JP2004048425A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience for actions following the completion of transmission such as making a call, in a facsimile machine. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile machine, in which a reading unit 10 reads image information of an original and an image memory 6 stores the read image, has an operating unit 1, a display/informing unit 2, and a communication control unit 7 for controlling facsimile transmission/reception. In this machine, a system control unit 3 registers and controls telephone directory information input from the unit 1, and allows the unit 2 to display telephone directory information corresponding to a facsimile number used for the facsimile transmission, among the telephone directory information which is managed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine equipped with a function for convenient use after facsimile transmission.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as personal computers have become widespread in ordinary homes, communication infrastructures for using the Internet have been prepared, for example, mobile phones have a mail transmission / reception function with multifunctionalization. In addition, the use of the Internet as an information transmission means has been dramatically increased because the usage fee is becoming cheaper as the environment for connecting to the Internet at a low cost is improved. Against this background, facsimile machines have become widespread as familiar OA equipment, but it is a fact that information transmission using a facsimile machine in a conventional communication environment is decreasing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, facsimile machines can reliably transmit image information, have no server delays like e-mail, and have a lower risk of security such as secret leaks where information is stolen compared to the Internet. For example, when it is desired to securely and securely transmit a fax, a facsimile machine is often used. In this way of using the facsimile apparatus, it is desirable to improve the convenience of the next action after facsimile transmission, such as when making a call.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to improve the convenience of the facsimile apparatus for the next action after transmission is completed, such as when making a call.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides image information reading means for reading image information of a document, image information storage means for storing image information read by the means, and operation input means provided with a predetermined input device. In a facsimile apparatus having display means provided with a predetermined display device and communication control means for controlling facsimile transmission and reception of image information, telephone directory information for registering and managing telephone directory information input by the operation input means Management means, and telephone directory information display means for displaying, on the display means, telephone directory information corresponding to a facsimile number used in facsimile transmission, of telephone directory information managed by the means, I do.
This facsimile apparatus may be provided with telephone means having means for transmitting and receiving voice, and means for switching the communication control means or the connection between the telephone means and a general public network.
[0006]
Further, a means for storing a facsimile number used in facsimile transmission as a selection number and a means for replacing the facsimile number stored as a selection number in the means with a telephone number used for transmitting and receiving voice by the telephone means are provided. Is also good.
Means for detecting the hook state of the telephone means, and detecting the off-hook, and when the connection to the general public network is switched to the telephone means, the telephone directory information displayed on the display means is displayed. A means for calling the telephone means using a telephone number may be provided.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus includes an operation unit 1, a display / notification unit 2, a system control unit 3, an image processing unit 5, and an image memory 6, and further includes a communication control unit 7. , An NCU unit 8, a writing unit 9, a reading unit 10, and a telephone function unit 11, and each component is mutually connected via the system bus 4 except for the NCU unit 8 and the telephone function unit 11. Connected.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 1 has operation keys 1 a including mechanical keys and touch panel keys having predetermined numeric keys and character input keys, and receives data from the system control unit 3 via the system bus 4. Input means for performing facsimile transmission of image information, such as operations required for facsimile transmission of image information (for example, input of a destination facsimile number, start / stop, etc.), and confirmation of transmission / reception status, etc. Is input by the operation input of the operation key 1 a and is input to the system control unit 3. The operation keys 1a include a numeric keypad for inputting a facsimile number at the time of facsimile transmission, a start key, a stop key, a redial key, a one-touch key used for a series of operations at the time of facsimile transmission, and an abbreviated key for selecting an abbreviated number. There is. Further, as keys used when registering telephone directory information to be described later, there are provided alphabet keys, kana keys, kanji conversion keys, and the like. In order to reduce the number of keys, one physical key may have a plurality of meanings.
[0009]
The display / notification unit 2 includes an LED display device, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying information input from the operation unit 1 and the current operation state and time, and a sounding device such as a buzzer. The display means includes an instruction input from the system control unit 3 to turn on the LED display device and operate each device. The display device has a display panel 2a as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a telephone directory key 2b, and a telephone mode switching key 2c to be described later. The LCD may use a dot matrix type in addition to the character display type, and may also use a touch panel type display unit having an operation function.
