JP3709288B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of sending a voice message for guiding a terminal operation to a partner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some facsimile apparatuses have a function of sending a voice message that guides the operation of a terminal to a terminal of a partner station when a call is in progress or when the terminal is absent. For example, a voice message when a user cannot answer a call during a call is "Please wait for a while. Please press the start button for facsimile." ) If you are unable to answer the call, the voice message is “I am currently away. Please enter your name and request. For fax machines, please press the start button.” The user of the terminal of the other station records a message or performs facsimile transmission according to such a voice message.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional facsimile apparatus does not have means for identifying whether the terminal of the other station is a telephone or a facsimile apparatus. In addition, a fixed voice message was sent for both terminals. Therefore, even if the terminal of the other station is a telephone and is not intended to perform facsimile communication, guidance regarding facsimile communication that the other terminal should not use is included in the voice message, and the voice message is complicated and redundant. Therefore, there is a problem that the call time is wasted.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a facsimile apparatus capable of shortening a voice message by selectively outputting the voice message according to the type of the terminal of the counterpart station. With the goal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The facsimile apparatus according to the present invention detects a plurality of telephone numbers stored in a storage means, a transmission telephone number of a terminal of a partner station, and the detected transmission telephone number and a plurality of telephone numbers registered in advance in the storage means comparing the door, when the telephone number matching the calling telephone number to a plurality of telephone number is present, it determines that the terminal type of the partner station is a facsimile terminal end, originating in a plurality of telephone numbers when the telephone number that matches the phone number does not exist, the terminal type determining means, the terminal type determining means depending on the type of terminal of the other party station is a facsimile terminal end of the terminal type of the partner station is determined to be the phone If it is determined to be, selectively outputs a voice message for a facsimile dedicated, when the type of the terminal of the other station is determined to be the phone by the terminal type identification means, select the normal voice message A voice message selection output means for force, is facsimile communication executed, and if the telephone number of the facsimile terminal end is not stored in the still storage means by the terminal type determining means, the telephone number of the facsimile terminal end Is automatically stored in the storage means and sequentially registered.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, a main control unit (terminal type discriminating means, voice message selecting / outputting means, telephone number registering means) 1 comprises a CPU 11, a program memory 12, and a work memory 13, and controls overall control of the entire facsimile apparatus. At the same time, it controls the type of terminal of the partner station that is determined based on the originating telephone number, which is a feature of the present invention, and selects and outputs a voice message corresponding to the type of the terminal. Specifically, the main control unit 1 extracts the outgoing telephone number, reads / writes the telephone number to the backup memory 4, and stores the outgoing telephone number and the backup memory 4 in accordance with the program stored in the program memory 12. Controls such as comparison of telephone numbers, selection and transmission of voice messages of the voice IC 5 are performed.
[0010]
The network control unit 2 includes relays 21, 25, 29, a transformer 26, a 2-wire to 4-wire conversion circuit 27, various signal detection circuits 22, 24, and the like (see FIG. 3). It controls the signal path between the components (main control unit 1, modem unit 3, voice IC 5 and handset 6).
[0011]
The modem unit (terminal type discriminating means) 3 transmits / receives a procedure signal and an image signal according to a facsimile communication procedure, and on the other hand, based on a calling telephone number notification service (also referred to as a number display service) provided by a telecommunications carrier. A caller phone number information signal is received, and the phone number of the terminal of the partner station is extracted from the caller phone number information signal.
[0012]
The backup memory (storage means) 4 stores the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station extracted from the calling telephone number information by the modem unit 3. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the backup memory 4 stores the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station when the facsimile communication is performed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage area for telephone numbers in the backup memory 4. The table area 41 shown in FIG. 2 is an area in which the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station that has been used for facsimile communication so far is stored as a communication history, and the address storage area 42 additionally registers the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station. This is an area for storing the address . The backup memory 4 is backed up by an external battery.
[0013]
The voice IC (voice message selection / output means) 5 stores a plurality of voice messages corresponding to the terminals of the partner station in advance. The handset 6 is used by the operator for making a call.
The facsimile apparatus includes a document reading unit and a recording unit, which are omitted in FIG.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the network control unit 2. In the figure, a DC relay 21 switches a signal path between the subscriber telephone line and the modem unit 3 and a signal path between the subscriber telephone line and the receiver 6. Usually, the DC relay 21 is connected to the modem unit 3 side so that the modem unit 3 can detect the outgoing telephone number information signal.
