JP3255343B2 - Facsimile machine - 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 apparatus, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus capable of changing a reception resolution according to a calling apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile apparatuses have been rapidly increasing in functionality, and as a result, the resolution of data transmitted and received has also been increased. Although high-resolution data is received clearly, the amount of data to be transmitted is correspondingly large, and on the contrary, there are disadvantages. For example,
If the amount of data to be transmitted becomes large, the reception time becomes long, so that even if a call is made from another facsimile apparatus, it often becomes impossible to receive the call during communication. Also, when the amount of data to be received is large, the amount of use of the reception memory for storing the received data increases, so that even if the reception memory has the same size, the number of receptions that can be stored decreases. Therefore, in a case where reception at a low resolution does not affect the reception result, it is preferable to receive at a low resolution.

[0003] In recent years, with the spread of word processors and the like, data transmitted by facsimile has often been printed by a word processor. The printed matter by this word processor is easier to read than handwritten data, and even data received at low resolution can be easily read. The sender of the data usually sends the data in the same style. That is, a handwritten person always sends data of a handwritten document, and a person using a word processor always sends data of a document printed by a wordprocessor. Therefore, if the data transmitted from the person using the word processor is received at a low resolution, the above-mentioned inconvenience is solved.

[0004]

However, the resolution of data at the time of transmission and reception of the facsimile apparatus is the same as the resolution of the data transmitted from the calling apparatus and the resolution that can be received by the called apparatus. The highest resolution is set, and transmission and reception are performed. For this reason, there is a problem that the resolution of data at the time of transmission and reception is uniformly determined, and the resolution cannot be changed for each data sender (for each calling device).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of changing the reception resolution according to the calling apparatus.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 determines the resolution of data transmitted from a calling apparatus, so that the highest receivable resolution is line closed. Storage means for transmitting a resolution to the calling apparatus after connection, further storing a resolution lower than the highest receivable resolution in association with a predetermined telephone number and the telephone number; A telephone number receiving means for receiving a telephone number of a calling device previously sent from the exchange side; and a telephone number stored in the storage means, the telephone number of the calling device received by the telephone number receiving device. Determining means for determining whether or not they match before the line is closed; and when the determining means determines that the telephone numbers match, the data transmitted from the calling side apparatus of the matching telephone number is transmitted to the Receiving In order to receive at a resolution lower than the highest receivable resolution, the highest receivable resolution transmitted to the calling device by the resolution transmitting means is associated with the telephone number to the resolution stored in the storage means. Changing means for changing the resolution.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, before the line is closed, the telephone number of the calling apparatus sent from the exchange is received by the telephone number receiving means, and the received telephone number is determined. The means determines whether or not it matches the telephone number stored in the storage means. When the determination means determines that the telephone numbers match, the highest receivable resolution is changed to a lower resolution than the highest resolution stored in the storage means in association with the telephone number by the resolution changing means, It is transmitted to the calling device by the transmitting means.

[0008]

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, a method for determining the resolution of data transmitted from a calling facsimile machine (calling machine) to a called facsimile machine (called machine) will be described with reference to FIG.

When the called device 52 is called from the calling device 51, a call signal 41 is transmitted to the called device 52 via the exchange. The called device 52 receives the call signal 41
When the telephone line is closed 42 in response to the call, a CNG (Calling Tone) indicating that the terminal is a non-voice terminal from the calling device 51.
A signal 43 is sent to the called device 52. Called device 52
When receiving the CNG signal 43, the CED (Called Sta.)
Selection 44) and transmits the signal 4
Following CSI, CSI (Called Subscriber Identificati
on) signal 45, DIS (Digital Identification Signa)
l) Transmit the signal 46 to the calling device 51. The CSI signal 45 is a called terminal identification signal, that is, a signal representing the telephone number of the called facsimile machine 52. The DIS signal 46 is transmitted and received by the called device 52 (resolution,
Encoding system, data transmission rate, etc.) to the calling device 51. In the DIS signal 46, the highest resolution receivable by the called device 52 is notified to the calling device 51. .

