JP2545088B2 - Fax machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a facsimile machine which realizes group instruction when performing communication to a plurality of stations such as broadcast communication and multi-polling by an extremely simple operation.

(Prior Art) In recent years, in order to improve convenience and efficiency of facsimile communication, a facsimile apparatus transmits broadcast information that transmits the same information to a plurality of destinations and information of a plurality of destinations. A device having a function such as multi-polling reception for sequentially receiving is widely used.

By the way, generally, there are a manual instruction, a key code instruction, a group instruction and the like as a call origination method when using a facsimile apparatus. That is, the manual instruction is a method of directly entering the dial number of the destination from the ten keys provided on the operation unit of the facsimile machine and pressing the start key to call the destination of this dial number. One-touch corresponding to the desired destination by registering the dial number of the destination in advance based on the numeric keypad of the operation unit or the one-touch key (one digit) or two-touch key (two digits) of other keys. Alternatively, the facsimile device automatically reads the dial number of the destination corresponding to the key code by inputting a two-touch key code and pressing the start key to call the destination. This key code instruction is widely used because once the destination dial number is registered, the destination can be called by a simple key operation.

On the other hand, the group instruction is a method of sequentially making a call to a plurality of destinations registered in a group of the entered keys by simply pressing a start key and pressing the start key. It is used for automatic broadcast transmission and multi-polling reception. By the way, when using such a group instruction, it is necessary to perform group registration in advance in addition to the registration of the dial number in the key code instruction described above. For example, after selecting the group registration mode on the operation unit, the destinations belonging to the group are registered. More specifically, first, the group registration mode is selected, and then the group setting is performed. this is,
For example, the group 1 is set by inputting "** 1", and the group is registered by inputting a key code of a desired destination while referring to a dial list (key code table) or the like. Therefore, thereafter, the call is sequentially made to the destinations registered in the group 1 by a simple operation of inputting "** 1" and pressing the start key. It should be noted that the same procedure may be performed for registration and instructions of other groups.

Further, as such a group instruction, in addition to the one described above, for example, a plurality of destinations are registered for each one-touch key, or a group destination menu is selected by operation guidance or the like to select a predetermined group. Some numbers are entered using the numeric keypad, etc. In any case, it is intended to simplify the operation for group instructions.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in registering a group in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, after registering the dial number of the destination in correspondence with a predetermined key code as described above, While referring to the registered dial list (key code table), the destinations must be registered again for each predetermined group. Therefore, the operator of the facsimile apparatus needs to perform group registration in addition to registering the dial number corresponding to the key code, which complicates the registration operation and consumes a lot of time. Further, when a group instruction is given, a group list showing the contents of the group registration is required in addition to the conventional dial list, so that there is a problem that management of these lists becomes troublesome.

On the other hand, the facsimile machine itself needs a separate memory or storage area for dial number registration and group registration, and needs to have a group list in addition to the dial list. As the number of operations increases and the control amount increases, the control circuit becomes complicated. Therefore, these contributed to the cost increase.

(Object of the Invention) Therefore, according to the present invention, a dial number of a destination and a key code corresponding to the dial number are classified and stored for each predetermined group, and when a specific group is designated, the destinations belonging to the group are stored. The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the destination registration operation by sequentially reading the dial numbers and making a call, and to improve the utilization and convenience of the facsimile device.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a facsimile apparatus that reads out registered dial numbers and calls a destination, and keys that correspond to each destination dial number and are classified into a predetermined group. A code and a group code corresponding to each group to the key code are preset, and a storage means for storing the dial number of the destination with a key code corresponding to the predetermined group code, and a storage means when the key code is input are stored. A dial number with a key code is read from the storage means to call the destination, and when the group code is input, the dial numbers with the key code of the group corresponding to the group code are sequentially stored from the storage means. And a destination management means for reading and calling the destination.

(Example) Hereinafter, it demonstrates concretely based on the Example of this invention.

 1 to 5 are views showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a facsimile machine, and the facsimile machine 1 is provided with a document table 2, an operation section 3, a handset 4, a control section 5, a document reading section 6 and a recording section 7 in its main body 1a.

