JP3024825B2 - 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 such as a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an image communication apparatus having a recording / reproducing apparatus for an answering machine function or the like as a built-in apparatus or an external apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus is configured to directly set various functions or operation modes by operating an operation unit.

For example, an operation mode "A" of "A"
Function is "valid (with)" or "invalid (without)"
Is set to “from” “1” on the operation unit 40 shown in FIG.
Using the numeric keypad 41 up to 0 ", the function setting key 42, and the set key 43, the setting is performed according to the operation procedure shown in FIG.

[0004] That is, first, the function setting key 42 is pressed to instruct the apparatus to perform a setting operation (first stage). Next, in order to select the "A" operation mode, the "2" key and the set key 43 of the ten keys 41 are sequentially pressed (second stage). Next, in order to select the "A" function, the "3" key and the set key 43 of the ten keys 41 are sequentially pressed (third stage). Finally, to enable or disable the selected function, press the “2” key or “
The 1 "key is pressed, and the set key 43 is pressed (fourth stage).

[0005]

However, as is clear from the example of the setting operation described above, not only the number of key operations is large, but also a general user checks the key operation sequence and the like in an instruction manual. Since it is necessary to perform the operation while setting, there is a problem that the setting work is extremely troublesome or the setting is apt to be mistaken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and enables ordinary users to easily and surely set functions and the like without incurring any extra cost increase of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device such as a facsimile device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an operation unit for operating and setting the apparatus in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
And a communication control unit for image communication, and the operation unit
Stores the input setting information related to the function of the communication control unit.
Voicemail and voicemail for playing voicemail messages
Proposal of voice information and operation related to the function of the communication control unit
A voice storage unit storing voice guidance information for
Voice output for outputting voicemail messages as voice
And a function of the communication control means by the operation unit.
When setting information is input, it corresponds to the setting information.
Reading the voice guidance information from the voice storage unit;
It is equipped with a configuration that allows playback from the voice output unit.
is there.

[0008]

As described above, in the case of setting a function or the like, since the operation is guided by voice for each setting item, even a general user can perform necessary operations without referring to an instruction manual or the like. Operation can be performed without doubt.

Further, the apparatus recognizes the setting item guided by voice by its identification code and sets the setting information in accordance with the input of the operation information scheduled for the setting item. The operation requested by the item can be arbitrarily determined. And what kind of operation is requested can be easily explained to the user by voice. Therefore, as will be apparent from a specific example described later, the number of operations required for each setting item is greatly reduced, and the setting operation can be extremely simplified.

[0010] In addition, a recent facsimile apparatus or the like is generally provided with a configuration in which a setting item identification code is recorded on a signal recording medium as a modulation signal that can be demodulated by a modem, reproduced, and demodulated and detected by the modem. The use of a magnetic tape recording / reproducing device for the answering machine function or voice response function as a means for reproducing the operation guidance voice signal and the setting item identification code signal minimizes the cost increase associated with the setting of the function. Can be suppressed.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facsimile apparatus includes, as means related to image communication, a reading unit 10 for inputting image information of a document, a recording unit 11 for recording a received document, a modem 12 for modulation and demodulation of a signal, and switching of a line signal. A network control unit 13 for performing communication control, overall device control, encoding of transmitted image information, and expansion of received image information. Also,
It has a memory 15 for storing setting information of various functions and operation modes and other information, and an operation unit 16 for a user to input operation information. The operation unit 16 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Is the same as that shown in FIG.

This facsimile apparatus has an answering machine function. For this purpose, a magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus 17 and a speaker 18 for outputting the reproduced audio signal as voice.
It has. Further, the system control unit 14 includes a setting control unit 19 for controlling settings of various functions and the like. Reference numeral 20 denotes a switch for controlling the output of the speaker 18.

The setting operation directly related to the gist of the present invention will be described for the facsimile apparatus configured as described above. Note that the facsimile communication operation and the answering machine recording operation are the same as those of a conventional similar facsimile apparatus, and thus description thereof is omitted.

