JPH02262758A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent communication equipment from performing malfunctioning corresponding to the mis-operation of a caller side even when it is performed while the operating mode of the communication equipment is controlled by the lead of a caller side by providing a function to identify the transmission direction of a control signal transmitted on a telephone line, and controlling the operating mode of the communication equipment based on an identified result. CONSTITUTION:The input terminal 26a of a DTMF receiver 26 is connected to the telephone line 16a, and it is constituted so that DTMF signals from a first telephone set 6 and a second telephone set 11 can be directly inputted. The DTMF receiver 26 inputs those DTMF signals, and outputs data corresponding to the content (identification of a signal due to the depression of which button) of the DTMF signal to a data line 28 of four bits, and also, outputs a communication request identification signal F to a line 29. A switch control part 27 generates a switch control signal E based on the communication request identification signal, and performs control so as to connect the switch 23 of a muting circuit 25 to the fixed contact 23c of the active period movable connecting piece 23a of the switch control signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a communication device that is used by being connected to a telephone line together with a telephone, such as a videophone that transmits image information over a telephone line. The present invention aims to provide a device that can be controlled by control signals supplied from a telephone.

(a) Prior Art Conventionally, as a communication device controlled by a control signal output from a telephone, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-204162. This involves connecting a facsimile (communication device) along with a telephone to a telephone line, and controlling this facsimile using control signals supplied from the telephone. Specifically, a specific number is input from the telephone after the telephone line is connected. It drives the facsimile and controls facsimile reception or transmission operations.

(...) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional device described above, the control signal transmitted on the telephone line is either transmitted in the upstream direction of the telephone line or transmitted in the downstream direction of the telephone line. For example, if the called party mistakenly transmits a control signal while the calling party is controlling the facsimile, the facsimile machine does not have a function to identify the called party's control signal. There is a risk that a malfunction may occur due to an erroneous operation. Furthermore, in order to remotely control the communication device, a telephone line must be connected.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the communication device of the present invention is a communication device that is used by being connected to a telephone line together with a telephone. A first switch that controls supply or cutoff of power; a second switch that selects and specifies the operation mode of the communication device; a communication request identifying means that distinguishes and recognizes a communication request from a second telephone located in the ground and connected to the communication device by relaying a telephone line; and controlled based on the recognition result by the communication request identifying means; The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means that allows the first telephone to control the second switch when a communication request is made from the first telephone.

Further, in the present invention, the first switch is configured to be switched to the active state in response to an operation by the first telephone to start communication (for example, off-hook of the handset), and the first switch is configured to be activated in response to an operation for starting communication by the first telephone (for example, off-hook of the handset). It is characterized by being activated in response to an operation.

Furthermore, in the device of the present invention, the control means has a function of allowing the second telephone to control the second switch when it is recognized that the recognition result by the communication request identification means is a communication request from the second telephone. , the communication device on the first telephone side can be controlled from the second telephone side.

Furthermore, the device of the present invention is characterized in that the operating mode of the videophone can be remotely controlled by the first telephone even when the line to the other party is not connected.

(E) Effect The device of the present invention has a function of identifying the transmission direction of a control signal transmitted on a telephone line, and controls the control means for controlling the operation mode of the communication device based on the result of this identification. Therefore, even if the called party makes an erroneous operation while the calling party is controlling the operation mode of the communication device, the communication device can be prevented from malfunctioning in response.

Furthermore, since the device of the present invention allows the first telephone to be used as a remote controller for the videophone when no line connection is made with the other party's telephone, the videophone can be easily operated. Furthermore, it is possible to register a still image to be sent to the other party in the memory of the videophone in advance before connecting the line, and then to send the registered image to the other party.
Able to communicate efficiently.

(F) Embodiments The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings. Note that this embodiment will be described assuming that the communication device is a video phone.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system using two communication devices (video telephones) of the present invention. In the figure, (1) is the first side device, (2) is the second side device,
All of these devices have substantially the same components and are configured to be connected via an exchange (3) such as a branch exchange or a central office exchange or telephone lines (4) and (5). . The first side device (2) and the second side device (2) are configured so that one of them can be the calling party and the other can be the called party, so that they can communicate with each other.

