JP4088989B2 - Line connection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a line connection device applied to a facsimile machine or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are facsimile apparatuses that can connect two lines and perform facsimile communication in parallel through a modem provided for each line. That is, in this type of facsimile apparatus, each modem modulates and demodulates a data signal, and enables parallel facsimile communication through each analog line.
[0003]
In addition, the facsimile apparatus is usually provided with an attached telephone, and if two lines are connected, a line is assigned in advance to each of the modem and the telephone. Calls can be made in parallel.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional facsimile apparatus as described above, a line has to be allocated in advance in order to perform data communication and a call in parallel.
In addition, the facsimile apparatus has a conversation reservation function that allows conversation before and after facsimile communication by an operation on the transmission side. However, in the form of connecting two lines, it is not a line for facsimile communication. When the telephone was busy on the line, the function could not be performed.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is not necessary to allocate two lines for data communication and telephone call in advance, and a conversation reservation function at the time of data communication using a modem is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a line connection device applicable to a facsimile machine or the like that can be executed even in the middle.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the line connection device according to claim 1 of the present invention can selectively switch and connect each of the two lines to a modem or a telephone to perform data communication and telephone call in parallel. A line connection device configured as described above, wherein the first call signal detecting means is connected to one of the two lines and detects a call signal transmitted through the one line ; a second call signal detection means for detecting the other is connected to the line ringing signal coming sent through the other line of the line, the switch to connect the modem to one of the two lines A first switching signal detecting unit, a second switching unit that switches to connect the telephone to one of the two lines, and a first ringing sound generating unit that generates a ringing tone. , Second call No. detecting means detects a call signal from either of the above two lines, the line has been detected a calling signal by the first switching unit connected to the modem, whether the other party is facsimile telephone to determine the, if the other party is facsimile device, as it continues connection between the modem, one to start the facsimile communication, if the other party telephone for the line and call by the first ring tone generating means When the telephone responds to the sound, the second switching unit connects the line to the telephone , and one of the two lines is connected to the modem. When the first call signal detecting means and the second call signal detecting means detect the call signal from the other line, the first call sound generating means If the telephone responds to this, the other switching line is connected to the telephone by the second switching unit, while one of the two lines is connected to the telephone. When the first call signal detecting means and the second call signal detecting means detect the call signal from the other line, the other line on which the call signal is detected by the first switching unit is connected to the modem. Then, it is determined whether the other party is a facsimile machine or a telephone, and if the other party is a facsimile machine, the connection state with the modem is continued and the facsimile communication is started.
[0007]
That is, this device detects a ringing signal, and once arrives at the modem, if the other party is a facsimile machine, the line is connected as it is to the modem, and if the other party is a telephone, a pseudo ringing sound is generated, If the telephone responds, control is performed so that the line is connected to the telephone. In addition, even if one line is in use, a call signal can be detected through the other line, so even if a modem is communicating, a telephone call is started. Can also initiate communication by modem.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the line connection device further includes a second ringing tone generating means for generating a ringing tone , wherein one of the two lines is in data communication with the modem, and the other line In the state where a telephone call is in progress, the second ringing tone generating means is activated when the modem detects a conversation reservation request signal.
As a result, even if you are talking on the phone through one line, you can see that there was a conversation reservation through the other line on this phone, so you can end the call and handle the conversation reservation on the other line. Is possible.
[0009]
In claim 3, when it is detected in claim 2 that the telephone in a call has performed a predetermined operation in response to the ringing sound, the line in the call is put on hold and the modem is connected. It is characterized by switching the connected line to a telephone.
For example, if the line connection is switched by a hook operation, the telephone can be used in the same manner as the call waiting service. When the call for conversation reservation is completed, the call can be resumed by releasing the hold state, returning the line connection to the original state by a hook operation again.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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 configuration of a facsimile apparatus F to which the line connection apparatus of the present invention is applied. The present invention may be any device that can connect two analog lines L1 and L2 and can communicate with data communication, and can be applied to, for example, a personal computer.
[0011]
The modem 1 modulates and demodulates a signal communicated through either one of the lines L1 and L2. The telephone 2 performs a call through one of the lines L1 and L2. The CI detection circuit 3 detects a call signal sent through the line L1, and the CI detection circuit 4 detects a call signal sent through the line L2. That is, these CI detection circuits 3 and 4 constitute the calling signal detection means of the present invention.
[0012]
The facsimile communication control unit 5 controls a facsimile communication procedure. The off-hook detection circuit 6 detects an off-hook caused by picking up the handset of the telephone set 2 and an on-hook when the telephone is returned to the original state. The pseudo bell generating circuit 7 constitutes a first ringing tone generating means of the present invention and sends a ringing tone to the telephone set 2. The alarm speaker 8 constitutes the second ringing tone generating means of the present invention.
[0013]
The switching unit 11 is switched to connect the modem 1 to the line L1 or the line L2, and the switching unit 12 is switched to connect the telephone set 2 to the line L1 or the line L2.
