JPH01318455A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely switch the answers between the data communication and an aural message without producing any malfunction of a data communication equipment by deciding whether the station of the remote side is equal to a data terminal or a voice terminal based on the presence or absence of a band component included in an automatic answer. CONSTITUTION:In case an incoming call is received from a telephone circuit 1 in a state where the function of an automatic answering telephone set is set, an aural answer is unconditionally delivered from an aural answer circuit 4. In this case, a MODEM 3 has a function to detect not only the band component of the CNG signal but the prescribed frequency components f1 and f3 which are higher and lower than the band component of the CNG signal. Thus the MODEM 3 decides the presence or absence of the prescribed band components f1-f3 included in the answer voices and selects the function of the automatic answering telephone set via the facsimile communication or the circuit 4 based on the result of said decision. Thus it is possible to decide whether the station of the remote side is equal to a voice terminal or a data terminal and to select a proper communication system with no malfunction.

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 and more sophisticated, and devices that integrate functions with a telephone, or even devices that integrate an answering machine function, etc., have been proposed.

A facsimile machine equipped with an answering machine function automatically switches between automatic reception of facsimiles and automatic transmission of voice messages when the user is away. There is a known configuration in which a facsimile is automatically received when a facsimile is detected (calling tone indicating that there is no call), and when the facsimile is not received, an automatic voice response is performed using a recorded voice message for the first time.

[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. If a person is making a call, the voice message is answered after a delay corresponding to the 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, in the present invention, in a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication of a predetermined method via a telephone line, after detecting an incoming call, the data communication At the same time, an automatic response is performed using an audio signal from which a band corresponding to a predetermined procedure signal and at least one other band are removed, and at the same time, the data is determined based on the presence or absence of the band component in the signal received by looping through the line interface circuit. The configuration includes a control means that selects and executes either communication or automatic voice communication.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether the other party is a voice terminal or a data terminal based on the presence or absence of a band component during automatic response, and to select an appropriate communication method.

[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 the telephone line 1 is connected to an NCU (network control unit) 2 as a line interface circuit.

The NCU 2 is a handset 2a' for making calls and controlling the line.
Switches the line connection between the modem 3 and the facsimile machine after modem 3, and maintains the line loop. Also, NC
U2 includes an incoming call detection circuit that detects a calling signal (CI) transmitted from the exchange via telephone line l.

In addition, the NCU 2 is connected to signal lines 2a, 3a (
It includes a known hybrid circuit for distributing input/output signal lines to the NCU 2, a speech network circuit for voice communication, and the like.

The modem 3rd base and the voice response circuit 4 are used as components for inputting and outputting analog signals to the telephone line l via the NCU 2.
Connected to U2. Here, modem 3, voice response circuit 4
The connection circuit will be explained below.

The input/output signal lines 2a and 3a between the NCU 2 and the modem 3 or voice response circuit 4 are naturally analog signal lines, and the modem 3 demodulates the signal input from the signal line 2a.
A signal (such as an image signal) input from a facsimile circuit including an image reading section, an image recording section, an encoding/decoding section, etc. (not shown) is modulated and output to the 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 NCU 2 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.
, 5 seconds of 1100 Hz tone signal).

Further, in this embodiment, the modem 3 has a function of detecting not only the band components of the CNG signal but also the predetermined frequency components 1 and f3 above and below the band components.

This frequency component is determined in relation to the characteristics of the filter circuit 5, which will be described later, but the frequency component of the CNG signal is 1100 Hz (
300 times f1<f2<f3<3
400 (Hz). here 3
00 to 3400 Hz are the lower limit and the second limit value of the passband guaranteed for telephone lines. However, fl and f3 are set not too close to f2 to ensure reliable detection.

The presence or absence of band component elements 1, f2, and f3 is determined by a 3-bit flag F.
It is assumed that the modem 3 notifies the control unit 7 based on the status of DI to FD3.

On the other hand, the voice response circuit 4 is composed of a known LSI or the like, and the signal line 2a is also connected to the voice signal input section of the voice response circuit 4, and the voice response circuit 4 receives the received analog signal using a PCM system or the like. can be used to record.

Furthermore, when performing an answering machine operation, it is necessary to output a prerecorded voice message from the voice response circuit 4 to the signal line 3a, but in order to select the output signal of the voice response circuit 4 or the output signal of the modem 3, , a switch 6 is inserted into the signal line 3a. The neutral contact of switch 6 is connected to the NCUZ side, while the contact is connected to the modem 3 side.
Further, contact a is connected to the voice response circuit 4 side.

Further, a filter circuit 5 is inserted between the contact a and the audio output terminal of the audio response circuit 4.

As is well known, the filter circuit 5 is a narrowband removal filter, and in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Each component of f2 (1100Hz of CNG signal) and f3 is removed.

Further, in FIG. 1, a control section 7 composed of a microprocessor or the like is shown as a main control section of a facsimile machine with an answering machine function. The control unit 7 includes a ROM 7a that stores programs to be described later, and an R memory that is used as a work area for the control unit 7, an image memory, etc.
AM7b is connected.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

In this embodiment, when an incoming call is received from telephone line l with the answering machine function set, the voice response circuit 4 selects voice response or facsimile communication on the condition that a CNG signal is detected, as in the conventional case. Instead, the voice response circuit 4 unconditionally provides a voice response. that time,
A predetermined band component element 1-f in the response voice is controlled by the control described below.
3 is determined by the modem 3, and depending on the result, facsimile communication or answering machine operation by the voice response circuit 4 is selected.

FIG. 3 shows the incoming call control procedure by the control unit 7 in a state where the automatic facsimile reception mode and the answering machine function are set. The procedure shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the ROM 7a shown in FIG.

