JP2002044286A - Communication terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To circulate an image data to a next destination at a cost lower than a conventional one. SOLUTION: A facsimile device 20 comprises, in a RAM 7 as shown in Figure 2, an identical circulation destination list box 7a where a telephone number of a circulation destination corresponding to a record number is stored in advance for each box number corresponding to a plurality of destination groups. A main control unit 1 reads and carries out an LCR process which selects a lowest-cost route of a subroutine in Figure 8 to select a destination whose communication charge is low as a next circulation destination, among a plurality of telephone numbers of circulation destinations stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in the RAM 7 (steps S4 and S8 in Figure 3, step S17 in Figure 4, steps S41 and S47 in Figure 6, and step S60 in Figure 7), and an image data which is to be circulated is transmitted to the selected destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device having a circulation function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus having a circulation function, data of a list of telephone numbers to be circulated is transferred to the next facsimile apparatus by a dedicated and unique communication procedure, or a telephone number to be circulated is transmitted. The image data to be circulated is sequentially transferred to the next facsimile machine and circulated by transmitting the list by a special communication procedure such as inserting the list into the image data and transmitting the list.

[0003]

However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus having a circulation function, the next circulation destination is determined in advance, and it is not determined whether or not the communication fee is low. Therefore, it was not always possible to transmit at low cost.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a communication terminal device that can circulate image data to the next circulation destination at a lower cost than in the conventional example.

[0005]

A communication terminal device according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit for storing a plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers in advance; and a plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers stored in the storage unit. And a transmission unit for transmitting image data to be circulated to the selected destination.

In the communication terminal device, preferably, the selection means sets a communication fee based on a distance based on an area code among a plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers stored in the storage means. It is characterized by selecting an inexpensive destination.

Further, in the above-mentioned communication terminal device, preferably, the storage means includes a circulation destination box to which a plurality of box numbers are assigned for designating a plurality of destination groups, and the selection means includes a box number. Is selected by selecting the circulation destination box upon receiving the designation signal.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus 20 having a circulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention. When circulating image data using the facsimile device 20 having the circulation function of the present embodiment, circulation is started from the circulation request source device, and the circulation processing device relays and transmits image data to be circulated sequentially to a predetermined circulation. Send the image data to the destination.

The facsimile machine 20 of this embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of facsimile apparatuses 20 which can operate as a circulation request source apparatus or a circulation processing apparatus and which should circulate image data are provided with a plurality of destination groups (so-called circulation groups). The same circulation destination list box 7a in which the telephone number of the circulation destination is stored in advance for each box number corresponding to the record number.
In the RAM 7. Then, the main control unit 1 of the circulation requesting apparatus or the circulation processing apparatus performs LCR (Least Cost R) for selecting the cheapest route, which is a subroutine of FIG.
outing) process by reading and executing
From among the telephone numbers of the circulation destinations stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in 7, a destination having a low communication fee is selected as the next circulation destination (steps S4 and S8 in FIG. 3, step S17 in FIG. Steps S41 and S47 in FIG.
Step S60 in FIG. 7 is characterized in that image data to be circulated is transmitted to the selected destination. Here, in the LCR process of FIG. 8, the same MA (message arbitrary) is used on the basis of the area code among the telephone numbers of the circulation destinations stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in the RAM 7.
ea: destination in unit charge area), destination in adjacent MA,
It is characterized in that, in the order of a destination in the same prefecture and a destination in an adjacent prefecture, a destination having a low communication fee is selected based on the distance from the telephone station of the device. Further, the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device receives the SUB signal transmitted in the facsimile communication procedure, and selects the circulation destination box based on the box number specified by the SUB signal, thereby setting the destination group. It is characterized by selection.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile machine 20 comprises
It has a facsimile communication function such as the conventional G3 system and a circulation function. The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the following hardware units via a bus 13 to control them.
It executes various software functions to be described later. The image reading unit 2 reads an original with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data converted to binary black and white. The image recording unit 3 is a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like, and prints out and records, as a hard copy, image data received by facsimile communication from a facsimile machine of a partner. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays an operation state of the facsimile machine 20, and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. .

The operation unit 5 includes a character key, a dial numeric keypad necessary for operating the facsimile machine 20,
It has speed dial keys, one-touch dial keys, and various function keys. Also, the operation unit 5
The circulation processing apparatus further includes a circulation key for operating whether to continue the circulation processing to another destination to be circulated after receiving the image data to be circulated. The display unit 4 may be configured to be a touch panel type so that some or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 can be substituted.

