JP3013901B2 - Data communication device and method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention has management means for managing information related to data communication, and stores data related to data communication managed by the management means with a remote terminal. The present invention relates to a data communication device and a method for exchanging data between devices.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in data communication, a technique is known in which a calling side performs a predetermined control procedure to transmit data to a called side apparatus. For example, in a facsimile apparatus, so-called polling communication in which a calling side performs a predetermined control procedure and causes a called side to execute image transmission is known.

The image information to be polled by the called device is not limited to the document image read into the image memory or the document image loaded into the reading unit. For example, the so-called communication management related to the communication date and time and the partner station stored in the device. Sending information is also conceivable.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as in the case of the facsimile apparatus described above, conventionally, data cannot be extracted from a remote terminal unless image information is available. In order to confirm the above, a terminal capable of handling image information, such as a facsimile machine, was required.

Therefore, a technique has been proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-278165) in which a communication history is output using a terminal that handles only voice such as a telephone so that the communication history can be confirmed. However, in this conventional technique, an identification code is designated and only the result of communication corresponding to the identification code is notified. In such a method of notifying predetermined information based on a predetermined single operation method, a user at a remote place must know an identification code of a target communication in advance, for example, a communication history. It is impossible to select a desired communication from among the above and make a notification, or to further transmit the data of the communication content, and it is not possible to sufficiently respond to the request of a remote user. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, so that even a terminal that cannot handle image information can confirm information on data communication from a remote place and appropriately provide information according to a user's request. Is to do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in a data communication apparatus of the present invention, a communication unit for performing data communication with a partner station, and a management for managing information on data communication by the communication unit Means, conversion means for converting information related to data communication managed by the management means into voice information, management related to a notification partner of data communication managed by the management means in response to a call from another terminal First notifying means for notifying information by voice information obtained by converting the information by the converting means; and first notifying means based on a request from another terminal in response to the notification by the first notifying means. As additional information related to the management information notified in the above, the voice obtained by converting the character information included in the image data related to the data communication performed by the communication unit by the conversion unit Adopting a structure in which a second notifying means for notifying the broadcast.

Further, in the data communication method of the present invention, a communication step of performing data communication with a partner station, a management step of managing information related to data communication in the communication step, and information related to data communication managed in the management step A conversion step of converting to voice information; and a first step of notifying management information on a communication partner or the like of data communication managed in the management step in response to a call from a remote terminal by the voice information converted in the conversion step. Notification step; based on a request from a remote terminal in response to the notification in the first notification step, performed in the communication step as additional information related to the management information notified in the first notification step. A second notifying step of notifying the character information included in the image data related to the data communication by voice information obtained by converting the character information in the converting step. It was adopted.

[Operation] According to the configuration described above, management information on a communication partner or the like of data communication managed in response to a call from a terminal at a remote place is converted into voice information and notified, and further, Character information included in image data related to data communication executed as additional information related to management information notified based on a request from a remote terminal to be performed can be converted into audio information and notified.

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

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a telephone network used for data communication or the like, so that it is connected to a terminal of the line to control connection of a telephone switching network, switch to a data communication path, or perform loop control. This is the NCU (network controller) that holds the data.

The signal line 2a is a telephone line, and the NCU 2 inputs the signal of the signal line 40a, and if the signal level is "φ", connects the telephone line to the telephone side, that is, connects the signal line 2a to the signal line 2b. Also, if the signal level of the signal line 40a is “1”, the NCU 2
The telephone line is connected to the facsimile machine side, that is, the signal line 2a is connected to the signal line 2c. In a normal state, the telephone line is connected to the telephone 4 side. NCU 2 also includes a circuit for detecting a 16 Hz ringing signal, and this ringing detection signal is
Output to 2d.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a hybrid circuit that separates a transmission system signal and a reception system signal. That is, the transmission signal on the signal line 22a is transmitted to the telephone line via the NCU 2 via the signal line 2c. The signal sent from the other party is output to the signal line 6a via the signal line 2c after passing through the NCU 2.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a modulator that performs modulation based on the known CCITT recommendation V21. The modulator 8 inputs a procedure signal of a signal line 40b, performs modulation, and outputs modulated data to a signal line 8a.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a reading circuit, which sequentially reads image signals for one line in the main scanning direction from a transmission original to create a signal sequence representing binary values of white and black. It is composed of an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an optical system, and a document transport system. The white and black binarized signal sequence is output to the encoding circuit 12.

