JP2604932B2 - Image communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus having a facsimile terminal and an image storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile storage / broadcast apparatus having a mailbox function capable of extracting stored image information in accordance with an instruction from a terminal and registering the image information from the terminal is used.

An example of such a facsimile mail system will be described with reference to FIG. Such a system
It comprises a plurality of general-purpose facsimile terminals 1, a push phone provided for each terminal 1, an exchange 2 connected to each facsimile terminal 1, and a facsimile storage / broadcast device 4 connected to this exchange.

[0004] The push phone transmits and receives control information such as a mailbox type, a mailbox number, and sender ID information to and from the facsimile storage / broadcast apparatus 4 prior to facsimile communication. Thereafter, transmission of the stored image data to the facsimile apparatus 1 or registration processing of the image data to the facsimile storage and broadcasting apparatus 4 is performed in accordance with the instruction content of the control information.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of a conventional mailbox extraction from a mailbox. First, a telephone line is set up using a touch phone, and a retrieval request service code and a mailbox number are transmitted using PB tones. An example of this PB tone is shown below. PB tone: 1234 ## 10 # 4321 ## 1234: User ID **: Service code start identifier 10: Mailbox removal request #: Service code end identifier 4321: Mailbox number ##: PB sequence end identifier

When the facsimile mail apparatus 4 receives the PB tone, it terminates the telephone call, notifies the start of facsimile communication, and upon receiving this response, transmits a message requested from the mailbox to the facsimile apparatus 4 and ends.

[0007]

However, in the above-described conventional facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus, the control information (mail command information) necessary for mail communication is manually input by pressing a push phone of an operator of the facsimile apparatus. For example, when specifying a large number of digits, there is a problem that an input procedure is complicated and an operation error is likely to occur. For this reason, efficient mail communication processing may not be performed.

The above problem arises for the following reasons. That is, since the mail communication process relies on the operator's operation of the touch-tone telephone, the operator must memorize the complicated operation of the touch-tone telephone, but often operates with incomplete memory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and enables an image communication apparatus capable of correctly performing mail communication by assisting an operator without knowing control information to be transmitted. And operating
Operability is impaired even when the data is familiar with the control information.
The object is to provide an image communication device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a facsimile apparatus having a telephone, a method of storing image data from the facsimile apparatus in accordance with a registration signal from the telephone, and extracting a signal from the telephone. In an apparatus equipped with an image storage device that transmits the image data accumulated by the facsimile device, the voice guidance is output, and when a predetermined signal is received before the output of the voice guidance is completed, the output of the voice guidance is stopped. Next
Equipped with a voice guide device that controls the transition to
It is. Voice guidance prompts you to confirm the operation.
It is provided with a guide device.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[Function] When registering image data from a facsimile apparatus to an image storage apparatus, when a telephone is used to call a voice guide device, the registration signal will be instructed by voice. It has been transmitted to the device. When the facsimile apparatus retrieves the registered image data from the image storage apparatus, a retrieval signal is required. Similarly, the voice guide apparatus may be instructed on the creation method, and may respond accordingly. Thus, even if the registration signal and the extraction signal are not known, they can be created correctly, and the burden on the user is reduced, and the erroneous operation is reduced.

Here, when the operator is familiar with the operation of the device, the voice guidance by the voice guide device is cumbersome and the operation of the device takes time, so that a predetermined signal is output according to the instruction of the operator. As a result, the operability can be improved by stopping the output of the voice guidance and moving to the next process.
Things. Further, if the operation is not continued for a predetermined time, the operability can be improved by prompting the operator to confirm the operation by voice guidance.

[0017]

[0018]

In this way, if the user knows the extraction signal of the desired registered image data, the telephone transmits this extraction signal to the voice guiding device, and the voice guiding device transmits the extracted signal without the voice guidance. Since the image data is transmitted to the storage device and the corresponding registered image data is transmitted from the image storage device to the facsimile device, the registered image data can be quickly retrieved.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. 1 is a facsimile terminal having a telephone, 2 is an exchange, 3 is a voice guide device, and 4 is a facsimile storage and broadcast device. A plurality of facsimile terminals 1 pass through the exchange 2 and the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 via the voice guide device 3.
To register and retrieve image data.

The voice guide device 3 controls a line control unit 5 for controlling each communication line, a voice memory 7 for storing voice content to be guided, and reads out the content of the voice memory 7 to provide a voice guide to the telephone of the facsimile terminal 1. Voice sending unit 6 that performs
And P representing the take-out signal and registration signal created and transmitted by the telephone of the facsimile terminal 1 based on the voice guide.
It comprises a PB signal transmitting section 8 for transmitting a B signal to the facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus 4 and a main control section 9 for controlling the entire voice guiding apparatus 3.

The facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus 4 includes a line control unit 10 including a modem and a network control circuit for communicating with the facsimile terminal 1, an image storage unit 12 for storing image data transmitted from the facsimile terminal 1, This image storage unit
A communication control unit 11 for reading out the image data registered in the unit 12 and writing the image data transmitted from the facsimile terminal 1 to the image storage unit 12 with the line control unit 10
And a main controller 13 for controlling the entire facsimile storage and broadcasting device 4.

FIG. 2 shows the image data stored in the image storage unit 12 of the facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus 4 and its identification code. Here, the menu of 0000 is 00
The information from 01 to 9999, which allows the user to see the contents of this menu, know the desired information and its identification code, and send it out as a pick-up signal from the telephone without the help of a voice guide. It is.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the above-mentioned identification code is recorded by a voice guide.
Here, a case is shown in which the information is obtained by performing a round guide. The mailbox number refers to an identification code of image data stored in the image storage unit 12.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the mailbox number is obtained by guiding the user five times with the voice guide. The number of image data to be stored increases, and the number of times increases in an attempt to classify the image data in an easily understandable manner.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of a voice guide and registration processing when image data is registered in the facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus 4 by the facsimile terminal 1. In this case, the sports information is divided into five categories, namely, sports information of 1, sports information of 2, various kinds of information,... Horoscope of 4, and 5 menus. For example, one sports information is one professional baseball result,
The result is 2 golf results, 3 horse racing results, and so on. Correspondingly, these image data are stored in the image storage unit 12 in a tree structure as shown in FIG.

The method of obtaining a mailbox number by two voice guides shown in FIG. 3 is applied when the classification is made up of two classifications, a large classification and a small classification, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a voice guide and a retrieval process when the facsimile terminal retrieves the image data registered in the image storage unit 12.

Next, an operation of registering desired image data from the facsimile terminal 1 to the facsimile storage / broadcasting apparatus 4 will be described. This will be described with reference to the registration guidance explanatory diagram of FIG. 5, the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 10, and the voice guidance example of FIG. As an example, a process of registering a professional baseball result will be described.

From the facsimile terminal 1 to the voice guide device 3
Is dialed (step 20), the voice guide device 3 reads a predetermined voice from the voice memory 7 and transmits it to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 21). As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 12, the contents are transmitted as follows: "Please enter 1 for sports information. Enter 5 for menu registration." In the facsimile terminal 1, since the image data to be received and registered is related to sports information, the first PB tone "1" is pressed (step 25). In this case, the voice guide device 3 detects the presence or absence of a PB tone input (step 22). If there is no input within a predetermined time (step 23), guidance 2 (please confirm the usage method before calling). Is sent (step 24), and the process returns to idle.

Step by the value of the first PB tone
Move to 26, 27, 28, 29. If not, send guidance 4 (enter the correct number) and return to step 22 (step 30). The case of PB = 5 (menu extraction) will be described later. P for this description
Since B = 1, the voice guide device 3 reads the guidance information corresponding to the first PB tone from the voice memory 7 and sends out the guidance 3 (enter 1 for professional baseball and enter 2 for golf) (step 31). .

The voice guide device 3 monitors whether a PB tone has been input (step 32), and if it times out (step 33), sends the guidance 2 again (step 3).
4) Return to idol. The facsimile terminal 1 receives the guidance 3 and presses "1" which is the PB tone corresponding to the result of the professional baseball (step 35). In other cases, the corresponding PB = 2, 3, 4 is pressed (steps 36, 37, 38).
Otherwise, guidance 4 is sent (step 39). Guidance 5 because PB = 1 in this case
(The information you want is professional baseball information.
If you make a mistake, press * and #. ) Is sent (step 40).

The voice guide device 3 monitors the pressing of the PB tone (step 41), and if it has timed out (step 42), sends the guidance 2 and returns to idle (step 43). When receiving the final guidance information, the facsimile terminal 1 presses the confirmation PB tone "#". When receiving the PB tone (step 44), the voice guide device 3 dials the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 (step 47), confirms that the line is connected (step 48), and outputs the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4. The PB tones "11" are transmitted twice to indicate that the image data corresponding to the PB tones is to be registered (step 4).
9). During this time, the voice guide device 3 outputs a voice saying “Please wait for a while” to the facsimile terminal 1. Note that in step 45, it is determined that the
If "#" is pressed, guidance 7 (start over again. Enter 1 to sports information)
Is transmitted (step 46), and the process returns to step 22.

Next, it is confirmed whether the telephone line between the voice guide device 3 and the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 has been disconnected and the facsimile line has been established (steps 50 and 51). Press the button to return the receiver to its original state) (step 52), connect the line between the facsimile terminal 1 and the facsimile storage and broadcasting device 4 (step 53), and send the image data to be registered from the facsimile terminal 1. Send it (step 54). The voice guide device 3 monitors the transmission of the image data (step 55), and releases the line when the transmission is completed (step 56).

