JP2015005840A - Image communication device, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, when input operation of a telephone number by a user delays, connection to a destination is not available, and in order to connect again, operation is required to be performed again from the start, which requires labor and is inefficient.SOLUTION: Relating to an image communication device, to which a telephone or handset is connected and in which the telephone or handset is used for manual calling, and a method of controlling it, just before an input time limit for each digit of a telephone number exceeds a predetermined time, a call is made using the numbers of digits accumulated so far, and if there is error response to the call, the inputs of the digits of the telephone number are accepted and the inputs of the digits of the telephone number are accumulated. When the input time limit exceeds the predetermined time, re-call is made using the numbers obtained by adding inputs of digits accumulated anew to the inputs of the digits accumulated at a previous call.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program.

  In addition to facsimile (hereinafter, FAX) communication using a conventional public telephone line (PSTN), there is FAX communication using a high-speed network such as an IP network. There are two types of FAX communication using the IP network. One is T.264 of the ITU-T recommendation. T. 30 protocol was used. 30 FAX is realized with deemed voice. This is a T.M. 30 analog signals are reconverted into digital audio signals for communication. T.30 analog signals are regarded as audio signals for communication. This is called voice communication without 30 FAX only.

  The other is ITU-T recommendation T.I. 38 is a communication method called T.38. In this method, a signal communicated by the 30 protocol is communicated as a digital signal. Compared to 30, high-speed communication can be performed. Both of the above two methods use SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) as call control means, and point-to-point communication is realized on the IP network.

  Examples of the IP network include a digital public network called NGN (Next Generation Network) provided by NTT in Japan and a private IP line using an IP private branch exchange (IP-PBX). In the case of an NGN network, bandwidth guarantee and security management are performed, so that image communication can be performed at high speed and safely. The conventional PSTN has a maximum communication speed of 33.6 Kbps, but NGN guarantees a maximum of 1 Mbps, enabling about 30 times faster communication.

  Such T.I. 38 FAX communication and T.W. There is a method of configuring telephone-related operations on an IP network in an image communication apparatus capable of voice communication without 30 FAX. In this case, it is not necessary to connect to a public telephone line (PSTN), and a telephone call or FAX communication is possible only by network connection. In this case, the handset and the child phone are also connected to the IP network in the same way as FAX communication, and voice data is exchanged by passing voice packets through the IP network. This is a so-called IP phone, and the encoding method of voice packets is ITU-T recommendation G.264. 711 is used, and RTP (Real Time Protocol) is used as the transmission protocol.

  There is a manual call in this telephone system operation. This is a call by manually entering a telephone number or after manually pressing an on-hook button of a communication device device while the connected telephone / handset is on-hook. This manual call is used not only for telephone connection for telephone calls but also for the purpose of manual transmission and reception of FAX. Fax manual transmission and manual reception refer to a function of connecting to a telephone once and talking with the other party, and then shifting to FAX transmission or reception by a user's manual operation. Similarly, when connected to the IP network, this manual call is used for a telephone call, FAX manual transmission, and FAX manual reception.

  Manual call in PSTN is a method of capturing a line by pressing an off-hook of a telephone / handset or a device on-hook button, and then outputting the number to the line one digit each time the telephone number is manually pressed. Done in Sending the input number to the line every time each digit of the telephone number is input is also called real-time calling.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 is a document relating to calling on the digital network. In Patent Document 1, an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) is used as a line, and after a call is made, image transmission is performed according to a G4 (group 4) procedure, which is a digital signal transmission procedure. Then, when a specific error signal is received from the network, the G4 procedure is given up for transmission, the same connection destination is called again, and a fallback procedure is performed in which image transmission is performed in the G3 procedure of the analog signal transmission procedure. This Patent Document 1 further describes that the fallback condition status includes divided (real-time) calling and can be divided (real-time) calling on the digital network.

JP 2000-261570 A

  The terminal adapter (TA) that accommodates the IP network and connects the analog telephone / handset does not send the number to the line in real time even if the call is manually made, and the entered number is stored on the device side. When the input is completed, the call is made collectively.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection request signal (INVITE) used in SIP.

  Among these signals, the telephone number of the call destination is used in the To field, and the numbers before <SIP: and thereafter before @ in the To field are the telephone numbers to be called. In this case, “0311112222” is the telephone number of the call destination. As described above, generally, telephone numbers are not divided into connection signals, and calls made in a lump are used. However, in this case, it is necessary to determine the last digit of the telephone number. An IP telephone directly connected to the IP network has a call (connect) button, and the line can be called by pressing this button.