The encoding circuit 12 receives the data output on the signal line 10a and outputs the encoded (MH (Modified Huffman) or MR (Modified Read) encoded) data to the modulator 14.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a modulator that performs modulation based on the known CCITT recommendation V27ter (differential phase modulation) or V29 (quadrature modulation), and a modulated signal is output to a signal line 14a.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a circuit for transmitting a voice message such as "Please input information to be notified" to the signal line 16a when a voice message transmission command pulse is generated on the signal line 40c. Then, when the transmission of the voice message ends, the voice message transmitting circuit 16 generates an end pulse on the signal line 16b.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an information conversion circuit that inputs code information (specifically, communication management information) output to the signal line 40d, converts the code information into audio information, and outputs the audio information to the signal line 18a. The information conversion circuit 18 is configured by a speech synthesis circuit or the like.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an information conversion circuit which inputs the encoded information output to the signal line 28b, decodes and recognizes the character, and converts the character information into voice information. This audio information is output to the signal line 20a. The information conversion circuit 20 includes a decoding circuit and a character recognition circuit.

Reference numeral 22 denotes an addition circuit that inputs signals on the signal lines 28a, 14a, 16a, 18a, and 20a and outputs the result of addition to the signal line 22a.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a demodulator that performs demodulation based on the known CCITT recommendation V21, inputs a signal on the signal line 6a, performs V21 demodulation, and outputs demodulated data to the signal line 24a.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a demodulator that performs demodulation based on the known CCITT recommendation V27ter (differential phase modulation) or V29 (quadrature modulation), inputs a signal on the signal line 6a, performs demodulation, and outputs demodulated data to the signal line 26a. Output.

A storage circuit 28 stores the received image information, stores the communication number of the information received via the signal line 40f, and sequentially stores the received information in a memory space by a pointer. When the signal of the signal level “0” is output to the signal line 40e, the data stored in the memory is sequentially transferred to the signal line 28a by the pointer via the signal line 40f.
When the signal of the signal level "1" is being output to the signal line 40e, the signal is output to the signal line 28b. Also, the information received via the signal line 40f is deleted.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a decoding circuit that inputs data output to the signal line 28a, performs MH or MR decoding, and outputs the result to the signal line 30a.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a recording circuit which inputs the decoded data output to the signal line 30a and sequentially performs recording.

Reference numeral 34 inputs the data output to the signal line 6a,
When a DTMF signal is detected by a DTMF signal detection circuit that detects a DTMF signal, the information is output to a signal line 34a.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a storage circuit for storing communication result recording information, for example, communication result recording information such as communication numbers, destination abbreviations, destination telephone numbers, communication start times, communication times, the number of communication, and presence or absence of errors regarding the last ten communications. Is stored. Memory circuit
When data is stored in 36, the communication number, destination abbreviation, destination telephone number, communication start time, communication time, number of communication, and error information are output to the communication line 36a, and then a write pulse is generated on the signal line 40g. When reading data stored in the storage circuit 36, the communication number is output to the signal line 36a and then the signal line 40h
When a read pulse is generated, a destination abbreviation, a destination telephone number, a communication start time, a communication time, a communication number, and error information corresponding to the communication number are output to the signal line 36a.

Reference numeral 38 denotes an incoming call mode detection circuit for detecting an incoming call mode, and a signal line when the manual incoming call mode is set.
A signal of signal level "0" is output to 38a, and a signal of signal level "1" is output when the automatic incoming call mode is set.

