JP3271815B2 - 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 used in the field of data communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, at the time of calling, when the other station is busy (busy state) with respect to all the other stations, the following various processes are performed. First, the first process is a process in which the operator brings back the transmission document and performs the transmission operation again after a predetermined time. The second process is a process in which an automatic calling circuit is provided, and a re-call operation is performed at a fixed time interval regardless of the line use rate of the partner station and the average line use time. As a third process, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 64-4146 under the name of "automatic calling circuit", a document image for transmission is stored in a memory, and the line utilization rate of the partner station and the average line This is a process of calculating the usage time from the past history and performing a recall at an optimum recall time interval.

[0003]

The above-described facsimile apparatus has the following problems. First, for the first process, the operation of the operator is very troublesome, and efficient image information transmission cannot be performed. For the second processing, the scanner of the facsimile machine is occupied, and another person cannot immediately perform a transmission operation using the scanner. For the third process, a limit is usually set for the number of recalls, and if the other party is busy for a long time, even if the recall is repeated up to the limit, even if the number of recalls is repeated Connection may not be possible.

[0004] In addition, the fact that there are many busy states means that many places wish to communicate with the other party.
Or, there is much communication desire from the other party to another transmission destination, and even if communication is desired in such a situation, the efficiency of each other only deteriorates. Further, by performing the repetitive transmission operation as in the first to third processes as described above, the running cost increases, and furthermore, new communication difficulties are created because communication from others cannot be received. Will be lost.

[0005]

A reading unit for reading a document;
An encoding / decoding unit for compressing the read image data or restoring the received image data, a communication control unit for performing facsimile communication control, and an NCU (Network Coworker) for controlling a communication line
ntrol unit), a recording unit for recording the image data, an operation unit capable of inputting a dial number, a display unit for displaying operation guidance, and an automatic dial for dialing a destination via the NCU unit. and parts, and the system information storage unit that stores destination Sakida dial number and its destination name,
A facsimile apparatus including a system control unit for controlling the above-described units to perform facsimile communication and inputting a dial number.
sy) busy detection means for detecting the state ;
Send to the destination already registered in the system information storage
The busy detecting means detects a busy
The number of busy times for a fixed period of time
Memory for each time period, so that busy time
Provided the Gee time statistical processing unit, and a busy statistical report output means for outputting the report the system information storage unit busy statistical situation or statistical result for each destination stored in the list, the.

[0006]

According to the present invention, it is possible to grasp the facsimile apparatus operation status every day or every time by outputting a report of the busy statistical status and the busy statistical result for each registered destination as a list.

[0007]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an outline of the system configuration of the facsimile machine will be described with reference to FIG. The system restores the scanner 1 as a reading portion reading a document for transmission and reception, and plotter 2 as a recording unit for recording the image data read, the image data received or compresses the read image data And a communication control unit 4 for performing facsimile communication control, and an NCU (N
a network control unit 5 for controlling facsimile communication by controlling various parts of the system and inputting a dial number;
Sakida dial numbers and memory (of the non-volatile) 7 as a system information storage unit that stores its destination name, the display unit 9 to perform an operation section 8 that can support the dial number input function, an operation guidance display And an automatic dial unit 10 for dialing a destination via the NCU unit 5 based on the dial number notified from the system control unit 6.

In the facsimile apparatus having the above-described system configuration, the present embodiment is characterized in that various components described below are provided. In other words, in this case, and when to do the transmission and busy detection means for detecting that the destination is busy (busy) state, to the destination registered in the <br/> in to the memory 7 at the time of transmission Busy inspection
If the delivery means detects busy, the busy count is set in advance.
It is stored at a set time interval ,
A busy time statistical processing means taking Obibetsu busy statistics were as comprising a.

Also, here, a busy statistic processing period setting means for setting a busy statistic processing period for each of the destinations, and a busiest count which is the least busy detection when transmitting to the destination which is performing or performing the busy statistic. Busy detection status display means for introducing the busy detection status on the display unit 9 in order of time zone;
A busy statistic report output means for outputting a list of busy statistic statuses or statistical results for each destination stored in the memory 7 as a list, and when transmitting to a busy statistic target destination, there is no time designation and there is no particular rush. In this case, there is provided a busy state selection transmitting means for performing transmission during a time when the busy state is small according to statistics.

In such a configuration, specific operation examples of the various means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, a destination dial number for performing busy statistics, a statistical period, and a busy count time zone are registered in the memory 7 in advance. Next, when a document is set, the memory 7 displays an initial screen and a dial number input instruction on the display unit 9.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1, when the user inputs the dial number of the other party using the numeric keypad on the operation unit 8 and selects “busy statistics display”, the system control unit 6 stores the dial number stored in the memory 7. Are displayed on the display unit 9 in the order of the least time zone. Next, when the user selects the "time-specified transmission" instruction with reference to the displayed content, the user waits until the specified time without transmitting immediately. When the time is not specified, if "busy statistics use" is selected, a time with the least busy state is selected from the current time, and when that time is reached, transmission is started in the same manner as time-specified transmission. If the user does not select the busy statistic, a normal transmission operation is performed. Next, the NCU unit 5 makes a call to the other party's dial. If the other party is busy during the “busy statistical period” and the other party is busy, the current time corresponds to any of the time zones registered in the memory 7. Then, the number of busy detections in that time zone is increased by one and stored as data, and the time until a recall is waited. If the other party is not busy or is outside the busy statistical period, the image information is transmitted and the operation ends.