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

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

Next, in step S3, the voice response circuit 4 is activated to generate a prerecorded voice message.

The audio signal outputted by the audio response circuit 4 is sent to the filter circuit 5.
via fl, f2 (component of CNG signal: 1100Hz
) and f3 band components are removed as shown in FIG. 2, input to the NCU 2 via the switch 6, and sent to the other party. At this time, the signal component sent to the other station is NC
The signal is sent via route a in the UZ, but the signal is returned to the modem side as if it were routed through a detour such as the speech network in the NCUZ.

As a result, as shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, or Fig. 6, whether the other party is a facsimile (Fig. 4) or a telephone (Fig. 5, Fig. 6), both A recorded message is transmitted, as shown at 31 in the figure. Fourth
6 to 6 show transmission signals from the calling side and the called side, respectively, on the left and right sides of the vertical line in the center.

Subsequently, in step S4, reference numeral 3 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.
The other station responds as shown at 2-34. Reference numeral 32 indicates a CNG signal when the other station is a facsimile machine, 33, 34 indicates that the other station is a human, 33 indicates a state in which a response is made after the end of the voice message 31, and 34 indicates a state in which a response is made over the voice message. ing.

In step S5, the flag FD 1 output by the modem 3
- Determine the status of FD 3. Here, in order to make the control easier to understand, step s5 is placed after 84, but in reality, the determination in step S5 is performed only during the transmission of the voice message 31 shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

In step S5, when any of the above band components 1-f3 is detected, the modem 3 independently sets the corresponding flags FDI-FD3 to a logical value l.

Also, if the corresponding band component cannot be detected, flag F
DI to FD3 are set to logical value O. Also, flag F
It is assumed that D1-FD3 is set to the logical value l if the corresponding band component is detected even once.

As shown in Figure 4, the other station is a facsimile machine and C
When transmitting an NG signal, the band component input to the modem 3 includes f2 (1100 Hz). However, at the same time, the voice message 31 that is currently being transmitted and is coming around the route of the NCU 2 has the fl and f3 components removed by the filter circuit 5, so only the band component element 2 is received, and as a result, the flag (FDl, FD2, FD3) is (0,
Takes a logical value of 1, 0).

Therefore, in this case, the process moves to step S6 and a known facsimile transmission/reception operation is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the CNG signal of the recorded message 31 is received, a DIS (digital identification) signal 35 is transmitted to the other party's station, and facsimile communication is thereafter performed.

On the other hand, if the other party does not respond while the voice message 31 is being transmitted as shown in FIG.

As mentioned above, this signal has the band component element 1-f3 removed, so the flags (FD 1, FD2, FD3)
takes the logical value of (0,020).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the other station starts speaking while transmitting the voice message 31, flags (FDl, FD2
, FD3) takes a logical value of (1, 1, 1). Therefore,
Flags (FD 1, FD2, FD3) are (0,0,0)
or 1.1, ■), the process moves to step S7 and the operation of the known answering machine mode is continued.

That is, as shown at 41, a voice message to be recorded by the voice response circuit 4 is transmitted from the other station. This voice message is input to the voice response circuit 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 when a person makes a call using a telephone at the other party's telephone, Even if there is a problem, messages can be sent immediately without the unpleasant waiting time required in the past.

Moreover, the pre-recorded voice message 31 is C
It is input to the contact a of the switch 6 through the filter circuit 5 that removes the NG signal band and the judgment bands above and below it, and is transmitted via the NCU 2, depending on the presence or absence of the filter circuit 5 removal band in the received signal. Since an appropriate communication method is selected, an appropriate communication method can be selected with certainty, and the modem 3 (or the other station) will not malfunction due to the CNG signal component in the audio signal, unlike in the conventional case.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the other station responds by voice over the voice message 31 being transmitted, malfunctions due to the band components of the CNG signal in this voice signal will not occur, so the other station's response will be Regardless of the method used, reliable communication system control is always possible.

In the above, two components outside the band of the CNG signal are removed using a filter, and the presence or absence of those components is detected. may be detected. Even in that case, the case shown in FIG. 6 can be handled reliably.

Furthermore, although facsimile communication has been exemplified as a data communication method in the above, it goes without saying that similar techniques can be implemented even when other communication methods are combined with voice message response.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the following, 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, after an incoming call is detected, a predetermined method in the data communication is performed. Automatic response is performed using a voice signal from which the band corresponding to the procedure signal and at least one other band have been removed, and at the same time, the data communication or automatic response is performed depending on the presence or absence of the band component in the signal received by looping through the line interface circuit Since the configuration is equipped with a control means that selects and executes either voice communication, it is determined whether the other party is a voice terminal or a data terminal through the presence or absence of a band component during automatic response, and the appropriate This has the excellent effect of being able to reliably select a communication method without causing any malfunctions.

[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 an explanatory diagram showing the pass characteristics of the filter circuit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a control procedure of the CPU shown in FIG. 1. FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the response operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 when a call is received. 1... Telephone line 2... NCU 3... Modem 4... Voice response circuit 5... Filter circuit 6... Switch 7... Control unit 7 a-... ROM 7 b...・RAM compensation
Value F: "1 Negative 70 - Hour Y Lead Figure 3 - G - Situation, 1 Figure 4 Skin Response J et al. E1 Date Figure 5 Trap / Each state, Zhanwa Meihin Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a communication device that performs data communication and automatic voice communication of a predetermined method via a telephone line, after detecting an incoming call, a voice signal is transmitted from which a band corresponding to a predetermined procedure signal in the data communication and at least one other band are removed. A control means is provided which performs an automatic response and at the same time selects and executes either the data communication or the automatic voice communication depending on the presence or absence of the band component in the signal received by looping through the line interface circuit. Characteristic communication device.