Upon receiving the DIS signal 46, the calling device 51 receives a TSI (Transmitting Subscriber Identifica).
) signal 47 and a DCS (Digital Command Signal) signal 48 to the called device 52. The TSI signal 47 is a calling terminal identification signal, that is, the calling facsimile device 51.
Is a signal representing the telephone number of the user. Also, the DCS signal 48
Transmits the transmission parameters (resolution, coding method, data transmission rate, etc.) set by the calling device 51 based on the transmission / reception function of the called device 52 indicated by the DIS signal 46 to the called device 52. It is a signal to inform. Therefore, the resolution of the data transmitted from the calling device 51 and received by the called device 52 is determined by the calling device 51 based on the DIS signal 46 transmitted from the called device 52. Specifically, the resolution is determined to be the highest common resolution among the receivable resolution of the called device 52 indicated by the DIS signal 46 and the resolution of the data to be transmitted read by the calling device 51. It is. That is, by transmitting data at the highest transmittable resolution, it is intended to transmit clearer data.

After transmitting the DCS signal 48, the calling device 51 further transmits a TCF (Training Check) signal 49 to the called device 52. The TCF signal 49 is transmitted to the called device 52.
Is a signal for confirming whether or not data can be received normally. A predetermined number of 0 bit data is transmitted from the calling device 51 to the called device 52 within a predetermined time. If the TCF signal 49 can be normally received, the called device 52 transmits a CFR (Confirmation to Receive) signal 50 to notify the calling device 51 that data transmission may be started, and data transmission / reception starts. Is done.

As described above, the resolution of the data transmitted from the calling device 51 and received by the called device 52 is determined by the telephone number of the calling device 51 by the TSI signal 47.
Before being notified by the called device 52,
It is determined based on the S signal 46. Therefore, such TS
As long as the I signal 47 is used, the resolution of the received data cannot be changed according to the telephone number of the calling device. Therefore, in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the telephone number of the calling apparatus is recognized not based on the TSI signal 47 but on the basis of the telephone number transmitted by the caller telephone number receiving service (Caller ID). By
It is possible to change the resolution of the received data according to the telephone number of the calling device.

Here, the caller-side telephone number reception service (Caller ID) will be briefly described. This service has already been put into practical use in the United States and the United Kingdom, and is a service for transmitting the telephone number of the calling device from the exchange to the called device when the called device has subscribed to the service. . The timing at which the telephone number of the calling device is transmitted is a silent interval immediately before the first ringing signal in the United Kingdom, and a silent interval between the first ringing signal and the next ringing signal in the United States. The telephone number of the calling device can be received while the receiver is in the on-hook state, that is, while the telephone line is open. Therefore, if this service is used, the called device can recognize the telephone number of the calling device without charging the calling device for the telephone charge.

The facsimile apparatus 1 of this embodiment recognizes the telephone number of the calling apparatus by using the caller's telephone number receiving service (Caller ID), and thereby receives the calling apparatus by the DIS signal 46. The maximum receivable resolution notified to is changed for each calling device and transmitted, and as a result,
The resolution of the data received for each calling device is changed.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the facsimile machine 1. A handset 3 is attached to a side of the main body 2 of the facsimile machine 1. The receiver 3 is placed on a hook (not shown) provided on the main body 2 during a non-call, and is picked up and used during a call. The former is called an on-hook state, and the latter is called an off-hook state. Body 2
An operation panel 4 having a plurality of buttons is provided at a front portion of the upper surface, and a liquid crystal display (L) is provided at a left rear portion of the operation panel 4.
CD) 5 is provided. The facsimile machine 1 is operated by pressing a button provided on the operation panel 4, and the operated state and operation procedure are displayed on the LCD 5.

A document insertion port 6 is provided at the rear of the operation panel 4 and the LCD 5. An original to be transmitted by facsimile is inserted into the original insertion slot 6 with the original surface facing down, and after reading is performed, the original is discharged from an original outlet 7 provided below the operation panel 4 on the front surface of the main body 2. Is done. A recording paper holder mounting portion 9 is provided at the rear of the document insertion slot 6, and a recording paper holder 10 capable of stacking and storing a plurality of recording papers is detachably mounted on the recording paper holder mounting portion 9. . The recording paper supplied from the recording paper holder 10 and used for printing is discharged from a recording paper discharge port 8 provided below the document discharge port 7.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the facsimile machine 1. The facsimile device 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, an EEPROM 13, an RA
M14, image memory 15, audio memory 16, audio LSI
17. Network control unit
19, modem 20, buffer 2
1, a scanner 22, an encoding unit 23, a decoding unit 24, a printer 25, an operation panel 4, and an amplifier 27, all of which are connected via a bus line 30.

