JP2950224B2 - Facsimile modem and computer communication system using it - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile modem connected to a computer such as a personal computer via a serial interface to realize a facsimile function, and a computer communication system using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Personal computers have been widely used today as not only data processing but also communication means. That is, if a modem is connected to a personal computer, various data communications can be performed. Furthermore, if a facsimile modem is connected to a personal computer so that facsimile communication can be performed via the facsimile modem, further utilization can be expected. However, in such a conventional facsimile modem, a message can be sent even when the other party is not present, but in order to confirm whether the facsimile message has passed to the other party, it is necessary to contact again using a telephone or the like. was there. Further, there is no means for notifying an unspecified person of information such as a business trip. Further, even if the operator is absent for a long period of time, the communication partner does not know the schedule of the partner, so that the transmission message may be one-way.

[0003]

As described above,
In a conventional facsimile modem, when a facsimile transmission is performed, there is a possibility that no one can look through the received document, for example, when the other facsimile has no operator. For this reason, it is necessary for the operator transmitting the facsimile message to take a procedure such as keeping in touch with the other party. In particular, in the case of a facsimile system using a personal computer, transmission of originals tends to be one-way since the transmitting side does not know specific information such as the power of the personal computer being turned off in the absence of an operator. there were.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile modem capable of transmitting a response message to a transmitting side so that the transmitting side that has transmitted the message can grasp the situation of the receiving side.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to prevent a one-way information notification and reduce wasted time in business, such as communication due to misunderstanding or absence.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile modem connected between a computer and a line for facsimile communication of information between the computer and the line based on a facsimile communication protocol. A facsimile communication unit that performs facsimile communication based on a facsimile communication protocol between the facsimile communication unit, a response message storage unit that stores a response message corresponding to a predetermined keyword in advance, and the facsimile communication unit during facsimile communication by Means for detecting a keyword sent from the partner device; determining means for determining whether a response message corresponding to the keyword detected by the detecting means is stored in the response message storage means; Response message corresponding to keyword according to Di, facsimile modem can be obtained and a control means for facsimile communication with the partner device controls to transmit to a predetermined destination by facsimile communication unit after completion.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a computer communication system using a facsimile modem connected between a computer and a line and performing facsimile communication of information between the computer and the line based on a facsimile communication protocol. Can be The computer includes means for generating a keyword, means for generating a response message as image data of a pixel, and means for sending a response message of the generated keyword and image data to a facsimile modem.

[0008] The facsimile modem has a facsimile communication unit for performing facsimile communication with a line based on a facsimile communication protocol, means for receiving a keyword and a response message from a computer, and a function corresponding to the keyword received by the receiving means. Response message storage means for storing a response message, a means for detecting a keyword transmitted from the partner apparatus during facsimile communication between the partner apparatus and the facsimile communication unit, and a response corresponding to the keyword detected by the detection means. Determining means for determining whether or not the message is stored in the response message storing means; and a response message corresponding to the keyword according to the determination result of the determining means, by the facsimile communication unit after facsimile communication with the partner device is completed. Send to specified destination And a control means for so that control.

According to the present invention, the call number of the destination to which the response message is transmitted may be stored in the response message storage means in advance corresponding to the keyword. The computer sends the call number to the facsimile modem and stores it by the control means.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication system using a facsimile modem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The telephone line 51 is a normal public line. The scanner 43 has an interface with a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC) 42, reads image data from a document, and notifies the PC 42 of the image data. The printer 44 also has an interface with the PC 42 and
The image data of the original is printed according to the instruction of (1).

The serial line 52 is a serial cable connecting the facsimile modem 41 and the PC 42. The facsimile modem control program 61 is a PC
42 is an interface program for controlling the facsimile modem 41 via the serial line 52
42.

Next, the facsimile modem 41 will be described.

The facsimile communication unit 11 implements facsimile communication via the telephone line 51. The serial interface 12 is connected to the PC 42 via the serial line 52,
Data transmission / reception and transmission / reception of commands / responses for data transmission / reception are realized. The storage unit 21 is a memory that stores practically sufficient image data of a document. The image data includes transmission image data from the serial interface unit 12 and reception image data from the facsimile communication unit 11. The storage is controlled by the main control unit 31.

