JP2013077949A - Facsimile device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a facsimile subunit to correctly acquire an image data irrespective of a communication environment between a master unit and the facsimile subunit.SOLUTION: A master unit 2 radio transmits a received facsimile signal to a facsimile subunit 3 (as a first facsimile signal) real time at reception operation to receive facsimile signals from a line, and also records the received signal into the self-master unit 2. After the reception operation is completed, the master unit 2 radio transmits the recorded facsimile signal (second facsimile signal) to the facsimile subunit 3. During reception operation, the facsimile subunit 3 receives the first facsimile signal real time from the master unit 2, and on receiving from the master unit 2 the second facsimile signal after the reception operation is completed, the facsimile subunit 3 generates an image data on the basis of at least one of the second facsimile signal and the first facsimile signal received from the master unit 2 during the reception operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus configured to transmit and receive a facsimile signal wirelessly between a parent device and a child device connected to a line.

  Conventionally, in this type of facsimile apparatus, the parent machine has a FAX modem, and transmits and receives voice signals (facsimile signals) for facsimile communication with the line in real time. The voice signal received from the line is demodulated into facsimile data (hereinafter also referred to as “FAX data”) by a FAX modem and wirelessly transmitted to a facsimile slave (hereinafter also referred to as “FAX slave”). The transmission FAX data transmitted wirelessly is modulated into a voice signal by a FAX modem and transmitted to the line. Note that the voice signal for facsimile communication is an analog signal in a voice frequency band (for example, 300 to 3400 Hz).

  As described above, a facsimile apparatus composed of a master unit and a FAX slave unit conventionally demodulates to incoming fax data and generates image data (image data from demodulated fax data). The image data is wirelessly transmitted to the FAX slave unit. That is, a series of procedures for facsimile communication to be performed between the lines for receiving image data is completed between the lines and the master unit, and is performed in real time between the two.

  Therefore, the conventional facsimile apparatus needs to be equipped with a high-performance CPU and a large-capacity memory in both the parent device and the FAX child device, which has been a barrier to cost reduction. In particular, when the base unit also has a cordless telephone function, the base unit needs to be equipped with a wireless communication module for a cordless telephone separately from the wireless communication module for transmitting image data to the FAX slave unit. It was a barrier to down.

  On the other hand, as one method for reducing the cost, a FAX modem is installed in the FAX slave unit, and the FAX slave unit itself transmits and receives various voice signals for facsimile communication mainly with the line via the master unit. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  By configuring in this way, the master unit does not need a FAX modem, and basically has a function of wirelessly relaying a voice signal for facsimile communication between a line and a FAX slave unit in real time. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced accordingly.

JP 2007-208810 A JP-A-9-139778

  However, if the FAX slave unit is equipped with a FAX modem and the master unit is configured to relay the audio signal in real time, the master unit and the FAX may be affected by various factors such as deterioration of the communication environment between the master unit and the FAX slave unit. There is a possibility that wireless communication of the audio signal with the slave unit is not normally performed, and an error such as a packet loss occurs, so that the FAX slave unit cannot normally acquire the image data.

  In other words, since it is necessary to transmit and receive audio signals in real time between the master unit and the FAX slave unit, it is assumed that an error such as packet loss occurs while the voice signal is being transmitted from the master unit to the FAX slave unit. Also, the transmission of the audio signal is continued as it is (in real time). For this reason, when there is an error such as packet loss during audio signal transmission, there is a problem in that the effect appears as it is as quality degradation of the finally obtained image data.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a facsimile in which a master unit wirelessly relays transmission / reception of voice signals (facsimile signals) between a FAX slave unit having a FAX modem function and a line. An object of the apparatus is to enable a FAX slave device to acquire image data normally regardless of the communication environment between the master device and the FAX slave device.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a facsimile communication function, and is configured to wirelessly transmit / receive a facsimile signal to be transmitted / received to / from a line in the facsimile communication. The facsimile slave unit having a modulation / demodulation means for demodulating the facsimile signal to be transmitted to the facsimile data and modulating the facsimile data to be transmitted to the facsimile signal can be wirelessly communicated with the facsimile slave unit connected to the line. A facsimile machine comprising: a facsimile machine and a parent machine that relays a facsimile signal between the line and the facsimile machine, wherein the parent machine receives a recording means for recording the facsimile signal and an incoming call from the line. Receives a facsimile signal and receives it from the line during the facsimile reception operation. A recording control means for recording the facsimile signal to be transmitted in succession on the recording means, and a recording for wirelessly transmitting the facsimile signal recorded on the recording means to the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile receiving operation after the facsimile receiving operation is completed. Signal transmission control means, and the facsimile slave unit includes a first facsimile signal, which is a facsimile signal relayed and transmitted by the master unit during the facsimile reception operation, and recording means of the master unit during the facsimile reception operation. And image data generating means for generating image data based on at least one of the second facsimile signal that is a facsimile signal transmitted from the master unit after the facsimile reception operation is completed.

  In the facsimile apparatus having the above-described configuration, the base unit not only relays the facsimile signal during the reception operation, but also records the facsimile signal received from the line at the base unit itself, and the recorded facsimile after the reception operation is completed. A signal (second facsimile signal) is wirelessly transmitted to the facsimile slave unit. The facsimile slave unit receives a facsimile signal (first facsimile signal) wirelessly transmitted from the parent unit in real time during the receiving operation, but does not accept the image data contained in the first facsimile signal received in real time. If the second facsimile signal is received from the master unit after the reception operation is completed, instead of obtaining the condition (that is, the first facsimile signal is generated from the facsimile data demodulated by the modulation / demodulation means) Image data is generated based on at least one of the second facsimile signal and the first facsimile signal.