Next, the menu retrieval operation will be described with reference to FIG. When PB = 5 is pressed in step 29, guidance 8 (the menu is taken out. If it is correct, press #, if wrong, press * and #) is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 60), and the PB tone is output. The input is monitored (step 61), and if it is timed out (step 62), guidance 2 is transmitted (step 63), and the process returns to idle.

If the PB tone is input but not "#" (step 64) but "* #" indicating an error (step 64)
65) Send guidance 7 (step 66)
Return to 22. If "#" is entered in step 64, dial the facsimile storage and broadcasting device 4 (step 67),
It is checked whether the line has been connected (step 68). When the line has been connected, a PB tone requesting that the menu be taken out is transmitted to the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 (step 69). During this time, the facsimile terminal 1 outputs a voice saying "Please wait for a while."

Next, it is monitored that the line with the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 has been disconnected and the facsimile line has been established (steps 70 and 71), and guidance 6 is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 72). When a line is connected between the facsimile terminal 1 and the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 (step 73), a menu is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 74), and when this communication is completed (step 7).
5) Release the line (step 76).

Next, an example of shortening the voice guide will be described.
If the user experiences the audio guide several times, the first few words will give the entire guide of that category. For this reason, if a predetermined PB signal is output, by moving to the next audio guide, the time for the audio guide can be shortened, and the user will not be heard for a long time with a guide that the user knows.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of this shortening guide.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing each part in the voice guide device 3 related to this operation.

First, the voice guide of the previous stage is completed (step 80), the process proceeds to the current voice guide, the main control unit 9 instructs the voice transmitting unit 6 to transmit voice (step 81), and the voice transmission ends. (Step 82), and before the end, it is monitored whether a PB signal for instructing the line control unit 5 to stop the current voice guide from the facsimile terminal 1 and shift to the next voice guide is input (step 83). ). When this PB signal is input, the current voice guide is interrupted, and the next voice guide is performed (step 84).

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when the operator is familiar with the operation of the device, the voice guidance by the voice guide device is cumbersome, and it takes time to operate the device. By outputting a predetermined signal according to the instruction of the operator, the output of the voice guidance is stopped, and the operation proceeds to the next processing, whereby the operability can be improved. Ma
Further, if the operation is not continued for a predetermined time, the operability can be improved by prompting the operator to confirm the operation by voice guidance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu of registered image data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a case where a mailbox number is designated by two voice guides;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a case where a mailbox number is indicated by five voice guides;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of registration guidance.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of takeout guidance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of a flowchart of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart connected to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart connected to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart connected to FIG. 9

FIG. 11 is a flowchart connected to FIG. 7

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of voice guidance.

[FIG. 13] Flow chart for shortening the voice guide

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing members in the voice guide device related to shortening of the voice guide.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a conventional mailbox system.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of image data extraction in the system shown in FIG. 15

[Description of Signs] 1 facsimile terminal 2 exchange 3 voice guide device 4 facsimile storage and broadcasting device 5,10 line control unit 6 voice transmission unit 7 voice memory 8 PB signal transmission unit 9,13 main control unit 11 communication control unit 12 image Storage unit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a telephone, an image storage for storing image data from the facsimile apparatus according to a registration signal from the telephone, and transmitting the stored image data to the facsimile apparatus according to a take-out signal from the telephone. When the facsimile apparatus requests the image storage apparatus for processing, the apparatus outputs audio guidance corresponding to the processing, and receives a predetermined signal before the output of the audio guidance is completed. An image communication device comprising: a voice guide device that stops outputting voice guidance and shifts to the next process. 2. A facsimile apparatus having a telephone, an image storage for storing image data from the facsimile apparatus according to a registration signal from the telephone, and transmitting the stored image data to the facsimile apparatus according to a take-out signal from the telephone. The apparatus has voice guidance sequentially classified into small classifications from voice guidance of a large classification corresponding to processing, and voice guidance respectively corresponding to a processing request from the facsimile apparatus to the image storage apparatus is provided. Output, when receiving from the facsimile apparatus a signal indicating that voice guidance is not required during the voice guidance output, the voice guidance being output is stopped,
An image communication device comprising: a voice guide device that starts outputting the next classified voice guidance. 3. A facsimile apparatus having a telephone, an image storage for storing image data from the facsimile apparatus in accordance with a registration signal from the telephone, and transmitting the stored image data to the facsimile apparatus in accordance with a take-out signal from the telephone. A voice guide device that counts a waiting time for a processing request from the facsimile device to the image storage device, and outputs a voice guidance prompting confirmation of an operation when a request for a predetermined time does not come. An image communication device, comprising: