JP3203938B2 - Terminal 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 terminal device for performing communication by using at least a telephone function, a facsimile function and a modem function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a communication mode in which both facsimile and telephone functions are used on the same line, in a receiving terminal apparatus having a telephone and a facsimile apparatus, an incoming call is transmitted to either the telephone or the facsimile apparatus. Must be recognized and the corresponding terminal must be connected to the line.

[0003] Here, when there is no means for automatically recognizing which terminal the communication is to, it is general that the telephone is preferentially connected to the line. Therefore, in this case, when an incoming call from the line is received, the operator answers by going off-hook, and in the case of a voice call, the communication state is kept as it is, while the CNG (calling / calling) transmitted from the calling facsimile terminal tone)
In the case of a signal (beep), the operator performs an operation to connect a line to the facsimile machine.

An apparatus for automatically recognizing to which terminal the communication is directed is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-4 / 1988.
A telephone device described in Japanese Patent No. 8947 is known.
In this telephone device, when an incoming call is received from a line, the connection switching device first connects the line to the facsimile device and the like. Thereafter, when the incoming call detection circuit receives a CNG (calling tone) signal within a predetermined time after receiving the call, it recognizes that the communication is for a facsimile apparatus, and on the other hand, receives the CNG signal within a predetermined time. If not, it is recognized as a communication (call) to the telephone. In this case, the telephone and the line are connected by the connection switching device.

There is also known a method of directly instructing a telephone function and a facsimile function in a receiving terminal using an NTT (registered trademark) dial-in service.

[0006]

However, in the telephone apparatus disclosed in the above publication, it is necessary to identify whether the incoming call is for a facsimile machine or a telephone every time an incoming call is received. Response to incoming calls was poor.

On the other hand, when using the above-mentioned dial-in service, the calling side operator must recognize the dial-in numbers assigned to the telephone and the facsimile terminal in addition to the representative number of the receiving side. It is troublesome and inconvenient.

A list of destination names and dial-in numbers can be prepared in advance, and dial-in can be performed with reference to this list. If there are many destinations, the corresponding number is recognized from the list. Therefore, it may take a lot of time, which is troublesome and inconvenient like the above.

An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device capable of notifying a calling side of a dial-in number assigned to its own terminal unit.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of functional units which respectively execute at least a telephone function (60 in FIG. 1), a facsimile function (50 in FIG. 1) and a modem function. And a switching unit (30 in FIG. 1) for performing switching control of connection with a common communication line (L in FIG. 1) used when the plurality of functional units communicate with each other. Storage means (1 in FIG. 1) for storing dial-in numbers assigned to the respective functional units.
0) and the dial-in number assigned to the own terminal device is specified, and when there is an incoming call from the calling side, the call is sent to any of the plurality of functional units based on the incoming call signal. Identification processing means (4 in FIG. 1) for reading out from the storage means a dial-in number corresponding to the functional unit based on the identification result.
0), control means for controlling the switching unit to connect the functional unit identified by the identification processing means to the communication line, and a dial-in number read by the identification processing means to the calling side. Notification means for notification (5 in FIG. 1)
0, 60).

The second invention has at least a telephone function (FIG. 1).
50), a terminal device having a function unit for executing one of a facsimile function (40 in FIG. 1) and a modem function, wherein the function unit performs at least the same function as the function executed by the function unit When a call is made to a receiving terminal device having a designated dial-in number corresponding to the receiving terminal device and a call is made, a dial notified from the receiving terminal device different from the dial-in number is used. There is provided a storage unit (10 in FIG. 1) for storing the in-number and the identification information indicating the functional unit in a corresponding manner.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the storage means stores dial-in numbers respectively assigned to a plurality of functional units respectively executing a plurality of functions among a telephone function, a facsimile function and a modem function. When a dial-in number (for example, a representative number) assigned to the terminal device is specified and there is an incoming call from the calling side, the identification processing means performs the plurality of functions based on the incoming signal. Identifying which of the functional units the call is to, and reading the dial-in number corresponding to the functional unit based on the identification result from the storage unit,
The control unit controls the switching unit to connect the functional unit identified by the identification processing unit and the communication line, and the notification unit sends the dial-in number read by the identification processing unit to the calling side. Notice.