[0015]
The AC signal detection circuit 22 detects an outgoing telephone number information signal from a subscriber telephone line. The outgoing telephone number information signal detected by the AC signal detection circuit 22 is sent to the modem unit 3 via the selector 23. The selector 23 selects a signal path between the subscriber telephone line and the modem unit 3 as a path for detecting the outgoing telephone number information signal (AC signal detection circuit 22 side) or a normal facsimile communication path (2-wire to 4-wire conversion circuit 27 side). ). Normally, the selector 23 is set as a path for detecting a caller telephone number information signal.
[0016]
The calling signal detection circuit 24 detects a calling signal from the subscriber telephone line after receiving the calling telephone number information signal (after notification of the calling telephone number). The call signal detected by the call signal detection circuit 24 is sent to the main control unit 1. The CML relay 25 opens or closes the subscriber telephone line to close or open the DC line. When executing a call or facsimile communication, the CML relay 25 closes the DC line of the subscriber telephone line and ends the call or facsimile communication. Release the subscriber telephone line.
[0017]
The transformer 26 forms a transmission / reception path for facsimile signals while separating DC signals in the subscriber telephone line, and is also used as a voice message transmission path. The 2-wire-4 wire conversion circuit 27 separates and converts the 2-wire signal on the subscriber telephone line into a transmission path and a reception path. The adder 28 is an adding circuit for sending the image signal from the modem unit 3 and the audio signal from the audio IC 5 to the same path.
[0018]
The BT relay 29 switches to the path between the handset 6 and the ringer IC when calling and to the path between the handset 6 and the subscriber telephone line when calling. Normally, the BT relay 29 is connected to the ringer IC 2A side in order to call the handset 6. The ringer IC 2A transmits a pulse signal for calling the handset 6.
[0019]
Note that the DC relay 21, selector 23, CML relay 25, and BT relay 29 perform switching operations based on control signals from the main control unit 1.
[0020]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
When a call is sent from the terminal of the partner station to the facsimile machine, a calling telephone number information signal is sent to the facsimile machine. This outgoing telephone number information signal is based on the outgoing telephone number notification service provided by the telecommunications carrier, and is obtained by making a contract with the telecommunications carrier. The outgoing telephone number information signal from the subscriber telephone line is detected by the AC signal detection circuit 22 and sent to the modem unit 3 via the selector 23.
[0021]
Upon receiving the outgoing telephone number information signal (step ST1), the modem unit 3 extracts the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station that is the sender from the outgoing telephone number information signal (step ST2). The main control unit 1 is notified of the telephone number of the station terminal. The CPU 11 in the main control unit 1 temporarily stores the telephone number of the partner station terminal extracted by the modem unit 3 in the work memory 13 in the main control unit 1.
[0022]
The CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 compares and checks whether or not the telephone number of the partner station stored in the work memory 13 matches the telephone number stored in advance in the table area 41 of the backup memory 4 (step ST3). ). As shown in FIG. 2, the table area 41 of the backup memory 4 stores a plurality of telephone numbers 1 to n of the terminals of the partner station that have so far performed facsimile communication as a communication history. The CPU 11 sequentially performs comparison and collation between the plurality of telephone numbers 1 to n and the telephone numbers stored in the work memory 13.
[0023]
As a result of the comparison, if there is a match between the telephone number of the partner station stored in the work memory 13 and the telephone number stored in the backup memory 4, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 determines whether there is an incoming call. The terminal of the other station is determined to be a facsimile machine, and the voice message selection channel of the voice IC 5 is switched to select a voice message dedicated to the facsimile (step ST4). An example of a voice message dedicated to a facsimile is “If you are a facsimile, please press the start button.”
[0024]
On the other hand, as a result of the comparison and collation, if there is no match between the telephone number of the terminal of the counterpart station stored in the work memory 13 and the telephone number stored in the backup memory 4, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 Determine that the terminal is a telephone. Therefore, in this case, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 switches the voice message selection channel of the voice IC 5 to select a normal voice message (step ST5). An example of a normal voice message is “Please wait for a while”.
[0025]
As described above, when it is determined that the other party's terminal is a telephone, a message which is shortened compared to the case where the other party's terminal is a facsimile machine is transmitted.