Reference numeral 40 is composed of a microprocessor, etc.
This is a control circuit that controls the operation of each unit of the device via the various control signals described above according to the program stored in 0r.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, an outline of the operation of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

With the automatic answering mode set,
When a 16 Hz calling signal is detected, a CED signal and an initial identification signal (NSF / CSI / DIS) are transmitted. Here, when the procedure signal is detected, the operation shifts to the communication operation. When the operator of the partner station uses, for example, a telephone (or a facsimile that performs voice communication) and transmits a “#” signal by DTMF, When this is detected, the voice message transmitting circuit 16 is used to transmit, for example, a voice message “Please input information to be notified”.

Here, when the operator of the partner station wants to hear the communication result record information by voice, it transmits a DTMF “*” signal,
The voice-converted information sent from the receiver is heard from the receiver and the memory is taken if necessary. When the user wants to listen to the image information received in the memory converted to voice, the user designates a 4-digit communication number by DTMF and listens to the image information converted to voice sent from the other party from the receiver.

2A and 2B show a control procedure of the control circuit 40 for performing the above operation. The illustrated control procedure is stored in the ROM 40r as a control program of the control circuit 40. In addition,
2 (A) and 2 (B) are assumed to be continuous at the same number.

In step S52 of FIG. 2A, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 40a, the CML relay of the NCU 2 is turned off, and the telephone line is connected to the telephone 4.

In step S54, a signal of signal level "0" is output to the signal line 40e, and the memory circuit 28 is instructed to output the received image data to the decoding circuit 30 via the signal line 28a.

In step S56, it is determined whether manual reception has been selected. This determination is made according to the operation state of a predetermined key on the operation panel. When the manual reception is selected, the signal of the signal level "1" is output to the signal line 40a in step S58, the CML relay of the NCU 2 is turned on, the line is connected to the hybrid circuit 6, and in steps S60, S62, S64 A normal receiving operation is performed. Here, the received information is also stored in the memory circuit 28. When the manual reception has not been selected, the process proceeds to step S66.

In step S66, the signals of the signal lines 2d and 38a are input, and it is determined whether or not the automatic incoming call mode and a 16 Hz ringing signal have been detected. If a call signal of 16 Hz is detected in the automatic incoming call mode, the process proceeds to step S70, but otherwise, the process proceeds to step S68 to perform other processing.

When a call signal is detected in the automatic incoming call mode, a signal of signal level "1" is output to the signal line 40a in step S70, the CML relay of the NCU 2 is turned on, and the line is connected to the hybrid circuit 6 side.

In step S72, a known pre-facsimile procedure is performed.

In step S74, it is determined whether an NSS / TSI / DCS signal has been received. The other station is a facsimile signal and NS
If an S / TSI / DCS signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S58, and if not, the process proceeds to step S76.

On the other hand, in step S76, the signal of the signal line 34a is input,
It is determined whether a DTMF signal has been received. If a DTMF signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S78.
Go to 72.

In step S78, it is determined whether or not the detected DTMF signal is "#" which instructs the present apparatus to transmit information by voice. When detecting the "#" information of DTMF, step S80
If the "#" information has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S52.

In step S80, a voice message transmission command pulse is generated on the signal line 40c, and a voice message saying "Please input information to be notified" is transmitted to the other party.

In step S82, a signal on the signal line 34a is input, and it is determined whether a DTMF signal is detected within a predetermined time. If the DTMF signal is detected within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S84. If the DTMF signal is not detected within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S52.

In step S84, it is determined whether or not the detected DTMF signal is “*” information. Step if "*" information
If the information is not "*" in S86, the process proceeds to step S88.

In step S86, the above-described various communication result record information related to the past 10 communications is input from the storage circuit 36 and output to the signal line 40d. As the information format on the signal line 40d, for example, a code such as a character code is used. As a result, the information conversion circuit 18 converts the communication result record information into voice, and the converted voice signal is transmitted to the partner station via the addition circuit 22, the hybrid circuit 6, and the NCU 2. The operator of the partner station determines the information to be known from the communication result record information notified by voice, and assigns the communication number to DTMF.
Transmit by signal.