Therefore, according to the first aspect, when the calling side receives a call by specifying the dial-in number assigned to the receiving side terminal device, the calling side communicates with the calling side. It is possible to notify a dial-in number corresponding to a desired function unit in order to make it possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the storage means has at least one of a telephone function, a facsimile function, and a modem function.
A function unit that executes one function is a dial-in number (for example, a representative number) assigned to a receiving terminal device that has at least the same function as the function unit. When a call is designated and designated, a dial-in number notified from the receiving terminal device different from the dial-in number and identification information indicating the functional unit are stored in association with each other.

Therefore, according to the second invention, when a call is made by specifying a dial-in number assigned to the receiving terminal device, the dial-in function of the receiving-side functional unit is actually communicated. The user can know the number, and can communicate using the dial-in number from the next communication.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first and second embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of the terminal device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a dial-in number database unit 10 registers a dial-in number database described later. The dial-in control unit 20 is connected to the dial-in public line L, receives a dial-in number from the calling side input via the line L, and based on this number and the contents of the dial-in number database unit 10. Request the switching unit 30 to perform switching control. In the switching unit 30, the dial-in control unit 2
In accordance with the instruction of 0, switching control of the automatic identification function unit 40, the facsimile function unit (hereinafter, referred to as FAX function unit) 50, and the voice (telephone) function unit (hereinafter, referred to as voice function unit) 60 is performed.

The automatic identification function unit 40 determines whether an incoming call is addressed to the FAX function unit 50 or the voice function unit 60 based on a signal from the calling side input via the dial-in control unit 20 and the switching unit 30. At the same time, the switching unit 30 is instructed to switch to a functional unit based on the identification result. Further, it instructs the function unit based on the identification result to notify the receiving side of the dial-in number of the function unit.

The facsimile function unit 50 executes a facsimile function. The voice function unit 60 executes a voice function (that is, a telephone function). A voice ROM in which voice response information for notifying the calling side of its own dial-in number is registered.
(Not shown).

The FAX function unit 50 and the voice function unit 6
If any of 0 is switched by the switching unit 30 in response to the switching instruction from the dial-in control unit 20,
Immediately, a normal facsimile sequence or a normal sequence of a telephone sequence is executed. On the other hand, when the switching is performed by the switching unit 30 in response to the switching instruction from the automatic identification function unit 40, the dial-in number to the calling side is transmitted. After the notification, the normal sequence is executed.

FIG. 2 shows a dial-in number database unit 1.
1 shows an example of a database stored in the “0”.
In the database shown in FIG.
0, information indicating the FAX function unit 50 and the voice function unit 60, respectively, and the dial-in number assigned to each function unit are registered in association with each other. Here, the dial-in telephone number assigned to each of the automatic identification function unit 40, the FAX function unit 50, and the voice function unit 60 is referred to as “area code + local area code + dial-in extension number (000
1) "(Hereinafter, only specific dial-in extensions will be exemplified)," 0002 ", and" 0003 ".

For such a database, the dial-in control unit 20 searches for functional unit information using the dial-in number as a key, and the automatic identification function unit 40 searches for a dial-in number using the functional unit information as a key.

In the first embodiment, FIG.
Are used as terminals on the transmitting side and the receiving side. In the case of a calling terminal device that has issued a dial-in number corresponding to the automatic identification function unit 40, if the function unit that has specified the dial-in number and called is a FAX function unit, the function unit Is stored in association with the information indicating the number and the dial-in number notified from the receiving terminal device. This storage means may be an independent memory such as a RAM, or may be stored in the dial-in number database unit 10 separately from the above-mentioned database. On the other hand, in the case of the voice function unit, the voice information is stored in the storage unit.