[0026]
The contents of the voice message recorded in the voice IC 5 are not limited to those described above, and various variations can be provided. Such a voice message is selectively output by switching the selected channel.
[0027]
The calling signal from the subscriber telephone line sent after the calling telephone number information signal is detected by the calling signal detection circuit 24 and sent to the main control unit 1.
[0028]
When receiving the calling signal (step ST6), the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 closes the CML relay 25 and DC-connects the subscriber telephone line (step ST7-1). At the same time, the main control unit 1 switches the selector 23 to the transformer 26 side to form a signal path from the subscriber telephone line to the modem unit 3 via the transformer 26 and the 2-wire-4 wire conversion circuit 27. A facsimile signal can be received when the terminal executes facsimile communication (step ST7-2).
[0029]
Next, the main control unit 1 performs a selective output operation on the voice IC 5 in order to output the above-described voice message to the subscriber telephone line. The voice message selected and output in this way is sent to the subscriber telephone line via the adder 28, the two-wire / four-wire conversion circuit 27, and the transformer 26 (step ST7-3).
[0030]
On the other hand, the main control unit 1 drives the ringer IC 2A for the purpose of calling the handset 6 (step ST7-4). A pulse signal for calling the receiver 6 sent from the ringer IC 2A is sent to the receiver 6 via the BT relay 29.
[0031]
Here, when the user picks up the handset 6 according to the ringing tone (step ST8), the main control unit 1 stops driving the ringer IC 2A (step ST9-1), and the DC relay 21 is moved to the handset 6 side. Switching (step ST9-2), the BT relay 29 is switched to the subscriber telephone line side (step ST9-3), and a call is started (step ST9-4). If the modem unit 3 detects a facsimile signal from the terminal of the partner station before the user picks up the handset 6 (step ST10), the main control unit 1 stops driving the ringer IC 2A and performs a facsimile communication operation. Transition (1 in step ST11). In this case, the facsimile signal from the terminal of the partner station is a CNG signal in G3 facsimile communication. Then, the main control unit 1 stores the telephone number of the partner station terminal stored in the work memory 13 in the backup memory 4 (step ST11-2).
[0032]
Next, a procedure for storing the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station stored in the work memory 13 of the main control unit 1 in the backup memory 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure for storing the telephone number in the backup memory 4. As described above, the work memory 13 of the main control unit 1 temporarily stores the telephone number of the partner station extracted from the calling telephone number information signal by the modem unit 3 (step ST21). The telephone number stored in the work memory 13 is held until the facsimile communication or call with the terminal of the partner station is completed (step ST22).
[0033]
The CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 determines whether or not facsimile communication has been executed (step ST23), and then determines whether or not the destination telephone number has already been registered in the backup memory 4 (step ST24). . Whether or not the facsimile communication has been executed is to store the telephone number of the other terminal in the backup memory 4 when the other terminal is a facsimile apparatus, and whether or not the telephone number has already been registered. This is to avoid registration of duplicate telephone numbers. Whether or not the destination telephone number has been registered in the backup memory 4 is determined by whether or not it matches the telephone number in the backup memory 4 in the process of step ST3.
[0034]
When facsimile communication is being performed and the other party's telephone number is not yet registered in the backup memory 4, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 stores the telephone number stored in the work memory 13 in the table area of the backup memory 4. Store in. Specifically, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 extracts the address where the next telephone number specified from the address storage area in the backup memory 4 should be additionally stored (step ST25), and based on this address, the telephone The number is additionally registered as a table area (step ST26). Then, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 increments the address storage area (step ST27), and overwrites the address storage area to designate the address to be newly stored next time.
[0035]
However, since the table area is finite, the updated address value may exceed the table area, so the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 determines whether or not the advanced address exceeds the table area ( Step ST28). When the advanced address exceeds the table area, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 initializes the address storage area by overwriting and saving the head address of the table area in the address storage area (step ST29). As a result, the oldest telephone number is sequentially replaced with a new telephone number. If the raised address does not exceed the table area, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 stores the raised address in the address storage area (step ST30). Thereafter, the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 deletes the telephone number in the work memory 13 (step ST31).
