JPH02112367A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To know a period during which the reservation of a call can be executed even in an equipment for which a real line connection period and a picture output period do not have simultaneity, by executing display to show that the call reservation can be executed during a picture reception period, in which the call reservation can be executed. CONSTITUTION:Picture reception processing to be executed by an image communication equipment is composed of the reception period to really execute picture reception in a line connecting state and the output period to execute the output processing of receiving picture data after a line is disconnected. Further, a calling means 10 is provided. Here, a display means 1 is provided to execute the display to show that the call reservation can be executed during the picture reception period, in which the call reservation can be executed. Thus, even in the equipment for which the real line connection period and picture output period do not have simultaneity, an operator can know the period, in which the call reservation can be executed, during a picture reception processing period through the display of the display means 1. Then, the call reservation can be received during the reception processing without fail and a sound signal can be executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image communication device, in particular, an image receiving process performed by the device, which includes a reception period in which images are actually received in a line connection state and a reception period in which image data is received after the line is disconnected. The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus which is composed of an output period in which output processing is performed, and which has a communication means and is capable of making a reservation for a call to a partner station while a line is connected.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in facsimile machines that are connected to a line together with a voice terminal such as a telephone, or have a handset and have a calling function, it is possible to reserve a call by performing a predetermined operation during image communication. It has been known. In this type of device, when a call reservation is made, the operators on the sending and receiving sides are called at an appropriate timing, such as when one page of image transmission/reception is completed, and the line connection is switched to the communication circuit side and the call is made.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Early facsimile machines recorded received image data sequentially, and there was almost no time lag between the communication period during which the line was actually connected and the recording period. Therefore, with such a device, a call reservation could be made while the received image was being recorded.

However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of devices that record received images by storing them in an image memory and then disconnecting the line. In such a device, even if an image is being recorded, the line is not necessarily connected. For example, in a device that records all received images after storing them in a memory, the line is already disconnected at the time of starting recording, and it is not possible to reserve a call after recording has started.

It also has ECM (Error Correction Mode),
A device that performs multi-sided buffer control receives image data one block at a time (64 kilobytes) and corrects transmission errors. In this type of device, the recording of one block of image data starts after the reception of that block is completely completed, so the line is already open at least when the last block is recorded, and during this period It is not possible to reserve a call.

In this way, with recent devices, it is not possible to determine whether a call reservation is possible based on whether or not recording is in progress, and there is no means to display whether a call reservation is possible, so the call reservation fails. There was a possibility. Furthermore, in order to avoid such uncertainty, some devices prohibit call reservations during reception from the beginning. It is very inconvenient for the user that even though the line is connected for image transmission, it is not possible or possible to make a reservation for a call.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to make it possible to make a call reservation as much as possible during the image communication process.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the image reception processing performed by the device includes a reception period during which image reception is actually performed in a line connection state and received image data after the line is disconnected. In an image communication device that includes an output period in which output processing is performed, and has a communication means and is capable of making a call reservation to a partner station while a line is connected, a call reservation cannot be made during the image reception period during which a call reservation is possible. We adopted a configuration that includes a display means to display the information.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, even in a device where the actual line connection period and the image output period are not simultaneous, the operator can make a call reservation during the image reception processing period through the display on the display means. You can know the period.

[Extremely effective side] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a facsimile machine employing the present invention. In FIG. 1, the symbol N is a communication line such as a telephone line, which is connected to the NCU 7. The NCU 7 switches the connection of the line N between the facsimile mechanism after the modem 6 and the telephone set 10 (or handset), or maintains a line loop.

The modem 6 modulates and demodulates procedure signals and image signals, and is connected to a reading device 4 and a recording device 9 via an encoding circuit 5 and a decoding circuit 8, respectively. Encoding circuit 5
, the decoding circuit 8 compresses and expands image data to reduce redundancy using various methods such as Modify Huffman and Modify Read.

The reading device 4 includes a document transport system, a CCD sensor, and the like, and is used to read document images.

The recording device 9 includes a recording paper conveyance system and recording means such as a thermal head, and is used to record received image data and images read by the reading device 4 during copying operations.

Each of the above units is controlled by a control unit 2 composed of a microprocessor or the like. Connected to the control unit 2 are a ROM 2a that stores control procedures to be described later as a control program, and a RAM 2b that is used as a work area for control or as an image memory.