  However, if a special and expensive IP phone is not directly connected to the IP network but is assumed to be connected to an inexpensive analog handset as in the case of PSTN, a call (connect) button provided on the IP phone is provided. There is no. For this reason, it is necessary to determine whether or not the last digit of the telephone number has been input at the input timing of the number. As a method for determining the input of the last digit telephone number, there is a method using an interdigit timer. This is because the time between telephone numbers (digits) manually entered by the user is defined by the interdigit timer, and a call is made to the line when a predetermined time interval is opened (the interdigit timer expires). is there. The inter-digit timer is generally time-up in about several seconds (2 to 8 seconds), and in some cases, the user can select the set time of the inter-digit timer. If the setting time of this interdigit timer is short, there is a merit that you can make a call and connect immediately after entering the phone number, but if the input of the phone number is delayed, it is judged that the input is completed in the middle of the number Therefore, there is a risk of making a call in the middle of input.

  In this way, when the input of the user's telephone number is delayed and an interdigit timeout occurs in the middle of the input, a call is made to the server using the telephone number input so far. In this case, since the telephone number is incomplete during input, the server responds with an error signal indicating that there is no connection partner. The apparatus that has received this message ends with no connection partner, for example, outputs an error sound to the telephone / handset and ends. As described above, in a conventional communication device that can accommodate an analog handset, connect to an IP network, and make a manual call, if the user's input operation of the telephone number is delayed, the connection to the other party cannot be made. It was.

  On the other hand, when the setting time of the interdigit timer is lengthened, the occurrence of the error described above is reduced, but it takes time until the call is made after the input of the telephone number is completed, and the user waits until that time.

  In this way, in a device that accommodates analog telephones / handsets and makes a manual call to the IP network, if the user's input operation of the telephone number is delayed, it becomes impossible to connect to the other party. It was necessary to rework, which was time consuming and inefficient. Also, by setting a long timer value between digits, it is possible to deal with delays in input operations, but it takes longer time to make a call, and as a result, it takes more time to connect, causing discomfort to the user. There was a problem that.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

  A feature of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of preventing an error from occurring even when input of a telephone number by a user is delayed at the time of a manual call and preventing an increase in the time until the call is made.

In order to achieve the above object, an image communication apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention has the following arrangement. That is,
An image communication apparatus that can connect a telephone or a handset and perform a manual call using the telephone or the handset,
Detecting means for detecting the input of each digit of the telephone number;
A time measuring means for measuring an input time interval of each digit of the telephone number;
Storage means for storing the input of each digit of the telephone number detected by the detection means;
When the input time interval timed by the time measuring means exceeds a predetermined time, a call is made with the digit number stored in the storage means, and when there is an error response to the call, the telephone number Control means for receiving input of each digit and controlling to activate the detection means, the timing means and the storage means;
When the input time interval timed by the timekeeping means exceeds a predetermined time during the control by the control means, the input of each digit stored in the storage means at the time of the call is performed under the control of the control means. Re-calling means for re-calling by the number obtained by connecting the input of each digit stored in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring even when the input of a telephone number by a user is delayed at the time of a manual call, and to prevent an increase in the time until the call is made.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image communication apparatus according to an embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the audio | voice signal processing part which concerns on embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the image communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the image communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. The figure explaining the sequence of communication in the communication system containing the image communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the connection request signal (INVITE) used by SIP.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image communication apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image communication apparatus 101 according to the embodiment is connected to a high-speed digital circuit network such as an IP network, and is used for voice communication and ITU-T recommendation T.264. 30 FAX T.S. Voice communication without 30 FAX only, and ITU-T recommendation This is an image communication apparatus 101 capable of 38 FAX communication.