[0036]
On the other hand, when facsimile communication is not being executed (step ST2 3 ), or when the other party's telephone number is already registered in the backup memory 4 (step ST2 4 ), the CPU 11 of the main control unit 1 The telephone number stored in the memory 13 is not stored in the table area of the backup memory 4, but the telephone number in the work memory 13 is deleted (step ST31).
[0037]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, based on the telephone number of the partner station terminal extracted from the calling telephone number information signal, it is determined whether or not the partner station terminal is a facsimile apparatus. When it is determined that the terminal is not a device, the voice message can be shortened because it is configured to selectively output a normal voice message in which guidance regarding facsimile communication not used by the terminal of the partner station is omitted from the voice message. As a result, the call time can be shortened.
[0038]
Further, the determination that the terminal of the other station is a facsimile apparatus is automatically registered in the backup memory 4 by comparing the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus with the received telephone number. As a result, an operation for registration by the user of the facsimile apparatus becomes unnecessary, and the labor of the user is reduced.
[0039]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus that has received an incoming call is registered in the backup memory 4, but the telephone number of the telephone that has received an incoming call may be registered. In this case, if there is a match between the telephone number of the terminal of the partner station stored in the work memory 13 and the telephone number stored in the backup memory 4, the CPU 11 of the main control section 1 It is determined that the terminal of the station is a telephone, and the voice message selection channel of the voice IC 5 is switched to select a voice message dedicated to the call. An example of a voice message dedicated to a call is “Please wait for a while”. The facsimile message that the partner station cannot use from the voice message can be omitted, and the voice message can be shortened. .
[0040]
Since the telephone number corresponding to the backup memory 4 does not exist for the partner facsimile apparatus that performs communication for the first time, in this case, it is determined that the partner terminal is not a facsimile apparatus. Therefore, in this case, a normal message for the telephone is sent to the partner facsimile terminal. However, since facsimile communication is performed by the processing of steps ST10 and ST11, for example, a message dedicated to facsimile is transmitted from the next communication.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the storage means for storing a plurality of telephone numbers and the outgoing telephone number of the terminal of the other station are detected, and the detected outgoing telephone numbers and the plural registered in the storage means in advance. If there is a phone number that matches the outgoing phone number among the multiple phone numbers, it is determined that the other station's terminal type is a facsimile terminal, and If there is no telephone number that matches the calling telephone number, the terminal type discriminating means for judging that the terminal type of the counterpart station is a telephone, and the terminal type discriminating means determines that the terminal type of the counterpart station is a facsimile terminal. If the terminal type discriminating means determines that the terminal type of the partner station is a telephone, it selects and outputs a normal voice message. Automatically a voice message selection output means, facsimile communication is performed, and if the telephone number of the facsimile terminal is not stored in the still storage means by the terminal type determining means, a telephone number of the facsimile terminal Phone number registration means for storing in the storage means and sequentially registering , so that the user does not need to register the telephone number of the facsimile terminal, the user's labor is reduced, and the duplicate telephone number There is an effect that it is possible to avoid registration .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a storage area of a telephone number in a backup memory.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a network control unit.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure for storing a telephone number in a backup memory;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Main control unit (terminal type discrimination means, voice message selection output means, telephone number registration means)
3 Modem (terminal type discrimination means)
4 Backup memory (storage means)
5 Voice IC (voice message selection output means)

Claims (1)

Storage means for storing a plurality of telephone numbers;
The outgoing telephone number of the terminal of the other station is detected, the detected outgoing telephone number is compared with the plurality of telephone numbers registered in the storage means in advance, and the outgoing telephone is included in the plurality of telephone numbers. when a telephone number that matches the number was present, the type of terminal of the other station determines that the facsimile terminal, the telephone number that matches the originating telephone number among the plurality of phone numbers does not exist A terminal type determining means for determining that the terminal type of the other station is a telephone;
If the the terminal type identification means terminal type of the other station is determined to be the facsimile terminal, selects and outputs the facsimile dedicated voice message, the type of the terminal of the partner station by the terminal type identification means the Voice message selection output means for selectively outputting a normal voice message when it is determined that the telephone is a telephone;
When facsimile communication is executed and the terminal type determination means determines that the telephone number of the facsimile terminal is not yet stored in the storage means, the telephone number of the facsimile terminal is automatically stored in the storage means. And a telephone number registration means for sequentially registering.

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