Here, a signal recording medium on which signals having the contents shown in FIG. 2 are recorded, that is, a magnetic tape 21 is prepared.
It is assumed that this is set in the magnetic tape recording / reproducing device 17. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 30 and 32 denote an operation guide voice signal and a setting item identification code modulation signal relating to the first setting item, and a 1 KHz single tone signal (non-modulation signal) 31 is inserted in a delimiter thereof. The setting item identification code modulation signal 32 is a signal that can be demodulated by the modem 12, and is a 300 bps FSK (frequency shift keying) signal of a setting item code (here, a binary code of 1010). The setting items are the same as in the example described with reference to FIG. That is, the setting item has a content of “set the function“ A ”in the mode“ A ”to be enabled or disabled”. Following the signal of the setting item, an operation guidance voice signal 33 for the next setting item
Is recorded.

The function setting key 4 of the operation unit 16 is
2 (FIG. 4) is pressed, and when this operation information is input to the system control unit 14, the setting control unit 19 closes the switch 20 (ST1) as shown in FIG. The operation is started (ST2). A signal relating to the first setting item on the magnetic tape 21 is reproduced,
This is sent to the speaker 18 via the switch 20 and to the modem 12 via the network control unit 13. Since the content of the operation guide voice signal 30 (see FIG. 5) is output from the speaker 18 as voice, the user can input the content of the setting item and the “1” key or “2” of the ten keys 41 of the operation unit 16. It can be understood that the key is pressed and the set key 43 is pressed.

When the single tone signal 31 following the operation guide voice signal 31 is reproduced and the detection signal is output from the modem 12 (ST3), the setting control section 19 switches the switch 2
0 is opened (ST4), and the audio output from the speaker 18 is stopped. Subsequently, when the modulation signal 32 of the setting item identification code is reproduced and the code is output from the modem 12, the setting control section 19 recognizes the setting item from the code and stops the magnetic tape recording / reproducing device 17 ( ST
5, ST6). At this time, the setting control unit 19 transitions to the state corresponding to the fourth stage shown in FIG. 5 for the setting item and waits for input of operation information from the operation unit 16 (ST
7).

The user activates the function of the setting item (""
If the user wants to set “Yes”, the user presses the “1” key of the operation unit 16. If the user wants to disable the key (“No”), he presses the “2” key. Then, the set key 43 is pressed.
When the operation information is input, the setting information 9 is set in the memory 15 in accordance with the operation information (ST).
8). This ends the setting operation for one setting item.

As is apparent from the above description, seven key operations including the pressing of the function setting key 42 were required for the setting item in the related art. The number of operations is reduced to three times including the pressing of the function setting key 42.

When the setting control section 19 finishes the processing of the setting item, it closes the switch 20 again (ST9) and restarts the reproducing operation of the magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus (ST10).
Execute the processing for the next setting item.

In the case of a facsimile apparatus having a recording / reproducing apparatus using a signal recording medium such as an IC card other than the magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus 17, the recording / reproducing apparatus may be used instead of the magnetic tape recording apparatus 17. . Such a recording / reproducing device may be a built-in device such as a facsimile device or an external device.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides various setting items recorded on a signal recording medium by using a magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus provided for a facsimile apparatus or the like for an answering machine function or the like. Reproduces the operation guidance voice signal and the setting item identification code modulation signal for each user, guides the user to the operation by voice, and detects the setting item identification code by the modem provided in the facsimile machine and recognizes the setting item. However, since the setting information according to the operation information is set in the memory with respect to this setting item, the cost of the facsimile apparatus or the like is hardly increased.
This has the effect of greatly facilitating various settings and reducing setting errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of recorded contents on a magnetic tape for setting processing;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a setting process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a key layout of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure of a conventional setting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reading part 11 Recording part 12 Modem 13 Network control part 14 System control part 15 Memory 16 Operation part 17 Magnetic tape recording / reproducing apparatus 18 Speaker 19 Setting control part 20 Switch 21 Magnetic tape (signal recording medium) 30 Operation guidance audio signal 31 Single Tone signal 32 Setting item identification code modulation signal

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An operation section for operating and setting the apparatus.
And a communication control unit for image communication, and the operation unit
Stores the input setting information related to the function of the communication control unit.
Voicemail and voicemail for playing voicemail messages
Proposal of voice information and operation related to the function of the communication control unit
A voice storage unit storing voice guidance information for
Voice output for outputting voicemail messages as voice
And a function of the communication control means by the operation unit.
When setting information is input, it corresponds to the setting information.
Reading the voice guidance information from the voice storage unit;
An image communication device for reproducing from a voice output unit .