[0011] As described above, the dial number of the other party who frequently communicates, such as the other party registered in the speed dial, is registered, a busy statistical processing period is provided, and communication with the other party is performed. In this case, by taking statistics based on the number of busy times per time zone only when the apparatus is in a busy state and using the obtained value, the operating status of the other party's facsimile apparatus can be grasped to some extent throughout the day. As a result, it is possible to select a time zone in which the other party's communication is small based on the operation status and perform communication, thereby increasing the probability of avoiding a busy state due to a busy state and further improving communication efficiency between transmission and reception. it can.

[0012] Therefore, for this reason, for example, when transmitting an application for mail order from a head office to a branch of a company that accepts a facsimile machine from the head office, there is an idea that one does not want to hinder reception of an application from a customer. If the communication status is known in advance by the statistical processing of the busy state,
According to the statistics, it is possible to select and transmit a time zone with a relatively small number of busy times, thereby reducing the probability of hindering reception from customers and operating the facsimile machine at the branch office at the head office The situation can be easily grasped.

Next, the advantages of the various means will be considered with reference to specific examples for each claim. First, by providing the busy time statistical processing means, if the communication destination is busy with a frequently-transmitted destination, every predetermined time, for example, every one hour (for example, other specific time designation, etc.) By counting the number of busy times in (1) and collecting statistics by time zone, the operating status of the facsimile machine of the other party can be grasped to some extent.

By providing the busy statistic processing period setting means, when performing busy statistic, a period for each partner, for example, one week for company A, one month for company B, four days from February 1 for company C By setting the period up to the 15th of the month, there is a difference in the frequency between the other parties who frequently communicate with each other, so that it is possible to set a method of collecting statistics suitable for the other party.

Since the busy detection state display means is provided, a busy detection state, which is an indication of the operating status of the destination facsimile machine, is introduced on the display unit 9, and communication is performed during any time period while avoiding busy. This makes it easy to see at a glance whether it is easy or not, so that it can be easily used as a selection guide for improving the communication efficiency between transmission and reception.

[0016] By providing the busy statistics report output means, it is possible to output a report as a list of busy statistics statuses by registered destinations or busy statistics results.
It is possible to grasp the operation status of the facsimile machine every day or at the other end (for example, at the end of the year, at the beginning of the year, at the beginning of the year, during the middle of the year, at the end of the year, etc.). It can be used for management, etc.

By providing the busy state selection transmission means, if the time is not specified when transmitting to the destination registered in the busy statistical processing, or especially if the transmission is not in a hurry, the busy state known by the statistics By referring to the above, by selecting a time zone with a low busy state and performing transmission, it is possible to increase the probability of avoiding a busy state due to a busy state, thereby improving the communication efficiency between transmission and reception.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a reading section for reading a document, a code decoding section for compressing the read image data or restoring received image data, a communication control section for performing facsimile communication control, and a communication line are provided. Controlling NCU (Network Control
l Unit), a recording unit for recording the image data, an operation unit capable of supporting a dial number input function, a display unit for displaying operation guidance, and an automatic dial for dialing a destination via the NCU unit. facsimile apparatus having a part, the system information storage unit that stores destination Sakida dial number and its destination name, and a system controller that performs input control dial numbers performs facsimile communication by controlling the respective units in a busy detecting means for detecting that the destination upon transmission is busy (busy) state, the system
Send to the destination already registered in the
When the busy detecting means detects busy
The number of busy times is recorded at predetermined intervals.
Remember, this is a busy time to get busy statistics by time
And during the statistical processing unit, and a busy statistical report output means for outputting a busy statistical situation or statistical result for each destination stored in said system information storage section in the report as a list, so was provided, each day of a destination Alternatively, the operation status of the facsimile machine at each time can be grasped.
The head office can be used for management of each branch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

[Description of Signs] 1 reading unit 2 recording unit 3 code decoding unit 4 communication control unit 5 NCU unit 6 system control unit 7 system information storage unit 8 operation unit 9 display unit 10 automatic dial unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading a document, a code decoding unit for compressing the read image data or restoring received image data, a communication control unit for performing facsimile communication control, and an NCU (NCU) for controlling a communication line. Network Control Unit
Unit, a recording unit that records the image data, an operation unit that can support a dial number input function, a display unit that performs operation guidance display, and an automatic dial unit that dials a destination via the NCU unit. in the facsimile apparatus having the system information storage unit that stores destination Sakida dial number and its destination name, and a system controller that performs input control dial numbers performs facsimile communication by controlling the respective units, transmission Busy detection means for detecting that the other party is busy, and storing the system information
When sending to a destination already registered in the department
When the busy detecting means detects busy, the busy
-The number of times is memorized at every preset fixed time.
Busy time statistical processing to get busy statistics by time of day
Facsimile device comprising: means, a busy statistical report output means for outputting a busy statistical situation or statistical result for each destination stored in said system information storage section in the report as a list, that was provided.