JPH01321763A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain complete full duplex communication without new installation of a subscriber line resulting in the cost increase of the user by utilizing an external line (subscriber line) call function of an extension exchange. CONSTITUTION:A control section 17 controls a MODEM 13, dials '0' to an extension exchange 15 according to subscriber line dial information 20, connects an extension 14 to one of subscriber lines 16, makes a call to the subscriber line 16 via the extension exchange 15 according to destination number information 21 stored in a memory section 5 to connect the opposite facsimile equipment of the destination number. When a recording section 3 is usable even during the transmission, the control section 17 accepts an incoming call from other facsimile equipment. In such a case, the control section 17 intermits tentatively the original read during the original reading to make a compression decoding section 6 usable.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, facsimile machines have been known that use one subscriber line and enable apparent full-duplex communication.
The figure is a schematic configuration diagram thereof.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a control section that controls the entire device, and generally consists of a microconbeater, a ROM, and the like. Reference numeral 2 denotes a reading unit for reading the original, 3 a recording unit for recording the received original on recording paper, 4 an operation unit for the user to input a destination number, etc., 5 control data for the facsimile machine, A memory section is used to store destination numbers, image information, etc., 6, 7 and 8 are compression/decompression sections for compressing or decompressing image information, 9 is a modem, and 10 is a subscriber line. Reference numeral 11 is a system bus for the control unit l to control each unit, and reference numeral 12 is a data bus for transferring image information.

In the case of transmission, image information of the original is input from the reading section 2 under the control of the control section 1, and this image information is compressed by the compression/decompression section 6 and then temporarily stored in the memory section 5. The destination number is designated from the operation unit 4, and this destination number is also stored in the memory unit 5. The image information stored in the memory unit 5 is decompressed by the compression/decompression unit 7, then compressed again by the compression/decompression unit 8 using a compression method suitable for the receiving facsimile machine, and sent to the subscriber line 10 via the modem 9. be done.

Note that even during this transmission, if there is space in the memory section 5, it is possible to read the document to be sent to another facsimile device, compress its image information, and store it in the memory section 5.

For reception, subscriber line 10. The image information received via the modem 9 is decompressed by the compression/decompression section 8 and recorded on recording paper by the recording section 3, or compressed again by the compression/decompression section 7 and stored in the memory section 5. . The received image information stored in the memory section 5 is decompressed by the compression/decompression section 7 and recorded in the recording section 3 when instructed by the operation section 4 .

Even during this reception, if there is free space in the memory section 5, the document to be sent can be read, the image information compressed, and the memory section 5
After the receiving operation is completed, it can be transmitted using the above-mentioned procedure.

In this way, one subscriber line 1 for sending or receiving
0 is occupied, so full-duplex communication is impossible, but since it is possible to stop sending even during reception, it appears to the device user that full-duplex communication is possible.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with this configuration, there is a problem in that it tends to be impossible to receive documents from other devices for a long time.

This is because if the image information of the document to be sent to the next destination is accumulated during transmission, the next transmission operation will start immediately after the end of the current transmission, so the frequency with which subscriber line 1o is occupied for transmission will inevitably increase. This is because it becomes expensive.

Here, it is natural to install one new subscriber line exclusively for facsimile, connect a total of two subscriber lines to the device, and use one for sending only and the other for receiving to perform full-duplex communication. Conceivable. However, the contract fee for the subscribed line is 1
Another problem arises in that the number of lines increases, causing users to avoid using the service.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device such as a facsimile machine that can receive data even during transmission without installing a new dedicated subscriber line.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention focuses on the fact that offices and the like are often connected to outside lines (subscription lines) via extension lines, and provides communication equipment with at least one subscriber line and one extension line, respectively. Connect directly. Then, the call is made to the subscriber line via the extension exchange, the subscriber line is used for transmission, and the subscriber line directly connected to the communication device is used for reception.

Function As mentioned above, if you use the existing subscriber line for sending by using the outside line calling function of the internal exchange, and the subscriber line directly connected to the device is used only for receiving, there is no need to install a new dedicated subscriber line. Real full-duplex communication, not just apparent, becomes possible, and even if the transmission frequency is high, other communication devices will not be forced to transmit for a long time.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 indicate the same parts.