Next, the dial-in number notification processing of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the dial-in control unit 50 receives the dial-in number from the calling side input via the public line L (step 101), the dial-in control unit 50 refers to the dial-in number database unit 10 (step 102) and performs the reception. The switching unit 60 recognizes which of the function units the dial-in number corresponds to (step 103), and selects a function unit according to the recognition result.
To instruct.

That is, if the incoming call is to the automatic identification function unit 40, the switching unit 40 connects the automatic identification function unit 40 to the public line L (step 104). The automatic identification function unit 40 determines whether the incoming call is for the FAX function unit 50 based on the signal from the calling side input via the dial-in control unit 20 and the switching unit 30 (step). 105). That is, it is determined whether the incoming call is to the FAX function unit 30 or the voice function unit 40.

Here, whether the signal is from the facsimile function section 30 or the voice function section 40 is recognized if the signal from the transmitting side is a ringer tone signal, and the signal is recognized as the voice function section 40. F for a tone) signal
It can be identified by recognizing that it is the AX function unit 30.

In step 105, the fax function unit 5
If it is determined that the number is 0, the automatic identification function unit 40 searches the dial-in number database unit 10 for a dial-in number corresponding to the function unit 50 (step 106), and The searched dial-in number is handed over, and an instruction to switch to the FAX function unit 50 is issued (step 107). By the switching control of the switching unit 60 in response to this instruction, the FAX function unit 50 is connected to the public line L (step 108). Then, the facsimile function unit 50 performs NFS (non-standard function identification signal).
Is set to the given dial-in number, and the caller is notified (step 109). And step 1
After the end of 09, a normal facsimile sequence is executed (step 110).

On the other hand, in step 105, the automatic identification function unit 40, which has been determined to be the voice function unit 40, instructs the switching unit 30 to switch to the voice function unit 60.
Further, it instructs the voice function unit 60 to notify the dial-in number (step 111). By the switching control of the switching unit 60 in response to this instruction, the voice function unit 60 is connected to the public line L (step 112).
Then, the voice function unit 60 reads out the above-described voice response information (that is, the dial-in number) registered in the voice ROM and notifies the calling side (step 113). Then, after the end of step 113, a sequence in a normal voice call is executed (step 114).

In step 103, the incoming call is
If it is for the X function unit 50, the switching unit 3
By the switching control of 0, the FAX function unit 50 is connected to the public line L (step 115). After this step is completed, the process proceeds to step 110.

On the other hand, if the incoming call is to the voice function unit 60, the voice function unit 60 is connected to the public line L by the switching control of the switching unit 30 (step 116). After this step ends, the process proceeds to a step 114.

Next, the dial-in number notification processing operation will be described with reference to a specific example.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a description will be given of a process in a case where the transmitting terminal device 410 and the receiving terminal device 420 are connected via the public network 430. The terminal devices 410 and 420 have the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

First, the processing in the case of facsimile will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

The receiving terminal 420 receives the dial-in number “0001” defined as described above from the FAX function unit of the transmitting device 410 input via the public network 430.
Receives the designated incoming signal (S1), by executing the processing according to the processing procedure shown in FIG.
The dial-in number “0002” of the facsimile function unit 50 is set in S (non-standard function identification signal) and notified to the calling terminal device 410 (S2). When this S2 ends,
The normal facsimile sequence is executed, and finally the line disconnection is executed, and the communication ends (S3).

The calling terminal device 410 to which the dial-in number has been notified stores information indicating its own fax function unit and the notified dial-in number "0002" in association with each other. FIG. 6 shows an example of the stored contents.

In FIG. 6A, information 610 indicating its own FAX function unit and information 62 of the dial-in number of the automatic identification function unit of the receiving side (ie, the representative number of the receiving side).
0 shows a format in which dial-in number information 630 of the FAX function unit on the receiving side is stored in association with each other. That is, this indicates the conversion table format. In this format, the receiving side is notified of the dial-in number, but the operator is not notified, or the operator is also notified,
This is effective when the operator specifies a representative number.

