JPH01243660A - Operation control method for information communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by making either the recording of a message or information communication possible according to necessity by the origination of a call of one time by a person. CONSTITUTION:A facsimile equipment as an information communication device is provided with a voice storage part 101, a voice recording/reproducing part 102, a network control part 108, a MODEM 109, a control signal detecting means 110, a voice detecting means 111, a line signal detecting part 112 and a control part 118. Here, in the case of the origination of the call by the person, the equipment is controlled so as to perform the sending of a voice message, the recording of the voice message from a caller side and the information communication, and besides, the guidance of the manual starting of the information communication can be performed by the voice message. Accordingly, either the sending of the message or the information communication can be performed according to necessity by the manual origination of one time. Thus, the operability can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of an information communication device, such as a facsimile machine, having an automatic communication function and an answering machine function when receiving a call.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, this type of facsimile machine has been designed to perform the following operation control when receiving a call when the automatic reception function and answering machine function are enabled.

After detecting an incoming call and answering the line, the CNG signal from the line (
(non-voice terminal call signal) is detected.

When a CNG signal is detected within a certain period of time, a CED signal (called station identification signal) and a DIS signal (digital identification signal) are sent out, and when a DC8 signal (mode designation signal) from the line is detected, facsimile reception is performed. If the DO8 signal is not detected within a certain period of time, the line is disconnected.

On the other hand, if a CNG signal cannot be detected, the system switches to answering machine operation, plays the recorded voice message and sends it out to the line, then records the message from the line and disconnects the line. Note that normal calls can be made by picking up the handset.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, this conventional configuration has the following problems.

When the called party makes a manual call, it switches to an answering machine and disconnects the line when the call is completed, so even if the calling party wants to transmit both a voice message and send a document, it is difficult to make a single call. This was not possible over the phone, and there was the inconvenience of having to make separate calls for messages and sending documents.

In the case of a call made by a person, after the line is answered, the playback of the voice message, that is, the response, is delayed for a certain period of time for the detection of the CNG signal, resulting in silence.

This poses a problem in that it gives the caller a sense of anxiety and discomfort.

In the case of automatic call origination, many facsimile machines detect the polarity reversal of the line and send out a CNG signal.If the line used is a line that does not perform polarity reversal (such as an extension line), the calling party cannot detect the polarity reversal. There was a problem in that a CNG signal could not be sent, and as a result, even an automatic facsimile call would be switched to an answering machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and improve usability in an information communication device such as a facsimile machine having an automatic communication function and an answering machine function.

Means for Solving the Problems The first invention is based on monitoring the line signal when an incoming call is received; a) when it is determined that the call is an automatic call, the line is disconnected after performing an information communication operation; and b) When it is determined that the call is not an automatic call, the system sequentially performs the following operations: sending a voice message to the line, receiving and recording the voice message from the line, and communicating information, and then disconnecting the line.

The second invention is based on the monitoring of similar line signals, (a) performs information communication and disconnects the line when it is determined that the call is automatic, and (b) sends a voice message to the line when it is determined that the call is not automatic. It has a configuration in which the operation of transmitting information, the operation of information communication, the operation of transmitting a voice message to the line, the operation of receiving and recording a voice message from the line are performed in order, and then the line is disconnected.

A third invention monitors line signals for call identification with respect to non-voice terminal call signals and human voice signals,
An automatic call is determined when a non-voice terminal call signal is detected, and an automatic call is determined when a human voice signal is detected or the end of the monitoring time is detected, and depending on the determination result, the above-mentioned It has a configuration that performs the same operation control as the first or second invention.

The fourth invention monitors the detection of a non-voice terminal call signal and a human voice signal when a call arrives, and (a) performs an information communication operation and disconnects the line when a non-voice terminal call signal is detected; and (b) When a human voice signal is detected, the system performs the following steps in order: sending a voice message to the line, receiving and recording a voice message from the line, and transmitting information, then disconnecting the line; When detected, the system performs the following steps in order: sending a voice message to the line, performing information communication, sending the voice message to the line, receiving and recording the voice message from the line, and then disconnecting the line. It is something.

A fifth invention is the above-mentioned first invention. Second. In the configuration similar to the third or fourth invention, before the information communication operation, a specific control signal is sent to the line, reception of the specific control signal from the line is monitored, and the specific control signal is received. The configuration is such that the line is disconnected when not in use.