  For this reason, even if the facsimile slave unit cannot generate normal image data from the first facsimile signal due to the poor wireless communication environment during the reception operation, the second facsimile signal transmitted from the master unit after the reception operation is completed. Image data can be generated normally. Since the transmission of the second facsimile signal is performed after the reception operation is completed and real-time characteristics are not required, the facsimile slave unit can normally generate image data based on the second facsimile signal.

  Therefore, according to the facsimile apparatus configured as described above, the facsimile slave unit can generate normal image data based on at least one of the first facsimile signal and the second facsimile signal. Image data can be normally acquired in the facsimile slave unit regardless of the communication environment between the two.

  Various specific methods for generating image data based on the first facsimile signal and the second facsimile signal are conceivable. For example, the first facsimile signal and the second facsimile signal are compared with each other. If they are different, the image data may be generated based on the second facsimile signal, or the image data may always be generated based on the second facsimile signal. As described, the reception state of the first facsimile signal during the reception operation is monitored by the facsimile slave unit. When the reception is not normally performed, the second facsimile signal is requested to the parent unit and the image data is obtained based on the second facsimile signal. You may make it produce | generate.

  That is, the facsimile slave unit includes a slave unit reception determining means for determining whether or not the first facsimile signal is normally received during the facsimile reception operation, and the slave unit during the facsimile reception operation after the facsimile reception operation is completed. Recording signal transmission control provided in the master unit, comprising: a recording signal transmission request unit for wirelessly transmitting a recording signal transmission request to the master unit when the reception judging unit determines that the reception of the first facsimile signal has not been performed normally. The means wirelessly transmits the second facsimile signal to the facsimile slave when a recording signal transmission request is received from the facsimile slave, and the image data generating means provided in the facsimile slave is the parent of the recording signal transmission request. Image data is generated based on the second facsimile signal wirelessly transmitted from the machine.

  According to the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration, when the first facsimile signal is not normally received by the facsimile slave unit during the receiving operation, the second facsimile signal is transmitted from the master unit to the facsimile slave unit, based on the second facsimile signal. Image data is generated. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the processing amount of the second facsimile signal transmission processing in the base unit and the reception and image data conversion of the second facsimile signal in the facsimile handset, and the processing load and power consumption of the entire facsimile apparatus can be reduced. It becomes.

  When the first facsimile signal is normally received by the facsimile slave unit during the reception operation, there are various ways of processing the second facsimile signal recorded in the recording means. However, in view of efficient use of the second facsimile signal recording area in the base unit, it is preferable to delete the second facsimile signal recording area as described in claim 3.

  That is, the facsimile handset includes first deletion requesting means for wirelessly transmitting a first deletion request to the parent machine when it is determined that the reception of the first facsimile signal is normally performed by the handset reception judging means. The master unit includes a first deletion unit that deletes the second facsimile signal recorded in the recording unit when a first deletion request is received from the slave unit. According to the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration, since the second facsimile signal that is not transmitted to the facsimile slave unit is deleted, the recording area of the second facsimile signal in the master unit can be reduced accordingly.

  There are various possible timings when the master unit starts recording a facsimile signal when an incoming call is received from the line. However, as described in claim 4, the recording is started when requested by the facsimile slave unit. It is good to.

  That is, the facsimile slave unit includes a recording start request unit that wirelessly transmits a recording start request to the parent unit at a predetermined recording start request timing after the start of the facsimile reception operation. When the recording start request is received from the facsimile slave unit, the recording of the second facsimile signal is started. According to the facsimile apparatus having the above-described configuration, the master unit can start recording a facsimile signal at an appropriate timing based on a request from the facsimile slave unit, and the second timing can be set by appropriately setting the recording start request timing. It is possible to effectively reduce the recording area of the facsimile signal.

  In this case, there are various possible timings for the facsimile slave device to send the recording start request to the parent device. However, the facsimile communication function of the facsimile apparatus is ITU-T recommendation T.264. In the case of following the procedure defined in 30, the timing described in claim 5 may be used in order to perform efficient and necessary and sufficient recording.

  That is, the recording start request timing is a timing before the CFR signal, which is a response signal to the TCF signal, is transmitted after the TCF signal is normally received from the line in the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile reception operation.

  ITU-T recommendation In the facsimile apparatus according to the procedure defined by 30, image data transmission from the line side is started when the receiving side sends a CFR signal after the training check is completed (that is, after the TCF signal is normally received). For this reason, if the facsimile machine transmits a recording start request to the parent machine after the training check and before sending the CFR signal, unnecessary data other than image data (for example, a TCF signal or earlier) is transmitted to the parent machine. (Various control signals received from the line side) can be prevented, and the recording area of the second facsimile signal in the master unit can be further reduced.

  Various timings can be considered for stopping the recording of the facsimile signal after the start of recording of the facsimile signal in the master unit. However, as described in claim 6, the recording stop may be performed upon a request from the facsimile slave unit. . That is, the facsimile slave unit includes a recording stop request unit that wirelessly transmits a recording stop request to the master unit at a predetermined recording stop request timing after the recording start request unit is wirelessly transmitted to the master unit by the recording start request unit. The recording control means provided in the master unit stops the recording of the second facsimile signal when a recording stop request is received from the facsimile slave unit after the recording of the second facsimile signal is started.

  According to the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration, the master unit can stop recording the facsimile signal at an appropriate timing based on a request from the facsimile slave unit, and more effectively reduce the recording area of the second facsimile signal. It becomes possible.

  In this case, there are various possible timings for the facsimile slave unit to send the recording stop request to the master unit. However, the facsimile communication function of the facsimile apparatus is the ITU-T recommendation T.264. In the case of following the procedure defined in 30, the timing described in claim 7 may be used in order to perform efficient and necessary and sufficient recording.

  That is, the recording stop request timing is a timing before an MCF signal, which is a response signal to the EOP signal, is transmitted after the EOP signal is received from the line in the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile reception operation.

