JPH03109873A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the use of confidential communication and to expand the utilizing range by providing a password detection means, a picture file retrieval means and a transmission control means so as to register the password. CONSTITUTION:The equipment is provided with a means 12 monitoring a line signal when a call comes and detecting a password with a dial tone signal, and a means 13 retrieving a picture file having a destination password coincident with a password detected by the password detection means 12 from the stored picture file. Then, when the password is detected till the entrance of facsimile communication protocol from the line connection and a picture file having a destination password coincident with the password is retrieved, the transmission control of the picture file data is implemented by a means 6. Then confidential reception is attained by a call from an optional facsimile equipment by having only to designate the password correctly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication device such as a facsimile having a secure facsimile communication function.

Conventional technology In order to strengthen the confidentiality of facsimile communication, ■The sending side specifies a password and sends the document, the receiving side memorizes the received document and password, and then enters the same password. A method that allows the output of the received document only when the sending side makes a call and receives it from the receiving side during the facsimile procedure only when the received identification information matches the identification information registered on the sending side. , a method in which the sending side sends the original, ■The receiving side makes a call, specifies the facsimile terminal number and password, and requests transmission; There is a method that sends the original when the number and password match.

All of these are sometimes referred to as ``confidential communication,'' but the following explanation will be limited to the confidential communication in item (31) above, which is most closely related to the present invention.

Conventionally, the communication procedure for implementing this confidential communication function has not been standardized, and each facsimile machine manufacturer has adopted its own unique procedure. An example of this will be explained with reference to FIG.

The transmitting facsimile machine, which is the called station, sends out a non-standard function identification signal NSF and a digital identification signal DIS indicating that it has a CCITT standard receiving function. In response to the NSF, the receiving facsimile machine, which is the calling station, sends out a non-standard function command N'SC notifying the setting of confidential communication, the calling source terminal number and password, and a digital transmission command DTC.

At the called station, that is, the sending facsimile device, if the received ID information (sender terminal number and password) has been registered, it searches for the image file of the transmitted document in memory using this ID information and retrieves the same ID information. When a file with a file is found, a non-standard function setting signal NSS is sent, a training check signal TCP is sent, and modem synchronization adjustment is performed.

Then, when the receiving facsimile machine, that is, the calling station, sends out the reception preparation confirmation signal OFR, the data of the image file of the document is sent as a facsimile message PIX, and finally, the control return signal RTC and the procedure end signal EOP are sent. Send. In response, the receiving facsimile machine sends a message confirmation signal MCF and terminates the communication.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with this configuration, there is a problem in that facsimile IJ devices that can be used for confidential reception are limited.

In other words, as mentioned above, the confidential communication procedure itself differs depending on the manufacturer, and the exchange of sender terminal numbers and passwords is not compatible between facsimile machines from different manufacturers. The call must be made from an identical unpowered facsimile machine that is compatible with the facsimile machine in terms of confidential communication functions. Further, even if there is compatibility, unless the originating terminal number of 6-7 is registered in the sending facsimile machine, that is, it is not registered as a network in advance, it cannot be used for confidential reception.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device that allows confidential reception by making a call from any facsimile device and specifying a password correctly.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for monitoring line signals and detecting a password using a dial tone signal when an incoming call is received, and a means for detecting a password using a dial tone signal. means for searching for an image file having a destination password that matches the password detected by the password detecting means; is detected, and when the image file search means searches for an image file having destination password information matching the password, means for controlling to transmit the data of the image file. It is equipped with a configuration of having.

According to the above-described structure, the present invention creates an image having a destination password that matches the password sent by the dial tone signal from the calling station before the file communication device J[, in the image file stored in the facsimile machine. Once the file exists, the data can be sent to the calling station.

That is, it is possible to make a call to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention even from a facsimile apparatus that is not registered in advance and receive a document.

Furthermore, since the transmission procedure can of course be a normal transmission procedure, the calling station is not required to have compatibility with the confidential communication procedure. Furthermore, the confidentiality of communication is also ensured by password verification.

As described above, according to the present invention, as long as a password is correctly specified, a call can be made from any facsimile machine and confidential reception can be performed.

7/\2 Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a main control unit that controls the entire facsimile machine, 2 is an operation display control unit that controls the operation and display of a panel unit (not shown), and 3 is a reading unit that controls a reading unit and a recording unit (not shown). This is a recording control section.

4 is a memory including program memory, work memory, and file memory. 6 is a data compression/decompression unit that encodes the image data of the original and decodes the received encoded data into the original image data; 6 is the communication control unit that controls the communication procedure; and 7 is the encoded data of the transmitted original. A modem consists of a modulation circuit that modulates a signal that can be transmitted over a line, and a demodulation circuit that demodulates the transmitted signal. 9 is a telephone circuit consisting of a handset and a telephone line; 8 is a line control section for switching the connection between the telephone circuit 9 and the telephone line of the modem. A file table memory 10 stores header information of the image file stored in the memory 4, and an ID code memory 11 stores a pre-registered facsimile terminal number and password.

12 is a password detection unit that detects a password using a DTMF (dual tone multifrequency) signal, that is, a dial tone signal, from a communication partner; it constantly monitors the line signal, and when a DTMF signal is detected, it reassigns the signal. The detected numbers or symbols are held in the order of detection, and when a predetermined number of digits of signals are detected, the main control unit 1 is notified of password detection. Reference numeral 13 denotes a file search unit that searches for an image file to be transmitted from among the image files stored in the memory 4.

