JP3015171B2 - Data 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 a data communication device to which an external communication device such as an answering machine can be connected and which can automatically switch between communication of the external communication device and data communication, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an NCU (network control unit) of this kind of apparatus is used.
Was configured as shown in FIG. In FIG.
1 and L2 are connected to a line N, and an answering machine 16 is connected to terminals T1 and T2. An answering machine automatically responds to a call signal from the line, and if the other party is a human, records the voice message of the other party. When the other party is a facsimile, the CNG signal transmitted by the other party facsimile is input to the CNG detector 7 through the capacitor 5 and the transformer 6, and the CNG detector 7 outputs the CNG detection signal CNGDET.
Is output. When the CNGDET signal is output, the control unit switches the CML relay 1 from the T1, T2 side to the modem side to perform automatic communication. As described above, when a CNG signal is detected on the line after the answering machine automatically answers, the CML relay 1 is switched to realize automatic answering machine / facsimile switching.

If the caller is a facsimile that does not transmit a CNG signal, the signal on the line becomes silent. Therefore, when a silent state for a certain period of time or longer is detected,
In some cases, automatic answering machine / facsimile switching is performed by switching the CML relay 1.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, the CNG was recorded on the answering machine at least once in order to switch the CML relay 1 after confirming the CNG signal. Therefore, when a user of the answering machine or the like plays a message recorded on the answering machine by remote operation from another terminal of the switching network, the recorded CNG signal is reproduced on the line, and this is reproduced by the capacitor 5, the transformer 6, Then, the control unit switches the CML relay 1 to the modem side. Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot hear the sound of the answering machine.

In order to solve this problem, it has been devised that CNG detection is performed only within a certain time after the answering machine automatically answers, but the output time of a response message output by the answering machine during automatic answering has been devised. CNG when is long
There was a problem that could not be detected.

Further, in the case where the silent state is detected and automatic switching is performed, it is necessary to rewind the tape on which the message is recorded when attempting to reproduce the message recorded on the answering machine by remote operation. During rewinding, silence occurs. If the silent state continues for a certain period of time or more, facsimile communication is started by the automatic switching function of the facsimile apparatus, and the user cannot hear the sound of the answering machine.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prevent a malfunction of data communication due to an operation of an external communication device, and to provide a signal for controlling the external communication device after the external communication device responds to a call signal. If detected, data communication is not performed even if data communication is requested. Also, when a DTMF signal is detected while the external communication device is in the communication state, even if a data communication is requested according to the type of the DTMF signal, the data communication is not performed or the data communication is started. . With this configuration,
For example, when an answering machine is connected to a facsimile machine, the answering machine is remotely controlled, and even if a CNG signal recorded on the answering machine is reproduced, it is possible to prevent the facsimile communication from being started by mistake. Can be.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit composed of a microprocessor or the like, a CPU (central processing unit) 113, a ROM (read only memory) 114, a RAM (random access memory) 115, a buffer memory 112, Line memory 11
0, comprising an encoding / decoding unit 111, which controls the entire image input / output and communication processing. The ROM 114 stores a control program described later, and the RAM 115 is used as a work area of the CPU 113.

Image input / output is performed by the reading unit 100, the recording unit 10
2 is performed. That is, the reading of the document image data is performed by the reading unit 100 including a CCD (charge storage element) sensor, a document transport system, and the like. The received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 100 at the time of copying are recorded by the recording unit 102 including a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or the like.

Input / output of image data between the reading unit 100, the recording unit 102, and the encoding / decoding unit 111 is performed via a line memory 110 in units of one line. Data input / output between the encoding / decoding unit 111 and the modem is performed via a buffer memory 112. Coding/
The decoding unit 111 performs encoding / decoding processing for suppressing redundancy, and may be configured by software of the CPU 113.

A connection with a communication line N such as a telephone line and data input / output are performed by a modem 106 and an NCU (network control unit) 1.
07. The NCU 107 is connected to a telephone for telephone and manual control or an answering machine 16.
The NCU outputs a DCDET signal indicating that the answering machine 16 is seizing the line, a CNGDET signal indicating that there is a CNG signal on the line, and a DTMFDET signal indicating that there is a DTMF signal on the line. Is entered.

The operation panel 103 includes ten keys for inputting a telephone number, various function keys, and the like. The operation panel 103 is provided with a display 104 used for displaying a telephone number, time, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the NCU of the present embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a CML relay. Reference numeral 2 denotes a current sensor, which includes a coil and a Hall element or an MR element provided in the vicinity of the coil and insulated from the coil, and detects a magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the coil with the Hall element or the MR element. Thus, a voltage output proportional to the coil current is obtained. The output of the current sensor 2 is input to the comparator 3, and the comparator outputs a DCDET signal indicating the presence or absence of a current. The DCDET signal is output to control section 101.

