JP2982022B2 - Facsimile communication system - 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 communication system including a center facsimile apparatus having an electronic telephone directory function and a terminal facsimile apparatus having no electronic telephone directory function. The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system in which a desired destination is automatically called using an electronic telephone directory function of a center facsimile apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine (hereinafter abbreviated as FAX) having an electronic telephone directory function has been known. In this type of FAX, for example, a large number of pieces of destination information each including a destination name and its telephone number are stored in a memory,
At the time of calling, when the operator inputs the abbreviation or initial of the calling destination as a keyword, the telephone number responding to the keyword is read from the memory and automatically called.

According to such a facsimile, an operator can easily and reliably call a desired destination without checking a telephone number each time a call is made.

[0004] Incidentally, not only the facsimile having the electronic telephone directory function as described above, but also a general facsimile without the electronic telephone directory function, the call to the transmission destination is not made from the operation panel of the apparatus main body. Could not be instructed.

[0005] Therefore, for example, when the user wants to transmit a document while going out, he has to return to the place where the apparatus is installed.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-258552 discloses a technique in which a facsimile automatically transmits a document in response to a remote command from a telephone.

[0007]

The electronic telephone directory function is very expensive because it requires a large amount of memory. Therefore, when a plurality of fax machines are installed, there is a problem that the telephone directory function can be added to only a part of them, and the telephone directory function cannot be used effectively.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an electronic telephone directory function provided only for one or a plurality of fax machines without providing an electronic telephone directory function for each fax machine. An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication system in which each FAX can be used effectively and can be created at low cost.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a center F having an electronic telephone directory function.
In a facsimile communication system including an AX and a terminal FAX without an electronic telephone directory function, the center FAX and the terminal FAX are characterized by having the following configurations. The center FAX includes an electronic telephone directory, keyword detection means for detecting a keyword, destination information extraction means for extracting destination information responding to the keyword from the electronic telephone directory, and a destination for returning the extracted destination information to the terminal FAX. Information return means. The terminal FAX includes keyword input means for inputting a keyword specifying desired destination information, search request output means for transmitting the keyword to the center FAX, and destination information detection means for detecting the destination information returned from the center FAX. Calling means for calling a destination based on the destination information.

[0010]

According to the above arrangement, when the operator inputs a keyword for designating a desired call destination from the keyword input means of the terminal FAX, the keyword is transferred to the center FAX. The center FAX extracts the destination information responding to the keyword from the electronic telephone directory and returns it to the terminal FAX. The terminal FAX calls a destination based on the returned destination information and transmits image information.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic concept of the present invention.

A center FAX having an electronic telephone directory function and terminals FAX1 to FAX4 not having an electronic telephone directory function are connected on the network.

In such a configuration, when transmitting image information from the center FAX, the operator operates the center FAX and inputs, for example, an abbreviation or initials of the destination as a keyword for designating a desired destination. The destination information responding to the keyword is read from the electronic telephone directory and automatically called.

On the other hand, when transmitting image information from each of the terminals FAX1 to FAX4 to the destination, when the operator operates the terminal FAX and inputs the same keyword as above, the keyword is transferred to the center FAX.

Upon receiving the transferred keyword, the center FAX reads the destination information corresponding to the keyword from the electronic telephone directory and returns it to the terminal FAX in the same manner as when the keyword is directly input.

The terminal FAX automatically dials the telephone number of the call destination based on the returned destination information.

FIG. 2 shows a center FA according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a functional block diagram of X20.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile function unit 21 executes main operations of facsimile such as reception and recording of image information, reading and transmission of image information.

In the electronic telephone directory 29, a large number of destination information including destination names and their telephone numbers are registered, distinguished by keywords. From the keyword input means 24, a keyword for searching for destination information relating to a desired call destination is input.

The search request detecting means 22 is connected to a terminal F to be described later.
The AX detects a search request signal sent when using the electronic telephone directory function of the center FAX. Keyword detection means 2
3 detects the keyword sent from the terminal FAX following the search request signal and outputs the keyword to the destination information extracting means 25, as shown in FIG.