Here, description will be made again with reference to FIG. When performing facsimile communication with the above-described calling terminal device 410, the calling operator sets the dial-in number “0”.
Even if “001” (representative number) is specified, the dial-in number “0002” of the fax function unit on the receiving side can be obtained by the fax function unit on the transmitting side by referring to the conversion table in FIG. A call can be specified and specified (S
4).

On the other hand, in FIG.
A format is shown in which information 640 indicating the X function unit and dial-in number information 650 of the FAX function unit on the receiving side are stored in association with each other. In the case of this format, the operator inputs the dial-in number "0"
It is assumed that "002" is designated, whereby a call can be made by designating the dial-in number "0002" as in S4.

Next, processing for a telephone call will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. Receiving terminal device 42
0 is the originating apparatus 410 input via the public network 430
When the incoming call signal with the dial-in number "0001" defined as described above is specified from the voice function unit (S11), the processing is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. For example, a message to the effect that "the dial-in number of the voice function is 0003" is notified to the calling terminal device 410 (S12).
When S2 ends, the sequence in the normal call is executed, and finally the line is disconnected and the call ends (S13).

The calling terminal device 410 to which the dial-in number has been notified records the notified voice information (that is, the dial-in number “0003”). At the same time, the operator recognizes. Thus, when making a second call to the receiving side, a call can be made by designating the dial-in number "0002" of the voice function unit (S14).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the terminal device receives its own automatic identification function 40
If there is an incoming call or facsimile addressed to the dial-in number addressed to the representative number, the caller is notified of the dial-in number of the telephone function unit or facsimile function unit and, at the same time, the terminal function requested by the caller Unit, that is, the telephone function unit or the facsimile function unit, and the dial-in public line to connect to each other to enable communication (or call), so that on the calling side, when making a second or subsequent telephone call or facsimile call, A call can be made with the dial-in number of the target terminal function unit.

Although the switching control between the telephone function unit and the FAX function unit has been described in the first embodiment, the switching control between the FAX function unit and the data modem function unit may be performed. Alternatively, switching control between the telephone function unit, the FAX function unit, and the data modem function unit may be performed. In this case, as described above, in the case of an incoming call addressed to the data modem function unit, the dial-in number of the data modem may be notified.

The FAX function may be switched between the G3 FAX function and the G4 FAX function.
Also, the present invention can be applied to a device in which switching is performed by combining these with a telephone function unit and a data modem function unit, and it is apparent that the same effect can be obtained.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the terminal device according to the present invention. In the figure, an exchange 800 is connected via a dial-in public line L0, L1, L2, LN to a terminal 810 and N independent facsimile machines (hereinafter referred to as FAX) # 1, # 2. #N
Is connected. The terminal device 810 has the same configuration as the device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In this case, the dial-in number database section includes
Dial-in numbers # 1, # 2 to #N are registered.

The second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, but the first embodiment is different from the FA in the terminal device.
While the dial-in number of the X function part is notified,
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a dial-in number of a facsimile connected to another line is notified.

Here, the automatic identification function unit of the terminal device 810 and the dial-in numbers of FAX # 1, FAX # 2, and FAX #N are set to "0010", "0020", "003".
0 ”and“ 0040 ”.

When the dial-in number “0010”, which is the representative number of the terminal 810, is input via the exchange 800 and the dial-in public line L0, the terminal 810 refers to the dial-in number database unit, The caller is notified of the dial-in number (for example, “0020”) of the specific FAX. This notification method is the same as in the first embodiment. At the same time as the notification of the dial-in number, as described in the first embodiment, the FAX function unit in the terminal device 810 outputs the FAX content from the calling side, that is, the image information. Then, at the time of facsimile communication from the next time, the calling side can communicate using the dial-in number for FAX # 2. In this case, the dial-in number is input to the fax # 1 via the dial-in public line L1.