  ITU-T recommendation In the facsimile apparatus according to the procedure defined by 30, the EOP signal is transmitted after transmitting all pages (last page) of image data to be transmitted on the transmission side. The facsimile handset can recognize that the image data has been received for all pages by receiving the EOP signal, and transmits an MCF signal to the EOP signal. For this reason, if the facsimile slave unit transmits a recording stop request to the master unit after receiving the EOP signal and before transmitting the MCF signal, there is a possibility that the facsimile slave unit may be received from the line side after completion of the image data reception. It is possible to prevent the recording of up to a large amount of data (for example, a DCN signal), and the recording area of the second facsimile signal in the master unit can be further reduced.

  There are various ways in which the parent machine processes the transmitted second facsimile signal after the parent machine has transmitted the second facsimile signal in response to a request from the facsimile child machine. However, considering the efficient use of the second facsimile signal recording area in the parent machine, it is preferable to delete the second facsimile signal recording area as described in claim 8.

  That is, the master unit deletes the second facsimile signal wirelessly transmitted from the recording unit after the second facsimile signal recorded by the recording control unit is wirelessly transmitted to the facsimile slave unit by the recording signal transmission control unit. Deletion means is provided. According to the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration, since the second facsimile signal transmitted to the facsimile slave unit is deleted from the recording means, the recording area of the second facsimile signal in the master unit can be reduced accordingly.

  In this case, there are various possible timings at which the parent machine deletes the second facsimile signal after transmitting the second facsimile signal. However, as described in claim 9, with a request from the facsimile child machine, You should delete it. That is, the facsimile handset includes second deletion request means for wirelessly transmitting a second deletion request to the parent machine when a second facsimile signal is received from the parent machine after the facsimile reception operation is completed. The second deleting means provided in the machine deletes the second facsimile signal recorded in the recording means when the second deletion request from the facsimile slave is received.

  According to the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration, since the second facsimile signal is deleted from the recording means in the master unit after the second facsimile signal is reliably received by the facsimile slave unit, The second facsimile signal can be deleted at the timing.

  If the communication environment between the facsimile machine and the parent machine is good and the facsimile machine can normally receive the first facsimile signal from the parent machine during reception (that is, the image data can be received normally in real time). It is not necessary to transmit the second facsimile signal from the parent machine after the receiving operation. In other words, if the communication environment is good, it can be said that it is not always necessary to record the facsimile signal in the master unit. Accordingly, as described in claim 10, the facsimile apparatus having each of the above configurations is a communication environment for determining whether or not the facsimile slave unit is in a good communication environment in which normal wireless communication can be performed with the master unit. It is preferable to include a determination unit, and the recording control unit included in the master unit may not record the second facsimile signal when the communication environment determination unit determines that the communication environment is good.

  According to the facsimile apparatus having the above-described configuration, if the communication environment is good, the facsimile signal is not recorded in the parent machine, so that the processing load and power consumption of the parent machine can be further reduced.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing schematic structure of a main | base station and a facsimile slave unit. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating a facsimile reception operation | movement. It is a flowchart showing the main | base station reception process performed with a main | base station. It is a flowchart showing the facsimile slave unit reception process executed in the facsimile slave unit. It is a flowchart showing the communication environment monitoring process performed with a facsimile handset.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a parent device 2 connected to a telephone line (facsimile network) 100, and a facsimile device capable of wireless communication with the parent device 2 and having a facsimile communication function. Machine (FAX slave machine) 3.

  The FAX slave unit 3 is configured as a so-called multi-function machine having a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like in addition to a facsimile function. In the facsimile function, the FAX slave unit 3 transmits and receives a voice signal (facsimile signal) to and from the opposite terminal 110 that is a transmission / reception partner by relaying the master unit 2. Therefore, the FAX slave unit 3 is configured to directly transmit and receive a voice signal to be transmitted / received by facsimile communication to / from the master unit 2. The voice signal (facsimile signal) here is an analog signal in a voice frequency band (for example, 300 to 3400 Hz) as is well known.

  The master unit 2 is capable of wireless communication with the FAX slave unit 3, and in addition to the function of relaying the audio signal between the FAX slave unit 3 and the telephone line 100 in real time, the master unit 2 is digital cordless (hereinafter “ It is configured as a communication BOX that also has a function of transmitting and receiving a voice signal for a call using a communication method to and from the cordless handset 4.

  The wireless communication between the master unit 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 and the wireless communication (sound signal transmission / reception) between the master unit 2 and the cordless slave unit 4 are both the same DCL communication method (for example, 2.4 GHz band). (Spread spectrum communication system by frequency hopping system using frequency band).

  The base unit 2 is connected to the telephone line 100 and is connected to the telephone line 100 (and thus to a partner terminal device such as the opposite terminal 110) to transmit and receive voice signals (I / O). F) unit 25 and a DCL wireless communication unit 24 that performs wireless communication with each of the slave units 3 and 4 by the DCL communication method. The line I / F unit 25 has functions such as closing / opening of the telephone line 100 and detection of polarity reversal. The FAX slave unit 3 includes a DCL radio communication unit 34 that performs radio communication with the master unit 2 by a DCL communication method, and a FAX modem 37 that performs demodulation from a voice signal to FAX data and modulation from a FAX data to a voice signal. I have.

  In the facsimile communication, a voice signal transmitted from the telephone line 100 is received by the line I / F unit 25 of the base unit 2 and is received by the voice signal processing unit 26 (not shown in FIG. 1, refer to FIG. 2). And is wirelessly transmitted from the DCL wireless communication unit 24 through the antenna 2a. The wirelessly transmitted audio signal is received by the antenna 3a in the FAX slave unit 3 and input to the DCL wireless communication unit 34, which is input to the audio signal processing unit 36 (not shown in FIG. 1, refer to FIG. 2). After DA conversion, the signal is input to the FAX modem 37 and demodulated into FAX data. On the contrary, when transmitting image data from the FAX slave unit 3, FAX data including the image data is modulated into an audio signal by the FAX modem 37, and the audio signal is AD-converted by the audio signal processing unit 36. It is wirelessly transmitted from the DCL wireless communication unit 34. The wirelessly transmitted voice signal is received by the DCL wireless communication unit 24 in the base unit 2, converted to DA by the voice signal processing unit 26, and sent from the line I / F unit 25 to the telephone line 100. .

