JPH01191560A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an effective use of an image memory by accumulating voice message as digital data in the image memory beforehand, reproducing the data to the voice message at the time of transmission and transmitting the message to the opposite prior to the transmission of image data. CONSTITUTION:A voice message inputted from a handset 5 is converted to digital data by a voice converter 20 and stored in a voice storing memory 21. Later, the digital data is transferred from the memory 21 to the image memory 12 to accumulate the data therein 12. At the time of transmission, the voice message is reproduced and transmitted to the opposite before the transmission of image data. As a result, the image memory 12 can be used not only for image data but for accumulating a voice message, and thus can be effectively made use of.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and more particularly, to a hook-and-mail device that makes effective use of an image memory for storing image data.

(Prior Art) Recently, with the spread of facsimile machines, there has been a demand for higher functionality of facsimile machines, and facsimile machines equipped with large-capacity memories for storing image data have appeared. In a facsimile machine equipped with such an image memory, when transmitting, the image data of the document read by the scanner is stored in the image memory and then transmitted immediately or at a predetermined transmission time, reducing transmission costs. We are trying to

Further, when receiving image data, the received image data is temporarily stored in an image memory, and is recorded in blocks on recording paper or transferred to another facsimile device at a predetermined period ψ.

Therefore, by using the image memory, it is possible to shorten transmission time and reduce communication costs, and also to perform relay communication, circular communication, etc., and to improve the functionality of the facsimile machine.

On the other hand, with the spread of facsimile machines, personalization has progressed, and it is now common practice to share the line used for telephones instead of installing a new line exclusively for facsimile machines.

In such cases, a switch is used to selectively switch the line between a telephone and a facsimile machine. That is, the facsimile device has a telephone mode in which the line is used preferentially by the telephone, and a facsimile mode in which the line is preferentially used by the facsimile machine, and each mode is switched and used by a switch.

(Problem B to be solved by the invention) However, in such conventional facsimile devices, when transmitting image data from the facsimile device, the other party's facsimile device shares one line between the facsimile device and the telephone. If you are in telephone mode, you will not be able to send image data unless you tell the operator at the other end by voice that you want to send a facsimile and then switch the mode. therefore,
When attempting to transmit image data by automatic calling, there is a problem in that when the other party's facsimile device is in telephone mode, it is not possible to notify by voice that the facsimile transmission is desired, and the facsimile transmission cannot be performed reliably.

Further, the image memory of conventional facsimile machines is used only for storing image data, and cannot be said to be used effectively.

(Object of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention provides an audio digitizing means for converting audio data into digital data, and an audio reproducing means for reproducing the digital data into audio data, and converts the audio message into an image as digital data in advance. The image memory is also used to store voice data by storing it in memory, playing it back as a voice message when sending, and sending it to the recipient before sending the image data. Notify by voice,
To provide a facsimile device that can reliably transmit image data by effectively utilizing an image memory and ensuring switching of a line to the facsimile device without increasing the cost of the facsimile device.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a facsimile machine equipped with an image memory for storing image data, which includes an audio digitizing means for converting audio data into digital data, and an audio converter for converting the digital data into audio data. and an audio playback means for converting the voice message input in advance into digital data by the voice digitization means and stored in the image memory, and at the time of transmission, read the digital data from the image memory and reproduce the voice message. It is characterized in that the audio message is played back and the voice message is sent to the other party prior to transmitting the image data.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a facsimile machine, and the facsimile machine 1 includes a main body 2, a document table 3 provided above the main body 2 and on which a document is placed, an operating section 4, and a handset 5. The operation unit 4 includes a numeric keypad 4a, operation keys 4b for inputting other commands, and a display unit 40 for displaying manual commands and information transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the operator.
It is set on an installation stand 5a provided at.

The facsimile device 1 includes a system control section 11, an operation section 4
, image memo I month 2, data compression/reproduction section 13, plotter 14, scanner 15, communication control section 16, modem 17,
It is equipped with a network control unit 18, a bus I/F 19, a voice converter 20, a voice, a memory memo, a bus 21, and the like.

The system control unit 11 is an RO that stores a control program for the entire facsimile machine 1 and a voice processing program of the present invention.
It is equipped with RAM, etc., which forms the M and work areas, and the R
Each part of the facsimile machine 1 is controlled according to the program in the OM to execute a sequence as the facsimile machine 1, and at the same time, the voice processing program of the present invention is executed.

The image memory 12 is a large-capacity memory that stores encoded image data and also stores (accumulates) audio data converted into digital data by the audio conversion device 20.

The data compression/reproduction unit 13 aims to shorten the transmission time and improve efficiency of image data, and compresses (encodes) image data when transmitting, and converts encoded image data into original data when receiving. to play.

For example, a thermal recording device equipped with a thermal element is used as the plotter 14, and the plotter 14 records directly on thermal recording paper or indirectly on ordinary recording paper via an ink ribbon.

As the scanner 15, for example, COD (Charge
A line image sensor using a Coupled Device (Coupled Device) is used to read image information of a document line by line and output it as image data.