The communication partner determination unit 22 has a keyword for communication partner determination in a storage table therein, monitors communication information from the facsimile communication unit 11, and extracts a keyword to determine a communication partner. The response message management unit 23 receives the main control unit 31
With reference to the keyword, the destination telephone number, and the response message registered in advance by the control of, the function of transmitting a reply (response message) to the image data of the document received by the facsimile communication unit 11 is performed. That is, the response message management unit 23 searches for the associated response message based on the keyword extracted by the communication partner determination unit 22, and if found, transmits the response message to the designated telephone number (destination telephone number). If there is no particular associated response message, no special processing is performed. The power supply unit 32 drives the facsimile modem 41.
The main control unit 31 controls each unit constituting the facsimile modem 41.

Next, the registration of the response message and the transmission of the response message will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC 42 when registering the response message, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile modem 41 at the time of facsimile reception.

First, registration of a response message will be described. There are a method of creating a response message, a method of reading a handwritten manuscript from the scanner 43 and capturing it as image data, and a method of creating a response message by an application program on the PC 42. Here, the case of using the scanner 43 will be described.

When the power of each of the facsimile modem 41, the PC 42, and the scanner 43 is turned on, a facsimile modem control program 61 is started (step A1). Next, create a response message by hand on the manuscript,
The document is set on a document table of the scanner 43. PC4
When a scan instruction is issued in step 1, an original is read from the scanner 43 under the control of the facsimile modem control program 61 (step A2), and an instruction to transfer image data to the facsimile modem 41 is issued.
After the transfer instruction, the read response message is stored in the PC 42 under the control of the facsimile modem control program 61 (step A3).
The information registered in the facsimile modem 41 is a keyword, a transmission destination telephone number, and a response message, and is transferred from the PC 42 as follows. First, a keyword is set under the control of the facsimile modem control program 61. This keyword is input from the keyboard of the PC 41. The keyword is output from the PC 42 to the serial interface unit 12 (step A4). The serial interface unit 22 notifies the main control unit 31 of the keyword, and the main control unit 31 notifies the response message management unit 23 of the keyword. Response message management unit 23
Registers that keyword.

Next, in the PC 42, a telephone number is input under the control of the facsimile modem control program 61 (step A5), and a response message of the image data stored in step A3 is output to the serial interface unit 12 together with the telephone number (step A).
6). The serial interface unit 12 notifies the main control unit 31 of the telephone number and the response message. Main control unit 3
In step 1, when notified of the telephone number and the response message, the response message is notified to the response message management unit 23 and stored in association with the keyword. As described above, the registration of the telephone number and the response message in association with the keyword is completed. The telephone number is a call number of a destination to which the response message is to be transmitted by facsimile, and the keyword is notified from the other party who wants to receive the response message.

Next, facsimile reception and transmission of a response message will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, an incoming call is received from the telephone line 51. When the facsimile communication unit 11 detects an incoming call from the other party facsimile machine (step B1), the facsimile communication unit 11
Starts the reception operation, while the main controller 31 is notified of the incoming facsimile. The main control section 31 controls the storage section 21 in response to the incoming call, and secures a storage memory for reception (step B2). When the main control unit 31 can secure the storage memory for reception, the facsimile communication unit 1
Notify 1. As a result, facsimile reception is recognized, and reception of the document is started (step B3).

The main control unit 31 notifies the facsimile communication unit 11 that the securing of the storage memory has been completed, and simultaneously activates the communication partner determination unit 22. Communication partner determination unit 2
2 is started from the main control unit 31, and monitors the communication protocol of the facsimile communication unit 11. Then, data corresponding to the keyword is detected from the CSI signal among the procedure signals exchanged by the communication protocol and extracted,
The communication partner determination unit 22 sends the extracted keyword to the main control unit 3
1 is notified (step B4). In this case, the transmitting side must be a device that can insert a keyword into the CSI signal. The CSI signal can contain data such as a keyword. Recommendation T. If the communication protocol is executed by the 30 non-standard functions, it is not difficult to cause the keyword to be transmitted. The main controller 31 holds the keyword until facsimile reception is completed.

The facsimile communication unit 11 transfers the received message to the storage unit 21 under the control of the main control unit 31, and when the facsimile reception is completed, notifies the main control unit 31 of the end of the reception. Upon detecting the end of the reception, the main control unit 31 instructs the facsimile communication unit 11 to disconnect the line (step B).
5) Notifying the storage unit 21 of the end of the reception, and registering the received image data in the management table of the storage unit 21.
The received image data is thereafter read out according to an instruction from the PC 42 and output from the printer 44. Main controller 31
Notifies the response message management unit 23 of the keyword (detected in step B4) already received from the facsimile communication unit 11 (step B6). Upon receiving the keyword, the response message management unit 23 searches whether or not a message of the image data responding to the keyword is stored (step B).
7). If the response message is stored as a result of the search, the telephone number as the additional information is notified to the main control unit 31 together with the response message. The main control unit 31 transfers the response message to the storage unit 21, then notifies the facsimile communication unit 11 of the telephone number and requests a call for transmission (step B9). As a result, a call is made to the partner facsimile machine of the telephone number, and a response message of the image data is read out from the storage unit 21 and transmitted (step B10).