  The CPU 102 controls the operation of each unit of the image communication apparatus 101 according to a control program stored in the ROM 108. The operation unit 103 includes a display unit having a touch panel function and a key operation unit such as a hard key. The display screen displays, for example, windows, icons, messages, menus, and other user interface information. Although not shown, the operation unit 103 includes various keys for a user to perform copying, FAX, and printer operations, a pointing device for operating icons, menus, and the like on a display screen. The scanner unit 104 reads a document. The printing unit 105 performs printing based on print data stored in the RAM 109 or HDD (hard disk drive) 110. The ROM 108 holds various control programs and data. The RAM 109 has a work area for the CPU 101, a data save area for error processing, a control program load area, and the like. The HDD 110 is used to store various control programs and print data. T. T. et al. 30 / T. 38 protocol creation / analysis unit 111 is an ITU-U recommendation T.38 protocol. 30 / T. It has a function of generating facsimile transmission information according to the 38 protocol and extracting the facsimile transmission information from the received protocol. The IP packet creation / analysis unit 106 is an ITU-U recommendation T.264. 30 / T. 38 protocol is mapped to an IP packet, and an ITU-U recommendation T.36 is received from the received IP packet. 30 / T. It has a function to extract 38 protocols. An image conversion unit 107 performs compression / decompression, scaling, and line density conversion of an image to be communicated by FAX. The network interface unit 112 is a network unit I / F unit called NIC (Network Interface Controller), and is connected to the IP network through the network unit I / F unit. The audio signal processing unit 113 is connected to the T.W. 30FAX only voice communication and voice signal for telephone call are processed. The telephone 114 is connected to the SLIC 208 (FIG. 2) of the audio signal processing unit 113. The interdigit timer 115 is a programmable timer and is used to detect a timeout when the user inputs each digit of the telephone number, as will be described later. The set time of the timer 115 is set by the CPU 102, and the CPU 102 can also control the start and end of the time measurement by the timer 115.

  Here, simply, call processing, T.P. A description will be given of communication using only 30 FAX without voice.

  Call and T. The signal used for voice communication without only 30 FAX is G.30. This is a packetization of audio data encoded by an encoding method called 711 (PCM). The packetized voice data is received by the network I / F unit 112 from the IP network, analyzed by the IP packet creation / analysis unit 106, and pure voice code data is extracted, which is sent to the voice signal processing unit 113. Passed. Furthermore, the IP packet creation / analysis unit 106 has a function of distributing voice data for two sessions so as to support multi-sessions. That is, the audio data for two sessions is separated from the IP packet creation / analysis unit 106 and passed to the audio signal processing unit 113. Also, the audio data from the audio signal processing unit 113 is packetized for each session by the IP packet creation / analysis unit 106 and sent to the IP network via the network I / F unit 112.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the audio signal processing unit 113 according to the embodiment.

  The voice signal processing unit 113 is connected to the call processing unit 201 and the T.P. The voice communication unit 202 and the selector 203 are provided with only 30 FAX. The selector 203 connects a digital audio signal, which is an input / output signal to the IP network, to the call processing unit 201, Only 30 FAX is switched over to the voice communication unit 202. Switching of the selector 203 is controlled by a control signal 204 from the CPU 102. The call processing unit 201 has a SLIC (Subscriber Line Interface Circuit). This SLIC performs identification of dial signals from the telephone 114, ringing control of the telephone 114, hook detection at the telephone 114, digital-analog conversion of audio signals, analog-digital conversion (so-called audio codec), and the like. The call processing unit 201 is connected to the network I / F unit 112 via the selector 203, receives a digital voice signal from the IP network, converts the received digital voice signal into an analog voice signal, and is connected to the telephone 114. Output to. Further, the analog voice signal from the telephone 114 is converted into a digital voice signal and output to the IP network through the network I / F unit 112. This process enables voice calls over the IP network.

  Further, as described above, the call processing unit 201 detects the hook state of the telephone 114 when the telephone 114 makes a call. A function for identifying a dial signal and confirming a telephone number after detecting an off-hook, and a telephone ringing control function for outputting a pseudo incoming signal to the telephone 114 in order to ring the telephone 114 when receiving an incoming call from the IP network. Have. It also has a function of outputting a ringing tone (calling signal), a busy tone indicating that the telephone is busy, and the like to the telephone 114 as necessary. Note that the hook state and dial signal of the telephone 114 detected by the call processing unit 201 are notified to the CPU 102, and the CPU 102 can control the ringing of the telephone 114 by controlling the call processing unit 201.

  Further, the audio signal processing unit 113 is configured to output the T.P. It also has a 30-FAX voice communication unit 202. This T.W. The 30-FAX voice communication unit 202 has a modem device. T. T. et al. The 30-FAX voice communication unit 202 includes a selector 203 and T.30 FAX. 30 / T. 38 is connected to the network I / F unit 112 through the protocol creation / analysis unit 111. And T. from the IP network. An audio signal (digital audio signal) having only 30 FAX is input and demodulated. 30 protocol procedure data and image data are received. Further, T.W. The voice communication unit 202 having only 30 FAX does not include the T.30 FAX. In order to transmit procedural data and image signals of 30 protocols, the procedural data and image data are input, predetermined modulation processing is performed, and the modulated data is output. This output signal is sent to the selector 203, T.P. 30 / T. The image data is transmitted to the network I / F unit 112 through the 38 protocol creation / analysis unit 111 and transmitted.

