JPH01290359A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent malfunction of a data communication equipment of its own station or an opposite station by adopting the constitution such that automatic reply is applied by using a voice signal from which a band corresponding to a prescribed procedure signal is eliminated in a prescribed timing during communication via a telephone line. CONSTITUTION:When a call comes from a telephone line 1 with the automatic answering telephone function set to the communication equipment, a voice reply from a recording/reproducing section 4 is applied unconditionally. A voice message recorded in advance is given to a contact (a) of an analog switch 6 via a notch filter s eliminating a band of a CNG signal, resulting in preventing malfunction of a MODEM 3 caused by a voice message to be sent and bypassed through a speech network circuit in the NCU 2 and by a component of the CNG signal in the voice signal. Even if an opposite station applies a special control based on the detection of the CNG signal, malfunction of the opposite station due to the said signal component in the voice message is avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication using a predetermined method via a telephone line.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a facsimile machine is the most common data communication device connected to a telephone line.

In recent years, facsimile machines have become more sophisticated, and devices that integrate telephone and functions, or even devices that integrate an answering machine function have been proposed.Facsimile machines equipped with an answering machine function are In order to automatically switch between automatic reception of voice messages and automatic voice message transmission when you are away, the system detects a CNG signal (a calling tone indicating that the calling station is not a voice terminal) sent from the facsimile machine. , a configuration is known in which automatic facsimile reception is performed when a facsimile is received, and automatic voice response using a recorded voice message is performed when the facsimile is not received.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the method described above in which automatic facsimile reception and automatic voice response are switched by detecting a CNG signal, a wait time of several seconds is always required to detect the CNG signal. However, when a person is making a call, the voice message is answered after a delay corresponding to the above-mentioned waiting time, which causes discomfort to the caller. It is conceivable to respond to the voice message immediately, but in this case, there is a possibility that the procedure signal detecting section of the other station or the own station will malfunction due to the signal in the predetermined band included in the voice message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to make it possible to reliably switch data communication and voice message responses without causing malfunction of a data communication device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication using a predetermined method via a telephone line. We adopted a configuration that automatically responds using an audio signal with the band corresponding to the procedure signal removed.

[Function] According to the above configuration, when an automatic response is performed, an audio signal from which the band of a predetermined procedure signal has been removed is used, so there is no risk that the data communication mechanism of the local station or the other station will malfunction.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a line connection section of a facsimile machine with an answering machine function employing the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a telephone line, and telephone line 1 is connected to an NCU (network control unit) 2. In FIG. The NCU 2 switches the line connection between the handset 2a for phone calls and line control and the facsimile device after the modem 3, and maintains the line loop. 11 includes a circuit for detecting a calling signal (CI) transmitted via the 11.

The NCU 2 also has signal lines 2a and 3a for transmitting and receiving signals.
(input/output signal lines for the NCU 2), a speech network circuit for voice communication, and the like are included.

The modem 3 and recording/playback unit 4 are connected to the NCU as members for inputting and outputting analog signals to the telephone line 1 via the NCU 2.
Connected to 2. Here, the connection circuit between the modem 3 and the recording/playback unit 4 will be explained.

The input/output signal lines 2a and 3a between the NCU 2 and the modem 3 or the recording/playback unit 4 are naturally analog signal lines, and the modem 3 demodulates the signal input from the signal line 2a.
An image reading section 1 (not shown) modulates a signal (such as an image signal) inputted from a facsimile circuit including an image recording section, an encoding/decoding section, etc., and outputs the modulated signal to a signal line 3a.

The modem also includes a detection circuit for detecting tone signals, various facsimile procedure signals having a binary configuration, etc. input from the NCUZ via the signal line 2a, and controlling facsimile communication thereby. In particular, the modem 3 receives a CNG signal (a calling tone indicating that the calling station is a non-voice terminal) which is transmitted when a call is made from a facsimile machine.
It has a mechanism for detecting a tone signal (100 Hz tone signal), and has a function of automatically starting facsimile communication processing by outputting a predetermined signal to the CPU 7, which will be described later, when this signal is received.

On the other hand, the recording/playback unit 4 is a known audio recording/playback LSI.
The signal line 2a is also connected to the audio signal input section of the recording/playback section 4, and the recording/playback section 4 can record the received analog signal using the PCM method or the like. . Note that a tape recorder or the like may be used as the recording/playback section.

Also, when performing an answering machine operation, a prerecorded voice message is sent to the signal MA 3 from the recording/playback unit 4.
a, but in order to select the output signal of the recording/playback unit 4 or the output signal of the modem 3, the signal line 3
An analog switch 6 is inserted in a. The neutral contact of the analog switch 6 is connected to the NCUZ side, while
Contact point S is connected to the modem 3 side, and contact point A is connected to the recording/playback section 4 side.

Furthermore, a notch filter 5 is inserted between the contact a and the audio output terminal of the recording/playback section 4. As is well known, the notch filter 5 is a narrow band removal filter, and in this embodiment removes 1100 Hz of the CNG signal.