According to the configuration of each of the inventions described above, when a call is made by a person, the information communication device is controlled to send a voice message, record a voice message from the caller, and perform information communication; , guidance for manual activation of information communication can also be provided by voice message. Therefore, by making a single manual call, it becomes possible to reliably and easily send messages and information communications as needed.

Further, according to the configuration of the third or fourth invention described above, in the case of a person making a call, if the information communication device (called side) detects the person's voice during the line signal monitoring time, a voice message is sent. do. Therefore, if the caller speaks while the information communication device is monitoring the line signal, the caller will immediately hear the voice message, eliminating the silent waiting state that existed in the past, making the caller feel anxious. Doesn't give a feeling.

Furthermore, according to the configuration of the fifth invention described above, the problem in the case of automatic calling using a line that does not perform polarity reversal as described in the prior art is solved as a control signal sent before information communication. This can be solved by choosing a signal that is

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. As will be described later, the operation of the facsimile machine is partially different in each embodiment, but the basic device configuration is the same.

In FIG. 1, 101 and 102 are a voice storage unit and a voice recording/playback unit for realizing an answering machine function;
Reference numeral 03 is a speaker for monitoring line sound, ringer calling, etc., and reference numeral 104 is a microphone for inputting voice messages. The audio recording/playback section 102 includes a ringer signal generation circuit.

Reference numeral 106 is a telephone section for normal telephone calls, and reference numeral 107 is a receiver.

108 is a network control unit for network control of telephone lines. 1
Reference numeral 09 is a modem (modulator/demodulator), control signal detection means 110 for detecting facsimile control signals, and false voice detection means 1 for detecting human voice signals from the telephone line.
Contains 11.

Note that the modem 109 generally has a function of detecting signals of a specific frequency, so by setting a specific frequency within the human voice frequency range as the detection frequency,
The voice detection means 110 can be easily realized. The control signal detection means 110 is a means provided by the modem 109.

112 is a line signal detection unit for detecting incoming calls.

114 is a reading unit for inputting image information of the original;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a recording unit for printing out received originals, etc.; 116 an image processing unit for encoding image information of transmitted originals and decoding of received originals; and 117, image information of transmitted originals or received originals. This is an image information storage section that is only for temporary storage.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a control unit that controls various parts of the apparatus, facsimile procedure control, image information transfer control, and the like. This control section 11
8 is a control signal detection means 110 and a voice detection means 111
It has a function of monitoring the detection signal from the sensor and switching the flow of device operation according to the monitoring result as described later. 12
0 is an operation unit operated by the user to input dial information, transmission instructions, and other control information.

- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations when receiving a call in the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be explained below with reference to this flowchart.

When the line signal detection unit 112 detects a ringing signal from the multi-line, the control unit 118 activates the ringing signal generation circuit in the voice recording and reproducing unit 102 to make the speaker 103 ring, thereby making a ringing call.

The calling party hears a ringback tone.

Next, the control unit 118 checks whether the handset 107 has been picked up for a certain period of time, and if the handset 107 is picked up, the ringer tone is stopped, the network control unit 108 switches the line to the telephone unit 106, etc., and performs normal telephone calls. The control unit 118 then transfers control to the telephone unit 106, and the control unit 118 enters a standby state.

If the receiver 107 is not picked up even after ringing for a certain period of time, the control unit 118 stops the ringer signal generation circuit to stop the ringer sound, and starts the control shown in FIG. 2. Note that the above-mentioned ringer calling can also be prohibited by specifying from the operation unit 120.

First, in step 201, the control unit 118 turns on the DC loop of the line by the network control unit 108 (for lines that perform polarity reversal, polarity reversal is performed here, and if the calling party is making an automatic call, the polarity reversal is performed). When detected, sends a CNG signal),
Next step 202. At 203 and 204, CNG signals and human voice detection are monitored.

When a CNG signal detection signal is output from the control signal detection means 109 within the monitoring time, the control section 118 determines that an automatic call is being made, and proceeds to control in step 207.

On the other hand, when a voice detection signal is output from the voice detecting means 111 within the monitoring time, or when neither a CNG signal nor a voice is detected within the monitoring time and a timeout occurs, the control unit 118 determines that the call is made by a person. , proceed to step 205.

Note that step 202. , 203. In the line monitoring loop of 204, the control unit 118 controls the voice recording and playback unit 102 so that the line sound can be monitored by the speaker 103, and when the receiver is picked up within this loop, the control unit 118 transmits the line to the telephone unit 106. After the connection is established and normal telephone conversation is possible, the control section 118 passes control to the telephone section 106 and enters a standby state. However, it is also possible to prohibit monitoring of this line sound.