The CPU 20 controls each part of the facsimile machine F. The reading unit 21 reads an image to be transmitted by facsimile from a document. The recording unit 22 prints out an image received from another facsimile machine or the like on a recording sheet. The operation unit 23 is composed of various keys and the like, and performs various input settings for the facsimile apparatus F, and includes a liquid crystal screen, an LED, and the like, and displays an operation state and an operation procedure of the facsimile apparatus F.
[0014]
In addition, the facsimile apparatus F includes a codec that encodes and decodes an image for facsimile communication, a ROM that stores a control program, and a RAM that stores data necessary for processing in a rewritable manner. .
The facsimile apparatus F encodes the image data read by the reading unit 21 and transmits it through one of the lines L1 and L2, and also decodes the image data received through either the line L1 and L2, and records the data. 22 prints out. Further, the telephone 2 can make a call through either the line L1 or L2.
[0015]
When calling the other party from this facsimile apparatus F (telephone 2), it is sufficient to make a call using the vacant lines L1 and L2 according to a predetermined order. To work.
When the CI detection circuits 3 and 4 detect a call signal (CI) from any of the lines L1 and L2, the CPU 20 connects the line L1 or L2 to the modem 1 to detect a facsimile communication procedure signal, Determine whether the other party is a facsimile machine. If the other party is a facsimile machine, the communication is continued as it is.
[0016]
On the other hand, if it is determined that the other party is a telephone without detecting the facsimile communication procedure signal even after waiting for a predetermined time after calling, the telephone 2 is caused to ring a pseudo bell from the pseudo-bell generating circuit 7, and the telephone is thereby responded. If the response is 2, the line L1 or L2 is connected to the telephone 2. For example, when the CI detection circuit 4 detects a call signal from the line L2, when calling the telephone set 2, after the incoming call, the switching unit 12 is set to the b side, and a pseudo bell is sounded from the telephone set 2, and then the off-hook detection circuit When 6 detects the response of the telephone 2, the line L 2 and the telephone 2 are connected by setting the switching unit 12 to the c side.
[0017]
It should be noted that such an operation can be performed even if one of the lines L1 and L2 is in use, because the call detection signal sent through the other lines L2 and L1 can be detected by the CI detection circuits 4 and 3. Each of the lines L1 and L2 is alternatively switched and connected by the switching units 11 and 12, so that the communication by the modem 1 and the telephone call by the telephone 2 can be performed in parallel.
[0018]
As described above, in the present invention, it is not necessary to allocate the two lines L1 and L2 in advance for data communication and for telephone calls. Therefore, when a call is received from any of the lines L1 and L2, the switching units 11 and 12 are appropriately switched to perform data communication or a call regardless of whether the other party is a facsimile machine or a telephone. I can do it.
[0019]
When the modem 1 detects a conversation reservation request signal during data communication by the modem 1 (including before image data communication) on one of the lines L1 and L2, the pseudo-bell generating circuit 7 is activated, and the telephone 2 Generate a ringing tone.
At this time, the telephone 2 may not be in a call through the other lines L2 and L1, but even if the call is in progress, if the alarm speaker 8 notifies that there is a conversation reservation, the call is terminated. It becomes possible to deal with conversation reservations.
[0020]
Further, when the telephone 2 performs a predetermined operation such as a hook operation in response to this ringing tone, the CPU 20 that has received the notification from the off-hook detection circuit 6 that has detected this performs the line L2, L1 that is in a call. Is put on hold, and the lines L1 and L2 connected to the modem 1 are switched to the telephone 2 and connected.
For example, in a state where the line L2 is connected to the modem 1 (the switching unit 11 is on the b side) and the line L1 is connected to the telephone set 2 (the switching unit 12 is on the a side), the modem 1 makes a conversation reservation through the line L2. When the request is detected, the alarm speaker 8 is sounded. On the other hand, if a predetermined operation (for example, hooking) is performed on the telephone 2, the line L2 and the telephone 2 are connected (the switching unit 12 is on the c side), and the line L1 and the modem 1 are connected (the switching unit 11). Is set to a side), and a hold tone (melody) is transmitted from the modem 1. The hold sound is not limited to being sent from the modem 1, and other dedicated circuits may be used. When the call for conversation reservation is completed, the hold state is released by releasing the telephone 2 again (the switching unit 11 is separated from both the a side and the b side), and the line L1 and the telephone 2 are connected. Return to the connected state (switching unit 12 on the a side).
[0021]
In this way, if the connection between the telephone 2 and the lines L1 and L2 is switched with a hook operation or the like while one of them is put on hold, the telephone 2 can be used in the same manner as the call waiting service.
Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus F described above is shown in a flowchart in FIG.
[0022]
When the call signal is detected from any of the lines L1 and L2, if the modem 1 is not in use (communication), the lines L1 and L2 are connected to the modem 1 (100 to 102). If the other party is a facsimile machine, facsimile communication (reception) is started, but if there is a conversation reservation request during the communication, the use state of telephone 2 (whether it is busy or not) is referred to call telephone 2. (103-107).
[0023]
Here, an example is shown in which the conversation reservation request is during facsimile communication for conversation after communication. However, the conversation reservation request may be before facsimile communication for conversation before communication. You may be in communication to talk between pages. In this case, if the call ends between pages, facsimile communication continues from the next page.