[0010]
The system control unit 3 is a unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit: Central Processing Unit) for controlling the operation of the entire facsimile machine, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The processing is executed in accordance with the installed program, and each component such as the operation unit 1 is controlled. The ROM stores a basic program of the facsimile machine and a program for realizing the functions characteristic of the present invention. If the program is enormous, a magnetic disk device (not shown) may be mounted and stored in addition to the ROM, or a magnetic disk device may be used as the image memory 6 and shared with the image memory 6. The system control unit 3 has a clock function and a file management function of managing message data stored in the image memory 6 by controlling the communication control unit 7.
[0011]
Information such as abbreviated facsimile transmission numbers, one-touch facsimile numbers, and telephone directory information that must be retained even when the power is turned off is stored in battery backup memory or non-volatile memory, which can retain information even when the power is turned off. I have. As a battery used for battery backup, a lithium primary battery, a rechargeable lithium secondary battery, a nickel cadmium secondary battery, or the like is used, and power can be supplied to the RAM even when the power is cut off so that information is retained. I have. Although the ROM has an area for storing font data such as character information, it may be constituted by the same ROM as the ROM for storing programs.
[0012]
The system bus 4 is a bus that connects each component of the facsimile machine and connects the systems.
The image processing unit 5 compresses the coded raw data, decompresses the compressed data to restore the original image information, performs scaling processing, performs data processing using the raw data, and embeds the TTI. . Although the image processing unit 5 is connected to the system bus 4 and configured as one block, a configuration in which the communication control unit 7, the writing unit 9, and the reading unit 10 are provided independently of each other may be adopted. good.
[0013]
The image memory 6 is image information storage means for storing image information for reading and transmitting a document and for receiving received image information. The image memory 6 is capable of at least temporarily storing the image information. Data and transmission message data are stored as a file. As the image memory 6, for example, a magnetic disk device is used. In addition, a RAM module mounted on a substrate, a memory card inserted into a card slot, or the like may be used.
The communication control unit 7 receives an instruction from the system control unit 3, controls an NCU (Network Control Unit) unit 8, connects to the PSTN network, and controls facsimile transmission / reception with a communication terminal on the other side. . Further, the communication control unit 7 demodulates the received data (modulated) from the partner communication terminal by the built-in modem and modulates the transmission data. Further, the tone signal is detected together with the detection of the pulse of the ringing voltage detected by the NCU unit 8 and the detection of the DTMF signal, and a call is made at the time of transmission.
[0014]
The NCU unit 8 manages connection and connection of a general public network (PSTN) and detects a call signal (ringing). In addition, it has a connection unit for connecting the telephone function unit 11, a detection unit for detecting a hook state of the telephone function unit 11, and a connection switching unit for connecting the telephone function unit 11 to a general public network. ing.
The writing unit 9 includes a mechanism for inputting received image information and image information representing a reception result (for example, information such as a telephone number of a transmission source and reception time) to form an image on a sheet and print the image. Writing means consisting of a unit. The writing unit 9 is, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element. However, the writing unit 9 is not limited to a thermal recording device. Can be recorded. The writing section 9 has a page memory, and sequentially transfers the image files of the image memory 6 designated to be written by the system control section 3 for each page in the page memory for writing. Then, the raw data stored in the page memory is received, and an image is recorded on the ordinary recording paper directly on the thermal recording element or indirectly via an ink sheet. Note that the writing unit 9 may have an image processing function of performing a decompression process. In that case, the input data is compressed data, which can be decompressed into raw data and printed out.
[0015]
The reading unit 10 is an image information reading unit that reads an image of a document in which characters and figures are written on a sheet with an image sensor, converts the image into an electric signal, and inputs image information, and is also referred to as a scanner unit. For example, it is an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The reading unit 10 binarizes the read image data into raw data, and also performs scaling processing such as reduction and enlargement and linear density conversion when reading the document.
The telephone function unit 11 has a transmission unit and a reception unit, receives an instruction from the NCU unit 8, is connected to the general public network via the NCU unit 8, and performs transmission and reception of voice.
Next, the function of the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be specifically described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Steps are abbreviated as S in the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0016]
In the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the system control unit 3 reads a predetermined processing program stored in the ROM, and operates the components such as the communication control unit 7 and the NCU unit 8 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. By doing so, the functions described below are realized. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when the operator performs facsimile transmission and displays telephone directory information after the transmission.
The facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is characterized by having a telephone directory function. This telephone directory function transmits facsimile information such as destination name, facsimile number, telephone number, address, memo, etc. required for making a telephone call (this information is called "phonebook information") after facsimile transmission is completed. Assuming that it is necessary to make a telephone call indicating that the call has been made, a function (telephone directory information management function) of operating and inputting the operation unit 1 in advance and managing it by the system control unit 3 and a managed telephone A function (phonebook information display function) of displaying the book information corresponding to the facsimile number used for facsimile transmission on the display / notification section 2 is stored in the ROM by the CPU of the system control section 3. It is realized by executing a process according to the program that has been executed.
[0017]
When inputting telephone directory information, the operator operates the ten keys, alphabet keys, and kana keys of the operation keys 1a provided on the operation unit 1, and inputs roman characters and kana characters using the kanji conversion function using the kanji conversion key. This is done by converting the kanji into kanji and storing and storing it in the RAM of the system control unit 3. Then, when one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing is selected at the time of facsimile transmission by the telephone book information display function, the telephone directory information managed by the telephone directory information management function is used to select the facsimile number of the selected dial ( An item corresponding to “selection number” is displayed on the display panel 2a. In addition, the telephone directory information is displayed on the display / notification unit 2 even when the facsimile number of the destination is input using the numeric keypad, if information corresponding to the number is held. Note that the telephone directory information may be displayed on the display / notification unit 2 by a specific operation input of the operation unit 1 after pressing the telephone directory key 2b or the like. Of course, after the telephone directory information is displayed on the display panel 2a, one-touch / abbreviated dial operation input is also possible.
[0018]
When the telephone directory information is displayed on the display panel 2a by the telephone directory information display function, as shown in FIG. 3, the display panel 2a displays "abbreviated number", "destination name", "FAX number", "telephone number". , "Address", and "memo" are displayed, or, as shown in FIG. 4, "one touch", "destination name", "FAX number", "telephone number", "telephone number", Information held in each item of "address" and "memo" is displayed.
When performing facsimile transmission, first, when the operator selects “transmission processing” on a menu screen (not shown), the facsimile apparatus causes the system control unit 3 to proceed to step 1 in the flowchart of FIG. Causes a predetermined message to be displayed. The operator inputs a destination facsimile number from the operation unit 1 or operates a one-touch dial or abbreviated dial according to the message. Next, the operator sets a transmission document, presses the start key, and inputs a facsimile transmission instruction (the transmission document may be set before the facsimile number is input). In response to this, the facsimile apparatus proceeds to step 2, where the system control unit 3 instructs the communication control unit 7 to perform facsimile transmission based on the input facsimile number or one-touch key or abbreviated dial selection number.
[0019]
Then, the communication control unit 7 controls the NCU unit 8 using the designated facsimile number, dials the general public network, establishes communication with the transmission destination, and performs facsimile communication. The facsimile transmission control procedure here is performed by the communication control unit 7 in accordance with the ITU-T recommendations. In the following step 3, after the facsimile transmission ends, the communication control unit 7 notifies the system control unit 3 of the end of the facsimile transmission. Then, proceeding to step 4, the system control unit 3 reads out the telephone directory information managed by the telephone directory information management function, and inputs the telephone directory information corresponding to the selected number used in the facsimile transmission to the display / notification unit 2. Then, the telephone directory information is displayed on the display panel 2a by the telephone directory information display function.
[0020]
In the following step 5, the system control unit 3 measures the time during which the telephone directory information is displayed on the display / notification unit 2 (display time). The display / notification unit 2 is instructed to return 2a to the initial state (display clear), and then the process is terminated. In this case, when a specific key operation (for example, pressing of a clear key or a stop key) is performed on the operation unit 1, the key operation information is notified to the system control unit 3, and the system control unit 3 is operated. When it is necessary to analyze the key information and return the display of the display panel 2a to the initial state, the display / notification unit 2 is instructed to return the display to the initial state, thereby returning the display panel 2a to the initial state. It may be.
As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, after the end of facsimile transmission, the telephone directory information corresponding to the facsimile number used in the facsimile transmission is automatically displayed, so that the operator can refer to the display. Can obtain telephone directory information. Therefore, when making a telephone call indicating that facsimile transmission has been performed after the end of facsimile transmission, the trouble or operation when telephone communication is necessary, such as searching for a telephone number, is simplified and facilitated. The convenience of the action is improved.
[0021]
However, even when the telephone directory information is displayed on the facsimile apparatus as described above, the telephone directory information indicating that the facsimile apparatus and the telephone are installed at a distant place is viewed when making a call. It may not be possible to make a call using the telephone directory information. Assuming that case, the facsimile apparatus is provided with a telephone function unit 11 and switches the connection by a telephone / facsimile switching function, and activates the telephone function unit 11 to make a telephone call.