1:3 is a modem added exclusively for transmission, and 14 is an extension newly connected to this facsimile machine. 15 is an extension switch used by this facsimile machine, and 16 is an existing subscriber line (external line).

Reference numeral 17 denotes a control section for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus, and is composed of, for example, a microcomputer and a ROM storing its programs. This control unit 17 has the same basic function as the control unit 1 in FIG.
6, and can control full-duplex communication using the subscriber line 16 and the subscriber line 10.

The operation of the facsimile machine configured as described above will be described below.

In the case of sending, the user places the manuscript on the reading section 2 for seven minutes,
Specify the destination number from the operation unit 4 and activate it. Then, the control section 17 generates one piece of management data 18 in the memory section 5 as shown in FIG.

Then, the reading unit 2 reads the document, the image information is compressed by the compression/decompression unit 6, and the compressed image information (second
23) in the figure and its management information (22 in FIG. 2) are stored in the memory section 5. Information on the destination number specified by the operation unit 4 (21 in FIG. 2) is still stored in the memory unit 5. Each piece of information 21, 22, and 23 is placed under the management of management data 18. The memory unit 5 also stores subscriber line origination information 20.

Next, the control unit 17 controls the modem 13 to make an O call to the extension switch 15 according to the subscriber line call information 20, and
4 to one of the subscriber lines 16, the call is made to the subscriber line 16 via the extension switch 15 in accordance with the destination number information 21 stored in the memory section 5, and the destination number is Establish a connection with a facsimile machine.

Then, when it becomes possible to communicate the image information according to the facsimile communication procedure, the image information path in the memory section 5 is restored by the compression/decompression section 7 according to the image information management information 22, and then the compression/decompression section 8 is sent to the other party's facsimile. The data is compressed again using a compression method that can be restored by the device, and transmitted to the other party's facsimile device through the modem 13, extension line 12, extension switch 15, and connected subscriber line 16.

The destination number information is used as ID information for facsimile communication, inserted into part of the image information as sender information, and used in communication result reports, but the number used to connect from the extension to the subscriber line does not make such use.

During such a sending operation, if there is free space in the memory section 5 and the compression/decompression section 6 is not in use, if the original to be sent to the next destination is sent to the reading section 3 and activated from the operation section 4, the same operation will be performed. According to the operation, the compressed image information of the original is stored in the memory section 5. , and the destination number is also stored in the same way.

At this time, the control section 17 generates other management data 19 in the memory section 5 as shown in FIG. 2, and puts image information, destination number information, etc. under its management.

When the current transmission operation is completed, the control unit 17 controls the memory unit 5
Check to see if there is image information for another destination. If image information for another destination remains, the control section 17 performs similar transmission control and then transmits the image information to the other party's facsimile device.

Now, the control section 17 accepts incoming calls from other facsimile machines, as long as the recording section 3 is usable even when the facsimile machine is not in the process of transmitting. If the document reading operation is in progress at this time, the control section 17 temporarily suspends the document reading and enables the compression/decompression section 6.

Next, when it becomes possible to communicate the image information according to the facsimile communication procedure, the control section 17 receives the compressed image information through the modem 9, decompresses it in the compression/decompression section 6, and then sends it to the recording section 3.
Transfer it to and record it.

The interrupted document reading is restarted immediately after the receiving operation is completed.

Furthermore, since the compression/decompression sections 6, 7.8 have the same function, the control section 17 manages the usage status of each, and selects and uses the available one appropriately when necessary. May be configured.

Further, the present invention is similarly applicable to communication devices other than facsimile devices.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the present invention utilizes the outside line (subscription line) originating function of the internal exchange, thereby achieving a complete and complete service without installing a new subscription line that would increase the burden on the user. This has the effect that duplex communication is possible and that reception is not impossible for a long time due to continuous transmission.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of information stored in the memory section of the same device and its management, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional facsimile device. be. 2...Reading section, 3...Recording section, 4...Operation section,
5... memory section, 6. 7. 8... Compression and decompression section,
9,13...modem, 10.16...joining line, 1
4...extension, 15...extension exchange, 17...control unit. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2 (5X 182

Claims (1)

[Claims] a means for transmitting a call to the local line via an extension exchange, which is directly connected to the local line and the extension; and a means for transmitting using the local line connected to the extension by the internal exchange. and means for performing reception using the directly connected subscriber line.