The first device (1) includes a first telephone (6), a first videophone (7), a first modular jack (8), and telephone lines (9) and (10) for connecting these. There is.

Similarly, the second side device (2) has a second telephone (11), a second videophone (12), and a second modular jack (
13) and telephone lines connecting these (14) and (15)
It is equipped with In the following explanation, each phone (6) (11)
has 12 buttons (10 numbers for III-[El] and 2 buttons for symbols 7 and country), each with a different D T
MF signal (dual tone multi-frequency signal)
This will be explained assuming that it is a button type 6 with a button assigned to it. The phone number of the first phone (6) is r (06)991-1181J, and the phone number of the second phone (6) is r (06)991-1181J.
The telephone number of 11) is r (03) 835-1111J, and the remote control number of the first videophone (7),
The PIN numbers (all described later) are "Ku, ■, (2)" respectively.
and ru, o, ■''.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly showing the schematic configuration of the front end section of the first video telephone (7) of the first side device (1). This configuration is substantially the same for the second video phone (12), and will hereinafter be simply referred to as the video phone (7) unless a distinction is particularly required. Note that a videophone usually includes a television camera, a display means such as a CRT, and a memory having a capacity to store several still images.
It is provided with signal exchange means for exchanging signals between these and the telephone, but these are not shown.

The video phone (7) is equipped with a line current detector (17) that detects whether line current is flowing on the telephone line (16).
), and when this line current detector (17) detects line current, it supplies or cuts off the power (commercial power supply or built-in power supply) (18) to the drive unit of the videophone (7). The first switch (19) for controlling the first switch (19) is configured to close the first switch (19). Therefore, the 1st telephone (6)
In this embodiment, by an operation of off-hooking the handset for a call, or an operation substantially the same as this operation (first, an operation of activating from an outside line when the handset has a so-called automatic call receiving function, etc.). The video telephone (7) is set to the active state, and the active state is reset by the call termination operation. Separately, a first switch (19).

may be manually controlled by the user.

For the videophone (7), is the DTMF signal on the telephone line (16) transmitted from the first telephone (6) side (downward direction) or from the second telephone (11) side (upward direction)? communication request identification means (20) for identifying the
1) and the control means (21) to control the videophone (
7) and a second switch (22) for specifying the operation mode (for example, "send", "take", "view", etc.).

The communication request identification means (20) includes a mute circuit (25) having a switch (23), a capacitor (24), and a resistor (R).
), a DTMF receiver (26) inputting the DTMF signal of the telephone line (16a), and the
It is provided with a switch control section (27) that inputs the receiver output and controls the switch (23). switch(
The movable contact piece (23a) of 23) is normally open, but when the switch control part (27) is in the active state, the fixed contact piece (23a) is connected to the common telephone line (L,) via a capacitor (24). It is connected to the contact (23c).

DTMF receiver (26) has its input terminal (26a)
is connected to the telephone line (16a), and the first telephone (
6) and the second are configured to directly input the DTM F signal from the speaker (11). This DTMF receiver (26) receives each of these DTMF signals and receives the DTM
Contents of F signal (identification of which button was pressed)
It outputs data corresponding to the 4-bit data line (28) and outputs a communication request identification signal F to the line (29). The switch control section (27) creates a switch control signal E based on this communication request identification signal, and outputs the switch control signal E to the mute circuit (27).
The switch (23) of 25) is controlled to connect the movable contact (23a) to the fixed contact (23c) during the active period of the switch control signal.

FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the communication request identifying means. In FIG. 3, A indicates the DTMF signal output when the button of the first telephone (6) is operated. Since this DTMF signal A is output while the button is pressed, it usually takes 60 milliseconds (mS). ) is output over more than Period T indicates the period during which this DTMF signal is generated. B shows a DTMF signal output when the button of the second telephone (11) is operated;
MF signal B is also output for 60 mS or more.

Period T2 indicates the period during which this DTMF signal is generated.

