JPH02214252A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm communication charge for each communication line by recognizing an operating line at communication, managing the communication charge corresponding to the operating line calculated for each communication and preparing a communication charge management report corresponding the communication charge and the operating line. CONSTITUTION:A charge table 10 uses a time per one communication (talking) call unit to store it as the charge data in a form of a table. Then, a charge arithmetic section 11 calculates the communication charge based on the communication destination information such as a charge data, a communication time and a distance with a communication opposite party of the charge table 10 and outputs the calculated communication charge in a charge memory 12. The communication charge in the charge memory 12 is managed by a system control section 2 in a retrieved form based on the line type, communication date and communication destination or the like. Thus, the communication charge for the communication lines L1, L2 is confirmed from the management report.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and particularly to a facsimile machine that accommodates a plurality of lines and is equipped with a communication charge calculation function.

(Prior Art) Recently, in the information society, facsimile machines have become widespread and facsimile communications are frequently performed, but management of communication charges becomes a problem for such facsimile machines.

Therefore, in conventional facsimile machines, the charge data of the storage line is stored, and when the own machine makes a call, the communication charge is calculated based on the destination information, communication distance, communication time, etc. The charges are recorded and output as a management report on recording paper using the plotter of the facsimile machine. This communication fee management report specifies the date, communication start time, destination, communication mode, usage time, communication page, communication fee, etc.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, the communication charge calculation function of such conventional facsimile devices is based on the assumption that only one line is housed in the facsimile machine; None of the facsimile machines were equipped with communication charge calculation functions. Therefore, if the communication charge calculation function of a conventional facsimile machine that accommodates one line is applied to a facsimile machine that accommodates multiple lines, it is inconvenient because communication charges cannot be managed for each communication line. In particular, the format of the communication charge management report is also for one line, and cannot be applied as is when accommodating multiple lines.

(Purpose of the Invention) The present invention recognizes the line base used during communication, calculates communication charges in association with the line base used, creates a management report, and records and outputs the management report. The purpose is to make it possible to understand communication charges for each communication line and to manage communication charges for each communication line.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a facsimile machine that houses a plurality of lines and is equipped with a communication charge calculation function that calculates communication charges based on communication destination information, communication time, charge data, etc. A device that recognizes the line used during communication,
This system is characterized in that communication charges calculated for each communication are managed in association with lines used, and a communication charge management report is created in which communication charges are associated with lines used.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples.

1 to 5 are views showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine 1. The facsimile machine engineer includes a system control section 2, an encoding/decoding section 3, an operation display section 4, a scanner 5, a plotter 6, a communication control section 7, a modem 8, It includes a network control section 9, a charge table 10, a charge calculation section 11, a charge memory 12, a call control section 13, and the like.

The system control unit 2 includes a ROM (ReaclOnly Memo) that stores a program for controlling the basic operations of the facsimile machine 1 and a communication charge management program of the present invention.
ry) and work area are formed.
Ac-ceas Memory), etc.
According to these programs, each part of the facsimile machine 1 is controlled to execute the sequence as the facsimile machine 1, and at the same time, the communication charge management process of the present invention is executed.

The encoding/decoding unit 3 encodes the image data using a predetermined encoding method.
For example, the image data is encoded using the modified Huffman method, and the encoded image data is reproduced into original data.

The operation display unit 4 includes a numeric keypad, other operating keys, and a display (for example, a liquid crystal display), and communicates between the facsimile machine 1 and the operator. That is, the operator inputs a telephone number and other commands using the numeric keypad, etc. The display also displays input commands and information transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the operator (for example, input telephone number, guidance, communication charges, etc.)
Display.

As the scanner 5, for example, a CCD (Charge
A line scanner using a Co-upled Device is used, and the scanner 5 reads and outputs the document line by line.

As the plotter 6, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used, and the block 6 records on normal recording paper directly or indirectly via an ink sheet.

The communication control unit 7 exchanges facsimile control signals with the other party's facsimile machine and executes control procedures, and the modem 8 modulates and demodulates transmitted and received signals. The network control unit 9 has 2
Lines , , L are connected, and the network control unit 9 switches lines , , L to connect to the facsimile machine L side, and also sets and disconnects the call.

The charge table 10 is composed of a RAM, etc., and stores the time per number of communications (calls) as charge data in the form of a table. The charge data in this charge table 1O is divided into fine sections according to communication distance, day of the week of communication, communication time, etc., and is corrected when communication charges are revised.

The fee calculation unit 11 calculates the communication fee based on the fee data in the fee table 10, the communication partner information such as the communication time and the distance to the communication partner, and outputs the calculated communication fee to the fee memory 12.