The main control unit 1 is responsible for determining whether or not to perform confidential communication based on verification of only the password, which is unique to the present invention, and for controlling transmission when it is determined that confidential communication is to be performed. built into the functionality.

Next, the operation of this facsimile machine as a called station will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

9/ When the line control unit 8 detects an incoming call in the standby state,
Step 300 then proceeds to step 301, where the line control section 8 connects the line. Next, in step 302, the main control unit 1 starts the timer. The setting time of this timer is approximately 20 seconds, which is related to the time it takes to send a voice guidance prompting the communication party to send a facsimile in a facsimile machine having an automatic switching function between facsimile and telephone.

Next, in step 303, the main control unit 1 checks whether there is a password detection notification from the password detection unit 12, and if there is no password detection notification, step 303 is performed.
4, the presence or absence of the ringing tone signal ONG from the line is checked, and if ONG is not received, the process moves to step 305, and the timeout of the timer is checked, and if the timer has not timed out, the process returns to step 303.

In this way, steps 303, 304, and 30'6 are repeated, and when CNG is detected at a certain point in step 304, the process moves to step 304, and normal reception is performed using the procedure explained using FIG. 3 to 10. or whether it is a normal confidential transmission request.

This procedure is controlled by the communication control unit 6.

If it is normal reception, step 308 of normal reception processing
Then, the communication control unit 6 performs procedure control for normal reception, and under the control of the main control unit 1, the received encoded data is restored to image data by the data compression and decompression unit 5, and read and recorded. It is sent to the recording section through the control section 3 and recorded. If the timer times out before either the password or CNG is detected, the process moves to step 308 and similar reception processing is performed.

If the request is for normal confidential transmission (confidential transmission as explained using FIG. 3), step 30 is completed, 31
0, and the source terminal number and password obtained from the communication partner in the procedure are sequentially stored in a buffer in the memory 4. Next, the process moves to step 312, and the main control unit 1 performs the following steps.
ID code 11--memory 11 is searched for the same facsimile terminal number and password as the originating terminal number and password stored in the buffer. If a match is not found in at least one of the source terminal number and password, K moves from step 313 or step 316 to step 320, and the line control section 8 disconnects the line.

If both the source terminal number and password match are found in the ID code memory 11, the process moves to step 316, and the file search unit 13 searches both the source terminal number and password on the file memory 10. A search is performed for an image file whose header information includes matching ID information (destination facsimile terminal number and password). If no image file with matching ID information is found, the process moves from step 31B to step 320, and the line is disconnected. On the other hand, if an image file with matching ID information is found, the process moves from step 318 to step 31, and the process of transmitting that image file is executed. That is, under the control of the main control section 1, the data of the image file (image data) is read out from the memory 4, encoded by the data decompression section 5, further modulated by the modem T, and then sent from the line control section 8. Sent to the line. Necessary procedural control is performed by the communication control unit 6.

Now, when the password detection section 12 issues a password detection notification using a DTMF signal before the timer times out and before ONG is detected, the flow of operation is unique to the present invention. That is, the process moves from step 303 to step 309, and the detected password is stored in a buffer in the memory 4 by the main control unit 1. Next, the main control unit 1 searches the ID code memory 11 for a password that matches this password. If the matching password is not registered in the ID code memory 11, the process moves from step 314 to step 3201C, and the line is disconnected.

If a password matching the password detected by the password detection section 12 has already been registered in the ID code memory 11, the process moves to step 317, and the file search section 13
The file table memory 10 is searched for an image file whose header information includes 13-ID information with a matching password. Things to note are:
In the case of normal confidential communication, both the password and the source terminal number are search conditions, but here only the password is the search condition. In other words, it does not matter whether the sender is registered in advance or not.

If an image file with ID information that matches the password is not found, steps 318 to 320 are performed.
The line is disconnected and the device returns to standby mode.

On the other hand, when an image file with ID information whose password matches, that is, an image file whose destination password matches the password from the calling station, is found, K moves from step 318 to step 319, and checks the data of the image file. Sending processing is executed. In other words, as long as the password is registered in this facsimile device, you can make a call from any facsimile device and perform push-dial operations for about 10 seconds until the line is switched to the modem.
By inputting a password according to the 4-page draft, confidential reception of the desired manuscript can be performed.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the facsimile machine of the present invention can receive a document by making a call from any facsimile machine and sending the correct password using a dial tone signal, as long as a password has been registered. In addition, since the confidentiality is also ensured by password verification, the calling station for confidential communication is no longer limited to facsimile machines that have been registered in advance as a network and have compatible procedures, as was the case in the past. This has the effect of making it easier to use confidential communication and widening the range of use.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile machine as a called station, and Fig. 3 is a conventional confidential communication FIG. 2 is a signal sequence diagram for explaining the procedure of FIG. 15--No.1--Main control section, 4--Memory, 5--Data compression/decompression section, 6--Communication control section, End--Modem, 8--Line control section, 10.-- File table memory, 11-・
・IT) code memory, 12...-password detection unit,
13-File search section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] When an incoming call is received, a password detection means monitors the line signal and detects a password using a dial tone signal, and detects a destination that matches the password detected by the password detection means from the stored image file. an image file search means for searching for an image file having a password; and an image whose password is detected by the password detection means from the line connection until entering the facsimile communication procedure, and whose destination password matches the password. An image communication device comprising: means for controlling transmission of data of an image file when the file is searched by the image file search means.