The ROM 6 stores in advance various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile machine 20 and executed by the main control unit 1, wherein the programs include at least the circular programs shown in FIGS. The program includes a transmission process, a circulation reception process shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and an LCR process. The RAM 7 is composed of an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, and is used as a working area of the main control unit 1 and stores temporary data generated when a program is executed. Here, a circulation destination list box 7a, an example of which is shown in FIG. 2, is stored in the RAM 7 in advance. When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, even if the power is cut off due to a power failure, a movement of the apparatus, or the like, the contents of the data are not lost. The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data. In addition, RAM
The image memory 7 and the image memory 8 may be constituted by a hard disk memory.

The fax modem 10 is connected to a public telephone line L
And demodulates the data of the outgoing telephone number information received as the FSK signal and outputs it to the main control unit 1. NCU (Network control circuit: Networ
k Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs closing and opening operations such as a DC loop of the analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dial function. The fax modem 10 is connected to the public telephone line L as necessary. Connecting.
Here, the NCU 11 detects an ID receiving terminal activation signal and a normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits a primary response signal and a secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 is connected to a predetermined terminal adapter and DSU (Digital Service Unit: Digital Service Unit).
Unit) may be connected to a digital line of the baseband transmission system (for example, an ISDN line).

The facsimile apparatus 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above has a circulation function in addition to a normal facsimile communication function of the G3 system or the like. In the facsimile communication function, dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is encoded by software in accordance with an encoding system such as MH, MR, MMR, etc. defined in the standard of facsimile communication, and then the other party's facsimile apparatus. On the other hand, the encoded data received from the other party's facsimile machine is also decoded into image data by software and output from the image recording unit 3 as a hard copy. The image memory 8 stores the image data as needed, and outputs the stored image data as needed.

FIG. 2 shows the circulation destination list box 7 shown in FIG.
It is a figure showing an example table of a. The circulation destination list box 7a is provided in each device of the circulation request source device and the circulation processing device. As shown in FIG. 2, a circulation destination list box is stored for each box number corresponding to the destination group. The telephone number of the facsimile machine to be circulated for each record number is input and stored in advance using the operation unit 5. Here, the box number is stored in the SUB signal by using the box image as a number indicating a group including a plurality of destinations to circulate the fax document image,
The record number is destination information indicating a destination to be circulated, and is stored in the SID signal, and destinations that call the circulated destination and respond to the destination are excluded from the record number list in the SID signal (step S11 in FIG. 3). And step S53 in FIG. 7). In other words, when the message can be circulated, by sequentially removing it from the record number list in the SID signal,
The circulation process is continued until there is no more record number in the D signal.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flow charts showing the circulation transmission processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation request source device of the facsimile machine of FIG. In FIG.
First, in step S1, the box number of the circulation destination list box is input using the operation unit 5, and in step S2, the circulation destination list of the input box number is read from the circulation destination list box 7a and displayed on the display unit 4. Next, a circulation destination is selected from the circulation destination list displayed in step S3 using the operation unit 5, and step S4 is performed.
In step S5, by reading and executing the LCR process of FIG. 8, the next circulation destination with a lower communication charge is selected from among a plurality of circulation destinations in the selected circulation destination group, and the destination selected in step S5 is selected. Make a call. And
In step S6, it is determined whether or not the destination facsimile machine has responded. If the answer is NO, the line is opened in step S7, and the LCR process of FIG. 8 is read and executed except for the destination that has already been called in step S8. By doing so, another destination is selected, and the process returns to step S5 to call another selected destination. On the other hand, when YES is determined in the step S6, the DIS signal is detected in the step S9, the box number is inserted into the SUB signal and transmitted in the step S10, and the destination to be circulated other than the destination called in the SID signal in the step S11. , The DCS signal, the training signal and the TCF signal are transmitted in step S12, and the CFR signal is detected in step S13. And FIG.
Go to step S14.