The telephone / facsimile switching function of the facsimile apparatus is performed by operating the key of the operation unit 1 (pressing the telephone mode switching key 2c), and the operation unit 1 notifies the key operation information to the system control unit 3. The system control unit 3 analyzes the key information input by the operation, and instructs the communication control unit 7 to switch the telephone function unit 11 to the general public network. The communication control unit 7 activates the NCU unit 8 based on an instruction from the system control unit 3, and switches the connection so that the telephone function unit 11 is connected to the general public network by the connection switching unit.
[0022]
When the connection is thus switched, the communication control unit 7 controls the NCU unit 8 to activate the detection unit, and detects the hook state of the telephone function unit 11. Here, when the call is on-hook, it is determined that the telephone call using the telephone function unit 11 has ended, and the connection between the switched telephone function unit 11 and the general public network is restored (to the facsimile transmission side). Then, information indicating that the use of the telephone function unit 11 has been completed is input to the system control unit 3. By doing so, a call can be made by the facsimile apparatus, so that it is possible to make a call after facsimile transmission without leaving the facsimile apparatus, and the facsimile apparatus is separated from the telephone. Even if it is installed at a place, the convenience of the next action after the end of facsimile transmission is improved.
[0023]
However, even if the facsimile apparatus has a telephone / facsimile switching function, only the telephone number is displayed on the display panel 2a. In order for the operator to make a telephone call, the telephone directory information displayed after the facsimile transmission is completed. It is necessary to find out and enter the telephone number from, and it will be troublesome. Assuming that case, the facsimile apparatus operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 has some parts in common with the above-described operation, and thus the description of the common parts will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.
The operator selects the transmission process on the menu screen, executes steps 1 to 4 in the same manner as in FIG. 6, and displays and notifies the telephone directory information corresponding to the facsimile number used in the facsimile transmission after the facsimile transmission is completed. Displayed in section 2.
[0024]
On the other hand, the system control unit 3 manages a state in which the telephone directory information is displayed on the display / notification unit 2, and in this state, when the operator goes off-hook the telephone, the NCU unit 8 detects the state. To detect an off-hook state, and output detection information as a detection result. This detection information is input to the system control unit 3, and the system control unit 3 instructs the communication control unit 7 to switch the connection to the telephone mode based on the detection information, and the communication control unit 7 instructs the NCU unit 8. An instruction is given to connect the telephone function unit 11 to the general public network and switch to a telephone mode for making a telephone call. Here, the system control unit 3 advances the processing to step 7 to determine whether the off-hook of the telephone function unit 11 and the switching to the telephone mode are both performed, and if both are performed, the processing proceeds to step 8 and so on. If not, proceed to step 11.
[0025]
In step 8, the operator selects and inputs a one-touch dial or abbreviated dial which is the same as the facsimile number in the state where the mode is switched to the telephone mode. In the following step 9, operation information for making the selection is input from the operation unit 1 to the system control unit 3, and the system control unit 3 outputs the facsimile number stored as the selection number based on the telephone directory information. The communication control unit 7 inputs an instruction to replace the telephone number with the telephone number used in the transmission and reception of the facsimile, and the communication control unit 7 dials using the replaced telephone number to make a call, and connects to the general public network to perform the facsimile apparatus. Can make a phone call. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 10, where when the communication control unit 7 instructs the NCU unit 8 to detect the on-hook state of the telephone function unit 11 by the detection unit, the connection between the switched telephone function unit 11 and the general public network is restored. The control is performed, and information indicating that the use of the telephone function unit 11 has been completed is input to the system control unit 3 and the process is terminated.
[0026]
On the other hand, when proceeding to step 11, that is, when there is no off-hook of the telephone function unit 11, the system control unit 3 measures the display time of the telephone directory information on the display panel 2a, and the measured time is a preset time. Is passed, the display / notification unit 2 is instructed to return (clear) the display to the initial state, and the display of the display / notification unit 2 is returned to the initial state. Alternatively, when a specific key operation (for example, clear key press or stop key press) is performed on the operation unit 1, the key operation information is input from the operation unit 1 to the system control unit 3, and the system control unit 3 performs the operation. When it is necessary to analyze the input key information and return the display to the initial state, the display / notification unit 2 is instructed to return the display to the initial state, and the display / notification unit 2 returns the display to the initial state. return. If the display / notification unit 2 performs an operation for returning to the initial state, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step 7.
