JP3358506B2 - Communication 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 communication terminal device such as a facsimile device having an automatic redial function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication terminal devices such as facsimile machines have been provided with an auto redial function.
If the called party is busy or calls for a predetermined time (for example, 45 seconds) and there is no response to the call, the call (calling operation) is stopped and the line is disconnected. Thus, after waiting for a predetermined time (for example, one minute), the call is re-issued.

[0003] If there is a response to the re-originated call, facsimile communication or the like is started. Then, when the number of recalls reaches a predetermined number (for example, three times),
It prints out error reports.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional communication terminal device, during communication or calling, a document image to be transmitted by facsimile is read and communication reservation is made.
When there are a plurality of communications waiting for a recall, communications other than the one waiting at the head require a considerable amount of time before recalling. That is, the communication for re-calling must be sequentially performed and terminated. In particular, when the previous communication cannot be started and the call is re-called, much time is required until the communication starts. Also, when priority is given to recalling, it is necessary to delete the communication registered earlier.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and from among a plurality of communications waiting for recall,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of selecting a communication to be called again with priority.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal apparatus, comprising: a display unit for displaying information of a plurality of communications in a call waiting state; Operating means for selecting a communication to be preferentially re-called from the displayed re-call-waiting communication, and control means for re-calling the communication selected by the operating means. When it is not possible to start the communication selected by the operation means and made a re-call, this communication is stopped and the communication is deleted from the communication in the re-call waiting state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal device for displaying a plurality of pieces of communication waiting state information, and a communication waiting state displayed on the display means. Operation means for selecting a communication to be re-called and control means for re-calling the communication selected by the operation means, wherein the control means cannot start the communication selected by the operation means and made the re-call. In this case, the communication is stopped and the original call waiting state before the selection is returned. In claim 3, the control device further includes a notification unit that notifies that the priority recall has not been successful.
When the communication cannot be started even after repeating the preferential recall up to a predetermined number of times, the failure of the preferential recall is reported by the reporting means.

[0008] The notifying means includes a recording means for printing out that the recall is not successful, a display means for displaying,
Sound output means for notifying by an error sound or the like corresponds.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the communication terminal device of the present invention. here,
Although a configuration example of the facsimile apparatus F is shown as one of the communication terminal apparatuses, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a personal computer (personal computer) having a data communication function. .

The signal processing unit 1 constitutes a control means of the present invention with a CPU or the like, and not only controls each unit of the facsimile apparatus F but also executes processing such as encoding and decoding. The ROM 2 stores a program for controlling the operation of the facsimile machine F in advance. The RAM 3 stores image data to be communicated, temporary data generated when processing is performed, and also stores a facsimile number (telephone number) of the other party in advance.

The reading section 4 reads an image from a set document and sets it as image data. The recording unit 5 includes an electrophotographic printer or the like, and records (prints and outputs) data received from another facsimile machine or the like as image data. The operation unit 6 comprises an operation means of the present invention with various keys, and performs various input settings for the facsimile machine F. The display unit 7 constitutes a display means of the present invention with a liquid crystal display device, an LED, and the like, and displays an operation state, an operation procedure, and the like of the facsimile machine F. The sound output unit 8 includes a speaker, and outputs an error occurrence or the like as an alarm or a voice message.

The modem 9 modulates and demodulates signals for facsimile communication. The line control unit 10 is configured by an NCU or the like, and closes and opens a communication line L (analog line). When a digital line such as an ISDN line is connected, the modem 9 is not provided and the line control unit 10 is connected to the DSU.
Etc. The automatic calling unit 11 automatically dials (auto redials) a telephone number in a waiting state for recalling after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed when the called party does not answer, or uses a one-touch key. With this operation, a call is made to a telephone number registered in advance corresponding to the key.

The facsimile apparatus F encodes the image data read by the reading unit 4 and transmits the encoded image data through the communication line L, decodes the image data received through the communication line L, and stores the image data from the recording unit 5. Performs basic operation for printing out. According to the present invention, information on a plurality of communications waiting for a re-call is displayed on the display unit 7, and a priority is given to the communication from the displayed communications waiting for a re-call by operating the operation unit 6. When the communication to be recalled is selected, the signal processing unit 1 activates the automatic calling unit 11 in order to recall the selected communication.

That is, when a call is made but the other party is busy (communicating) or unable to communicate because of a failure to answer, the process shifts to a re-call waiting state, and the information of this communication is stored in the RAM 3. Remember. Subsequently, information of the communication in which the reading section 4 has read the original image and made a reservation is sequentially stored in the RAM 3, and a predetermined operation (described later) of the operation section 6 is performed in this state. The display unit 7 displays a list of the stored communications.

FIG. 2 shows the transition of the display on the display unit 7 at this time, and the operation procedure of the facsimile machine F will be described. First, by operating a reservation status confirmation key (not shown) of the operation unit 6, the RAM 3
Is displayed as a transmission reservation status in a list (# 1). Here, as the communication information, the telephone number of the calling party and the number of transmissions (storage number) are displayed. In addition, the image quality (reading mode), the name of the destination, etc. are also stored and displayed. You may do it. When the number of reserved communications is equal to or greater than the number that can be displayed on the display unit 7 at a time, the reservation status may be scrolled by operating an arrow key (not shown).