In step S14 of FIG. 4, the original is read using the image reading unit 2, and the image data is transmitted.
In step S15, it is determined whether the transmission is OK or not.
If NO, the DCN signal is transmitted in step S16, then the line is opened in step S16A, and step S17 is performed.
In the other destinations, the LCR process of FIG. 8 is read and executed among other destinations, thereby selecting another destination and returning to step S5 of FIG. If YES in step S15 in FIG. 4, an EOP signal is sent out in step S18, and after detecting an MCF signal in step S19, the line is opened in step S20 and the circulation transmission process ends.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are flow charts showing the circulation reception processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG. In FIG. 5, first, it is determined whether or not a call is received in step S21, and the process of step S21 is executed until YES is determined. When YES is determined, DI is determined in step S22.
S signal, and then, in step S23, SU
The B signal is detected, the SID signal is detected in step S24, and the DCS signal, the training signal, and the TCF signal are detected in step S25. And step S
In step S27, the CFR signal is transmitted. In step S27, the image data is received and stored in the image memory 8. In step S28, the EOP signal is detected.
At 29, an MCF signal is transmitted. Further, after the line is released in step S30, the image of the image data stored in the image memory 8 is printed in step S31. Next, in step S32, it is determined whether or not the circulation button has been turned on, and the process of step S32 is performed until YES, and when YES, the process proceeds to step S41 in FIG.

In step S41 of FIG. 6, by reading and executing the LCR process of FIG. 8, one of the destinations specified by the SID signal in the list of box numbers specified by the SUB signal is specified. Select and step S
At 42, a call is made to the selected destination. Then, it is determined in step S43 whether the destination has responded,
If NO, it is determined in step S44 whether or not the time is up. If NO, the process returns to step S43, while if YES, step S45
In step S46, it is determined whether there is another destination. If YES in step S46, in step S47, by reading and executing the LCR process in FIG. 8, another destination is selected from other destinations, and the process returns to step S42 to call another destination. . On the other hand, if NO in step S46, a circulation error end report for notifying that a communication error has occurred during circulation in step S48 is stored in the image recording unit 3.
To print the data, and terminates the circulation receiving process. Note that when YES is determined in the step S43, the process proceeds to a step S51 in FIG.

In step S51 of FIG. 7, a DIS signal is detected. Next, in step S52, SUB
The box number is inserted into the signal and transmitted, and step S53 is performed.
In, the record number of the destination to circulate other than the called destination is inserted into the SID signal and transmitted. Here, when there is no destination to be circulated, information for indicating the destination, for example, a record number of 0000 is inserted. Then, in step S54, a DCS signal, a training signal, and a TCF signal are transmitted.
After detecting the FR signal, the document is read using the image reading unit 2 in step S56, and the image data is transmitted. Next, it is determined in step S57 whether the transmission is OK or not.
After transmitting the N signal, the line is opened in step S59, and in step S60, except for the called destination,
By reading and executing the LCR process of FIG. 8, another destination is selected, and the process returns to step S42 of FIG. 6 to call another destination. On the other hand, when YES is determined in the step S57, the EOP signal is transmitted in a step S61, and
After detecting the MCF signal in 61, step S62
At the end of the call termination process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an LCR process which is a subroutine executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG. In FIG. 8, first, in step S71, it is determined whether there is a destination in the same MA. If YES, the destination is selected in step S72 and the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, if NO in step S71, step S
At 73, it is determined whether there is a destination in the adjacent MA. If YES, the destination is selected at step S74 and the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, step S7
If NO in 3, it is determined in step S75 whether or not there is a destination within the same prefecture. If YES, the destination is selected in step S76 and the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, if “NO” in the step S75, it is determined whether or not there is a destination in the adjacent prefecture in a step S77. If “YES”, the destination is selected in a step S78 and the process returns to the original routine. On the other hand, step S7
If “NO” in step 7, in step S79, the destination registered first among the uncalled destinations is selected, and the process returns to the original routine.

In the LCR processing of FIG. 8 configured as described above, as is apparent from the branch determination processing of steps S71, S73, S75, and S77, a plurality of circulations stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in the RAM 7 are determined. Based on the area code of the destination telephone number, the same MA (message
area: unit destination area), destinations in adjacent MAs, destinations in the same prefecture, destinations in adjacent prefectures, in that order.
A destination with a low communication fee is selected based on the distance of the device from the telephone station.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus 20 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, for each box number corresponding to a plurality of destination groups, the telephone number of the circulation destination is associated with the record number. The main control unit 1 has the same circulation destination list box 7a stored in advance in the RAM 7, and the main control unit 1 reads and executes the LCR process for selecting the cheapest route, which is a subroutine of FIG.
From the telephone numbers of the plurality of circulation destinations stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in the AM 7, a destination with a low communication fee is selected as the next circulation destination (steps S4 and S4 in FIG. 3).
8, step S17 in FIG. 4, steps S41 and S41 in FIG.
47, step S60 in FIG. 7, and transmits the image data to be circulated to the selected destination. Therefore, in facsimile transmission of the circulation, since the LCR process is executed to select the circulation destination, the communication cost of the entire circulation is reduced. In particular, when the number of facsimile machines to be circulated becomes large, such as in a company circulation, the reduction in communication cost becomes extremely large.