  Note that the facsimile communication of this embodiment is the ITU-T recommendation T.264. This is performed in accordance with the G3 facsimile procedure, which is one of the procedures defined at 30. The voice signal transmitted through the telephone line mainly includes a voice signal for telephone call and a voice signal for facsimile communication. In the following description, there is no particular notice when simply saying “voice signal”. As long as it means an audio signal (facsimile signal) for facsimile communication.

  The facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has, as its characteristic functions, a voice signal for recording a voice signal received from the telephone line 100 in the master unit 2 and wirelessly transmitting the recorded voice signal to the FAX slave unit 3. Has recording and transmission functions. In the following description, recording of a voice signal is also referred to as “recording”, and the recorded voice signal (corresponding to the second facsimile signal of the present invention) is also referred to as “recording signal”.

  The audio signal is recorded in the base unit 2 after being converted into digital data, and the digitized and recorded recording signal (hereinafter also referred to as “recorded data”) is transmitted to the FAX unit 3. Then, it is converted again into an analog audio signal by the FAX slave unit 3. Therefore, in the following description, the recorded signal and the recorded data are treated as having substantially the same meaning.

  Further, the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has, as a characteristic function, a facsimile reception operation (reception operation) in which the FAX slave device 3 receives an incoming call (incoming call) from the telephone line 100 and receives an audio signal. The error determination function for monitoring the reception state of the voice signal (corresponding to the first facsimile signal of the present invention) received in real time from the master unit 2 and the parent when the error determination function determines that there is an error. And a recording signal request / acquisition function for requesting / acquiring a recording signal from the machine 2.

  Next, a more specific configuration, function, and the like of the parent device 2 and the FAX child device 3 constituting the facsimile apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the base unit 2 includes a control unit 21 that executes various control programs including a base unit reception process (details will be described later) shown in FIG. 4, a ROM 22 that stores these various control programs, and the like. A RAM 23 (corresponding to the recording means of the present invention) in which various data including a recording signal (recording data) are stored, the above-described DCL wireless communication unit 24 and line I / F unit 25, and line I / F unit 25 Is received by the line I / F unit 25 and the audio signal processing unit 26 that performs processing such as AD conversion of the audio signal received by the digital signal processing and DA conversion of the audio signal digitized and transmitted from the FAX slave unit 3. An audio signal storage control unit 27 that stores (i.e., records) the audio signal AD-converted by the audio signal processing unit 26 in the RAM 23 according to a command from the FAX slave unit 3; a display unit 28 that displays various types of information; It includes an operation unit 29 composed of a plurality of buttons or the like for such species menu operation and setting (not shown), and they are connected to each other via a bus 30.

  The control unit 21 is configured by a CPU in this embodiment. The control unit 21 controls the operation of each unit such as the DCL wireless communication unit 24, the line I / F unit 25, the audio signal processing unit 26, and the audio signal storage control unit 27.

  The FAX slave unit 3 includes a control unit 31 that executes various control programs including the processes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (details will be described later), a ROM 32 that stores these various control programs, and image data for facsimile communication. RAM 33 in which various data including the above are stored, the above-described DCL wireless communication unit 34, DA conversion of the digitized audio signal received by the DCL wireless communication unit 34, and an audio signal to be transmitted (FAX modem) The audio signal processing unit 36 that performs processing such as AD conversion of the audio signal modulated at 37), the above-described FAX modem 37, the display unit 38 that displays various information, and various menu operations and settings, etc. Operation unit 39 composed of a plurality of buttons and the like (not shown), an image reading unit 41 that reads an image of an original, and image recording that performs image recording (printing) on a recording medium such as printing paper 42, it includes a, which are connected to each other via a bus 40.

  The DCL wireless communication unit 34 included in the FAX handset 3 periodically detects BER (Bit Error Rate) and RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indicator) in wireless communication with the base unit 2, and each time it detects the latest detection. It has a function to hold a value. The BER and RSSI are referred to by the control unit 31 in an error determination process executed by the control unit 31 during a reception operation in the FAX slave unit 3 and a communication environment monitoring process (see FIG. 6) always executed by the control unit 31. The

  Among these, the error determination process during the reception operation is a process for determining whether or not the real-time reception of the audio signal is normally performed during the reception operation, and realizes the above-described error determination function. The control unit 31 acquires the BER from the DCL wireless communication unit 34 at a predetermined time interval during the reception operation (specifically, from the start of the process of S460 to the end of the process of S550 in the FAX slave unit reception process of FIG. 5). And the presence or absence of an error is determined based on each acquired BER. There are various ways to determine whether or not there is an error specifically. For example, when a certain threshold is set for BER, and there is at least one detected BER that exceeds the threshold, or all It is possible to determine that there is an error when the ratio of the detected values that are equal to or greater than the threshold is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.

  Next, an example of the reception operation in the facsimile machine 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. When there is an incoming call to the parent device 2 due to a call from the opposite terminal 110, the parent device 2 calls the FAX slave device 3 (incoming call notification). Receiving this, the FAX slave unit 3 transmits a DCL communication connection request to the master unit 2, and the master unit 2 receiving the request closes the telephone line 100. Thereby, FAX communication according to the G3 facsimile procedure is started.