The document table 2 is an installation table for documents (not shown) to be transmitted, and a plurality of documents can be collected and set. Operation part 3
For example, the configuration is as shown in FIG. 2, and the display unit 11, function keys 12, YES key 1 are provided on the panel.
3, NO key 14, numeric keypad 15, one-touch key 16, pause key 17, clear key 18, stop key 19, copy key 20, start key 21, etc. are provided,
A command signal for controlling each part of the facsimile device 1 is output to the control part 5, each function of the facsimile device 1 described later is selected, a destination is registered, and the like. Returning to FIG. 1, the handset 4 is a so-called handset, and can manually call the facsimile machine of the other party, and the facsimile machine 1 can be used like a general telephone. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 5 includes a network control circuit 31, a modulation / demodulation circuit 32, a data compression / reproduction circuit 33, a buffer memory.
34, an A / D conversion circuit 35, an image memory 36, a memory 37, a control circuit 38 and the like.

The network control circuit 31 is generally called an AA-NCU and automatically calls the destination according to a command from the operation unit 3 and also automatically receives an incoming call for transmission from an external line. . The modulation / demodulation circuit 32 is generally called a modem. The modulation / modulation circuit 32 modulates the image information of the original document processed and digitized by the control unit 5 for transmission through the network control circuit 31, and also controls the network control circuit 31. The modulated signal input via the digital signal is subjected to a double tone to extract a digital signal. Data compression / playback circuit 33
Is for shortening the transmission time of image information and improving efficiency,
The image information from the buffer memory 34 is compressed (encoded) during transmission, and the compressed (coded) image information from the modulation / demodulation circuit 32 is reproduced into original information during reception. Buffer memory
Reference numeral 34 stores the image information from the document reading section 6 digitized by the A / D conversion circuit 35 for each predetermined line (for example, one line) and sends it to the data compression / reproduction circuit 33. A / D
The (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 35 converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and the image information (analog signal) for each reading line input from the document reading unit 6 can be processed in the control unit 5. Convert to information (digital signal). The image memory 36 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memor).
y) is a page memory that stores a document for a predetermined number of pages. Therefore, it is possible to perform broadcast transmission in which the same information is transmitted to a plurality of destinations. The memory 37 is, for example, a nonvolatile EEPROM (Electricall Erasable Programmable R
OM) is used, and a file management table 41 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed in the memory 37. A predetermined key code is set as an identification mark in the file management table 41, and a dial number is stored for each key code.

In the present embodiment, on the file management table 41, the key codes “0” to “9” and “A” to “L” are set as one-touch groups.
OG1 and OG2, two-touch groups TG1 to T for key codes "10" to "99" in groups of 10
It is set as G9, and predetermined pointers (P _T0 , P _TA , P _{T1 to} P _T9 ) are set based on a key code input by a predetermined key operation when a group is designated. The pointer is a group code, classifies the dial numbers into predetermined groups, and indicates the start position of reading by the destination management means. That is, when a key code is input by a predetermined key operation during group designation in this embodiment, a pointer is set corresponding to this key code, and the dial number for which this pointer is set is read. After that, all dial numbers belonging to the same group are sequentially read. This is mainly for one-touch groups OG1 and OG2,
The groups TG1 to TG9 are slightly different. That is, the two-touch groups TG1 to TG9 are key codes “1” to “9”
Corresponding to the one-touch group.
Similar to OG1 and OG2, dial numbers belonging to the same group are sequentially read. The control circuit 38 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the facsimile apparatus 1 in an integrated manner based on a signal from the operation unit 3 or a call from an external line. That is, the control circuit 38 inputs the key code from the control unit 5 or the document reading unit 6 and the start key 21.
Thus, the dial number corresponding to the input key code is read from the memory 37 and output to the network control circuit 31 to call the destination. When a group instruction is given, a pointer corresponding to the input key code is set, dial numbers belonging to the group to which the pointer is set are sequentially read from the beginning, and are output to the network control circuit 31 to call the destination. . That is, the memory 37 constitutes storage means, and the control means
38 constitutes the destination management means.

The document reading unit 6 includes a line image sensor (not shown), document conveying means, and the like, conveys the documents set on the document table 2 one by one, and the image information of the documents is line-by-line by the line image sensor. The data is read, photoelectrically converted, and output to the buffer memory 34.

The recording unit 7 includes a thermal head, a conveying unit, an ink sheet, a recording sheet, and the like, which are not shown, and records an image on the recording sheet based on image information and control signals input from the control unit 5.

 Next, the operation will be described.

