JP2509172B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a communication device having not only a communication function but also a communication function with a partner.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, a facsimile apparatus has been known as one of communication apparatuses of this type having a function of communicating with the other party.

This facsimile machine is roughly classified into an automatic response machine and a manual response machine.

In the case of receiving operation in a manual fax machine,
When receiving a telephone call, first, the telephone receiver of the telephone connected to the main body of the apparatus is picked up and a normal telephone response is made. After that, when performing image communication, press the switch that commands communication start provided on the device body,
Start up the fax machine. As a result, the line is switched from the telephone side to the facsimile machine side, and the communication operation is performed between both facsimile machines.

The same applies to the case of making a call from this side, and after performing a telephone call in the same manner as usual, when performing communication, the switches are operated to activate the facsimile device.

On the other hand, in the case of the automatic response type facsimile apparatus, image communication is automatically performed through a predetermined control procedure performed after an incoming call, so there is no room for a call with the other party. However, depending on the model used, it is possible to make a call as needed, but in that case, the image communication is interrupted.

As described above, in the conventionally known facsimile apparatus, since the image communication state and the call state are switched and used, there is a drawback that the image communication and the call cannot be performed at the same time.

In addition, when a call is instructed during image communication,
When attempting to make a call to the other party, there is the annoyance of having to manually dial the telephone number of the other party.

[Object] Therefore, in view of the above point, an object of the present invention is communication capable of automatically making a call based on a telephone number stored in a memory when a call is instructed by the other party during image communication. To provide a device.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention is a communication device that includes image communication means and call means, and performs image communication and call via the first and second lines, in the image communication by the image communication means. Storage means for storing the telephone number of the other party included in the procedure signal transmitted from the telephone, and based on the telephone number stored in the storage means when a call is instructed by the call means during image communication by the image communication means. And a calling means for automatically calling.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

In the figure, A is a facsimile apparatus main body, B is a network control unit, and L1 and L2 are telephone lines.

Reference numerals 1 and 2 are call signal detection circuits (hereinafter referred to as CI detection circuits) connected to the respective telephone lines. The CI detection circuits 1 and 2 detect the hook state of the handset (that is, whether or not the handset is lifted).
In addition, the ringing tone obtained from the line side is detected and notified to the main control unit 13 described later.

11 is a dial signal generation unit, 12 is a modem, 13 is a main control unit that consists of a microprocessor and various memories and controls the entire communication operation, 14 is an operation unit including dial buttons, and 15 is an image equipped with a CCD line sensor, etc. A reading unit, 16 is an image recording unit including a thermal printer,
Reference numeral 17 is a telephone equipped with a handset and a call bell (dial buttons are included in the operation unit 14), and 18 is a general telephone connected to the outside of the apparatus body.

3 to 10 are changeover switch units (hereinafter abbreviated as SW).
Of these, SW3 and SW4 are the switches that switch the circuits on the telephone 17 and 18 side and the modem 12 side, and SW5 and SW6 are the telephone 1
This is a switch section that switches the circuits on the 7 and 18 side and the dial signal generating section 11 side. SW17 and SW8 are switch units for switching the telephone set 17 to the line L2 side and the telephone set 18 to the line L1 side, respectively. Furthermore, SW9 is the dial signal generator 1
SW10 is a switch for sending the dial signal sent from 1 to one of the lines L1 and L2, and SW10 is a switch for connecting the modem 12 to one of the lines L1 and L2.

 Reference numeral 20 is a memory for storing a telephone number, which will be described in detail later.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

1) First, the general operation of this embodiment will be described.

The line L1 is normally connected to a circuit on the telephone side via SW1, SW3, SW5, and SW7. On the other hand, line L2
Is normally connected to the external telephone 18 via SW2, SW4, SW6, and SW8.