  The modem device described above generally inputs and outputs analog signals to and from a line (network), but recently, a digital modem that can be directly connected to a digital network has appeared. In the above description, the digital modem is used. When an analog modem is used, the selector 203 and the T.P. This can be realized by inserting a voice codec similar to that built in the call processing unit 201 between the 30-FAX voice communication unit 202.

  Next, processing from a manual call by the telephone 114 connected to the image communication apparatus to a call will be described.

  The telephone 114 is connected to an analog port of the call processing unit 201 of the audio signal processing unit 113. Here, when the telephone set 114 is picked up (off hook), the call processing unit 201 detects the off hook. When the call processing unit 201 detects off-hook, it generates a dial tone that tells the telephone 114 that the telephone number can be input. Here, the user sequentially inputs telephone numbers using a dial button such as a numeric keypad of the telephone 114. When the first telephone number is detected, the call processing unit 201 stops the dial tone that has been sent to the telephone 114, detects the sequentially input telephone numbers, and the detected telephone numbers are stored in the storage unit such as the RAM 109. . If no telephone number is input during the time specified by the interdigit timer 115, a connection signal (SIP INVITE signal) is sent to the server through the IP network using the telephone number input so far.

  Upon receiving the request, the server issues a connection request to the connection destination (call partner), and notifies the image communication apparatus 101 of a calling signal signal (SIP 180 Ringing signal) from the connection destination. . Receiving this, the image communication apparatus 101 outputs an analog ringing signal to the telephone 114 through the call processing unit 201.

  Further, when a connection OK signal (SIP 200 OK signal) is received from the server, the call processing unit 201 stops the ringing signal output to the telephone 114, and the call processing unit 201 is connected to the IP through the network I / F unit 112. Connect to the net. The signal on the IP network is G. 711 and G.G. This signal is a digital signal in a format called 729, and this signal is converted into an analog audio signal using a codec built in the call processing unit 201. In this way, a call through the IP network becomes possible.

  The above description and the following description will explain manual calling by the telephone 114, but this embodiment can also be applied to manual calling by pressing the on-hook button in the telephone and the image communication apparatus 101. The application method will be described last.

  In this embodiment, when the inter-digit timer 115 times out, the telephone number input is not yet completed. Even in this case, it is possible to automatically connect to the other party.

  Next, this embodiment will be described.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts for explaining processing of the image communication apparatus according to the present embodiment. A program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 108, and the processing shown in this flowchart is realized by the CPU 102 reading and executing this program.

  First, in S300, the CPU 120 determines whether or not there is an off-hook of the telephone 114 (a state where the handset is raised), that is, a manual call instruction. This can be determined based on whether or not the call processing unit 201 of the audio signal processing unit 113 detects an off-hook of the connected telephone 114. If it is determined that a manual call instruction has been given, the process advances to step S <b> 301, and the CPU 102 sends a dial tone to the telephone set 114 connected to the call processing unit 201 by the tone signal sending function of the call processing unit 201.

  Next, proceeding to S302, the CPU 102 detects the hook state of the telephone 114 by the call processing unit 201 of the voice signal processing unit 113. When an off-hook is detected, the CPU 102 proceeds to S344 and stops the dial tone output to the telephone 114. Then, this process ends. On the other hand, if no off-hook of the telephone 114 is detected in S302, the process proceeds to S303. In S303, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the first digit of the telephone number has been input. This is determined by whether or not there is a dial input from the numeric keypad of the telephone 114 or the like. If no telephone number has been entered, the process proceeds to S301, and a dial tone is continuously output to the telephone 114.

  If it is determined in step S303 that the first digit telephone number has been input, the process advances to step S304, and the CPU 102 instructs the call processing unit 201 to stop the dial tone output to the telephone 114. In step S305, the CPU 102 stores (accumulates) the telephone number input in step S303 in the RAM 109 or the like. In step S306, the CPU 102 sets a set time (predetermined time) that defines the input time interval of the telephone number of each digit that is subsequently input to the inter-digit timer 115, and starts counting by the inter-digit timer 115. The predetermined time is preferably about several seconds (about 2 to 8 seconds).