The destination information extracting means 25 stores the destination information responding to the keyword input from the keyword input means 24 or the keyword detecting means 23 into the electronic telephone directory 29.
Extract from

The switching means 26 includes the search request detecting means 2
When the search request signal is detected by the step 2, the output destination of the destination information extracted by the destination information extracting unit 25 is switched from the calling unit 27 to the destination information returning unit 28.

The calling means 27 automatically calls a destination based on the input destination information. The destination information returning means 28
The input destination information is returned to the terminal FAX.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the terminal FAX 30, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same or equivalent parts, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, a keyword for searching destination information on a desired call destination from the electronic telephone directory 29 of the center facsimile is input from the keyword input means 34. The search request output unit 32 includes the keyword input unit 3
Then, a search request signal is added to the keyword input from No. 4 and sent to the center FAX as shown in FIG.

The destination information detecting means 31 is connected to the center FA.
The destination information returned from the X destination information returning means 28 is detected and output to the calling means 33. The calling means 33 automatically calls a destination based on the input destination information.

In such a configuration, when the operator directly operates the center FAX to call a desired destination,
When the operator inputs a keyword representing a desired destination name from the keyword input means 24, the destination information extracting means 2
5 stores the destination information responding to the keyword in the electronic telephone directory 29.
Extract from

At this time, since the destination information extracting means 25 and the calling means 27 are connected by the switching means 26,
The extracted destination information is output to the calling means 27. The calling means 27 automatically dials the telephone number registered in the destination information to call the destination. When the line with the destination is connected, the FAX function unit 21 sends out the image information.

Next, the operation when the terminal FAX calls a destination using the electronic telephone directory function of the center FAX will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step S11, the calling means 33 of the terminal FAX calls the center FAX according to the instruction of the operator. When the line with the center FAX is connected, step S
At 12, the operator uses the keyword input means 34 of the terminal FAX 30 to input an abbreviation, initials, or the like as a keyword for searching for destination information on a desired call destination.

In step S13, the search request output means 3
2 adds a search request signal to the keyword, and
AX, and waits until the destination information is returned from the center FAX.

On the other hand, in the center FAX, step S31
In step S32, when the search request signal output from the terminal FAX is detected by the search request detecting unit 22, the switching unit 26 is controlled to control the destination information extracting unit 25 and the destination information in step S33. The return means 28 is connected.

In step S34, the keyword sent together with the search request signal is detected by the keyword detecting means 23, and the keyword is output to the destination information extracting means 25. In step S35, the destination information extracting unit 25
Extracts the destination information responding to the input keyword from the electronic telephone directory 29.

At this time, since the destination information extracting means 25 and the destination information returning means 28 are connected by the switching means 26, the extracted destination information is input to the destination information returning means 28. In step S36, the destination information returning means 2
8 returns the destination information to the terminal FAX.

On the other hand, in the terminal FAX, when the returned destination information is detected by the destination information detecting means 31 in step S14, the telephone number of the destination information is output to the calling means 33 in step S15, The number is automatically dialed. Since the subsequent operation is the same as that of the prior art, the description is omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, the center FAX is first called, and the keyword is input after the line is connected. However, when the keyword is input first, In response, the center fax is automatically called,
The keyword may be transmitted after the line connection.

According to the present embodiment, the terminal FAX without the telephone directory function searches for the destination information using the center FAX with the telephone directory function. Even if it is not provided, the same function as when it is provided can be obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a terminal FA according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a functional block diagram of X, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 represent the same or equivalent parts.

In this embodiment, the destination information output means 41 for outputting the destination information returned from the center FAX and detected by the destination information detecting means 31 as image information, and the operator refers to the image information to call the destination telephone It is characterized by having telephone number input means 42 for manually dialing a number.

According to the present embodiment, the operator of the terminal FAX needs to dial to call a destination, and the destination information for that purpose is obtained using the telephone directory function of the center FAX in the same manner as described above. Therefore, even if each terminal FAX does not have a telephone directory function, it is possible to obtain the same function as the terminal FAX does.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a protocol when the terminal FAX automatically calls a destination based on the destination information returned from the center FAX.