[0024]
The conversation reservation request is normally sent from the other party's facsimile machine or the like. However, when the facsimile machine F and the telephone 2 are set apart from each other, during the facsimile transmission. There is a case where the conversation reservation key (not shown) of the operation unit 23 is operated by the main body of the facsimile apparatus F without knowing that the telephone set 2 is making a call by mistake. It may operate in the same way.
[0025]
If there is a conversation reservation request and the telephone 2 is not in use, a pseudo bell is generated (108). Further, when the modem 1 is in use when the call signal is detected (101), the pseudo bell is sounded, but the telephone 2 may be directly sounded by connecting to the lines L1 and L2. At this time, if the other party is a facsimile machine, facsimile communication cannot be started, but if the other party is a telephone, the following call operation is performed.
[0026]
If the off-hook of the telephone set 2 with respect to the ringing of the pseudo bell is detected, the telephone set 2 is connected to the lines L1 and L2 that have been called, and a call is started (109 to 111). If the end of the call is detected on-hook, the lines L1 and L2 are released (112, 113).
On the other hand, if the telephone 2 is in use when a conversation reservation request is made, the alarm speaker 8 is sounded (114). Here, an alarm speaker 8 provided separately from the pseudo bell generating circuit 7 is caused to ring in the facsimile apparatus F. If a person who is talking on the telephone 2 listens to and hooks the alarm speaker 8, a line on the call L2 and L1 are opened, and the other lines L1 and L2 with reserved conversations are connected to perform a call (115, 116, 111 to 113). Further, when a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses without being hooked, the call on the original lines L2 and L1 is continued (117, 111 to 113). Here, when hooking is performed, the lines L2 and L1 that are in a call are released. However, as described above, when the lines L2 and L1 are put on hold and the call for conversation reservation is ended. The hold state may be released so that the call can be resumed.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As can be understood from the above description, in the line connection device according to claim 1 of the present invention, two lines are shared, and a switchover connection is selectively made to a modem or a telephone, so that data communication and telephone call can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to assign each of the two lines in advance for data communication and for communication, and the degree of freedom of incoming calls is improved. In other words, when a call is made from either of the two lines, regardless of whether the other party is a facsimile machine or a telephone, the line connection can be appropriately controlled to perform data communication or a telephone call. I can do it.
[0028]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the modem detects a conversation reservation request during data communication, even if the telephone is busy, it informs that there is a conversation reservation. Can respond.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, if a predetermined operation is performed on the telephone, the line that is on the call is put on hold and connected to the line on which data communication has been performed. Easy to handle.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a line connection apparatus (facsimile apparatus) according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic operation of the facsimile apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
F: Facsimile devices L1, L2 ... Line 1 ... Modem 2 ... Telephone 3 ... CI detection circuit (for line L1)
4 ... CI detection circuit (for line L2)
6 ... off-hook detection circuit 7 ... pseudo bell generation circuit 8 ... alarm speaker 11 ... switching unit (for modem)
12 ... Switching unit (for telephone)

Claims (3)

A line connection device in which each of the two lines is selectively switched and connected to a modem or a telephone so that data communication and a telephone call can be performed in parallel.
A first call signal detecting means connected to one of the two lines and detecting a call signal transmitted through the one line; and connected to the other of the two lines. a second call signal detecting means for detecting a call signal coming sent through the other line, a first switching unit for switching to connect the modem to either of the above two lines, the said telephone 2 A second switching unit for switching to connect to one of the lines, and a first ringing sound generating means for generating a ringing tone,
The first call signal detection means, said second call signal detecting means detects the calling signal from either of the above two lines, the the line that has detected the call signal by the first switching unit connected to the modem, to determine whether the other party is facsimile equipment or telephone, if the other party is facsimile device, as it continues connection between the modem, one to start the facsimile communication, at the other of its line telephone If there is, the first ringing sound generating means generates a ringing tone, and if the telephone responds to the ringing sound, the second switching unit connects the line to the telephone , and
When one of the two lines is connected to the modem, when the first call signal detecting means and the second call signal detecting means detect a call signal from the other line, When the first ringing tone generating means generates a ringing tone and the telephone responds to this, the other switching line is connected to the telephone by the second switching unit, while one of the two lines is connected. When the first call signal detecting means and the second call signal detecting means detect a call signal from the other line, the call signal is sent by the first switching section. Connect the detected other line to the modem, determine whether the other party is a facsimile machine or a telephone, and if the other party is a facsimile machine, continue the connection with the modem as is. Line connection device which has a configuration to initiate signal. The line connection device further includes a second ringing tone generating means for generating a ringing tone,
One line of the two lines is in data communication by the modem, in the state the other line is busy due to the telephone, when the modem detects a conversation reservation request signal, said first 2. The line connection device according to claim 1, wherein the two ringing tone generating means is operated.   When it is detected that the telephone in the above call has performed a predetermined operation in response to the ringing sound, the line in the call is put on hold, and the line connected to the modem is switched to the telephone. The line connection device according to claim 2, wherein:

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