  In step S307, the CPU 102 detects the hook state of the telephone 114 via the call processing unit 201 of the audio signal processing unit 113. If an off-hook is detected, the process ends. On the other hand, if an off-hook of the telephone 114 is not detected in S307, the process proceeds to S308. In step S308, the CPU 102 detects whether or not a one-digit telephone number has been input in the same manner as in step S303. If a single-digit telephone number has been input, the process proceeds to step S309 and stores the telephone number in the RAM 109 or the like. In step S310, the CPU 102 restarts the time measurement by the inter-digit timer 115, and then advances to step S307 again.

  In step S308, if the CPU 102 determines that no telephone number is input, the process advances to step S311. The CPU 120 determines whether FAX communication is instructed. This determination can be made based on whether a transmission start button (not shown) or a reception start button is pressed on the operation unit 103 of the image communication apparatus 101. If it is determined that the FAX communication is instructed, the process proceeds to S320, and the CPU 102 transmits a connection request (SIP INVITE signal transmission) to the connection destination server. In step S321, the CPU 102 determines whether the response signal from the server is an error signal. If the error signal is received, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S333 in FIG. 4 and disconnects the call (sends a SIP BYE signal to the server). Then, this process ends.

  If an affirmative response other than an error signal is received from the server in S321, the CPU 102 advances the process to S341 in FIG. In S <b> 341, the CPU 102 determines the T.P. 30 / T. 38 controls the selector 203 of the audio signal processing unit 113 via the protocol creation / analysis unit 111 to change the IP network to the T.38. Only 30 FAX is connected to the voice communication unit 202. Then, the process proceeds to S342, and the CPU 102 determines the T.P. Fax communication with only 30 FAX and voice. In step S343, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the FAX communication has ended. If the communication has not ended, the CPU 102 continues the FAX communication in step S342. When the FAX communication ends, the process proceeds to step S333, and the SIP BYE is used to disconnect the call. A signal is sent to the IP network, and this process is terminated.

  Note that the FAX communication in S342 is T.264. Although only 30 FAX is used for FAX communication with voice, the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, for FAX communication on the IP network, T.P. FAX communication with only 30 FAX and voice. 38, there is digital FAX communication in S.38. Switching to 38 FAX communication is also possible. In this case, T.P. 38 using the re-calling control for performing communication of 38, that is, the reINVITE signal in SIP. Negotiation of 38 FAX communication is required. Here, further explanation is omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the FAX communication is instructed when the telephone number input one digit at a time is stored, a call is made with the telephone number stored so far, and the FAX communication ( Manual transmission and manual reception).

  If the CPU 120 determines in S311 in FIG. 3 that the FAX communication is not instructed, the process proceeds to S312. The CPU 102 determines whether the inter-digit timer 115 has timed out, and proceeds to S307 if it has not timed out. In this way, in S307 to S312, the telephone number of each input digit is stored in the RAM 109 or the like unless an interdigit timeout occurs.

  If it is determined in S <b> 312 that an interdigit timeout has occurred, the CPU 102 determines that all digits of the telephone number have been input, and proceeds to S <b> 313. In S313, the CPU 102 restarts the inter-digit timer 115 in preparation for accumulation of the next telephone number, and proceeds to S314. In S314, the CPU 102 transmits a connection request to the connection destination server using the accumulated telephone number. This corresponds to sending an INVITE signal to the server in SIP. In step S315, the CPU 102 determines whether an error response signal is received from the server. If a normal signal other than the error signal is received, the CPU 102 can connect to the server, and the process advances to step S322 in FIG. On the other hand, if an error response signal is received from the server in S315, the process proceeds to S316, and the CPU 102 analyzes the error content and determines whether or not the error is SIP 404 not found. If an error other than 404 not found is received, the process proceeds to S334 in FIG. SIP 404 not found is an error message returned when a request corresponding to the requested URL cannot be found.

  If the CPU 102 determines in step S316 that 404 not found has been received, the process advances to step S317, and the CPU 102 determines whether the previous call is a re-call. This determines whether the above-described call in S314 was the first normal call or a number-added recurrent call according to this embodiment. If it is determined that the call is a re-call, the process proceeds to S319, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the number of re-calls exceeds the specified value. If the call exceeds the specified value, the process proceeds to S338 in FIG. To do. For example, if the specified number of re-calls is set to 3 times, the number of additional calls can be limited to 3 times. As described above, in the present embodiment, in order to suppress unlimited number of repeated calls, the number of times can be limited.