  That is, first, the CNG signal, which is a signal for notifying FAX communication, is received by the FAX slave unit 3 via the master unit 2 (relayed) from the opposite terminal 110 by the call setup procedure of phase A. Upon receiving the CNG signal, the FAX slave device 3 transmits a CED signal indicating that the FAX slave device 3 is also a terminal capable of facsimile communication to the opposite terminal 110 via the master device 2.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to phase B, and negotiation for functions at the time of transmission and reception is performed. Specifically, a DIS signal indicating the maximum function of the FAX slave unit 3 is transmitted from the FAX slave unit 3 to the opposite terminal 110 via the master unit 2. In response to this DIS signal, a DCS signal is received from the opposite terminal 110 via the master unit 2, and subsequently a TCF signal for training check is received. When receiving the TCF signal normally, the FAX slave device 3 transmits a CFR signal indicating that to the opposite terminal 110 via the master device 2.

  In this phase B, in this embodiment, when the FAX slave unit 3 can normally receive the TCF signal, it transmits a recording start command to the master unit 2 before transmitting the CFR signal. When base unit 2 receives the recording start command, base unit 2 starts recording the audio signal received from telephone line 100 to RAM 23.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to phase C, and an audio signal including image data is received from the opposite terminal 110. In this phase C, the FAX slave unit 3 receives the audio signal from the opposite terminal 110 in real time via the master unit 2 and converts the received audio signal into image data (demodulation and decoding by the FAX modem 37). And the image data is also stored in the RAM 33 in real time. Note that audio signals are transmitted and received between the master unit 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 in real time in a series of procedures from phase A to phase E, including reception of audio signals including the image data.

  After the reception of the audio signal including the image data is completed, the process proceeds to phase D, and the EOP signal indicating the last page is received from the opposite terminal 110 via the parent device 2. When receiving the EOP signal, the FAX slave device 3 transmits a response MCF signal to the opposite terminal 110 via the master device 2.

  In this phase D, in this embodiment, the FAX slave unit 3 transmits a recording stop command to the master unit 2 after receiving the EOP signal and before transmitting the MCF signal. When receiving the recording stop command, base unit 2 stops recording the audio signal from telephone line 100 side.

  In phase D, as is well known, opposite terminal 110 may return to phase C or phase B by sending an EOM signal or an MPS signal instead of an EOP signal until transmission of all pages of image data is completed. However, a detailed description of these processes is omitted.

  After completion of phase D, the process proceeds to phase E, and a DCN signal indicating that call disconnection is to be started is received from the opposite terminal 110 via the base unit 2. Thereafter, the call is actually disconnected on the telephone line 100 side, and in response to this, the master unit 2 transmits a call disconnection notification to the FAX slave unit 3. When the FAX slave unit 3 receives the call disconnection notification from the master unit 2, the FAX slave unit 3 transmits a DCL communication disconnection request to the master unit 2, and the master unit 2 that receives the request releases the telephone line 100. The FAX handset 3 starts the above-described error determination process after transmitting a recording start command to the base unit 2 in phase B, and after the phase E ends and transmits a DCL communication disconnection request to the base unit, the error is detected. The determination process ends.

  In the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the next processing is continued after the line is opened. That is, the FAX slave unit 3 transmits a recording data request to the master unit 2 when it is determined that there is an error in the error determination process. Receiving this, the master unit 2 transmits the recording data recorded during the real-time reception operation to the FAX slave unit 3. The transmission of the recording data is not required to be real-time, and is finally performed until the reception is normally completed by the FAX slave unit 3.

  When the FAX slave unit 3 receives the recording data from the master unit 2, it is demodulated by the FAX modem 37 and further converted into image data through various processes such as decoding. The image data thus generated is stored in the RAM 33.

  After the recording data is converted into the image data, the FAX slave unit 3 deletes the image data received in real time and stored in the RAM 33 during the reception operation, and further receives the master unit 2 during the reception operation. A recorded data deletion command for deleting the recorded signal (recorded data) recorded in the RAM 23 of the base unit 2 is transmitted to Receiving this, the base unit 2 deletes the recording data to be deleted, recorded in its own RAM 23.

  If the FAX slave unit 3 determines that there is no error in the error determination process, it means that the image data can be normally acquired from the audio signal received in real time during the reception operation. The recording data deletion command is not transmitted to the parent device 2, but a recording data deletion command is simply transmitted to the parent device 2, and the recorded data recorded in the parent device 2 is deleted.

  That is, if there is no error during real-time reception, the FAX slave unit 3 generates image data from the audio signal received in real time. Image data is generated from a recording signal (recorded data) recorded by the master unit 2.

  In FIG. 3, as an example of the facsimile reception process, an example in which a voice signal is recorded in the master unit 2 during the reception operation and the recorded signal (recorded data) is transmitted to the FAX slave unit 3 after the reception operation is given. However, recording of the audio signal by the base unit 2 during the receiving operation is not always performed. That is, the FAX slave unit 3 constantly executes the communication environment monitoring process (see FIG. 6) to monitor the communication environment between the master unit 2 and the FAX slave unit 3, and the communication environment is good. Does not transmit a recording start command to base unit 2. In other words, if the communication environment is good, the FAX handset 3 performs signal transmission / reception according to an example procedure from phase A to phase E as in the conventional facsimile reception process, and then sends a DCL communication disconnection request to the base unit 2. Then, the facsimile reception process ends. In this case, the master unit 2 also does not record the voice signal as in the conventional facsimile reception process, and ends the facsimile reception process when the telephone line 100 is opened.

  Next, the master reception process executed by the control unit 21 of the master 2 will be described with reference to FIG. When receiving an incoming call from the opposite terminal 110, the control unit 21 of the base unit 2 starts this base unit reception process, calls the FAX slave unit 3 (incoming call notification) in S110, and transmits the FAX slave unit 3 in S120. It is determined whether or not a response (DCL communication connection request) has been received. If no DCL communication connection request is received from the FAX slave unit 3, it is determined in S260 whether or not a timeout has occurred. This determination is made to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (that is, timed out) without receiving a DCL communication connection request from the FAX slave unit 3 after the start of the master unit reception process. As long as the machine 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 can normally perform DCL wireless communication, the time is set such that the DCL communication connection request is reliably received from the FAX slave unit 3 before the predetermined time elapses.