5 is a capacitor for blocking DC, 6 is CN
A transformer that transmits a G signal or a DTMF signal to a detector, 7 is a CNG detector that outputs a CNGDET signal to a control unit when CNG is detected, and 8 is a DTMF detection that outputs a DTMFDET signal to the control unit when it detects DTMF. It is a vessel. Reference numeral 4 denotes a transformer for transmitting a facsimile signal and performing 2-wire 4-wire conversion.

Next, the operation of remote reception in the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control according to the flowchart of FIG.
01 (CPU 113) has a control program
It is stored in the ROM 114.

First, in the standby state, the control unit
Monitors the T signal. When the answering machine 16 automatically responds to the calling signal from the line, a direct current flows through the current sensor 2 and the comparator 6 outputs the DCDET signal. When the control section detects this, it advances the control to S1.

Here, when the other party is blowing a message to the answering machine or the like, neither the CNG signal nor the DTMF signal comes, so the process proceeds to S2 and S3. In step S3, the DCDET signal is monitored. Since the line current is flowing, the flow returns to step S1, and then loops from step S1 to step S3. If the line is disconnected, the process returns from S3 to standby.

If the other party is a facsimile, a CNG signal is sent out, so the flow goes to S5 to detect CNG in S1 and perform a facsimile operation. In S5, CML relay 1
Is switched from the a side to the b side, and facsimile communication is performed in S6.

When the other party sends out a DTMF signal to remotely control the answering machine, it detects this in S2 and proceeds to S4. In S4, the code of the received DTMF signal is compared with a code stored in the RAM 115 in advance and instructing remote reception of the facsimile. If they match, the process proceeds to S5 to perform the receiving operation. If they do not match, the received DTMF signal is for controlling the answering machine, so the process proceeds to S7. S7
In the loop of -S6, DTMF detection and current detection are performed, and D
If the TMF signal is received, the process proceeds to the step of checking the remote reception again at S4, and if there is no more current, the process returns to the standby.

The code for instructing remote reception is registered (stored) by means similar to the registration of a telephone number for automatic dialing of a facsimile. The facsimile operation is not limited to the reception operation, and may be any operation of the facsimile such as transmission, copy, and communication management report output.

As described above, once the DTMF signal is detected, the CNG signal is not detected because the circuit enters the loop of S7-S6, and the CNG signal is not detected until the line is disconnected. Therefore, even if the playback sound of the answering machine includes the CNG signal, no facsimile operation is performed. In addition, by registering a code different from the DTMF code for controlling the answering machine as a remote operation code of the facsimile, the facsimile can be remotely operated after the answering machine is remotely controlled.

The NCU may be configured as shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 4, only the AC component is extracted from the output of the current sensor 2 via the capacitor 9 and input to the CNG detector 7 and the DTMF detector, so that the capacitor 5 and the transformer 6 become unnecessary.

FIG. 5 shows that CNG and DT are transmitted by a modem.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an NCU in a case where MF is detected, in which a switch 10 is connected to a reception input terminal of a modem, and a facsimile signal is input or an output of a current sensor is connected at the same timing as that of a CML relay. , The CNG detector and the DTMF detector can be deleted.

The case where the CNG signal is detected to automatically switch between answering machine and facsimile communication has been described above. Next, a case where automatic switching is performed by detecting a CNG signal and a silent state will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus for detecting a CNG signal and a silent state. 7, the components having the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those described in FIG. 7, the silence state detection circuit 11 is provided in the NCU 107 (see FIG. 8). This silence state detection circuit 1
1 detects a silent state by detecting energy on the line, and outputs a MUON signal indicating the detection to the control unit 10.
Output to 1.

Next, the automatic switching operation between the answering machine and the facsimile by detecting the CNG signal and the silent state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9 shows a control operation of the control unit 101 (CPU 113), and the control procedure in the figure is stored in the ROM 114.

First, in the standby state, the control unit 101
Monitor the DCDET signal. When the answering machine 16 automatically responds to the calling signal from the line, a DC current flows through the current sensor 13 and the DCDET
A signal is output. When the control unit 101 detects this,
The process proceeds to steps S11, S12, S13, and S14, and enters a loop that returns to step S1. When the line is disconnected during this loop and the DC current is cut off, the process returns to the standby state from step S13.

If the other party is a facsimile apparatus that sends out a CNG signal, it detects this in step S11 and proceeds to step S18 to switch the CML relay 1 to the b side to start a facsimile communication operation.