The CPU 11 of the facsimile machine 1 has an NC
In accordance with various signals transmitted and received via U19, each unit connected via the bus line 30 is controlled to execute a facsimile operation and a telephone operation, that is, data communication. The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory that stores a control program 12a executed by the facsimile machine 1 and the like. The program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the ROM 12. EEPROM1
Numeral 3 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and a setting item area 13a for storing each set value of the facsimile machine 1
And a telephone number area 13b for storing the telephone number of the calling device.

Here, referring to FIG.
The third telephone number area 13b will be described. FIG.
It is the figure which represented the structure of the telephone number area 13b typically. As shown in FIG. 3, the telephone number area 13b includes a calling telephone number area 35 and a reception resolution area 36.
One storage area is provided. The calling-side telephone number area 35 stores the telephone number of the calling-side device input by the operator via the operation panel 4. One item can store a maximum of 20 digits so that the telephone number of an international call can also be stored.

The reception resolution area 36 is associated with the telephone number stored in the caller telephone number area 35 and has the highest reception resolution for receiving data transmitted from the caller device of the telephone number. Is stored. The resolution stored in the reception resolution area 36 is also input by the operator via the operation panel 4. The facsimile machine 1 can receive data at three resolutions: standard, fine, and super fine.
The reception resolution area 36 stores either the standard or fine resolution other than the super resolution, which is the highest resolution among them.

Here, the receivable resolution of the facsimile machine 1 will be described. The resolution of the facsimile apparatus 1 in the main scanning direction is 8 dots / mm, and is common to three resolutions of standard, fine, and super fine. On the other hand, the resolutions in the sub-scanning direction are different from each other. The standard is 3.85 lines / mm, the fine is 7.7 lines / mm, and the super fine is 15.4 lines / mm. Therefore, the resolution increases in the order of standard, fine, and super fine, and the data amount of the fine is about twice the standard, the super fine is twice the fine and about four times the standard.

The RAM 14 shown in FIG. 2 is a memory for temporarily storing various data when each operation of the facsimile machine 1 is executed. The RAM 14 is provided with a reception resolution memory 14a. The reception resolution memory 14a stores "super fine" (S2 in FIG. 4), which is the highest resolution receivable by the facsimile machine 1, or is stored in the telephone number area 13b which is input in advance by the operator for each calling side device. The resolution of “fine” or “standard” is stored (S5 in FIG. 4). The resolution stored in the reception resolution memory 14a is transmitted to the calling facsimile machine together with the DIS signal 46 described above. The calling facsimile machine determines the resolution of the transmission data based on the DIS signal 46.
By changing the receivable resolution transmitted by the DIS signal 46, the resolution of the data transmitted from the calling device can be changed.

The image memory 15 is a memory for storing a communication history, image data, and a bit image for printing, and is an inexpensive large-capacity dynamic RAM (DRAM).
RAM). The received image data is temporarily stored in the image memory 15 and then printed on recording paper by the printer 25 or immediately printed on recording paper by the printer 25 without being stored in the image memory 15. The image data printed on the recording paper by the printer 25 or subjected to the erasing operation is deleted from the image memory 15. The voice memory 16 is a memory for storing a response message sent to the calling device and an incoming message sent from the calling device. Like the image memory 15, the image memory 15 is configured by a dynamic RAM (DRAM) which is an inexpensive large-capacity memory.

The audio LSI 17 converts an analog audio signal received by the NCU 19 into a digital audio signal, and converts a digital audio signal generated inside the facsimile apparatus 1 into an analog audio signal to convert it into an NCU.
19 is output. The modem 20 modulates / demodulates the image information and transmits the same, and transmits and receives various procedure signals for transmission control. The buffer 21 stores the coded image information transmitted / received to / from the other party facsimile machine. Is temporarily stored.