The facsimile machine 1 of the present invention is characterized in that it is possible to perform group registration at the same time by only performing the key code registration of the destination as is conventionally done. This is because the group setting is made in advance for each predetermined key code on the file management table 41 provided in the memory 37. Therefore, when registering the key code, the operator must select a predetermined group (one-touch group OG1, OG2
By registering the dial numbers of the destinations to be used as a group separately for the two-touch groups TG1 to TG9), it is possible to perform the key code instruction and the group instruction without having to perform the group registration separately from the key code registration. That is, when performing group designation, for example, "predetermined key code" + "* (asterisk) key"
+ Press "Start key 21". here,
The "* key" is a key code for identifying a group instruction in the present embodiment, and the "+" added in the description of the operation is provided to distinguish each operation for convenience. And this "predetermined key code" when instructing a group
A pointer is set corresponding to, and the destination (dial number) belonging to the group to which this pointer is set is stored in memory 37.
Are read out from and are called out sequentially.

More specifically, for example, if "0" + "*" + "start key 21" is input when making a group instruction, the pointer P _{T0 is set} to the key code "0" of the file management table 41.
Is set, and the one-touch group OG1 (key code "0"
~ The dial numbers of the destinations registered in "9") are read sequentially from the beginning. When "A" + "*" + "start key 21", the pointer _PTA is set to the key code "A" of the file management table 41, and the one-touch group OG2 (key code "A" to "L") is set. The dial numbers of the destinations registered in) are sequentially read from the beginning. By the way, the instructions of the two-touch groups TG1 to TG9 at this time are slightly different from those described above. That is, in this embodiment, in order to improve the operability of group instruction, all group instructions can be performed by one-touch key code input. So, two-touch group TG1-T
Key codes "1" to "9" are assigned to G9, respectively. As a result, for example, "1" + "*" + "start
When the key 21 "is entered, the pointer R _T1 is set to the key code" 10 "of the file management table 41 correspondingly, and the destination registered in the two-touch group TG1 (key code" 10 "to" 19 ") Therefore, the dial numbers are sequentially read from the beginning, so that when the broadcast transmission is performed, the document set on the document table 2 is read by the document reading unit 6 and the read image information is stored in the image memory.
After being accumulated in 36, they are sequentially transmitted to the destination designated by the group, and when performing multi-polling reception, image information of the destination designated by the group is sequentially received.

Therefore, such an operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In addition, P _{1 to} P _{13 in} FIG. 5 indicate respective steps of the flow. First, in step P ₁ ,
It is determined whether or not there is an input from the key 15 or the one-touch key 16, and when there is no key input, the same routine is repeated until there is an input. If it is determined that there is a key input, determines whether or not the start key 21 is depressed in step P _2, when it is determined that the start key 21 is pressed, the number of digits n of the key input at step P ₃ To check. The number of digits n is checked as a simple number of input information regardless of numbers, letters and symbols. Next, in step P ₄ , it is determined whether or not n = 1. When n = 1, the one-touch destination processing is performed, and so-called key code instruction is performed to set the dial number corresponding to the input key code to the file management table of the memory 37. It is read from 41 and the destination is called. On the other hand, when n ≠ 1 in step P ₄ , it is determined in step P ₅ whether or not n ≧ 3, and when n ≧ 3, the process proceeds to the manual destination process,
A so-called manual instruction is given and the destination is called by the entered dial number. On the other hand, when n <3 in step P ₅ , it is determined in step P ₆ whether or not the second digit of the key input is "*". If the second digit of the key input is a number other than "*", it indicates the key code. Therefore, when the second digit is “*”, it indicates that it is a group instruction, and the second digit is “*”.
In other cases, the process proceeds to the two-touch destination processing, the dial number corresponding to the key code input as the key code instruction is read from the file management table 41 of the memory 37, and the destination is called. On the other hand, at the time of the second digit "*" in step P _6, check the first digit of the information of the key input at step P _7, the pointer corresponding to the key code of the first digit (P _T0, P _TA, P _{T1 to} P _T9 ) as set values in the file management table 41.