  While the DCL communication connection request is not received from the FAX slave unit 3, the process returns to S120 from S260 and repeats the process of S120 until the timeout is determined in S260. However, if the timeout is determined in S260 Performs a predetermined error display (for example, a display indicating an abnormality in communication with the FAX slave unit 3) in S270, and ends the master unit reception process.

  If a DCL communication connection request is received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S120, a DCL wireless communication connection with the FAX slave unit 3 is established in S130, and audio signals are transmitted and received in real time with the FAX slave unit 3. In a subsequent S140, the telephone line 100 is closed.

  After the telephone line 100 is closed, in S150, it is determined whether or not a recording start command is received from the FAX slave unit 3. If a recording start command is not received from the FAX slave device 3, it is determined in S280 whether or not a DCL communication disconnection request has been received from the FAX slave device 3.

  As described above, in the FAX slave unit 3, the communication environment monitoring process of FIG. 6 is always executed, and when it is determined that the communication environment is good in the communication environment monitoring process, recording to the master unit 2 is started. The command is not sent. For this reason, when the communication environment is good, the FAX slave unit 3 enters the normal reception operation as it is after the line is closed, and after completion of the reception operation, the DCL communication disconnection request should be transmitted to the master unit 2. In order to cope with such a case, when a recording start command is not received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S150, a DCL communication disconnection request from the FAX slave unit 3 is waited in S280. When the DCL communication disconnection request is received from the FAX slave unit 3, the connection state of the DCL wireless communication with the FAX slave unit 3 is disconnected in S310, and the telephone line 100 is opened in the subsequent S320, The process ends.

  If a recording start command is received from the FAX handset 3 at S150, recording of the audio signal received from the telephone line 100 is started at S160, and recording is stopped from the FAX handset 3 at S170. Wait for the command to be received. If a recording stop command has not been received from the FAX slave device 3 in S170, it is determined in S290 whether a time-out has occurred. This determination is to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (that is, timed out) without receiving a recording stop command from the FAX slave device 3 after receiving the recording start command from the FAX slave device 3. The predetermined time in this case is large enough that the large amount of image data (for example, the entire capacity of the RAM 23 is filled with the recording signal) as long as the master unit 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 can normally perform DCL wireless communication. Even when a certain amount of image data is received, the time is set so that the reception of the image data is surely completed (and recording of the audio signal is surely completed) before the predetermined time elapses. ing.

  Even when the recording stop command is not received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S170, the process returns to S170 from S290 and repeats the process of S170 until it is determined to time out in S290. If so, recording of the audio signal is stopped in S300. In step S310, the connection state of the DCL wireless communication is disconnected. In step S320, the telephone line 100 is opened, and the process ends.

  If a recording stop command is received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S170, recording of the audio signal from the telephone line 100 is stopped in S180, and a DCL communication disconnection request is issued from the FAX slave unit 3 in S190. Is received. When the DCL communication disconnection request is received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S190, the connection state of the DCL wireless communication is disconnected in S200 as in S310, and the telephone line 100 is opened in S210 as in S320. To do.

  In S220, it is determined whether or not a recording data request is received from the FAX slave unit 3. If received, the recorded data (audio signal) recorded in the RAM 23 is transmitted to the FAX slave unit 3 during the reception operation in S230. To do. In S240, it is determined whether or not a recording data deletion command is received from the FAX slave unit 3. If the recording data request is not received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S220, it is determined that the audio signal is normally received in real time by the FAX slave unit 3 during the reception operation, and the process proceeds to S240 and the FAX slave unit is determined. Wait for the recorded data deletion command from 3.

  If a recording data deletion command is not received from the FAX slave device 3 in S240, it is determined in S340 whether a time-out has occurred. This determination is made to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (that is, timed out) without receiving the recorded data deletion command from the FAX slave device 3 after the line is released in S210. As long as the machine 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 can normally perform DCL wireless communication, the time is set so that the recording data deletion command is reliably received from the FAX slave unit 3 before the predetermined time elapses. Yes.

  While the recorded data deletion command is not received from the FAX slave unit 3, the process returns to S 220 from S 340 until the time out is determined in S 340, and the processing from S 220 is repeated. However, the time out is determined in S 340. If this is the case, the process is terminated.

If a recorded data deletion command is received from the FAX slave unit 3 in S240, the recorded data (recorded signal) recorded in the RAM 23 is deleted in S250, and this process ends.
Next, FAX slave device reception processing executed by the control unit 31 of the FAX slave device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. When receiving a call (incoming call notification) from master unit 2, control unit 31 of FAX slave unit 3 starts this FAX slave unit reception process, and first transmits a DCL communication connection request to master unit 2 in S410. Thereafter, in step S420, the phase A procedure in facsimile communication is performed.

  After phase A, the processing of the phase B procedure is started in S430, and when the TCF signal is normally received, it is determined in S440 whether or not the communication environment is good. This determination is made according to the state of the communication environment good flag and the communication environment bad flag set in the RAM 33 of the FAX slave device 3. Each of these flags is set in a communication environment monitoring process in FIG.

  If the communication environment good flag is set and the communication environment bad flag is cleared, it is determined in S440 that the communication environment is good, and the process proceeds to S620. In this case, it is determined that the audio signal recording in the parent device 2 is unnecessary (that is, the image data can be normally acquired from the audio signal received in real time), and the reception process similar to the conventional one is executed. That is, the CFR signal is transmitted in S620, and the processing of the phase C procedure is executed in S630. In this phase C, audio data is received in real time via the master unit 2, and the audio data is converted into image data, stored in the RAM 33, and the like.