[0016] Here, the number added to the communication to be recalled preferentially is selected and input using a numeric keypad (not shown).
To start calling the selected party, a start key (not shown) is operated (# 2). Then, when the communication (transmission) is started, the transmitted number is displayed while being sequentially updated together with the telephone number of the transmission destination (# 3).

[0017] In this way, by making it possible to select a communication to be preferentially re-established from a plurality of communications waiting for a re-establishment of call, urgent communications among communications reserved later can be performed first. This can be done with priority. In particular, this is effective when the previous communication cannot be started and the call is re-established, and the time until the start of communication can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine F. Here, instead of displaying the list of the re-call waiting state, when the display of "communication waiting state" is selected from the communication confirmation menu screen displayed by the display unit 7, the information of the communication in the re-call waiting state is displayed. The communication waiting states are displayed one by one (100 to 102).

If a priority call operation is performed using a selection key (not shown) or the like when the priority communication is displayed on the display unit 7, if the operation is not in communication, the automatic call unit 11 A call is made to the displayed partner (103 to 105). If the other party responds to this call, communication starts, but if the telephone is busy (busy) or there is no response after calling for a predetermined time (for example, 45 seconds), the line is temporarily disconnected and After waiting for a time (for example, one minute), the call is re-issued. That is, when the communication selected and re-called by the operation unit 6 cannot be started, the signal processing unit 1 again sets the communication to a re-call waiting state and automatically repeats the priority re-call. This increases the probability of line connection. However, if the communication cannot be started even after repeating the preferential recall up to a predetermined number of times (for example, three times), the signal processing unit 1 reports the failure of the preferential recall (error report). (105-110).

Here, any of the recording unit 5, the display unit 7, and the sound output unit 8 or a combination thereof corresponds to the notifying means for notifying the error, and the recall is not successful. (For example, a message such as “transmission failed”) is printed out from the recording unit 5, displayed on the LCD of the display unit 7, or outputted as sound from the sound output unit 8. Further, the error notification may be performed by turning on or blinking the LED of the display unit 7 or outputting an alarm sound from the sound output unit 8.

If the priority call is unsuccessful in this way, this communication may be deleted (deleted) from the communication reservations according to the settings made in advance, or the original reservation order may be restored. Then, a re-call of the communication reserved at the head is started. On the other hand, the operator can consider other communication means of the priority communication and take appropriate measures. Further, when it is desired to make a priority call again, the communication in the re-call waiting state is displayed again on the display unit 7 as described above, and the priority communication may be selected from among them.

[0022]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the communication terminal device of the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pieces of communication information in a call waiting state are displayed. Therefore, if the user selects the communication to be recalled preferentially, the selected communication can be recalled. In other words, communication that is reserved later can be performed with priority, so that emergency communication does not have to wait. This is particularly effective when a re-call state is established again after the previous communication cannot be performed, and the time until the start of communication can be greatly reduced as compared with the related art. Further, when the priority recall is unsuccessful, the communication is deleted from the communication reservation, so that the communication terminal device can start the recall of the communication reserved at the head, and However, it is possible to consider other communication means of priority communication and take appropriate measures.

According to the second aspect, when the control means cannot start the communication selected by the operation means and performed the re-call, the control means stops the communication and returns to the original re-call waiting state before the selection. In addition, the communication terminal device can start the re-call of the communication reserved at the top, and the operator can consider other communication means of the priority communication and take appropriate measures against this. According to the third aspect, when the communication cannot be started even if the priority recall is repeated up to a predetermined number of times, the failure of the priority recall is notified, so that the operator needs another means for the communication. Appropriate measures such as selection can be taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation procedure of the communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic operation of the communication terminal device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F: Facsimile apparatus 1 ... Signal processing unit 5 ... Recording unit 6 ... Operation unit 7 ... Display unit 8 ... Sound output unit 11 ... Automatic calling unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 1/00 H04M 1/24-1/62 H04M 1/66-1/82 H04M 11/00-11 / 10 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/32-1/36 H04N 1/42-1/44

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display means for displaying information on a plurality of communications waiting for a recall, and an operation for selecting a communication to be recalled preferentially from among the communications waiting for a redisplay displayed on the display means. Means, and control means for re-calling the communication selected by the operation means. The control means, when the communication selected by the operation means and re-calling cannot be started, this communication A communication terminal device for canceling the communication and deleting the communication from the communication in the re-call waiting state. 2. A display means for displaying information on a plurality of communications waiting to be re-established, and an operation for preferentially selecting a communication to be re-established from the communications waiting to be re-executed displayed on the display means. Means, and control means for re-calling the communication selected by the operation means. The control means, when the communication selected by the operation means and re-calling cannot be started, this communication A communication terminal device for canceling the call and returning to the original call waiting state before selection. 3. A notifying means for notifying that the preferential recall is not successful, wherein the control means cannot start communication even if the preferential recall is repeated a predetermined number of times. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification unit notifies the unsuccessful priority re-calling from time to time.