If the other party is a facsimile machine that does not transmit a CNG signal, the line is in a silent state, so that the process proceeds from step S12 to step S17, and proceeds to step S17.
The silence time is determined by. If the silent time is longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S18 to perform a facsimile operation. If the silent time is short, the process proceeds to step S13.

If the other party sends a DTMF signal for remotely operating the answering machine 16 as a user of the answering machine, the DTMF signal is detected in step S14, and the process exits the above-described loop and proceeds to step S15.
Proceed to. In step S15, the process waits until the line is disconnected, and returns to the standby state when the line is disconnected.

According to the above-described operation, once the DTMF signal is detected, the CNG signal and the silence state are not detected thereafter, so that the facsimile operation is performed even if the silence state occurs during the remote operation of the answering machine 16. Not.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, erroneous operation of data communication due to operation of the external communication device can be prevented. For example, when an answering machine is connected to a facsimile machine, the answering machine is remotely controlled, and even if a CNG signal recorded on the answering machine is reproduced, facsimile communication is started by detecting the CNG signal. It is possible to prevent erroneous operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an NCU of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a receiving operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the NCU.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the NCU.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional NCU.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an NCU according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a consultation operation according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CML relay 2 Current sensor 3 Comparator 4 Hybrid transformer 5 Capacitor 6 Transformer 7 CNG detector 8 DTMF detector 9 Capacitor 10 Switch 100 Reading part 101 Control part 102 Recording part 103 Operation panel 104 Display part 106 Modem 107 NCU 110 Line memory 111 Encoding / decoding unit 112 buffer memory 113 CPU 114 ROM 115 RAM

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data communication device to which an external communication device can be connected, an identification means for identifying that the external communication device has responded to a call signal from a communication line, and whether or not the other party requests data communication. Determining means for determining whether the external communication device is controlled, detecting means for detecting a control signal for controlling the external communication device, and control means for controlling to start data communication in accordance with the determination by the determining means. The control means, when the control signal is detected after the identification means has determined that the external communication device has responded to the call signal, does not perform data communication according to the determination by the determination means. A data communication device, characterized in that: 2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a line connection unit configured to connect and disconnect the communication line to and from the external communication device, wherein the identification by the identification unit, the determination by the determination unit, and the detection by the detection unit include the following. The data communication device is performed in a state where the communication line is connected to the external communication device by a line connection unit. 3. The data processing system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit, when starting data communication in accordance with the determination by the determination unit, disconnects the communication line from the external communication device by the line connection unit. A data communication device for starting data communication. 4. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication device is an answering machine. 5. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects a DTMF signal. 6. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs the determination based on whether a signal related to data communication is received. 7. The data communication device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit performs the determination based on whether a silent state has continued for a predetermined time. 8. A data communication device to which an external communication device can be connected, line connection means for connecting and disconnecting the communication line to and from the external communication device, and the communication line being connected to the external communication device by the line connection means. Identification means for identifying whether or not the external communication device is in a communication state in a state in which the external communication device is in communication, determination means for determining whether or not the other party requests data communication, and detection means for detecting a DTMF signal And control means for controlling to start data communication according to the discrimination by the discriminating means. The control means, after the external communication device is identified as being in a communication state by the identifying means, If the DTMF signal detected by the detection means is a signal for controlling the external communication device, control not to perform data communication according to the determination by the determination means, If serial DTMF signal is a signal for instructing data communication, data communication and controlling as to separate the communication line from said external communication device starts data communication by the line connection means device. 9. A method for controlling a data communication device to which an external communication device can be connected, comprising: an identification step of identifying that the external communication device has responded to a call signal from a communication line; A determining step of determining whether or not the external communication device is controlled; a detecting step of detecting a control signal for controlling the external communication device; and a controlling step of controlling to start data communication according to the determination in the determining step. Having the control step, if the control signal is detected after the external communication device is identified in the identification step has responded to the call signal, the data communication according to the determination in the determination step A method for controlling a data communication device, wherein the method is not performed. 10. A method for controlling a data communication device to which an external communication device can be connected, wherein: a line connection step of connecting and disconnecting the communication line to and from the external communication device; An identification step of identifying whether or not the external communication apparatus is in a communication state while being connected to the apparatus; a determination step of determining whether or not the other party requests data communication; and detecting a DTMF signal. And a control step of controlling to start data communication according to the discrimination in the discriminating step. In the controlling step, the external communication device is identified as being in a communication state in the identifying step. If the DTMF signal detected in the detection step after the above is a signal for controlling the external communication device, the data communication according to the determination in the determination step is performed. Controlled not rope, the DTMF
When the signal is a signal for instructing data communication, a control method of the data communication device is performed in which the communication line is separated from the external communication device to start data communication in the line connection step. .