The control section 2 interfaces with an operator via an operation section 3 consisting of a keyboard or the like and a display device 1 consisting of an LCD panel or the like. At least, the operation unit 3 is provided with a key for making a call reservation, and the display device 1 is capable of displaying information indicating whether or not a call reservation is currently possible.

Next, the operation in the above configuration will be explained. Second
3 shows the image receiving procedure of the control section 2 of FIG. 1.

The reception process is timed depending on whether a predetermined operation is performed from the operation section 3 or whether a calling signal is manually input from the line N. First, in step S1, the line N
switch to the modem 6 side, that is, the facsimile machine side. In step S2, since the line is connected to the facsimile side and it is possible to reserve a call based on facsimile communication control, a display indicating this is displayed on the display device 1.

Subsequently, a known pre-communication procedure is performed in step S4, and image reception processing is performed in steps 86 to S14. Here, an example is shown in which image data is received while error correction is performed block by block using ECM.

First, in step S6, one block (for example, having a capacity of 64 kilobytes) is received, and in step S8, it is determined whether the block contains a transmission error. If there is a transmission error, the process of receiving the transmission of the frame with the error again in step S10 is repeated.

If there is no error, the process moves to step 512, and it is determined whether there is a block to be received next. If there is a next block, the process moves to step S14 to transmit an MCF (message confirmation) signal, and returns to step S6 to repeat block reception.

In addition, in the loop of steps 36 to S14, the image data block received in the previous loop is sent to the recording device 9 and recorded during reception.

If it is determined in step S12 that there is no block to be received next, it is determined in step 516 whether there is a call reservation.

If there is a call reservation, go to step S24 in FIG.
If there is no call reservation, the process moves to step 31B. Step 3
In step S18, the display indicating that call reservation is possible is stopped, in step S520, an MCF signal is transmitted to the other party's station, and in step S22, the line is released and communication is terminated.

In step S24 of FIG. 3, a PIF (procedure interruption) signal is transmitted. In step S26.32B, the partner station's PRI
- detect reception of EOP and DCN (disconnect command) signals; When the DCN signal is received, the display indicating that call reservation is possible is stopped in step S42, and then,
In step S44, the line is opened and communication is terminated, but if the pRl-Eopfg signal is received in step S26, an operator is called using a buzzer or the like (not shown) in step S30.

In steps S32, 334 and S36, NCLJ
It is determined via the off-footer circuit in 7 or the like whether the operator has responded with the telephone 10, whether the PRI-EOP signal has been received, or whether the PRI-EOP signal has been received three times.

Step 5 until the PRI-EOP signal is received three times
The loop from 30 to S36 is repeated, and if the operator responds in step S32, the line N is connected to the telephone set 10 via the NCU 7 in step S38 to allow the operators to talk to each other.

This call period continues until the operator puts telephone 10 on hook in step S40.

When PRI-EOP No. 8 is received three times in step S36 or when an on-footer is performed in step S40, the process proceeds to step S42, where the display indicating that call reservation is possible is stopped and the process proceeds to step 5440 to open the line.

According to the above process, since the display indicating that call reservation is possible is performed only during the period when the line is actually connected and call reservation is possible, the operator can reliably reserve a call by checking this display. .

Although we have not mentioned enabling or disabling the call reservation operation above, the call reservation operation is enabled only during the period when the display indicating that call reservation is possible is performed by following the steps in Figures 2 and 3. During other periods, processing may be performed to invalidate the call reservation operation. Further, if the operator performs a call reservation operation during a period in which call reservation is invalid, a warning may be displayed.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the image reception processing performed by the device includes a reception period during which image reception is actually performed in a line connection state, and output processing of received image data after the line is disconnected. In an image communication device consisting of an output period and having a communication means and capable of making a call reservation to a partner station while a line is connected, an indication indicating that a call reservation can be made during the image reception period during which a call reservation is possible. Since the configuration is equipped with a display means for performing To provide an excellent image communication device that can know the period during which a call reservation is possible, can reliably accept a call reservation during reception processing, and can perform voice communication.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the reception control procedure of the control section of FIG. 1. 1...Display device 3...Operation unit 5...Encoding circuit 7...NCU 9...Recording device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) The image reception process performed by the device consists of a reception period in which images are actually received while the line is connected, and an output period in which the received image data is outputted after the line is disconnected. What is claimed is: 1. An image communication device capable of making a call reservation to a partner station, characterized in that the image communication device is provided with a display means for displaying that a call reservation can be made during the image reception period during which a call reservation is possible.