The charge memory 12 stores communication charges for each communication for multiple communication times, and the communication charges in the charge memo January 2 are controlled by the system so that they can be searched based on line type, communication date and time, communication partner, etc. It is managed by Department 2.

The call control unit 13 enables calls using an attached telephone (not shown).

Next, the effect will be explained.

The present invention is characterized in that, in a facsimile machine that accommodates a plurality of lines, communication charges are managed and recorded so that the communication charges for each line can be known. The communication fee management process in this embodiment will be explained below based on FIG. 2.3.

At the time of transmission, the operator goes off-hook and selects the lines L+ and Lx to be used by operating keys on the operation display section 4. Line Lt
, Lz is selected, the facsimile machine 1 initializes the charge calculation unit 11 (step S), and checks and recognizes whether the line in use is line L1 or line L2 (step S2). When the line in use is line L1, a flag indicating line L1 is set, and when the line in use is line L1 and t, a graph indicating line L2 is set (step S3゜S
4). Then, in step S, check whether to send a facsimile or by telephone (call), and when sending a facsimile, perform normal facsimile transmission processing in step S,
), and when making a call, normal communication processing is executed (step S, ).When sending a facsimile or making a call using a telephone, the operator inputs the other party's information such as the telephone number of the other party, and this information is stored in the system. It is stored in the RAM of the control unit 2. Furthermore, the system control unit 2 measures communication time (a concept that includes phone calls) using an internal timer, and this communication time is calculated from reading the communication start time and communication end time.

When the facsimile transmission process or call process is completed,
Check whether charge management is to be performed (step S).

This fee management selection is made, for example, by a set of bit switches.

When the charge management process is selected, the charge calculation unit 1
1 calculates communication charges based on destination information, communication time, charge data of charge table 10, etc.; step S;
), the calculation result is stored in the charge memory 12 (step S
to). Next, it is checked whether output of a transmission result report has been selected (step S). When the facsimile transmission process is completed, the transmission result report is to record and output to the plotter 6 whether or not the transmission process was erroneous. (indicating OK or NO), etc. The selection of whether to output a transmission result report is made by key operation on the operation display section 4, and when the output of the transmission result report is selected, the transmission result report is output. The communication charge is recorded and output in the transmission result report according to the report format (step S + z). At this time, the communication charge and the line used (Line 1 or Line L8) are recorded and output. Even if the output is performed, the fee information (information such as communication fee, communication line base, communication time, communication partner, etc.) in the fee memory 12 is not deleted.

Thereafter, when the operator wants to output a communication charge management report, he can record and output it by operating a key on the operation display section 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operator instructs to record and output the communication charge management report by operating the keys on the operation display section 4 (step P1), charge information is read from the charge memo January 2 (step P2).
As shown in FIG. 4, the communication charge management report 20 is printed and output on recording paper by the plotter 6 according to the format of the communication charge management report 20 (step P3).

The communication charge management report 20, as shown in FIG.
Usage time), power (results), pages (pages), improvement (times vA), and charge (charges) are recorded, and charges are recorded for each line Lt and Lx in the bottom column of the communication charge management report 20. Cumulative totals and total cumulative totals are recorded.

Therefore, it is possible to know how much communication charges were incurred for each line L+ and L friend, and it is possible to appropriately manage charges for each line 11+L2.

Note that the communication charge management report is not limited to the format shown in FIG. 4; for example, as shown in FIG. 5, it may be collected and recorded and output for each line, L2. In this case, it is easy to see the number of communications and communication charges for each line.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where two lines are accommodated has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to a facsimile machine that accommodates two or more lines.

(Effects) According to the present invention, communication charges for each communication line can be known from a management report, and communication charges can be appropriately managed for each communication line.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram thereof, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of communication charge management processing at the time of transmission, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the communication charge management report output process, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the communication charge management report, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the communication charge management report. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Facsimile machine, 2...System control section, 3...Encoding/decoding section, 4...Operation display section, 5... ... Scanner, 6 ... Plotter, 7 ... Communication control section, 8 ... Modem, 9 ... Network control section, 10 ... ...Charge table, 11...Charge calculation unit (communication charge calculation means), 1
2...Charge memory, 13...Call control unit, 20...Communication charge management report.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A facsimile machine that accommodates multiple lines and has a communication charge calculation function that calculates communication charges based on communication destination information, communication time, charge data, etc. A facsimile machine is characterized in that it manages communication charges calculated in accordance with lines used, and creates a communication charge management report that associates communication charges with lines used.