When a call signal arrives from the line L1, the bell of the telephone 17 rings. Then, when the handset is lifted (that is, when the handset is in the off-hook state), the line is captured and the call with the other party becomes possible. Further, when shifting to the data communication from the middle of the call, a start button (not shown) included in the operation unit 14 may be pressed. That is, when the start button is pressed, the line L1 is switched to the modem 12 side by SW3. In addition, SW10 is also switched to connect SW3 to modem 12.

In this way, when the modem 12 is connected to the line L1,
The modem 12 starts transmitting and receiving a predetermined procedure signal in order to perform image communication with the facsimile machine of the other party.

The received signal obtained via the line L1 is demodulated by the modem 12, and the demodulated data is sent to the image recording unit 16 and recorded on the recording paper.

On the other hand, the document to be transmitted is read by the image reading unit 15 and sent to the line L1 side via the modem 12.

When the device according to the present embodiment is set to the automatic reception mode, the CI detection circuit 1 detects a calling signal, and the controller 13 switches SW3 and SW10 in response to the detection output, and the line L1 is connected to modem 12. After that, the communication operation is automatically started according to the conventionally known control means.

The same operation as that of the line L1 can be performed for the line L2. That is, when a call signal arrives from the line L2, the bell of the telephone 18 rings. At this time, the telephone 18 may be placed at a position distant from the main body of the device, so if the telephone 18 is a push button type, when the data communication is started, the push button is pressed to generate a tone signal,
A tone detector (not shown) detects a tone signal. When confirming that such a tone signal is issued, the main control unit 13 switches SW4 and switches the line L2 to S.
Connect to W10 side. Further, the line L2 is connected to the modem 12 by SW10. After that, the image communication operation is started.

2) Next, a case of making a call from the device side will be described.

First, press the hook button (not shown) provided on the operation unit 14 or lift the handset of the telephone set 17 to check the dial tone from the local exchange, and then, dial on the operation unit 14. Press the button.

The main control unit 13 receives dial button data from the operation unit 14, and activates the dial signal generation circuit unit 11 to generate a dial signal.

At the same time when the dial button is pressed, SW9 is switched to the side connecting the dial signal generator 11 and SW5, and SW5 is switched to the side connecting SW3 and SW9. By switching these switches, the dial signal
It is sent to the line L1 via SW9, SW5, SW3 and the CI detection circuit 1.

The dial signal can also be sent to the line L2. In this case, the dial signals are SW9, SW6, SW4
And is sent to the line L2 via the CI detection circuit 2. However,
Whether or not the line L2 is captured is determined by the CI detection circuit 2 checking the hook state of the telephone 18 (that is, whether it is in the on-hook state or the off-hook state).

3) When making a call from the device side for communication, dial line L1 or line L2 according to the procedure for making a call above, and after confirming that the other party has answered the call, SW3 or SW4 To the modem side 12. The main control unit 13 switches to the connected line side.
10 is switched, and then the image communication operation is started via the modem 12.

4) This device can make a call even during communication of image data.

Assuming that image communication is currently performed through the line L1, the line L1 is connected to the modem 12 via the CI detector 1 and SW3 and SW10. At this time, the telephone set 17
Since it is separated from L1, if line L2 is free,
You can talk.

SW7 and SW8 are the means to realize such simultaneous calls.
Is used. That is, when the handset of the telephone set 17 is lifted and the dial button of the operation unit 14 is pressed, the main control unit 13 monitors the line L2 using the CI detector 2 in order to execute the procedure for making a call. If the line L2 is vacant, the main control unit 13 switches SW7 and SW8, and connects the telephone set 17 to the line L2 via SW7, SW8, SW6, SW4 and the CI detection unit 2. The telephone 18 is disconnected from the line L2 by SW8. In addition, SW6
And SW9 are switched, and as a result, the dial signal emitted from the dial signal generator 11 is switched to SW9, SW6,
It is sent to the line L2 via the SW4 and the CI detection circuit 2.