  If the CPU 102 determines in S317 that the call is not a re-call, or if the CPU 102 determines in S319 that the number of re-calls does not exceed the specified value, the process proceeds to S318, and the CPU 102 disconnects the call once and performs S307. Return to.

  If it is determined in S315 that the response signal from the server is other than an error signal, the process proceeds to S322 (FIG. 4), and the CPU 102 detects the hook state of the telephone 114 via the call processing unit 201 of the voice signal processing unit 113. . If an off-hook is detected, the process proceeds to S333, and the CPU 102 disconnects the call and ends this process.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 102 does not detect the off-hook of the telephone 114 in S322, the process proceeds to S323, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the SIP signal 180 Ringing has been received from the server. If 180 Ringing has not been received, the process returns to S322. If the CPU 102 determines in step S323 that 180 Ringing has been received from the server, the process proceeds to step S324. In S324, the CPU 102 sends a ringing signal to the telephone 114 by the call signal generation function of the call processing unit 201 to notify the user that the telephone is being called from the connected party. In S325, when the call processing unit 201 of the voice signal processing unit 113 detects the off-hook state of the telephone 114, the process proceeds to S345, and the CPU 102 stops the ringing signal output to the telephone 114 by the call processing unit 201 and performs S333. The call is disconnected and the call is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 102 does not detect the off-hook of the telephone 114 in S325, the process proceeds to S326, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the SIP 200 OK is received from the server. If the 200 OK is not received, the CPU 102 is calling in S324. Continue sending signals.

  When the CPU 102 determines in step S326 that the SIP 200 OK has been received from the server, the process proceeds to step S327, and the CPU 102 stops the calling signal from the call processing unit 201 to the telephone 114. In step S328, the CPU 102 connects the IP network and the telephone set 114 using the selector 113 of the voice signal processing unit to establish a call state. In this call state, the CPU 102 further determines in step S329 whether a telephone number has been input. This is determined by whether there is a dial input from the numeric keypad of the telephone 114 or the like. If the CPU 102 determines that a telephone number has been input, the process proceeds to S330, and the CPU 102 sends DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) to the IP network. This DTMF is a tone signal uniquely corresponding to a number or symbol of a telephone number and is used as a general dial signal. In S330, since it is already in a call state, when an input of a telephone number is detected here, a DTMF signal is transmitted to the IP network. In step S331, the CPU 102 determines whether FAX communication is instructed during a call. This determination is performed in the same manner as in S311, and when it is determined that FAX communication is instructed, the process proceeds to S341. Here, since the processing of S341 to S343 has already been described, the description thereof is omitted here.

  If the CPU 102 determines in step S331 that the instruction is not for FAX communication, the process proceeds to step S332, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the telephone 114 is on-hook by the hook detection function of the call processing unit 201. If the on-hook of the telephone 114 is not detected here, the process returns to S329 and the call is continued. If the CPU 102 detects the on-hook of the telephone 114 in S332, the process proceeds to S333 to disconnect the call. This is done by sending a SIP BYE signal to the server, and the process ends here.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to transmit a DTMF signal corresponding to the inputted telephone number to the IP network by detecting that the telephone number is inputted in a state where a call is in progress.

  Further, when it is detected that the FAX communication is instructed during a call, it is possible to shift to the instructed FAX communication.

  The above description is for a case where the connection is successful with the telephone number determined by the time-up by the interdigit timer 115.

  Next, processing when a connection is not established due to time-up by the interdigit timer 115 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, error processing when a connection is not established due to time-up by the inter-digit timer 115 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the CPU 102 receives an error signal from the server in S315 in FIG. 3, the process proceeds to S316, and the CPU 102 analyzes the error content and determines whether or not the error is SIP 404 not found. If an error other than 404 not found is received, the process proceeds to S334 in FIG.