As described above, the facsimile apparatus can make a call after facsimile transmission without the operator finding and inputting a telephone number from the telephone directory information, so that the convenience of the next action after facsimile transmission is completed. Is further improved.
[0027]
The facsimile apparatus may be operated according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. Since the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 has some parts in common with the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the description of the common parts will be omitted, and different points will be mainly described.
The operator selects transmission processing on the menu screen, executes steps 1 to 4 in the same manner as in FIG. 6, and displays / notifies the telephone directory information corresponding to the facsimile number used in the facsimile transmission after the facsimile transmission is completed. 2 is displayed. Thereafter, step 12 is further executed. Here, the system control unit 3 manages a state in which the telephone directory information is displayed on the display / notification unit 2, and in this state, when the operator off-hook the telephone function unit 11, the off-hook state is changed. The detection unit of the NCU unit 8 detects and outputs detection information as a result of the detection. When the detection information is input to the system control unit 3, the system control unit 3 instructs the communication control unit 7 to switch the connection to the telephone mode based on the detection information, and the communication control unit 7 Is switched to a telephone mode in which the telephone function unit 11 is connected to the general public network so that a telephone call can be made. Here, the system control unit 3 determines whether the off-hook of the telephone and the switching to the telephone mode are both performed, and if both are performed, the process proceeds to step 13; otherwise, the process proceeds to step 11.
[0028]
In step 13, the system control unit 3 instructs the communication control unit 7 to dial using the telephone number of the telephone directory information displayed on the display panel 2a in a state where the mode is switched to the telephone mode. The communication control unit 7 activates the telephone function unit 11 so as to dial and make a call using the telephone number, connects the telephone function unit 11 to the general public network, and thus makes a call using the facsimile apparatus. . Then, when the communication control unit 7 detects an on-hook in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 6, the communication control unit 7 performs control to restore the connection between the switched telephone function unit 11 and the general public network side. The information on the end of the use of No. 11 is input to the system control unit 3 and the process is terminated. When the process branches from step 12 and proceeds to step 11, the display / notification unit 2 performs an operation of returning the display to the initial state in the same manner as in the case of FIG. If not, the process returns to step 12.
Even in the case described above, the facsimile machine can make a call after the facsimile transmission is completed without the operator inputting the selection number of the telephone number, so that the convenience of the next action after the facsimile transmission is completed is improved. Further improve
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention displays the telephone directory information used in the transmission after the transmission is completed, so that the operation for making a call after the transmission is completed becomes easy, and the facsimile transmission after the transmission is completed. The convenience of the next action is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an example of an operation key of an operation unit and a display panel of a display / notification unit.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a display panel displaying telephone directory information.
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another example of a display panel displaying telephone directory information.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when an operator performs facsimile transmission and displays telephone directory information after the transmission.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure when the facsimile number is replaced with a telephone number to activate the telephone function unit after the telephone directory information is displayed.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure when the telephone function unit is operated using the telephone number of the displayed telephone directory information after the telephone directory information is displayed.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Operation unit 2: Display / notification unit
1a: Operation keys 2a: Display panel
3: System control unit 4: System bus
5: Image processing unit 6: Image memory
7: Communication control unit 8: NCU unit
9: writing unit 10: reading unit
11: Telephone function

Claims (4)

Image information reading means for reading image information of a document, image information storage means for storing image information read by the means, operation input means provided with a predetermined input device, and display means provided with a predetermined display device; A facsimile apparatus having communication control means for controlling facsimile transmission and reception of image information,
Phonebook information management means for registering and managing the phonebook information input by the operation input means,
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a telephone directory information display unit for displaying, on the display unit, telephone directory information corresponding to a facsimile number used in facsimile transmission, among telephone directory information managed by the unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
Telephone means having means for transmitting and receiving voice;
A facsimile apparatus provided with a means for switching the connection between the communication control means or the telephone means and a general public network. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2,
Means for storing a facsimile number used for facsimile transmission as a selection number,
Means for replacing a facsimile number stored as a selection number in the means with a telephone number used for transmitting and receiving voice by the telephone means. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2,
Means for detecting a hook state of the telephone means;
When the means detects off-hook and the connection to the public network is switched to the telephone means, the telephone means is called using the telephone number of the telephone directory information displayed on the display means. A facsimile apparatus provided with a means for causing the facsimile apparatus to operate.

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