Similarly, the line L2 is connected to the modem 12 via the CI detection circuits 2, SW4, and SW10, and even when communication is performed by this, if the line L1 is free, a telephone call is made using the telephone set 17. It is possible to That is, when the dial button of the operation unit 14 is pressed, the dial signal from the dial signal generation unit 11 is switched to SW9, SW after confirming the empty state of the line L1.
5, sent to the circuit L1 via the SW3 and the CI detection circuit 1. Next, when the other party responds and the polarity reversal of the line is confirmed by the CI detection circuit 1, SW5 is switched, whereby the line L1 is sent to the telephone set 17 via the CI detection circuit 1, SW3, SW5 and SW7. Connected.

Furthermore, it is possible to make a call from the telephone 18 side. In this case, the empty state of the line is detected after it is confirmed that the dial button has been pressed, and the telephone 18 is connected to the line L1 via the SW8, SW7, SW5, SW3 and the CI detection circuit 1. However, at this time, dial transmission is performed from the telephone 18 side.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is based on the control procedure described above.
That is, it shows a schematic control procedure when image communication and telephone call are simultaneously performed. That is, when communication is performed using one of the lines (step S1), when the handset of the telephone set 17 or 18 is lifted and the dial button is pressed, the main control unit 13 determines that there is an intention to call. Do (step S2), CI detection circuit 1
Alternatively, the idle state of the other line is confirmed using 2 (step S3). After that, the dial signal generator 11 dials a vacant line through a predetermined switch (step S4) to make a call (step S5).

5) When the present apparatus is performing image communication using one line and there is an incoming call on the other free line, a telephone call can be made using either telephone 17 or 18.

If an incoming call is received on the line L2 while the line L1 is being communicated, the ringing tone of the telephone 18 is sounded. At this time, a telephone call can be made by lifting the handset of the telephone set 18, but it is also possible to make a telephone call by using the telephone set 17 on the apparatus main body side. That is, the controller 13 recognizes that the handset of the telephone set 17 has been lifted, and by switching SW8 and SW7, the line L2 can be connected to the telephone set 17 to enable a call.

Similarly, while communicating using line L2, the line
When an incoming call arrives at L1, the telephone 17 of the device is ringed. At this time, it is possible to make a call by lifting the handset of the telephone set 17, but even when the handset of the external telephone set 18 is raised, the controller 13 recognizes that fact and switches SW7 and SW8 to switch the line L1. Can be connected to the telephone 18 side.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart schematically showing the above control procedure. That is, when communication is being performed through one line (step S10) and there is an incoming call through the other line (step S11), the main control unit 13 detects the off-hook state of one of the telephones. Then, (step S12), the telephone is connected to the line that received the call through a predetermined switch (step S13), and a call is made (step S14).

6) According to the present apparatus, it is possible to perform image communication using another line even when the telephone set provided on the apparatus main body side is in use.

Now, when the telephone set 17 is used by being connected to the line L1 and the user wants to send a document using this apparatus, first set the document in the image reading unit 15, and then press the dial button of the operation unit 14. To do. When the main control unit 13 detects that, after that, it is confirmed that the line L2 is vacant, and the dial transmission unit 11 switches SW9, SW6, SW4 and C
A dial signal is transmitted via the I detection circuit 2. When the other party responds to such a call, the line L2 is connected to the modem 12 via the CI detection circuits 2, SW4, SW10, and image communication can be started.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing the control procedure. That is, if a telephone call is being made using the telephone set provided on the apparatus body side (step S2
0), after setting the original, press the dial button of the operation unit 14. When the dial button is pressed (step S21), the main control unit 13 determines that there is an intention to communicate, and confirms that the other line is empty (step S22), and dials the line. (Step S
23) If the other party responds, the image communication can be started via the modem 12 (step S24).

7) According to the present apparatus, even when the telephone set provided on the apparatus main body side is in use, image communication can be performed when an incoming call is received on the other line.

For example, when the telephone 17 on the device side is used while being connected to the line L1, if an incoming call is received on the line L2, and if the line L2 is set to the automatic reception mode, this device enters the receiving operation. Alternatively, the reception operation can also be started by pressing the reception button of the operation unit 14.