  After phase C, the processing of the phase D procedure is executed in S640, and then the processing of the phase E procedure is executed in S650. After the processing of phase E, in S660, a DCL communication disconnection request is transmitted to base unit 2, and this processing is terminated.

  In S440, if the communication environment failure flag is set and the communication environment good flag is cleared, it is determined that the communication environment is bad, and the process proceeds to S450. In S450, a recording start command is transmitted to base unit 2, and then DCL communication error detection (that is, the above-described error determination process) is started in S460, and a CFR signal is transmitted in S470. After the transmission of the CFR signal, the process of the phase C procedure is executed in S480 similarly to S630, and after the phase C, the process of the phase D procedure is started in S490.

  After the start of phase D, the process waits until an EOP signal is received in S500. When the EOP signal is received in S500, a recording stop command is transmitted to the parent device 2 in S510, and the MCF signal is transmitted in S520. After the transmission of the MCF signal, the process of the phase E is performed in S530, and then a DCL communication disconnection request is transmitted to the base unit 2 in S540, and the DCL communication error detection is terminated in S550.

  In S560, it is determined whether or not an error is detected in the DCL communication error detection (that is, error determination processing) between S460 and S550 (that is, whether or not there is an error). If there is no error, in step S610, a recording data deletion command is transmitted to the parent device 2, and the process ends. On the other hand, if there is an error in S560, a recording data request is transmitted to the parent device 2 in S570, and the recording data (recording signal) transmitted from the parent device 2 is received in S580. In S590, the received recording signal is converted into image data (demodulation, decoding, etc.), and the image data is stored in the RAM 33. In step S600, the image data received in real time during the receiving operation is deleted from the RAM 33. In step S610, a recorded data deletion command is transmitted to the parent device 2, and the process ends.

  Next, communication environment monitoring processing executed by the control unit 31 of the FAX slave device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 31 of the FAX slave unit 3 always executes this communication environment monitoring process at a predetermined time interval during the operation. When starting the communication environment monitoring process, the control unit 31 first acquires a BER from the DCL wireless communication unit 34 of the FAX slave unit 3 in S710, and similarly acquires an RSSI from the DCL wireless communication unit 34 in S720. To do. These BER and RSSI are stored in the RAM 33 in S730. The BER and RSSI are stored by accumulating data acquired during the past 30 minutes.

  In S740, based on the BER and RSSI accumulated and stored in the RAM 33, it is determined whether or not the communication environment is good (communication environment good state). This determination can be made by various methods. For example, when the BER for the past 30 minutes is all below a predetermined threshold (or no error is detected) and all the RSSIs are above a predetermined threshold, it is determined that the communication environment is good. it can.

  In S750, the determination result in S740 is determined. If it is determined that the communication environment is good, the communication environment good flag is set and the communication environment defect flag is cleared in S760. If it is determined in S740 that the communication environment is poor, the process proceeds from S750 to S770, where the communication environment defect flag is set and the communication environment good flag is cleared.

  According to the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment described above, even if an error or the like occurs in the audio signal received in real time by the FAX slave unit 3 during the reception operation, the recording signal is received from the master unit 2 Normal image data can be acquired from the recorded signal. Therefore, regardless of the communication environment between the parent device 2 and the FAX child device 3 during the receiving operation, the image data can be normally acquired in the FAX child device.

  In other words, the master unit 2 is not equipped with a FAX modem, the FAX slave unit 3 is equipped with a FAX modem 37, and the master unit 2 simply relays audio signals. Even if there is an error such as packet loss (data loss) in the DCL wireless communication with 3, normal image data can be acquired. Therefore, a sense of security can be given to the user.

  In addition, the base unit 2 does not have a FAX modem, and both the wireless communication with the FAX handset 3 and the wireless communication with the cordless handset 4 are performed by the same DCL wireless communication. The performance of the part 21 can be kept low. Moreover, the storage of the FAX data in the base unit 2 is sufficient with a capacity that can temporarily record the recording signal. In addition, when the FAX slave unit 3 requests the master unit 2 to record, the recording start and recording stop request timings are appropriately set so that control signals other than the image data are not recorded. In addition, since the recording signal that is no longer needed is deleted, this also contributes to the reduction of the storage area of the master unit 2. Further, when the communication environment is good, the FAX slave device 3 does not request recording to the parent device (that is, the audio signal recording itself in the parent device 2 is not performed).

Therefore, it is possible to simplify the function and configuration of the base unit 2 and reduce the storage capacity of the RAM 23 and the like, thereby simplifying the overall configuration of the facsimile machine 1, reducing costs, and saving power.
[Modification]
The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the error determination process (error detection at the time of real-time reception) during the reception operation in the FAX slave device 3 may be performed not only by the determination method based on BER but also by other methods. That is, as a result, whether or not the FAX signal transmitted in real time from the master unit 2 during the reception operation has been normally received by the FAX slave unit 3 (as a result, high-quality image data can be acquired by the FAX slave unit 3). As long as it can be appropriately determined, the specific determination method is not particularly limited.

  Regarding the communication environment monitoring process (FIG. 6) executed by the FAX slave device 3, the determination method of the good or bad communication environment based on BER and RSSI is merely an example, and may be determined by another method. In this communication environment monitoring process, determining the communication environment based on the accumulated data of BER and RSSI for the past 30 minutes is merely an example.

  Further, the recording of the audio signal in the master unit 2 and the transmission of the recorded signal to the FAX slave unit 3 may always be performed regardless of the presence or absence of an error during real-time reception in the FAX slave unit 3. In that case, the FAX slave unit 3 may generate image data based on at least one of the audio signal received in real time and the recording signal received from the master unit 2 after the reception operation. Specifically, for example, in consideration of the possibility that an error has occurred during real-time reception, the image data may always be generated based on the recording signal, or the two are compared and matched. If not, the image data may be generated based on the recording signal, or one image data may be generated by appropriately combining normal parts of the image data obtained from both. Can be considered.