The DTMF signal C is input to the input terminal (26a) of the DTMF receiver (26), and the DTMF signal C is input during the period T1.
The MF signal C3 and the DTMF signal C are respectively input during the period T. That is, the DTMF signal B from the second telephone (11) is temporarily lost in the mute circuit (25) as will be described later, and therefore the DTMF signal B is output as the DTMF signal C3.
It is input to the TMF receiver (26), but the first
The DTMF signal A from the handset (6) is directly transmitted as a DTMF signal C1 to the DTMF receiver (
26).

This DTM F receiver (26) receives the input D
It decodes the contents of the T to 1F signals, latches the result as data, and outputs it to the data line (28). D indicates data output to this data line. DTMF receiver
(26) outputs a communication request identification signal F based on the presence or absence of the input DTM F signal. This identification signal F is D
After the rise of the TMF signal C, a signal corresponding to the envelope of the DTMF signal C (signal F2 during period T1, signal F during period T,
).

The switch control unit' (27) inputs the communication request identification signal F, and based on this identification signal, the switch control signal becomes active (high level) for a delay time τ, and then for a certain period of time τ (10 m5 in the embodiment). Outputs E. During the period τ during which the switch control signal E is at a high level, the movable contact piece (23a) of the switch (23) of the mute circuit (25)
is connected to the fixed contact (23c), so the second
1) DTM F signal B is connected to this mute circuit (25
), and the DTMF receiver (26)
F signal C signal C will be input, but the first telephone (6
) DTMF signal A of the resistor (R)
Since the DTMF signal corresponding to the potential difference between both ends of R) is held, the DTMF signal C1 is input to the DTMF receiver (26).

The communication request identification means (20) may be configured as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in addition to the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 above. The configuration and operation of this other embodiment will be explained below.

Communication request identification means (D) inputting a DTMF signal between a mute circuit (25) having a switch (23) and a capacitor (24) and telephone lines (16a) and (16b)
It includes a TMF receiver (26) and a switch control section (27) that inputs the output of the DTMF receiver and controls the switch (23). Switch (23)
has a movable contact (23a) on the telephone line (16c) on the first telephone (6) side, and this movable contact (23a) normally connects the second telephone line (16d) to the telephone line (16d) on the telephone set (11) side. connected to the fixed contact (23b), but when the switch control part (27) is in the active state, the common telephone line (16
b) is connected to a fixed contact (23c) connected via a capacitor (24).

DTMF receiver (26) has its input terminal (26a)
(26b) are respectively connected to the fixed contact (23b) of the switch (23) and the telephone line (16b), and the DTMF signal from the first telephone (6) is transmitted to the mute circuit (25).
On the other hand, the DTMF signal from the second telephone (11) is directly inputted via the telephone. This DTMF receiver (26) receives each of these DTMF signals and receives the DTMF signals.
Data corresponding to the content of the MF signal (identification of which button was pressed) is output to the 4-bit data line (28), and a communication request identification signal F is output to the line (29). The switch control unit (27) creates a switch control signal E based on this communication request identification signal, and controls the switch (23) of the mute circuit (25) and the movable contact (23a) during the active period of the switch control signal to the fixed contact ( 23c).

FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the communication request identifying means. In Fig. 3, A indicates the DTMF signal output when the button on the first telephone (6) is operated, and this DTMF signal A is output while the button is pressed, so it usually has a frequency of 60 millimeters. The signal is output for more than a second (mS). A period T1 indicates a period during which this DTMF signal is generated. B shows a DTMF signal output when the button of the second telephone (11) is operated;
This DTMF signal B is also output for 60 mS or more.

A period T1 indicates a period during which this DTMF signal is generated.

Input terminal (26a) of DTMF receiver (26)
) (26b) is supplied with the DTMF signal C, and the period T
, the DT MF signal C1 is applied during the period T2, and the DT MF signal C1 is applied during the period T2.
The MF signal C2 is inputted respectively. That is, the DTM F signal A from the first telephone (6) is transmitted through the mute circuit (
25) is temporarily missing as described below, and therefore the DTM
The DTMF signal B from the second telephone (11) is input to the DTMF receiver (26) as the DTMF signal C1 as it is.