FIG. 5 shows an outline of such control procedure. That is,
When the device 18 is in the automatic reception mode when the telephone 18 of the main body of the device is in use using one line (step S30) and the other line receives an incoming call (step S31). Alternatively, when the receive button is manually pressed (step S32), the modem 12 is connected to the incoming line through a predetermined switch (step S32).
S33), and image communication is performed (step S34).

8) It is clear from the above description that a call and a communication can be performed simultaneously by using two lines, but it is complicated to remember the communication telephone number and the call telephone number of the other party.

Therefore, when performing communication and a telephone call simultaneously using two lines, the operation procedure that the user should perform is further simplified,
Therefore, a control procedure with improved operability will be described.

First, for the other party who frequently makes a call, in addition to one telephone number of the other party, the other (second) telephone number or a telephone number for a call in the vicinity thereof is paired in advance in the memory 20 of this device. (See FIG. 1). When a call is required during image communication or when it becomes necessary to perform image communication during a call, an operation key (not shown) on the operation unit 14 is pressed or the telephone 17 By performing an operation such as lifting the handset (that is, putting it in an off-hook state), the other telephone of the other party is automatically called by referring to the second telephone number of the other party registered in the memory (free The other line is used), so it is possible to make communication and call at the same time.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for realizing such a function. That is, when communication or a call is being performed using one line (step S40), the telephone 17 is put into the off-hook state or a key on the operation unit 14 is operated (step S41), and the main control unit 13 causes the other Is confirmed to be free (step S41), the second telephone number of the other party is read from the memory (step S43), and the call is made from the other line (step S44). When the other party responds to the call, the call or communication control is started (step S45).

9) In addition to executing the control procedure described with reference to FIG.
It is possible to use the option signal to automatically dial the other party.

Generally, communication procedure signals are transmitted and received in accordance with CCITT Recommendation T-30, but an option signal is used to identify a request of a specific user who is outside the scope of this recommendation. Therefore, in this device, NSF (Non Standard Facilities; non-standard device) or NSS (Non Standard Facilities Set-up; non-standard device setting) is used as an optional signal. That is, the other telephone number not used for communication (second telephone number) is used as non-standardized information as NSF or NSS FIF (Facsimile Informati).
on-field) and send it out, and the side receiving the information put in this FIF stores the contents in advance in the memory. Then, as described in step S41 in FIG. 6, in response to the off-hook of the telephone or the key operation of the operation unit 14, the previously stored telephone information is read out from the memory, and the call to the vacant second line is issued. Make a call automatically. Thus, it is possible to make a call by automatic calling even during communication.

FIG. 7 (A) and FIG. 7 (B) are flowcharts showing the details of the control procedure.

FIG. 7 (A) shows the control procedure on the called side. That is, when starting the communication procedure (step S5
0), the second telephone number (free telephone number) of the called side is notified to the calling side by NSF (step S51). Next, it is checked whether or not the FIF of the NSS sent from the calling side includes the second telephone number (free telephone number) (step S5
2) If the second telephone number of the other party is included, the telephone number is stored in the memory in the called device (step S53). Next, image communication is started (step S5
4) When the telephone is off-hook during the communication, or the key of the operation unit 14 is operated (for example, the hook button is pressed) (step S55), the previously stored vacant telephone number of the other party (calling side) is stored. Call from memory (step S5
6, S57), and an automatic call is made from the other unused line (step S58). Then make a call (step S
59). However, even when the off-hook of the telephone or the push of the hook button is performed (step S55), if the second telephone number of the other party is not stored in the memory,
Communication is only continued and automatic call is not made (step S60).

FIG. 7 (B) shows the control procedure on the calling side. That is, when starting the communication procedure (step S6
1) First, it is checked whether or not the FIF of NSF includes the second telephone number (free telephone number) of the called side (step S62). If the second telephone number of the called side is included in the FIF, the content is stored in the memory in the calling side apparatus (step S63), and then the second telephone number of the calling side ( The empty telephone number) is sent to the called side using NSS (step S64). Next, the image communication is started (step S65), but when the telephone is off-hook or the key of the operation unit 14 is operated (for example, pressing the hook button) during the communication (step S66), it is stored in advance. The vacant telephone number of the other party (callee) is called from the memory (steps S67, S68), and an automatic call is made from the other unused line (step S69). Thus, it is possible to make a call at the same time during communication (step S70). However, even when the off-hook of the telephone or the push of the hook button is performed (step S66), if the second telephone number of the other party is not stored in the memory, step S60 shown in FIG. Similarly, communication is only continued and automatic call is not made (step S7).
1).

10) Next, a control procedure for performing automatic reception using this device will be described. For example, when there is an incoming call on the line L1, the CI detection circuit 1 first detects a ringing tone and notifies the main control section 13 that there is an incoming call. The main control unit 13 determines whether the reception mode is set to the automatic mode or the manual mode, and if it is the automatic mode, closes SW3 and switches SW10 to the modem 12 side to start communication.

Also when an incoming call is received on the line L2, the modem 12 and the line L2 are similarly connected via the CI detection units 2, SW4 and SW10 to start communication.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 8 outlines the control procedure. That is, when the CI detection circuits 1 and 2 confirm the incoming call (step S80), the main control unit 13 confirms that the device is set to the automatic reception mode, and then captures the line where the incoming call is received. (Steps S81, S82) and start communication (step S8)
3).

11) Furthermore, in this equipment, C for each of the lines L1 and L2
Since the I detection circuit is provided separately, it is possible to independently set the mode of automatic reception or manual reception for each line. As a result, it is possible to set either one of the lines for manual use only and the other line for automatic use only.

In general, when the automatic reception mode is set, even when a call comes in, it is possible to enter the reception operation without the need for human intervention. In many cases

However, when the frequency of use of the facsimile is low, the manual reception mode is often set in order to activate the facsimile as needed while using the line mainly for the purpose of talking.

Therefore, at present, the automatic / manual mode is appropriately switched depending on whether the purpose is a telephone call or a facsimile communication. Furthermore, it is common for the other party to make a call after knowing whether the telephone number is a telephone for communication or a telephone for facsimile.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to combine the merit of the automatic reception-only device with the merit of the manual device, and it is not necessary to use two facsimiles.

Further, when the company or the like leaves the company, both lines can be set to the automatic reception mode so that the facsimile information and the like can be reliably received regardless of which line receives the call.

Although the telephone 17 is integrated with the apparatus main body according to the present embodiment in the above-described embodiments, a general independent telephone can be externally attached.

Further, in the present embodiment, the function of the facsimile device and the function of the communication device are provided together, but it is also possible to provide not only such image communication but also the function of general data communication.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the number of lines used is "2", but it is needless to say that more complicated switch switching control can be performed by using three lines or more.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, in a communication device capable of performing image communication via the first line and making a call via the second line, a call can be made from the other party during image communication. When instructed, the telephone number of the other party included in the procedure signal sent from the other party is stored in the memory,
Since it is possible to automatically make a call based on the telephone number of the other party stored in the memory, it is possible to obtain a special effect that the dial operation for making a call can be omitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. (A), FIG. 7 (B) and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing an example of the control procedure in the present embodiment. L1, L2 ... line, 1,2 ... ringing signal detection circuit (CI detection circuit),
3 to 10 ... Changeover switch section, 11 ... Dial signal generating section, 12
… Modem, 13… Main control section, 14… Operation section, 15
… Image reading unit, 16… Image recording unit, 17, 18… Telephone, 20…
memory.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image communication means and a call means, comprising:
And a communication device for performing image communication and a telephone call via a second line, storage means for storing the telephone number of the other party included in a procedure signal sent from the other party during image communication by the image communication means, and the image communication And a calling means for automatically calling based on the telephone number stored in the storage means when a call by the calling means is instructed during image communication by the means.