In the case of a call from a person, the control unit 118 in step 205 causes the voice recording and playback unit 102 to play back the voice message recorded in the voice storage unit 1o1, and transmits it to the network control unit 10.
8 to the line. For example, this voice message might say something like, "This is Saito. If you have any business, please let us know after this message. If you are sending a message, please press the start button when you hear a beep after recording the business." It is.

When the transmission of the voice message is completed, the control unit 118 controls the voice recording and playback unit 102 to record the voice message (message of business) from the line in the voice storage unit 101 in the next step 206.

Immediately after recording such a business message, or if it is determined that the call is an automatic call, the control unit 118 performs step 20.
7. 208. At step 209, the CED signal and the DIS signal are sent and the DO8 signal is detected for a certain period of time.

When the DC8 signal detection signal is sent from the control signal detection means 110 within this fixed time, the control section 215 moves to step 210 of facsimile reception, and when the reception is completed, the line is disconnected in step 211 and the control section 215 enters a standby state. Become.

If the DO8 signal cannot be detected within a certain period of time, the control unit 1
18 disconnects the line in step 211 and enters a standby state.

When a person makes a call to leave a message, the receiver 10
If 7 is not picked up, the operation will be as shown in the time chart of FIG.

In this case, voice message transmission 301 is performed by detecting a human voice (step 203) or timeout detection (step 204), and then message recording 302 is performed.
will be held. If the caller speaks immediately after the line is answered, a voice message is returned immediately and there is no silent waiting time as in the past, so the caller does not feel anxious or uncomfortable.

FIG. 4 is a time chart when a person makes a call to send a message or a document (assuming that the receiver 107 is not picked up). Voice message transmission 401 is performed by voice detection (step 203) or timeout detection (step 204), followed by message recording 402. Thereafter, by detecting the DC8 signal (step 208), the facsimile is received (step 210).
) is carried out.

In this way, it is possible to send a message and send a document in one call.

FIG. 5 is a time chart in the case of automatic call origination (assuming that the receiver 107 is not picked up). By detecting the CNG signal (step 202), the CED signal and DIS signal are sent out and the DC8 signal is detected (steps 207, 208.
209) is performed, and the DO8 signal is detected (step 20
8), facsimile reception (step 210) is performed.

Note that if a line that does not perform polarity reversal is used, the calling side cannot send a DCN signal in response to the called side's line response (step 201) during automatic calling, so a timeout occurs in step 204. Detected. However, since the DC8 signal can be sent by detecting the facsimile control signal sent in step 207, original transmission is possible.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations when receiving a call in the second embodiment of the present invention. However, similar to FIG. 2, controls related to normal telephone calls, such as ringing when a call is received and checking the footer off of the handset 107, are omitted in the figure. The operation will be explained below with reference to this flowchart.

The contents of steps 601 to 604 are the same as steps 201 to 204 in FIG. 2. The same goes for monitoring the line tone and checking whether the receiver 107 is hooked up in the loop from step 602 to step 604.

Further, the contents of steps 606 to 608, step 609, and step 612 are the same as those of step 207 in FIG.
to step 214, step 210 is similar to step 211.

In this embodiment, when a human voice is detected in step 603 or a timeout is detected in step 604, the control unit 118 controls the transmission of voice message A in step 605, and then starts recording the message. The process moves to step 606 without performing this step.

Note that voice message A may be, for example, ``This is Saito.

If you have something to do, please wait for a while and listen to the next message. If you are the recipient of the message, please press the start button when you hear a beep after receiving this message.''

Further, in this embodiment, the control unit 118 performs step 60.
If a timeout is detected in step 8, the line is disconnected (step 6
Before step 12), in step 610, the transmission of the voice message B is controlled, and in the next step 611, the recording of the business message is controlled.

For example, voice message B may be ``Sorry to have kept you waiting.''

Please tell me your business after this message.''

FIG. 7 is a time chart in the case where a call is made by a person who does not want to leave a message. Detection of caller's voice (step 603) or detection of timeout (step 604)
Accordingly, the voice message A is sent 701. After a certain period of time for sending the facsimile control signal and detecting the DO8 signal, the voice message B is sent 702 and the voice message is recorded 703.

The caller will have to wait between the sending of voice message A and the sending of voice message B, but since the caller is informed of the waiting time in advance, there is no need to make the caller feel anxious. do not have.

FIG. 8 is a time chart in the case of a call made by a person who cannot send a document. The voice message A is sent 801 by detecting the caller's voice or a timeout, and facsimile control signals are exchanged, followed by facsimile reception.