This DTMF receiver (26) receives the input DTM
It decodes the contents of the F signal, latches the result as data, and outputs it to the data line (28). D indicates data output to this data line. DTMF.

The receiver (26) outputs a communication request identification signal F based on the presence or absence of the input DTMF signal. This identification signal F
is a predetermined time τ (approximately 60
m S ), a signal corresponding to the envelope of the DTMF signal C (signal F1 during period T, signal F during period T) is presented.

The switch control unit (27) inputs the communication request identification signal F, and based on this identification signal, after a delay time τ2, the switch controller (27)
Active state B (high level) by x (10m5 in the example)
A switch control signal E is output as follows. During the period τ during which the switch control signal E is at a high level, the movable contact piece (23a) of the switch (23) of the mute circuit (25) is switched to the fixed contact (23c) side, so that the first telephone (6
)'s DTMF signal A is cut off by this mute circuit (25), and the DTMF signal C2 is input to the DTMF receiver (26).

The setting of the above-mentioned fixed time τ is such that when a loss of this period occurs, the DTMF signals before and after this loss are not treated as different DTMF signals in the central office exchange, in other words, the DTMF signals before and after this loss are the same. D T MF The length is such that it can be treated as a multiplied signal, for example, 30 m5 or less, and the missing period can be identified on the identification signal F (for example, several mS).
(above)). In addition, the delay time τ1 is set so that the continuation of the DTMF signal is usually 50
Since it is designed to detect that it persists for more than mS,
An appropriate time longer than this duration (50 mS) may be selected. However, the pressing time of the button (usually
The time should be sufficiently shorter than at least 500 m5 or more.

The communication request identification signal F from the DTMF receiver (26) is input to the DTMF receiver (26) from the first telephone (6).
When the input is the signal A, the identification signal F1 is applied to the control means (21), and when the input is the DTMF signal B from the second telephone (11), the identification signal F is applied to the control means (21).

The control means (21) inputs the data supplied from the data line (28) and the communication request identification signal F supplied from the DTMF receiver (26), and controls the video telephone (7).
) is configured to control a second switch (22) that specifies various operating modes of the device. The control means also performs controls such as storing images taken by the camera of the video telephone in the memory, reading them out from the memory, and displaying them on the display means. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the video telephone. When the handset of the first telephone (6) is off-hook, the first switch (19) is closed accordingly, power (18) is supplied to the drive section of the videophone (7), and the videophone (7) is placed on standby. state (step S,). Thereafter, both flags (2) and (2) of the control means (21) are reset (step S). Note that the flag ■ is turned on when the first telephone (6) controls the operation mode of the videophone (7), and the flag ■ is turned on when receiving control from the second telephone (11). It is something that

Steps S8 and S4 indicate steps for executing the normal operation of the videophone (7), and the other party's telephone (in this case, the second
Detecting the presence or absence of reception from the telephone (step S);
It also detects the presence or absence of an input from the operation switch (not shown) of its own videophone (7) (step S). If the above reception is received, the video phone (7) will start receiving operation (30
), and various operations (
``view'', ``take'', ``send'', etc.) Execute (31).

When the video telephone (7) inputs the DTMF signal A or B, the control means (21) detects this in step S,
The movable contact piece of the switch (23) of the mute circuit (25) (
23a) to the fixed contact (23c) side for a predetermined time τ to mute the input of the DTM F signal B to the receiver (26) (mute processing (32)). Next, the identification means (20) of the video telephone identifies the type of the DTMF signal (step S6), and when the DTMF signal is from the first telephone (6), the process shifts to flow I, and one way is to select the second telephone (11). ), the process moves to Flow II. Incidentally, the DTMF signals A and B may use a remote control number and a password, which will be described later. In flow (2), flag (2) is determined in step S7. When a remote control number (mouth, ox, [E!]) is input from the first telephone (6), it is detected in step S and a flag ■ is set (33), so after inputting this remote control number, , step S9, Sl. , S I+, the first phone (6
) Various operations (31), (34), and (35) can be executed based on commands from the button. This is the first phone (6) and the second phone (11)
This is possible regardless of whether the line is connected or not.