When the other station transmits the communication number by the DTMF signal, in step S88, it is determined whether the information of the communication number specified by the DTMF signal exists in the memory circuit 28. If the information of the communication number specified by the DTMF signal exists in the memory circuit 28, the process proceeds to step S90, and if not, the process returns to step S52.

In step S90, the memory circuit 28 is instructed to output the information of the communication number specified by the DTMF signal to the signal line 28b via the signal lines 40e and 40f. As a result, the image data corresponding to the designated communication number is input to the information conversion circuit 20, and is recognized as a character code in the information conversion circuit 20, and a voice signal corresponding to the character code is synthesized and transmitted to the partner station. Is done.

According to the apparatus of the above embodiment, it is possible to perform polling transmission of the management information relating to the received image information and the character information included in the received image information itself as an audio signal using the DTMF signal. Therefore, the user can obtain the management information on the image information received from the outside using a public telephone or the like and the character information included in the received image information without using the facsimile apparatus.

In the above description, an example in which the management information or the received information relating to the received information is transmitted as audio information has been described. A configuration is also conceivable in which information such as the absence of paper is transmitted by polling by voice.

As for polling transmission / reception by voice of various management information, first, an ID number may be transmitted by a DTMF signal, collated, and polling transmission / reception may be permitted only when a match with a predetermined ID number is found. As a result, it is possible to enhance the preservability of communication information regarding secrecy.

In the above description, it has been considered that the polling transmission by the voice signal is commanded using the command of the DTMF signal, but the command may be directly transmitted by the voice of the operator. In this case, a voice recognition circuit may be used instead of the DTMF signal detection circuit.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, management information on a communication partner of data communication managed in response to a call from a terminal at a remote location is converted into voice information and notified. Further, the character information included in the image data related to the data communication executed as additional information related to the management information notified based on a request from a remote terminal performed in response to the notification is converted into audio information and notified. can do. Therefore, of the information related to data communication, appropriate information corresponding to a request from a terminal in a remote place can be notified by voice information. That is, for example, for a user who only needs to know the presence or absence of reception, the user's request can be satisfied without giving useless information by notifying only management information on a communication partner or the like.
For a user who wants to know more about the content of the data communication related to the notified management information, the character information included in the image data related to the data communication can be converted into voice information as additional information related to the management information and notified. There is an excellent effect that the demands of the user can be sufficiently satisfied.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are flowcharts showing control procedures of the control circuit of FIG. 2 ... NCU, 4 ... Phone 6 ... Hybrid circuit, 8, 14 ... Modulator 10 ... Reading circuit, 12 ... Encoding circuit 16 ... Voice message transmission circuit 18, 20 ... Information conversion circuit 22 ...... Addition circuits 24, 26 ... Demodulator, 28 ... Memory circuit 30 ... Decoding circuit, 32 ... Recording circuit 34 ... DTMF signal detection circuit 36 ... Storage circuit 38 ... Reception mode detection circuit, 40 ...... Control circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. Communication means for performing data communication with a partner station, management means for managing information on data communication by the communication means, and conversion for converting information on data communication managed by the management means into voice information Means, and first notification means for notifying management information on a communication partner of data communication managed by the management means in response to a call from another terminal by voice information obtained by conversion by the conversion means. And based on a request from another terminal in response to the notification by the first notifying unit, as additional information related to the management information notified by the first notifying unit, the data communication performed by the communication unit A second step of notifying the character information included in the image data by audio information obtained by conversion by the conversion unit.
And a notifying means. 2. A communication step of performing data communication with a partner station, a management step of managing information on data communication in the communication step, and a conversion of converting information on data communication managed in the management step into voice information. A step of notifying, by a voice information converted in the conversion step, management information on a communication partner of data communication managed in the management step in response to a call from a remote terminal;
Notification step, based on a request from a remote terminal in response to the notification in the first notification step, performed in the communication step as additional information related to the management information notified in the first notification step. A second notification step of notifying, by voice information obtained by converting the character information included in the image data related to the data communication in the conversion step, a data communication method.