Further, in FIG. 1, a CPU 7 comprising a microprocessor or the like is shown as a main control section of a facsimile machine with an answering machine function. The CPU 7 includes a ROM 7a that stores programs to be described later, and a CPU 7t7.
)RA used as work area, image memory, etc.
M7b is connected - Next, the operation in the above configuration will be explained.

In this embodiment, when there is an incoming call from telephone line 1 with the answering machine function set, the recording/playback section 4 does not respond with a voice response on condition that a CNG signal is detected, as in the conventional case. When the recording/reproducing unit 4 makes a voice response to the condition, malfunctions of the facsimile mechanism after the modem 3 are prevented by a predetermined signal component in the response voice under control to be described later.

FIG. 2 shows a procedure for controlling incoming calls by the CPU 7 in a state where the automatic facsimile reception mode and the answering machine function are set. The procedure shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the ROM 7a shown in FIG.

At a predetermined timing in the standby state, the CPU 7 first determines in step S1 whether or not there is an incoming call by checking the output of the calling signal detection circuit of the NCU 2.

When there is an incoming call, the process proceeds to step S2, and the analog switch 6
Switch the connection to contact a side.

Next, in step S3, the recording/reproducing section 4 generates a prerecorded voice message. The audio signal output from the recording/playback unit 4 is passed through a notch filter 5 to the C
The signal is input to the NCU 2 via the analog switch 6 from which the NG signal component (1100 Hz) has been removed, and is sent to the other party.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, even if the other party is a facsimile (FIG. 3) or a telephone (FIG. 4), as shown by reference numeral 31 in both figures, A recorded message will be sent. FIGS. 3 and 4 show transmission signals from the calling side and the called side, respectively, to the left and right of the vertical line in the center.

Subsequently, in step S4, the modem 3 detects whether a CNG signal is being transmitted from the partner station. C
If the NG signal is not transmitted, the operation in the answering machine mode is continued in step S5, and if the CNG signal is received, a known facsimile transmission/reception operation is performed in step S6.

In the process of steps 54 to S6, if the other party is a facsimile machine, after starting to transmit the recorded message 31 as shown in FIG. 3, when a CNG signal is received,
A DIS (digital identification) signal is sent to the other party's station, and facsimile communication is performed thereafter.On the other hand, if the other party's station is a telephone and a person is answering, the CNG signal will not be detected. The answering machine mode continues as shown. That is, as shown at 41, a voice message to be recorded by the recording/reproducing section 4 is transmitted from the other station. This voice message is inputted to the recording/reproducing section 4 via the NCU 2 and the signal line 2a, and is recorded using the same procedure as in the prior art.

As described above, according to this embodiment, if the answering machine mode is set, a pre-recorded voice message is sent unconditionally immediately after receiving a call, so if the other party uses a telephone and a person makes a call, Even if there is a problem, messages can be sent immediately without the unpleasant waiting time required in the conventional method.

Moreover, the pre-recorded voice messages are CNG.
The signal is input to the contact a of the analog switch 6 via the notch filter 5 that removes the signal band, and is transmitted via the NCU 2. As a result, the speech network in NCU Z]
- It is possible to prevent the modem 3 from malfunctioning due to the CNG signal component in the voice signal due to the transmitted voice message or message going around as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1 via the work circuit.

Further, even if the other station performs special control based on the detection of a CNG signal, the signal component in the voice message will not cause the other station to malfunction.

In the above description, the voice message recorded in the recording/playback section 4 is passed through the notch filter 5 when it is played back. However, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Moreover, in the above, when a voice response is performed when an incoming call is received when the answering machine mode is set, a voice signal with the band of the CNG signal removed is transmitted. However, the same technique as described above can be implemented in devices having not only an answering machine function but also other automatic voice communication functions. Further, the present invention can be similarly implemented even if the data communication performed together with voice communication is other than facsimile communication. For example, CNG
By removing signal bands other than the signal, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the own station and the other station.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication of a predetermined method via a telephone line, a signal corresponding to a predetermined procedure signal is generated at a predetermined timing during one communication. The system uses a configuration that automatically responds using an audio signal from which the band of the specified procedure signal has been removed. If there is no risk of the data communication system malfunctioning, for example, if automatic voice response is required immediately after receiving a call, by performing the automatic response as described above, you can immediately respond to the telephone of the other party, and This has the advantage that there is no risk of malfunction even if the other station is a data communication device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the CPU shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a response operation when an incoming call is received. 1...Telephone line 2...N CU3...
Modem 4... Recording/playback section 5... Notch filter 6... Analog switch 7... CP
70 silate flash figure 2 of U Arukushu system/ar+

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication using a predetermined method via a telephone line, automatic communication using a voice signal from which a band corresponding to a predetermined procedure signal is removed at a predetermined timing during communication is provided. A communication device characterized by making a response. 2) The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic response is performed immediately after receiving a call. 3) After the automatic response, the predetermined procedure signal is detected, and if the signal is received, predetermined data communication is performed, and if the signal is not received, automatic voice communication is performed. A communication device according to claim 1 or 2.