In Flow II, the flag ■ is set as step S11.
Make a judgment. From the second phone (11), enter the PIN number (Fig.
When the PIN number is input, it is detected in step S11 and a flag ■ is set (36), so after inputting this PIN, the second telephone Various functions (31), (34), and (35) can be executed based on commands from the button (11). In addition, DTMF signal engineer, I
■, II+ are "viewing" of the videophone (7), respectively.
It is used to instruct actions such as "take", "send", camera brightness adjustment, camera angle adjustment, etc.

Flags ■ and ■ are valid as long as the power to the video phone (7) is not cut off. Once flags ■ and ■ are turned on using the remote control number or PIN code, the first telephone (6) or the second telephone ( 11) can control the video telephone (7).

Next, specific examples of control will be described with reference to cases in which control is performed on the user's side (first receiver side) and cases in which control is performed from the other party's side (second phone side). The telephone number, remote control number, password, etc. of each telephone shall be as shown in Figure 1.
In addition, as a remote control function, the Punshubuttonro of each phone,
Ward and Leap are respectively responsible for "sending" and "taking" videophone calls.
It is assumed that it corresponds to "see".

[When controlling on your own side] To make a call to the other party, take the handset of the first telephone off-hook. Then, the power of the videophone is turned on,
Reset flags ■ and ■. Next, dial the telephone number of the second telephone to place a call to the other party. Here, if the line used is a dial line, no DTMF signal is output even if the number of the other party is dialed, so the video telephone only repeats steps S, , S, , S in FIG. 4. Also, if the line you are using is a Butshu phone line,
Step S when dialing the other party.

In step S, it is determined that the caller is the first telephone based on the comparison with the DTMF signal A, but the flag (2) is in a reset state and no remote control number is detected, so the process returns to (2) in step S. Here, while dialing the other party, steps S3 and S
4,S3,S,,S,,S.

The video telephone mode selection action will not be executed unless the remote control number is input. With the line connected like this, the remote control number diagram, ■, (
When 2) is input, this is detected in step S8 and the flag ■ is set, so that the process branches from step S7 to step S, and remote control becomes possible. Here, the processing routine is ■, steps S8, S4, S, , S, , S7, Sl,
The routines S IQ, S Il, and ■ are repeated until the power is turned off. If you want to use the first phone to send an image to the videophone on the second phone, press the Button button (2), ward, ■, and the videophone will display the "View" button.
, "take" and "send" operations, and can transmit images to the other party.

Generally, when a certain period of time (for example, about 20 to 30 seconds) has passed after the handset of the telephone is off-hook, or after a certain period of time (about 5 seconds) has elapsed after a DTMF signal is generated by pressing the button button (PB). ), if the next PB press operation is not performed within ), a busy tone (
After that, even if a DTMF signal is input from this telephone, the exchange will not accept this DTMF signal.

In order to accept this DTMF signal, the handset must be turned on-hook once. Utilizing this feature, the present invention allows the user to control the operating mode of the videophone using the handset of his or her own telephone without establishing a line connection to the other party. Therefore, it is possible to streamline the transmission process by storing images to be sent to the other party in advance in the memory of the videophone, and then transmitting the stored images to the other party. It is.

[When controlling the other party] First, a call is made from the second telephone to the first telephone. 1st
If your phone has an automatic call receiving function and you answer the call,
Power is applied to the first video phone, and the first video phone is set to an operable state. Here, the video telephone resets the flags (1) and (2) in step S of FIG. 4, and repeats the processing routine of steps S3, S4, and S until the DTM F signal is detected.

When the PIN number is entered from the second telephone in this state, a DTMF signal is detected in step S, and the second PIN number is entered in step S6.
It is determined that the signal is a DTM F signal from one telephone, and the flow branches to flow II. Until the password is decoded in step S11, the flag (2) remains in the reset state, so the process to step srs is executed. When the flag ■ is sent, the process moves to steps S II, S Il, and S l@, and remote control from the second telephone is accepted. Scar 1
For example, by pressing the push buttons 口, 口, and figure, the image taken by the first video phone can be displayed on the second video phone.