The time chart for automatic calling is the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations when receiving a call in the third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to FIG. 2, controls related to normal calls, such as ringer ringing when a call is received and checking for 7-off of the handset 107, are omitted in the figure. The operation will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

Steps 901 to 904 are the same as steps 601 to 604 in FIG.

However, the difference is that if a human voice is detected in step 903, the process branches to step 913.

Steps 905 to 912 after detecting a timeout in step 904 are the same as steps 605 to 612''i! in FIG.

Step 909 is similar to step 609.

Steps 903 to 913. 914 is step 205. in FIG. This is a part for sending a voice message and recording a voice message similar to 206. Steps 915 to 917 are steps 90
6 to step 908, but step 917
When a timeout is detected in step 912, the line is disconnected.

This embodiment distinguishes between a case in which a person's voice is detected through line signal monitoring in steps 902 to 9040 and a case in which a timeout is detected, and in the case of a timeout, the second
The same operation as in the embodiment is performed, but when a human voice is detected, a voice message is sent and recorded (step 913.9).
After step 14), facsimile communication is confirmed (steps 915, 916, and 917).

According to such control, in the case of a manual call made solely for the purpose of leaving a message, the caller can send and record the message immediately after hearing the voice message, and as in the second embodiment, the caller can send and record the voice message. This has the advantage that there is no need to wait for a later time.

Although each of the above embodiments is an example of a facsimile machine that performs automatic reception, the present invention can be similarly applied to a facsimile machine that transmits a document in response to an incoming call.

Further, the present invention is equally applicable to information communication devices other than facsimile devices having automatic communication and answering machine functions.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention
By making multiple calls, it is now possible to record messages and send information as needed.Also, in the case of a person's call, it is possible to immediately respond to the caller's voice with voice, and the caller can This technology has the following effects: it eliminates silent periods that cause a sense of uneasiness, and it also enables reliable communication of information through automatic calling using a line that does not reverse polarity. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile device according to the present invention;
2 to 5 are diagrams relating to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation, FIG. 3 is a time chart for manual calling for a message, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for sending a message. 5 is a flowchart for automatic calling, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams relating to other embodiments of the present invention. The figure is a flowchart of the operation, Figure 7 is a time chart for manual call to send a message, Figure 8 is a time chart for manual call to send a document, and Figure 9 is another example of the present invention. It is a flowchart of operation in an example. 101... Voice storage section, 102... Voice recording/playback section, 108... Network control section, 109... Modem, 110
... Control signal detection means, 111 ... Voice detection means, 1
12... Line signal detection section, 118... Control section. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 2nd
Figure 6

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) When a call is received, it is determined whether the call is an automatic call by monitoring the line signal, and when it is determined that the call is an automatic call, the information communication operation is performed to disconnect the line and the call is automatically made. If it is determined that it is not, the operation of sending a voice message to the line, the operation of receiving and recording a voice message from the line, the operation of information communication, and then disconnecting the line.
A method for controlling the operation of an information communication device, characterized in that: (2) When a call is received, it is determined whether the call is an automatic call by monitoring the line signal, and when it is determined that the call is an automatic call, the information communication operation is performed to disconnect the line and the call is automatically made. If it is determined that this is not the case, the operation of sending a voice message to the line, the operation of information communication, the operation of sending a voice message to the line, the operation of receiving and recording a voice message from the line are performed in order, and then the line is disconnected. A method for controlling the operation of an information communication device. (3) Monitors the detection of non-voice terminal call signals and human voice signals, and determines automatic call origination when a non-voice terminal call signal is detected, and when a human voice signal is detected, or the monitoring time 3. The operation control method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the call is not an automatic call when the end of the call is detected. (4) Monitors the detection of non-voice terminal call signals and human voice signals when a call arrives, and when a non-voice terminal call signal is detected, performs information communication operations and disconnects the line, and detects human voice signals. When this occurs, the system performs the following steps: sending a voice message to the line, receiving and recording a voice message from the line, and performing information communication in order to disconnect the line. When the end of the monitoring time is detected, a voice message is sent to the line. 1. A method for controlling the operation of an information communication device, the method comprising: performing an operation for transmitting information, an operation for information communication, an operation for sending a voice message to a line, an operation for receiving and recording a voice message from the line, and then disconnecting the line. (5) Before information communication, a specific control signal is sent to the line, the reception of the specific control signal from the line is monitored, and when the specific control signal is not received, the line is disconnected. The operation control method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4.