  Further, it is not essential to perform transmission / reception of audio signals between the master unit 2 and the FAX slave unit 3 by DCL wireless communication. In the above embodiment, the ITU-T recommendation T.30. Although the G3 facsimile procedure is illustrated as an example of the procedure defined in 30, this is merely an example. Furthermore, the application of the present invention is the ITU-T recommendation T.30. However, the present invention is not limited to following the procedure defined in 30 (except for the application of claims 5 and 7).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile apparatus, 2 ... Master machine, 3 ... FAX cordless handset, 4 ... Cordless cordless handset, 21, 31 ... Control part, 22, 32 ... ROM, 23, 33 ... RAM, 24, 34 ... DCL radio | wireless communication part, 25 ... line I / F unit, 26, 36 ... audio signal processing unit, 27 ... audio signal storage control unit, 28, 38 ... display unit, 29, 39 ... operation unit, 30, 40 ... bus, 37 ... FAX modem, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 41 ... Image reading part, 42 ... Image recording part, 100 ... Telephone line, 110 ... Opposite terminal

Claims (10)

A facsimile communication function configured to wirelessly transmit / receive a facsimile signal to be transmitted / received to / from a line in the facsimile communication; demodulating the received facsimile signal into facsimile data; A facsimile handset provided with modulation / demodulation means for modulating the facsimile signal;
A master unit connected to the line and capable of wireless communication with the facsimile slave unit and relaying the facsimile signal between the facsimile slave unit and the line;
A facsimile machine comprising:
The base unit is
Recording means for recording the facsimile signal;
Recording control means for recording in the recording means the facsimile signal received from the line and relayed to the facsimile slave unit during a facsimile reception operation for receiving the facsimile signal upon receipt of an incoming call from the line When,
Recording signal transmission control means for wirelessly transmitting the facsimile signal recorded in the recording means to the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile reception operation after the facsimile reception operation is completed;
With
The facsimile slave is
A first facsimile signal, which is the facsimile signal relayed and transmitted by the parent machine during the facsimile reception operation, and recorded in the recording means of the parent machine during the facsimile reception operation, and the facsimile reception operation A facsimile apparatus, comprising: image data generating means for generating image data based on at least one of the second facsimile signal which is the facsimile signal transmitted from the parent machine after completion. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1,
The facsimile slave is
A slave unit reception determination means for determining whether or not the reception of the first facsimile signal has been normally performed during the facsimile reception operation;
After the facsimile reception operation is completed, if the reception of the first facsimile signal is not normally performed by the slave unit reception determination means during the facsimile reception operation, a recording signal transmission request is sent to the master unit. Recording signal transmission request means for wireless transmission;
With
The recording signal transmission control means provided in the master unit causes the second facsimile signal to be wirelessly transmitted to the facsimile slave unit when the recording signal transmission request from the facsimile slave unit is received,
The facsimile apparatus, wherein the image data generating means included in the facsimile slave unit generates image data based on the second facsimile signal wirelessly transmitted from the master unit in response to the recording signal transmission request. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2,
The facsimile handset includes first deletion request means for wirelessly transmitting a first deletion request to the parent machine when the handset reception judging means judges that the reception of the first facsimile signal has been normally performed. Prepared,
The master unit includes a first deletion unit that deletes the second facsimile signal recorded in the recording unit when the first deletion request is received from the slave unit. A facsimile machine characterized by The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The facsimile handset includes a recording start request means for wirelessly transmitting a recording start request to the parent device at a predetermined recording start request timing after the start of the facsimile reception operation,
The facsimile apparatus, wherein the recording control means provided in the master unit starts recording the second facsimile signal when the recording start request is received from the facsimile slave unit. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4,
The facsimile communication function of the facsimile apparatus is ITU-T recommendation T.264. 30 is performed according to the transmission procedure defined in 30.
The recording start request timing is a timing before the CFA signal that is a response signal to the TCF signal is transmitted after the TCF signal is normally received from the line in the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile reception operation. A facsimile machine characterized by the above. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein
The facsimile slave is configured to stop the recording by causing the recording start request means to wirelessly transmit the recording stop request to the master at a predetermined recording stop request timing after the recording start request is wirelessly transmitted to the master. With request means,
The recording control means provided in the master unit stops the recording of the second facsimile signal when the recording stop request is received from the facsimile slave unit after the recording of the second facsimile signal is started. Feature facsimile machine. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 6,
The facsimile communication function of the facsimile apparatus is ITU-T recommendation T.264. 30 is performed according to the procedure defined in 30.
The recording stop request timing is a timing before an MCF signal, which is a response signal to the EOP signal, is transmitted after the EOP signal is received from the line in the facsimile slave unit during the facsimile reception operation. Feature facsimile machine. A facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The base unit transmits the second facsimile signal transmitted from the recording unit after the second facsimile signal recorded by the recording control unit is wirelessly transmitted to the facsimile slave unit by the recording signal transmission control unit. A facsimile apparatus comprising a second deleting means for deleting. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
The facsimile handset includes a second deletion request means for wirelessly transmitting a second deletion request to the parent machine when the second facsimile signal from the parent machine is received after the facsimile reception operation is completed.
The second deletion means provided in the base unit deletes the second facsimile signal recorded in the recording means when the second deletion request is received from the facsimile slave unit. Facsimile machine to do. A facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
The facsimile handset includes a communication environment determining means for determining whether or not a communication environment is in a good state where normal wireless communication can be performed with the parent device,
The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control means included in the base unit does not record the second facsimile signal when the communication environment determining means determines that the communication environment is in a good state.