As described above, a response original is transmitted in response to the original reception.

The operation after step B6 may be performed after or before the received image data is output to the printer 44.

The keyword may be the telephone number of the transmitting facsimile. The communication protocol in the facsimile communication unit may be G3 or G4. The line can be analog or digital, or
An SDN line may be used. In this case, an interface corresponding to each line is provided.

Further, in FIG. 1, the response message from the PC 42 is stored in the response message management unit 23, but may be stored in the storage unit 21.

[0029]

As described above, when the facsimile modem of the present invention is used, when a user wants to contact the other party in a special situation, a specific communication partner is determined (password communication or the like) and the original is transmitted. After the image reception is completed, the transmission is automatically performed, and the reserved original image can be transmitted to the other party facsimile. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus can be used for exchanging messages as if it were an answering machine.

For example, in the PC, if the original of the password A is received, register the response message B to the telephone number xx-xxxx, and register in the response message B "currently absent, transfer destination telephone number xx". If "-xxxxxx" is stored, it is possible to prevent one-way information notification such that the other party can confirm the transfer destination, and to reduce unnecessary time caused by misunderstanding or absence.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer communication system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a response message registration operation in a computer of the computer communication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facsimile communication and a response message transmission operation in the facsimile modem of the computer communication system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 facsimile communication unit 12 serial interface unit 21 storage unit 22 communication partner determination unit 23 response message management unit 31 main control unit 32 power supply unit 41 facsimile modem 42 PC 51 telephone line 52 serial line 61 facsimile modem control program

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connection between a computer and a line,
In a facsimile modem for performing facsimile communication of information between the computer and the line based on a facsimile communication protocol, a predetermined keyword and a response message are transmitted from the computer.
Means for receiving a di, facsimile communication unit to carry out facsimile communication based on the facsimile communication protocol between the line, the response message storing means for storing the reply message in response to the predetermined keyword, Means for detecting a keyword transmitted from the partner apparatus during facsimile communication with the partner apparatus and the facsimile communication unit; and the response message corresponding to the keyword detected by the detection means is stored in the response message storage means. A facsimile communication unit that transmits the response message corresponding to the keyword to a predetermined destination after facsimile communication with the partner device is completed, according to a determination result of the determination unit. Control means for controlling facsimile Beam. 2. The response message storage means stores, in addition to the response message, a call number of a transmission destination of the response message corresponding to the keyword, and the control means responds to a result of the determination by the determination means. Reading out the call number and the response message from the response message storage means corresponding to the keyword, and controlling the facsimile communication unit to transmit the call number and the destination to the destination of the call number after the facsimile communication with the partner device is completed. The facsimile modem according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The facsimile modem according to claim 1, wherein said line is a telephone line. 4. The facsimile modem according to claim 1, wherein said line is a digital line. 5. Connected between a computer and a line,
In a computer communication system using a facsimile modem for performing facsimile communication of information between the computer and the line based on a facsimile communication protocol, the computer generates a keyword, and generates a response message as pixel image data. Means for transmitting a response message of the keyword and the image data to the facsimile modem, wherein the facsimile modem performs facsimile communication with the line based on the facsimile communication protocol. A means for receiving the keyword and the response message from the computer; and a response message storage means for storing the response message corresponding to the keyword received by the receiving means. A means for detecting a keyword transmitted from the partner apparatus during facsimile communication with the partner apparatus and the facsimile communication unit; and the response message corresponding to the keyword detected by the detector is stored in the response message storage means. Determining means for determining whether or not the response message corresponding to the keyword is transmitted to a predetermined destination by the facsimile communication unit after facsimile communication with the partner device is completed, according to a determination result of the determining means. Control means for controlling the communication system. 6. The response message storage means stores, in addition to the response message, a call number of a transmission destination of the response message corresponding to the keyword, and the control means responds to a result of the determination by the determination means. Reading out the call number and the response message from the response message storage means corresponding to the keyword, and controlling the facsimile communication unit to transmit the call number and the destination to the destination of the call number after the facsimile communication with the partner device is completed. The computer communication system according to claim 5, wherein: