same group ID as the received group ID is stored in the RAM 170.
If it is stored in the memory, it is received in memory. Then, S
When the telephone number of the final transmission destination included in the ID does not match the telephone number of the terminal itself, the received circulation board is transmitted to a predetermined next circulation destination. In this way, the circulation board is circulated between the circulation member devices, and finally the circulation board is circulated to the final transmission destination.

For this reason, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to circulate the circulation board into the group even from a device outside the group.

Further, the user of the transmission source (for example, the α-FAX apparatus) transmits the circulation plate, and the next transmission destination apparatus (for example, the third FAX apparatus) of the last transmission destination (for example, the second FAX apparatus) in the circulation order in the group. Unless the circular is sent to ()), the circular cannot be circulated to all circular members. As described above, unless the user is familiar with the circulation board transmission route in the group, that is, the user of the member device or the user who is not related to the user of the member device, the circulation board can be circulated from the transmission source to all circulation members. Since this is not possible, the apparatus of this embodiment can prevent a third party from circulating an undesired circulation board to all circulation members.

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.

[0086]

The facsimile circulation device of the present invention can circulate a circulation plate even from a facsimile device other than a member.

[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 illustrating the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

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

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

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a circulation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 modem 150 operation unit 160 ROM 170 RAM 180 buffer memory 190 telephone directory memory 200 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 Inside Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuharu Kishida 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori-shi, Tottori Prefecture Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Atsumi Kakimoto 3-201, Minamiyoshikata, Tottori-shi, Tottori Sanyo Electric (72) Inventor Hideyuki Arimoto 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Otagaki 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirosaki Ozaki 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori-shi, Tottori F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 2 AC22 AC43 AF02 BD08 5K101 KK01 PP03 RR19

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, a group ID indicating a group composed of a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which image information is circulated, and image information. And input means for inputting information of a first transmission destination and information of a final transmission destination for transmitting image information. When transmitting image information, the transmission / reception means transmits the first transmission information inputted from the input means. A facsimile circulation device for making a call based on the destination information, transmitting the group ID and the final destination information input from the input means 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 and making a call, a unit for detecting a circular transmission instruction, and an instruction detected by the instruction detection unit, Instruction determination means for determining whether the image information is a transmission instruction within a group composed of a plurality of facsimile apparatuses to be circulated or a transmission instruction from a facsimile apparatus outside the group to a desired group; Input means for inputting group ID indicating the group, first transmission destination information of image information, and final transmission destination information at times, wherein the instruction detecting means transmits a circular transmission instruction. If the transmission instruction determination unit detects that the transmission instruction is a transmission instruction from a facsimile apparatus outside the group to a desired group, Transmitting / receiving means for making a call based on the first destination information input from the input means, transmitting the group ID and final destination information input from the input means included in the facsimile control signal, Facsimile circulation device. 3. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile circulation device is a destination for transmitting a group ID and image information first or a destination for transmitting received image information next before a transmission operation. Storage means capable of storing transmission destination information and final destination information in advance, wherein the instruction detection means detects a circulation transmission instruction, and the instruction determination is that the transmission instruction is a circulation board transmission instruction within a group. When the means determines, the transmitting / receiving means makes a call based on the destination information stored in the storage means, and the group ID and the final destination information stored in the storage means are converted into the facsimile control signal. A facsimile circulating apparatus characterized in that the facsimile is circulated and transmitted. 4. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the first destination information or the last destination information is a telephone number.