  In S334 of FIG. 4, the CPU 102 determines whether the error signal is a busy signal or an error other than the busy signal. If the CPU 102 determines in S334 that the signal is a busy signal, the process proceeds to S335, and the CPU 102 sends a busy tone to the telephone 114 using the tone generation function of the call processing unit 201 of the audio signal processing unit 113. In S336, the CPU 102 determines whether or not an off-hook has been detected by the telephone 114, and if it remains in an on-hook state that is not off-hook, the CPU 102 returns to S335 and continues to output a busy tone. If the CPU 102 detects an off-hook at the telephone 114 in S336, the process proceeds to S337, the CPU 102 stops outputting the busy tone, proceeds to S333, disconnects the call, and ends this process.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 102 determines in S334 that the error signal is 404 not found and other than busy (other than busy), the process proceeds to S338. In S338, the CPU 102 outputs an error sound to the telephone 114 using the tone generation function of the call processing unit 201 of the audio signal processing unit 113. In step S339, it is determined whether or not an off-hook has been detected by the telephone set 114. If the off-hook state remains on-hook, the process returns to step S338 and an error sound is continuously generated. If the CPU 102 detects the on-hook of the telephone 114 in S339, the process proceeds to S340, the generation of the error sound is stopped, the process proceeds to S333, the call is disconnected, and this process is terminated.

  Next, processing for re-calling when a connection is not established due to time-up by the interdigit timer 115 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, when an inter-digit timeout occurs in S307 to S318 in FIG. 3 and a call is made with a telephone number in the middle of input, a response indicating that a request corresponding to the requested URL cannot be found from the server Is returned. In this case, the process returns to S307, and the digits of the subsequent telephone numbers from the telephone 114 are input. In this case, the number input and accumulated in S307 to S310 is the number input after the number that has already been called at least once.

  For example, if the previously called number is “03111122” and the newly input number is “22” this time, the phone number “0311112222” is stored by connecting these two numbers. It will be. When the input of the telephone number is completed in S312 and a timeout occurs due to the inter-digit timer 115, a call is made with the above-described connected telephone number “0311112222” in S314. If it is determined in S315 that the response from the server is not an error after the re-calling due to the addition in S314, the process proceeds to the flowchart of FIG. 4 as described above. In this way, after the first call is made, the detection of the input of the digit of the telephone number and the accumulation processing of the detected number are activated again, and an interdigit timeout occurs during the activation control, and the input of the telephone number is performed. When it is confirmed that the call has been completed, the numbers entered so far are connected to make a call.

  In this way, even when a user makes a phone call slowly and the inter-digit time-out occurs, and the server receives a response without a connection partner, the phone number entered after the inter-digit time-out and the inter-digit time-out are entered. It is possible to automatically make a call by adding the telephone number. As a result, even if the input of the telephone number by the user is slow and the inter-digit time-out occurs, there is an effect that the connection can be made reliably.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a communication sequence in a communication system including the image communication apparatus 101 according to the embodiment.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes an off-hook state of the telephone 114 (state in which the handset is raised), that is, an instruction for manual calling (S300). As a result, at 502, a dial tone is sent to the connected telephone 114 by the tone signal sending function of the call processing unit 201 (S301). When the telephone number of the first digit is input on the telephone 114 at 503 (S303), it is determined at 504 that the telephone number has been input, and the dial tone sent to the telephone 114 by the call processing unit 201 is stopped. (S304). Then, at 505, an interdigit timer that defines the interdigit time between telephone numbers of each digit to be input is started, and at 506 and 507, each time the telephone number of each digit is input, the number is stored. The interdigit timer is restarted (S305, S306).

  In this way, if an interdigit timeout occurs in the middle of inputting the telephone number at 508 (S312), it is considered that all the digits of the telephone number have been input, and at 509, an interdigit timer is set in preparation for accumulation of the next telephone number. Restarting is performed (S313).

  Next, in 510, a connection request is issued to the connection destination server using the accumulated telephone number (S314). Here, an SIP INVITE signal is sent to the server. In this case, a timeout occurred during the entry of the telephone number, so 404 not found is received from the server (YES in S316). Thereby, at 512, the call is temporarily disconnected (S318).

  Next, in 513 to 514, the telephone number of each digit input subsequently is accumulated and the restart of the interdigit timer 115 is repeated (S307 to S310). Then, at 515, the input of the telephone number is completed and a timeout of the interdigit timer 115 occurs (S312). Since the call in this case is a re-call, at 516, the telephone number previously input and added and stored at this time are connected to make a call (S314). This call is also made by sending a SIP INVITE signal to the server. As a result, at 517, the server transmits an INVITE signal to the connection partner apparatus and rings the connection partner apparatus. When the server receives 180 Ringing of the SIP signal from the connection partner apparatus, the image communication apparatus 101 receives 180 Ringing from the server. Accordingly, at 518, the call signal generation function of the call processing unit 201 sends a call-in signal to the telephone 114 to notify the user that the connection partner apparatus is being called. When the connection partner apparatus responds at 519, the ringing signal output to the telephone 114 is stopped at 520. In 521, the IP network and the telephone set 114 are connected via the selector 113 of the audio signal processing unit 113, and the telephone set 114 and the connection partner apparatus are in a call state.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the input of the telephone number by the user is delayed, the telephone number input later can be automatically connected to make a call to the transmission destination, so that no operation by the user is required. , You will be able to connect to the other party securely.