The scanner 22 is for reading an image from a document inserted into the document insertion slot 6,
Reference numeral 3 denotes an encoder for encoding an image read by the scanner 22. The decoding unit 24 reads the received image data stored in the buffer 21 or the image memory 15 and
This is to decrypt it, and the decrypted data is
The image is printed on recording paper by the printer 25. Operation panel 4
Are for the operator to perform various operations such as setting of the facsimile machine 1. The amplifier 27 sounds a speaker 28 connected to the amplifier 27 to output a ringing tone or the like.

Facsimile apparatus 1 configured as described above
Are connected to the telephone line 31 via the NCU 19. This telephone line 31 is connected to an exchange 29 of the facsimile machine 1, and this exchange 29 is connected to another exchange via a telephone line 32. The other exchange is further connected to the calling facsimile machine via a telephone line.

Next, the incoming call processing of the facsimile apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The facsimile apparatus 1 waits until a call signal arrives (S1: No), and when a call signal arrives (S1: Yes), first writes "Superfine" in the reception resolution memory 14a (S2). As described above, the super fine is the highest receivable resolution of the facsimile machine 1. The data transmitted from the calling device not registered in the telephone number area 13b is:
Because you ca n’t predict what data will be sent,
As a normal operation, the maximum resolution is declared, and "super fine" is written (written) in the reception resolution memory 14a in order to determine the resolution on the transmission side.

After "Superfine" is written in the reception resolution memory 14a (S2), the telephone number (Ca) of the calling apparatus is transmitted from the exchange 29 while the telephone line is kept open.
llerID) is determined (S3). If the telephone number of the calling device has been sent (S3: Ye
s) It is checked whether the telephone number is stored in the calling telephone number area 35 (S4). If the telephone number is stored in the calling telephone number area 35 (S4: Y)
es) The reception resolution area 36 corresponding to the telephone number
("Fine" or "Standard") is written to the reception resolution memory 14a (S
5).

The resolution stored in the reception resolution area 36 corresponding to the telephone number of the calling device is stored in the reception resolution memory 1.
4a (S5), or when the telephone number of the calling device is not sent from the exchange 29 (S3: N
o) If the telephone number of the calling device is sent from the exchange 29 but the telephone number is not stored in the calling telephone number area 35 (S3: Yes, S4: No), the reception resolution is set. The facsimile machine 1 closes the telephone line while "Superfine" is written in the memory 14a (S6). After the telephone line is closed, the facsimile machine 1
Is the CNG signal 4 shown in FIG.
3 to the CSI signal 45 are transmitted and received. And D
When transmitting the IS signal 46, the reception resolution memory 1 stores data relating to “resolution” in the DIS signal 46.
The resolution stored in 4a is transmitted to the calling device as the highest receivable resolution in the facsimile machine 1 (S7). The calling side device determines the resolution transmitted by the DIS signal 46 and the resolution of the transmitted data.
Since the resolution of the transmission data is determined to be the highest resolution common to both, the resolution of the transmission data is determined to be lower than the resolution stored in the reception resolution memory 14a.

After the transmission of the DIS signal 46, the TSI signal 47
The transmission / reception of the CFR signal 50 is performed. Thereafter, the calling apparatus transmits data to the facsimile apparatus 1 at the resolution determined based on the DIS signal 46. The facsimile apparatus 1 receives the data transmitted from the calling apparatus by a normal reception process (S8), and after receiving the data,
This processing ends (S9).

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, the maximum receivable resolution of the facsimile apparatus 1 is set to the calling side apparatus of the telephone number stored in the telephone number area 13b. Since the notification is made by changing to the low resolution, the resolution of the data transmitted from the calling apparatus can be changed to the low resolution. Therefore, in such a case, the data reception time can be reduced, and the telephone line of the facsimile machine 1 can be used effectively. In such a case, since the amount of received data is reduced, the number of data items that can be stored in the image memory 15 increases, and the memory can be used effectively.