In the LCR process of FIG. 8, the same M number is used on the basis of the area code among the plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers stored in the circulation destination list box 7a in the RAM 7.
A destination having a low communication fee is selected based on the distance from the telephone station of the device in the order of the destination in A, the destination in the adjacent MA, the destination in the same prefecture, and the destination in the adjacent prefecture. Therefore, in the LCR process, the next inexpensive circulation destination can be easily selected.

Further, the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing apparatus receives the SUB signal transmitted in the facsimile communication procedure, and, based on the box number specified by the SUB signal,
A destination group is selected by selecting a circulation destination box. Therefore, in facsimile transmission of circulars,
A plurality of circulation destination groups can be set, and the usability of the user can be improved.

<Modification> In the above embodiment, the example of the facsimile apparatus 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is connected to a public network such as a public telephone network or a public digital network. For example, the present invention can be applied to a communication terminal device including a telephone, a data communication device, and the like. Step S32 in FIG. 5 may be omitted.

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the communication terminal device of the present invention, the storage means for storing in advance the telephone numbers of a plurality of circulation destinations, and the telephone numbers of the plurality of circulation destinations stored in the storage means A selection unit for selecting a destination having a low communication fee as a next circulation destination from a number, and a transmission unit for transmitting image data to be circulated to the selected destination are provided.
Therefore, in the transmission of the image data of the circulation, the circulation destination is selected by the LCR processing of the selecting means, so that the communication cost of the entire circulation is reduced. In particular, when the number of communication terminal devices to be circulated becomes large, such as in a company circulation, the reduction in communication cost becomes extremely large.

In the communication terminal device, preferably, the selecting means sets a communication fee based on a distance based on an area code among a plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers stored in the storage means. Choose a cheap destination. Therefore, in the LCR processing by the selection means, the next inexpensive circulation destination can be easily selected.

Further, in the above-mentioned communication terminal device, preferably, the storage means includes a circulation destination box to which a plurality of box numbers are assigned in order to designate a plurality of destination groups, and the selection means includes the box number. Is received, and the destination group is selected by selecting the circulation destination box. Therefore, a plurality of circulation destination groups can be set in transmission of circulation image data, and the usability of the user can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus 20 having a circulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a table of an example of a circulation destination list box 7a in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first part of a circulation transmission process executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation request source device of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second part of the circulation transmission process executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation request source device of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first part of a circulation reception process executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a second part of the circulation reception processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a third part of the circulation reception processing executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

8 is a subroutine LCR executed by the main control unit 1 of the circulation processing device of the facsimile machine of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows a process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part, 2 ... Image reading part, 5 ... Operation part, 6 ... ROM, 7 ... RAM, 7a ... Circulation destination list box, 8 ... Image memory, 10 ... Fax modem, 11 ... NCU, 13 ... Bus, 20: facsimile machine, L: public telephone line.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/34 H04N 1/34 F term (Reference) 5C062 AA02 AB43 AC43 AE14 AF03 AF08 BA01 BC01 BC06 BD08 5C075 BA08 CA01 CA15 DD90 FF90 GG09 5K025 BB05 BB06 5K036 AA15 DD20 EE14 HH08 KK06 5K101 KK01 NN48 RR18

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing telephone numbers of a plurality of circulation destinations in advance and a telephone number of a plurality of circulation destinations stored in the storage unit, a destination having a low communication fee is selected as a next circulation destination. A communication terminal device comprising: selecting means; and transmitting means for transmitting image data to be circulated to the selected destination. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a destination having a low communication fee based on a distance, based on an area code among a plurality of circulation destination telephone numbers stored in the storage unit. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The storage means includes a circulation destination box to which a plurality of box numbers are assigned to specify a plurality of destination groups, and the selection means receives a box number designation signal and receives a circulation destination box. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a destination group is selected by selecting a box.