Here, a specific FAX is selected from a plurality of FAXes.
A specific example of selecting is described below. In other words, in addition to the dial-in number database, for example, a customer list (database) in which the fax dial-in number is associated with the type of the type of business of the transmitting side where the fax is installed is also held and registered in the customer list. FAX telephone number (dial-in number) from the calling side is searched, and if the calling side is, for example, a parts supplier, the F installed in the factory is searched.
The caller is notified of the AX dial-in number.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the terminal device receives the self-identification function 40
If there is an incoming call or facsimile to the dial-in number addressed to the representative number, enter the dial-in number of an independent facsimile device connected to another line different from the line to which the terminal device is connected. Since it is possible to notify the calling side, the calling side should use the dial-in number of the target facsimile machine for the second and subsequent facsimile transmissions, as in the first embodiment. Can be. When a plurality of facsimile machines are connected to the exchange, the dial-in number is returned so as to be distributed to the plurality of facsimile machines and the call is received, thereby distributing the load of the entire system. .

[0052]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above in detail, when the dial-in number assigned to the own terminal device is specified and there is an incoming call from the calling side, Based on the incoming signal, identifies which one of a plurality of functional units, such as a telephone function, a facsimile function, and a modem function, is an incoming call, and determines a functional unit based on the identification result. The corresponding dial-in number is read from the storage unit, the control unit controls the switching unit to connect the functional unit identified by the identification processing unit and the communication line, and the notifying unit reads the dial-in number by the identification processing unit. Since the called dial-in number is notified to the calling side, if the dial-in number assigned to the receiving terminal is specified and there is an incoming call, the calling side It is possible to notify the dial-in number of the desired functional unit in order to communicate with the calling party.

According to the second invention, the storage means includes:
A function unit that performs at least one of a telephone function, a facsimile function, and a modem function corresponds to a receiving terminal device having at least the same function as the function performed by the function unit. The dial-in number notified from the receiving terminal device different from the dial-in number and the identification information indicating the functional unit are stored in a corresponding manner when the dial-in number assigned and transmitted is specified. In this case, the calling side does not know the dial-in number of the functional unit of the receiving side to actually communicate, and specifies the dial-in number assigned to the receiving-side terminal device and makes a call. Then, the receiving side notifies the dial-in number of the functional unit of the receiving side to perform the communication, and from the next communication, dial-in of the desired functional unit is performed. It is possible to call using the number.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a first embodiment of a terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a database stored in a dial-in number database unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a dial-in number notification processing operation;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a dial-in number notification processing operation;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a dial-in number notification processing operation in the case of facsimile communication.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of stored contents of a dial-in number notified on the calling side.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a dial-in number notification processing operation for a telephone call.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the terminal device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: dial-in number database unit, 20: dial-in control unit, 30: switching unit, 40: automatic identification function unit
50: FAX function unit, 60: Voice (telephone) function unit, 80
0: exchange, 810: terminal device, # 1, # 2, #N: facsimile device, L, L0, L1, L2, LN: dial-in public line

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 3/42-3/58 H04M 11/00-11/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connection between a plurality of function units that respectively execute at least a plurality of functions among a telephone function, a facsimile function, and a modem function, and a common communication line used when the plurality of function units communicate with each other. A terminal unit having a switching unit that performs switching control of: a storage unit that stores a dial-in number assigned to each of the plurality of functional units; and a dial-in number assigned to the own terminal device. When there is an incoming call from the calling side, the incoming call signal is used to identify to which of the plurality of functional units the incoming call is made, and the functional unit based on the identification result is received. Identification processing means for reading out a dial-in number corresponding to the storage means from the storage means, and a function unit identified by the identification processing means connected to the communication line. A terminal device comprising: control means for controlling a switching unit; and notification means for notifying the calling side of the dial-in number read by the identification processing means. 2. A terminal device having a function unit for executing at least one of a telephone function, a facsimile function, and a modem function, wherein the function unit has at least the same function as the function executed by the function unit. When a dial-in number assigned to the receiving terminal is designated and transmitted to the receiving terminal, a dial-in notified from the receiving terminal different from the dial-in number is issued. A terminal device, comprising: storage means for storing numbers and identification information indicating the functional units in a corresponding manner.