In general, a facsimile apparatus capable of receiving a memory does not receive a memory when the memory becomes smaller than a predetermined capacity when the memory becomes small. If so, the resolution is low, so it is expected that memory reception with a small capacity will be possible. Therefore, it is possible to permit memory reception until the limited capacity becomes smaller than the above-mentioned limited capacity. In addition, when only memory reception is possible due to running out of recording paper, it is possible to determine whether or not the capacity is less than a predetermined capacity before receiving a call by changing the criterion according to the other party. For example, it is possible to make a distinction such that the incoming call is received if the destination is already registered and the reception of the memory is permitted, and if the destination is not registered, the incoming call is not received.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the first to third aspects, the DIS signal 46 is used as the resolution transmitting means, and the telephone number area 13b of the EEPROM 13 is used as the storing means.
However, the processing of S3 corresponds to the telephone number receiving means, the processing of S4 corresponds to the determining means, and the processing of S5 corresponds to the resolution changing means.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can easily be inferred.

In this embodiment, the telephone number of the calling device is
Although the telephone number transmitted from the exchange by the caller-side telephone number reception service (Caller ID) is used, another signal, for example, a telephone number transmitted by the TSI signal 47 may be used. Further, the changed receivable resolution of the facsimile apparatus 1 is transmitted to the calling side apparatus by the DIS signal 46, but may be transmitted to the calling side apparatus by another signal.

Further, in this embodiment, the maximum resolution receivable by the facsimile machine 1 is set as the telephone number area 13.
"Superfine" is transmitted to the calling device having the telephone number not stored in "b", and "Fine" is transmitted to the calling device having the telephone number stored in the telephone number area 13b.
Or sent a "standard" low resolution. But,
Conversely, "standard" is transmitted to the calling device having the telephone number not stored in the telephone number area 13b, and to the calling device having the telephone number stored in the telephone number area 13b. You may be comprised so that the high resolution of "fine" or "super fine" may be transmitted. Also in such a case, the resolution of the received data can be changed according to the calling device.

[0037]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect, the receivable resolution is changed to the resolution stored in the storage means in association with the telephone number of the calling side apparatus of the predetermined telephone number. Since the transmission is performed after the transmission, the reception resolution can be changed for each calling apparatus. As the resolution stored in association with the telephone number of the calling device, a resolution lower than the highest resolution receivable by the receiving device is stored. Can be done with Since the amount of data when receiving at low resolution is smaller than the amount of data when receiving at high resolution, the data receiving time can be reduced. Therefore, there is an effect that the line can be used effectively and the telephone charge charged to the calling side device can be reduced. Further, since the amount of received data is small, there is an effect that a storage memory for the received data can be used effectively. That is,
It is possible to increase the number of storages of received data without changing the memory size.

Further, transmission parameters such as the reception resolution are determined in accordance with a predetermined procedure between the calling side apparatus and the line after the line is closed. Because it is based on the phone number of the calling device,
There is an effect that the reception resolution can be changed without changing the procedure for determining the transmission parameters. Further, since the judgment of the coincidence of the telephone numbers is made before the line is closed, there is an effect that the telephone charge charged to the calling apparatus can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a telephone number area in an EEPROM.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of an incoming call of the facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure for controlling communication between a calling device and a called device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 EEPROM 13b Telephone number area (storage means) 14 RAM 14a Reception resolution memory 29 Exchanger 31, 32 Telephone line 35 Calling telephone number area 36 Reception resolution area 41 Call signal 42 Line closing 46 DIS Signal (Resolution Transmitting Means) 51 Calling Device (Calling Facsimile Device) 52 Called Device (Called Facsimile Device)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a resolution transmitting means for transmitting the highest receivable resolution to a calling side apparatus after a line is closed in order to determine the resolution of data transmitted from the calling side apparatus. Storage means for storing a telephone number and a resolution lower than the maximum receivable resolution in association with the telephone number; and a telephone number for receiving the telephone number of the calling device sent from the exchange before the line is closed. Receiving means; determining means for determining whether or not the telephone number of the calling device received by the telephone number receiving means matches the telephone number stored in the storage means before circuit closing; If the means determines that the telephone numbers match, the data transmitted from the calling device having the matched telephone number is received at a resolution lower than the highest receivable resolution. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a resolution changing means for changing the highest receivable resolution transmitted to the calling apparatus by the resolution transmitting means to a resolution stored in the storage means in association with the telephone number. .