First, the terminal FAX is placed in the hook-on state, and the telephone number of the center FAX is dialed to make a call. If the center FAX is not busy, CE
D (called station verification) signal, PRE (preamble) signal,
NSF (non-standard function) signal, CSI (Called Subscriber Identification)
A signal and a DIS (Digital Identification) signal are transmitted.
Since the NSF signal includes a capability signal indicating that it has a function of searching the electronic telephone directory and returning the destination information, when the terminal FAX detects this, it receives an NSC (non-standard function command) signal. Is sent.

The NSC signal includes a search request signal requesting a search of the electronic telephone directory and a keyword.

In the center FAX receiving the NSC signal,
The destination information responding to the keyword is extracted from the electronic telephone directory and returned to the terminal FAX.
(End of procedure) Output a signal.

The terminal FAX which has received the EOP signal subsequent to the destination information outputs the PRE signal and the MCF (message confirmation) signal, and the center FAX which has received the MCF signal.
Sends a DCN signal to terminate mutual communication.

Thereafter, the terminal FAX automatically calls the telephone number of the destination information sent from the center FAX, and transmits the image information when the line is connected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a protocol when the destination information returned from the center FAX is extracted as image information, and thereafter, the operator refers to the image information and manually calls the destination.

First, the terminal FAX calls the center FAX, and thereafter, the center FAX sends a call to the terminal FAX.
The ED signal, PRE signal, NSF signal, CSI signal, and DIS signal are sent as described above.

As described above, the NSF signal includes a capability signal indicating that it has a function of searching the electronic telephone directory and returning the search result. Is sent.

As described above, the NSC signal includes a search request signal for requesting a search of the electronic telephone directory and a keyword.

In the center FAX receiving the NSC signal,
PRE signal, TSI (transmission terminal identification) signal, NSS (non-standard function setting) signal, TCF (training check)
Output a signal.

In the terminal FAX, following the PRE signal, the CF
An R signal (reception preparation confirmation) is transmitted. When receiving the CFR signal, the center FAX extracts the destination information responding to the keyword from the destination information file and extracts the image information PIX.
After the transmission is completed, an EOP signal is output following the PRE signal.

When the terminal FAX receives the EOP signal, it outputs an MCF signal, and the terminal FAX receives the MCF signal.
X sends the PRE signal and the DCN signal to end the mutual communication.

Thereafter, the operator of the terminal FAX refers to the image information if necessary, and calls a desired destination by manual operation.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a terminal FAX without a telephone directory function searches for destination information using a center FAX with a telephone directory function. Even if each terminal FAX does not have a telephone directory function, it is possible to obtain the same function as the terminal FAX does.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a basic concept of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a center FAX according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a terminal FAX according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a terminal FAX according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a protocol for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a protocol for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 20: Center FAX, 21: FAX function unit, 22: Search request detecting means, 23: Keyword detecting means, 24, 34
... Keyword input means, 25 ... Address information extraction means, 26
... Switching means, 27, 33 ... Calling means, 28 ... Address information returning means, 29 ... Electronic telephone directory, 30 ... Terminal FAX, 31 ...
Destination information detecting means, 32 ... search request output means, 41 ... destination information output means, 42 ... telephone number input means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile communication system comprising a center facsimile apparatus having an electronic telephone directory function and a terminal facsimile apparatus having no electronic telephone directory function.
The center facsimile apparatus includes an electronic telephone directory that stores destination information including a telephone number, a search request detection unit that detects a search request signal transmitted from the terminal facsimile apparatus, and a keyword that detects a keyword transmitted from the terminal facsimile apparatus. A terminal facsimile apparatus, comprising: a detecting means; a destination information extracting means for extracting destination information responding to the keyword from the electronic telephone directory; and a destination information returning means for returning the extracted destination information to a terminal facsimile apparatus. A keyword input means for inputting a keyword for designating desired destination information, a search request output means for adding a search request signal to the keyword and sending the keyword to the center facsimile apparatus, and a destination information returned from the center facsimile apparatus. Destination information detecting means for detecting, and a destination based on the destination information Facsimile communication system characterized by comprising a calling means for calling.