Then, read the dial number key code indicated by the pointer in step P ₈ from the file management table 41, performs a call destination, when the facsimile communication between the destination completed, increments the value of the pointer in step P _9, Move the pointer position to the next destination. Incidentally, when the destination in the step P ₈ is not stored (registered), the flow proceeds to step P ₉ skips the process. Then, a call to all the destinations stored in the same group to which the pointer has been set in step P ₁₀ (facsimile communication), it is determined whether or not it is completed. For example, the key codes of the one-touch groups OG1 and OG2 are ASCII codes, and the key codes of the two-touch groups TG1 to TG9 are
If they are distinguished by BCD, the end of a series of group processing can be determined by whether or not the upper 4 bits of these parameters are different, and the pointer value is checked for each increment, and the pointer value is It is also possible to determine that the call has ended when the predetermined value is reached. Call is returned to terminate the process of this flow when it is determined to have ended, and when the call to all destinations not completed the process returns to the step P _8, repeats the routine. Therefore, the call is continuously made to the destinations within the same group.

On the other hand, when the start key 21 in the step P ₂ is not pressed, the process proceeds to step P _11, a key input at step P _1, it is determined whether or not effective. If what is input is determined to be valid keys, ACK in step P ₁₂
(Affirmative response) Processing is performed. This process is generally a response to a message or signal being entered correctly,
In this embodiment, the code corresponding to the entered key is displayed on the display
The message is displayed on 11, and a predetermined confirmation sound is generated. In addition,
At this time, when the clear key 18 is input, for example, the last digit of the displayed input key is sequentially cleared and the input can be performed again. On the other hand, when the key entered in step P ₁₁ is not valid, the process proceeds to step P ₁₃ and NAC
Perform K processing (non-fixed response). This processing is a response to the message or signal being erroneously input, and in the present embodiment, a predetermined error sound is generated without displaying the code corresponding to the input key on the display unit 11. Then, when the processing of each of steps P ₁₂ and P ₁₃ is completed, step P ₁
Return to and repeat the same routine.

Thus, in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present invention,
Even if the destination dial number is registered in advance for each group in correspondence with a predetermined key code (one-touch and two-touch shortened key code), even when group instructions such as broadcast transmission and multi-polling reception are required. ,
For example, a group instruction can be performed by an extremely simple operation of "one-touch key code" + "predetermined instruction code (" * "in this embodiment)" + "start key 21". Therefore, the time required for the registration operation can be shortened by omitting the registration for each group, which has been performed separately from the registration of the dial number corresponding to the key code as in the past, and the list showing the contents of the group registration. (Group list) is also unnecessary.

On the other hand, for the facsimile apparatus 1 itself, it is possible to secure a memory or a storage area for performing group registration, omit the group list described above, and simplify the control circuit related to the registration operation. As a result, the convenience of the facsimile device 1 can be improved and the cost can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the facsimile apparatus is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be applied to all devices that store a plurality of destinations, read out the destinations according to a predetermined operation instruction, and make a call.

In this embodiment, the destination management means reads from the dial number of the key code at the head of the group specified by the group code, but prioritizes the key codes in the group and assigns the assigned keys. The dial number may be read out from the storage means and the call may be issued in accordance with the priority order of the codes.

(Effects) According to the present invention, a key code corresponding to each dial number of a destination and classified into a predetermined group and a group code corresponding to each group are preset in the storage means. The destination dial number is stored with a key code corresponding to a predetermined group code. Then, when the key code is input, the destination management means reads out the dialed number attached from the storage means to call the destination, and when the group code is input, the key code of the group corresponding to the key code is input. The attached dial numbers are sequentially read from the storage means to call the destination. Therefore, by storing a dial number with a predetermined key code, the dial number can be made to correspond to a predetermined group code and registration for calling one destination and a plurality of destinations can be easily performed. The registration operation of can be simplified. Therefore, the utilization and convenience of the facsimile device can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 are views showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operating portion of the facsimile apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the facsimile machine, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a file management table formed in the memory of the facsimile machine, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a program showing the operation of the facsimile machine. 1 ... Facsimile device, 37 ... Memory (storage means), 38 ... Control circuit (destination management means).

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile device for reading out a registered dial number and calling a destination, wherein a key code corresponding to each destination dial number and classified into a predetermined group and the key code corresponding to each group. A storage means for presetting a group code and storing a destination dial number with a key code corresponding to a predetermined group code, and a dial number with the key code when the key code is input. And a destination management means for reading out the destination from the storage means, and when the group code is input, sequentially reading dial numbers to which the key code of the group corresponding to the group code is attached from the storage means and calling the destination. And a facsimile machine.