  Furthermore, since the inter-digit timer value can be shortened, an immediate connection can be made possible.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a specified value of the number of re-calls that defines the number of re-calls is set, and when this specified value is exceeded, the re-calls can be stopped.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, an instruction to shift to FAX communication is also determined after a telephone number is input or when a telephone number is input, and if there is an instruction, it is possible to shift to FAX communication (transmission / reception).

  In the present embodiment, for ease of explanation, manual call has been described using the telephone 114, but there are two other means for manual call, and these two means are also applicable. It is.

  The first is manual call by line capture and call by pressing the on-hook button of the image communication apparatus 101. In this case, the output destination of the dial tone and ringing signal for explaining the operation of the telephone 114 is not the telephone 114 but the speaker (not shown) of the image communication apparatus 101.

  By rereading as described above, it is also applicable to a manual call from the on-hook button of the image communication apparatus 101.

  Another means is that a handset, not a telephone, is connected to the analog port of the call processing unit 201, and a manual call is made from the handset. Here, the difference between the handset and the telephone is the presence or absence of a telephone number input function (dial function), and the telephone has this dial function. In the case of a handset, the dial input means is a numeric keypad of the operation unit 103 of the image communication apparatus 101, and in the case of a telephone, it is a dial button of the telephone. Further, when the telephone number detection means is a handset, it is detection of key input in the operation unit 103 of the image communication apparatus 101. In the case of a telephone, a dial signal from a telephone connected to an analog port is used as a call processing unit. This is detected by the 201 dial signal detecting means. By rereading in this way, it can also be applied to a manual call from a handset.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (7)

An image communication apparatus that can connect a telephone or a handset and perform a manual call using the telephone or the handset,
Detecting means for detecting the input of each digit of the telephone number;
A time measuring means for measuring an input time interval of each digit of the telephone number;
Storage means for storing the input of each digit of the telephone number detected by the detection means;
When the input time interval timed by the time measuring means exceeds a predetermined time, a call is made with the digit number stored in the storage means, and when there is an error response to the call, the telephone number Control means for receiving input of each digit and controlling to activate the detection means, the timing means and the storage means;
When the input time interval timed by the timekeeping means exceeds a predetermined time during the control by the control means, the input of each digit stored in the storage means at the time of the call is performed under the control of the control means. Recalling means for re-calling with a number that combines the input of each digit stored in the storage means,
An image communication apparatus comprising:   2. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the re-calling unit sets a specified value that defines the number of re-calls, and ends the error when the number of re-calls exceeds the specified value. .   3. The image communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at the end of the error, an error sound is transmitted to the telephone set or the handset, and the call is disconnected when a hook by the telephone set or the handset is detected.   When an instruction to shift to FAX communication is accepted when the input time interval timed by the time measuring means does not exceed a predetermined time, a call is made with the digit number stored in the storage means to shift to FAX communication The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit.   2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs an error sound to the telephone or the handset when the error response is a response to no connection partner or an error response other than busy. 3. Communication device. A control method for controlling an image communication apparatus capable of connecting a telephone or a handset and making a manual call using the telephone or the handset,
A detecting step in which the detecting means detects the input of each digit of the telephone number;
A time measuring means for measuring an input time interval of each digit of the telephone number;
An accumulating step for accumulating input of each digit of the telephone number detected in the detecting step;
When the control means makes a call with the digit number accumulated in the accumulation step when the input time interval measured in the time measurement step exceeds a predetermined time, and when there is an error response to the call, A control process for receiving input of each digit of the telephone number and controlling the detection process, the timing process, and the accumulation process to be activated;
When the input time interval timed in the timekeeping step during the control by the control step exceeds a predetermined time, the re-calling means, to the input of each digit accumulated in the accumulation step at the time of the call, A recalling step for recalling a call with a number obtained by connecting the input of each digit accumulated in the accumulation step under control; and
A control method for an image communication apparatus, comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as an image communication apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5.

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