In addition, the PIN number was detected in step Sml! If L is not present, the process branches to ■ and remote control cannot be performed, so mischief can be prevented. Then, when the - degree flag (3) is set, the remote control processing routine is executed until the line is disconnected.

Although the present invention has been described above using a video telephone as an example, the present invention can be similarly implemented with any communication device that performs communication using a telephone line. Further, although a button telephone is used as the telephone, the present invention can also be practiced using other dial type telephones. In this case, the dial signal is output as the number of intermittent DC currents, so if you use this to form a DTMF signal or a control signal equivalent to the DTMF signal and use it to exchange signals. good.

0) Detailed Description of the Invention As described above, the device of the present invention is a communication device that is used by being connected to a telephone line together with a telephone, and includes a first switch for controlling supply or cutoff of power to a drive unit of the communication device, and a communication device. a second switch that selects and specifies the operating mode of the communication device, and a first switch that is placed integrally with or adjacent to the communication device, and a second switch that selects and specifies the operation mode of the communication device; communication request identification means for distinguishing a communication request from a connected second speaker from a communication request;
controlled based on the recognition result by the communication request identification means,
and a control means that allows the first telephone to control the second switch when a communication request is made from the first telephone, so that the operation mode of the communication device can be changed without interference from the second telephone. , the first can be remotely controlled from a telephone, and the operability of the communication device can be improved.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to remotely control a specific operating mode of the videophone by inputting a specific DTMF signal from the telephone, so it is not necessary to operate the controls of the videophone to set the operating mode. There is no risk that the pose during this operation will be photographed when photographing with the camera of the video telephone.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings all relate to the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication system using two communication apparatuses of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the front end section of the video telephone. FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the communication request identifying means. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the video telephone. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of another embodiment of the front end section of the video telephone. FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the communication request identifying means of this other embodiment. (19)...first switch, (22)...second switch, (20)...communication request identification means, (6)...first telephone, (11)...second telephone, (21)...
control means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a communication device used by connecting to a telephone line together with a telephone, a first switch for controlling supply or cutoff of power to a drive unit of the communication device, and selectively specifying an operation mode of the communication device. a communication request from a first telephone that is located integrally with or adjacent to the communication device, and a second telephone that is located in a remote location and is connected to the communication device by relaying a telephone line. a communication request identifying means for distinguishing and recognizing a communication request; and a communication request identifying means that is controlled based on a recognition result by the communication request identifying means, and allows the first telephone to control the second switch when the first telephone makes a communication request. A communication device comprising: a control means for controlling. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is configured to be set to an active state in response to an operation by the first telephone to start communication. 3. In a communication device that is used by connecting to a telephone line together with a telephone, a first switch that controls supply or cutoff of power, a second switch that selects and specifies the operation mode of the communication device, and a switch that is integrated with or adjacent to the communication device. A communication request identification system that distinguishes and recognizes a communication request from a first telephone installed at a remote location and a communication request from a second telephone located at a remote location and connected to a communication device via a telephone line. control based on the means and the recognition result by this identification means,
A control means for allowing each control of the second switch by the first telephone when a communication request is made from the first telephone, and by the second telephone when a communication request is made from the second telephone. Characteristic communication device. 4. The first telephone is of a type that is activated in response to the calling operation of the second telephone, and the first switch is set to an active state in response to activation of the first telephone. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the communication device is configured as follows. 5. In a communication device used by connecting to a telephone line together with a telephone, a first switch that controls supply or cutoff of power to a drive unit of the communication device, and a second switch that selects and specifies an operating mode of the communication device; A function for receiving a specific signal from a first telephone set integrated with or adjacent to the communication device, and a function for controlling the second switch that is subsequently input from the first telephone after receiving the specific signal. A communication device comprising: a control means having a function of receiving an operation mode command signal and a function of controlling the second switch in response to the operation mode command signal. 6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the specific signal has a DTMF signal at the beginning representing a symbol that is not assigned as a telephone number of the subscriber's telephone.