The communication control unit 16 converts facsimile control signals with the other party's facsimile device and executes control procedures.

The modem 17 modulates image data into a form suitable for transmission over an external line when transmitting, and demodulates the modulated signal sent from the external line when receiving.

The network control unit 18 is generally called an AA-NCU, and an external line and the handset 5 are connected to the network control unit 18 . The network control unit automatically calls the destination and automatically receives calls from external lines.

The voice conversion device 20 includes a voice digitization mechanism (means) that converts voice data (analog data) into digital data, and a voice reproduction mechanism (means) that reproduces the digital data into voice data. 5
It converts voice data input from the line into digital data, reproduces the digital data into voice data, and sends it to the handset 5 or the line.

The audio storage memory 21 stores audio data (digital data) that has been digitally converted by the audio conversion device 20, outputs it to the image memory 12 via the bus I/F 19, and also outputs the digital data read from the image memory 12. The message is received, temporarily stored, and output to the voice conversion device 20.

− Next, the effect will be explained.

The present invention is characterized in that a voice message is converted into digital data in advance and stored in an image memo, and upon transmission, this voice message is played back and sent to the other party before transmitting the image data.

The case of time-specific transmission will be described below.

First, the voice message storage process will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

Place the original to be sent on the document table 3, and press the numeric keypad 4 on the operation section 4.
Enter the telephone number of the other party using a and turn on the start switch (step p+).

When the start switch is turned on, the system control unit 11 displays a message on the display unit 4c prompting the user to select whether or not to input a voice message (step pg), and selects YES.
When a key is input (step P,), the handset 5
The voice message input from the voice converter 20 is converted into digital data and stored in the voice storage memory 21 (step P4). Thereafter, the digital data is transferred from the voice storage memo IJ21 to the image memory 12 and stored in the image memory 12 (step ps). This voice data may be, for example, "This is XX. We are about to send a facsimile, so please switch to facsimile reception mode." Also, if there is a message that you would like to convey to the other party, you can naturally send it as voice data as well.

When the conversion and storage of the audio data is completed, the original on the document table 3 is scanned one by one by the scanner 15, and the read image data is compressed by the data compression/reproduction unit 13, and then the image memo 1 is created.
Accumulate in month 2 (step Ph).

This completes the storage of voice messages and image data.

Note that when the No key is pressed in step P, the process immediately moves to step Ph, performs document reading processing, and ends this flow.

Therefore, the voice message is stored in the image memo January 2 (
The voice messages can be stored without requiring a separate large-capacity memory for storing voice messages.

Next, the transmission process will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The system control unit 11 checks the transmission time using a built-in timer, and when the predetermined transmission time comes (step s),
The sM control unit 18 is instructed to make a call (step S2). When the other party listens, the voice message is checked to see if it is stored in the image memo 2 (step S3). If there is a voice message, the voice message (digital data) from the image memory 12 is read out and stored in the voice storage memory 21.
(Step S4). The digital data in the voice storage memory 21 is reproduced into a voice message by the voice converter 20 and sent to the other party via the line (step S
s). The operator at the other end hears the voice message, learns that it is a facsimile communication, and switches the line from the telephone to the facsimile machine.

Thereafter, the image data is read from the image memory 12, modulated by the modem 17, and then transmitted to the other party, thereby terminating this flow (step S).

Therefore, the image memory 12 is used not only for image data but also for storing image data.
It can also be used to store voice messages, and the image memory 12 can be used effectively. As a result, voice messages can be sent prior to transmitting image data without providing a large capacity memory for storing voice messages. Therefore, it is possible to notify the operator at the other end of the facsimile communication by voice without increasing costs, and image data can be reliably transmitted.

In the above facsimile machine, the case of time-specified transmission has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this.

Furthermore, the content of the voice message is not limited to that shown in the facsimile machine.

(Effects) According to the present invention, a voice message is stored as digital data in an image memory in advance, and at the time of transmission, the voice message is played back and sent to the other party before transmitting the image data. It can also be used for data storage, and can also be used to notify the other party's operator by voice that the facsimile transmission is being sent.

As a result, image memory can be used effectively, and the cost of facsimile equipment does not increase.
Image information can be reliably transmitted by ensuring that the line is switched to a facsimile machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a facsimile device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the facsimile device, FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the facsimile device,
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the voice message storage process of the facsimile machine, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the transmission process. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Facsimile machine, 2...Main body, 4...Operation unit, 5...Handset, 11...System control unit, 12 ... Image memory, 20 ... Sound conversion device (sound digitization means, sound reproduction means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] A facsimile machine equipped with an image memory for storing image data is provided with an audio digitizing means for converting audio data into digital data and an audio reproducing means for converting the digital data into audio data, and the facsimile apparatus is provided with an audio message that is input in advance. is converted into digital data by an audio digitization means and stored in an image memory, and at the time of transmission, the digital data is read out from the image memory and reproduced as a voice message, and the voice message is sent to the other party before transmitting the image data. A facsimile device that is characterized by sending.