JPH03166854A - Facsimile controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retrieve stored information in an information center optionally from a terminal side and send it to a facsimile equipment, and to send image information to the information center from the facsimile equipment side by providing a line controller, etc. CONSTITUTION:When an information control means 3 sends line selection information and calling information to a line controller 35, the controller 35 controls a line switching means 34 according to the line selection information to connect a line 32 to the means 3. Consequently, the calling information is sent to the information center 31 through the line 32 and the means 34 is switched to send stored information to the facsimile equipment 30. When information is sent from the equipment 30 to the center 31, the line selection information from the means 3 is sent to the controller 35 and the means 34 operates under the control of the controller 35 to connect the equipment 30 to the center 31 through the line 32. Therefore, stored information in the center 31 can be selected optionally on the side of the equipment 30, a call is made, and the information can be sent out to the side of the center 31 from the equipment 30.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a facsimile control device, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a facsimile control device that is connected to a facsimile device that transmits and receives image information and that is stored in an information center. This relates to a facsimile control device that searches for center information and sends it to a facsimile machine, and controls the sending of image information from a facsimile machine to an information center. (Conventional technology) Conventionally, facsimile machines that send and receive image information such as characters and graphics are mainly configured to send and receive image information between the other party's device connected through a line (telephone line). ing. There is also a configuration that is connected to a computer at an information center that stores various types of information, and receives stored data information from this information center. However, in most cases, the center information is sent under the initiative of the information center, and the center information is searched on the facsimile device as a terminal device.
It was not possible to transmit image information to an information center (Problem to be solved by the present invention) The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation, and its purpose is to: An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile control device that can arbitrarily search information stored in an information center on the terminal side and send it to a facsimile machine, and also that can send image information from the facsimile machine side to the information center. [Configuration of the Present Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) An uninvented facsimile control device provides line selection information and the information in a facsimile control device connected between a facsimile device and a line connected to an information center. information management means for outputting call information to the information center; line switching means for selectively connecting a line connected to the information center between a facsimile machine and the information management means; It has a line controller that controls the switching operation of the line switching means. (Operation) The operation of the facsimile control device according to the above configuration will be explained below. When line selection information and call information are sent from the information management means of this device to the line controller, the line controller controls the line switching means based on the line selection information to connect the line to the information management means. As a result, the call information is sent to the information center via the line, and the information stored in the information center is called and sent to the line switching means via the line.
This accumulated information is sent to the facsimile machine by the switching operation of the line switching means. On the other hand, when transmitting information from a facsimile device to an information center, the information management means sends line selection information to the line controller. As a result, the @ line switching means operates under the control of the line controller and connects the facsimile machine to the line connected to the information center. (Embodiments of the present invention) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the external configuration of a facsimile control device 1 of this embodiment. This facsimile control equipment consists of a housing 2 shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped, an information management means 3 provided on the top surface of the housing 2, a keyboard 3a, and a liquid crystal display, etc., also provided on the top surface in an inclined manner. display section 4 and housing 2
It has a power switch 5 placed on the top surface of the housing 2, and VC connectors 7a and 7b for a facsimile device 30 (described later) and an information transfer section 15 (described later) placed on the side surface of the housing 2. Next, the overall configuration of the facsimile control device 1, facsimile machine 30, and information center 31 will be explained with reference to FIG. The facsimile control device 1 includes an information management means 3 that outputs line selection information such as telephone number information and call information such as character information for calling information stored in the information center 31, and the facsimile device 30 and the information center 31. and a line controller 35 for controlling the switching operation of the line switching means 4 based on the line selection information from the information management means 3. The information management means 3, as shown in FIG.
program memory l1 storing the operating program of
Based on the operation program, the entire device 1 is controlled by the CPU 12, the memory ffl (RAM) 13, and the memory ffl (RAM) 13. C
The PU12 has an m-connected display controller l4, and this display controller l4 has an m! and the display section 4. Further, the information management stage 3 is connected to the keyboard 3alcPUl 2 for inputting line selection information such as telephone number information and call information such as character information, and also inputs the call information to the line under the control of the CPU 12. It is equipped with an information transfer unit (modem) 15 that sends information to a controller 35. This information transfer section 15 is connected to the connection connector 7B. Further, the line selection information from the keyboard 3a is transmitted to the line controller 3 under the control of the CPU 12.
It is now sent to 5. The line switching means 34 switches the line 3 based on the control signal output from the line controller 35 as shown in FIG.
2, sends a connection command signal to the exchange 33, and connects the information center 31 with m&! A line connection selection circuit 16 that operates, a first relay 17 disposed between this line connection selection circuit l6 and the information transfer section l5, and a line connection selection circuit l6 and the facsimile machine 30. The second one placed between
It is equipped with a relay 18. The second relay 18 and the facsimile machine 30 are connected through the connector 7A. Also, the first relay 17. The on/off operation of the circuit of the second relay 18 is performed by the line connection selection circuit l6. Next, the operation of the facsimile control device l having the above structure will be explained. In addition, in the initial state, the first and second relays 17, l
The following explanation will be given assuming that both 8 and 8 are in an off state, and that the facsimile machine 30 and the line switching means 34 are not connected. The operator of this device is using the keyboard 3.
When the line connection information and call information are input from a, the line selection information is sent to the line controller 35 under the control of the CPU12.
As a result, the line controller 35 is sent to the line!
A control signal for connecting to the information center 31 is sent to the IC connection selection circuit 16. The line connection selection circuit 16 sends a connection command signal to the exchange@33 via the line 32. As a result, the exchange 33 is activated and the connection selection circuit 16 and the information center 31 are connected online. The line connection selection circuit 16 sends an operation signal to the first relay 17 in addition to sending the above-mentioned connection command signal, so that the first relay 17 is turned on and the line connection selection circuit 16 and the information transfer function are connected. 15 is connected. At this stage, under the control of the CPU 12, the call information from the keyboard 3a is sent to the line connection selection circuit l6 via the information transfer section 15, and the call information is sent to the circuit 1132, the exchange 4
133 and is transferred to the information center 31. As a result, the stored information to be called up in the information center 31 is called up. The information center 31 sends the information transmission information and the called stored information to the line connection selection circuit 16 via the circuit 32 and the exchange 33. The line connection selection circuit l6 that has received the information transmission information sends an operation signal to the second relay 18, and this second relay 18
Turn on. Thereafter, the line connection selection circuit 16 sends the accumulated information from the information center 31 to the facsimile machine 30 via the second relay 18. Through such an operation, the facsimile device 30 prints out the accumulated information on paper and outputs it. The stored information that is printed out is available for visual confirmation by the operator. The operations described above enable the operator to call up desired stored information in the information center 31 on the facsimile machine 30 side. Next, a case in which the operator sends image information from the facsimile machine 30 to the information center 31 will be explained. The operator presses the keyboard 3a#\ as in the case described above.
Enter the line selection information. The line selection information is sent to the line controller 35, and thereafter the line connection selection circuit 16 and the information center 31 are connected based on the same operation as described above. Further, the line connection selection circuit l6 sends an operation signal to the second relay l8 to turn on the second relay 18. As a result, the line connection selection circuit l6 and the facsimile machine 30 are connected. In this state, by operating the facsimile device 30 and outputting image information, this image information is transferred to the second relay 18, the line connection selection circuit l6, the line 32, and the exchange @33.
The information is then sent to the information center 31. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above,
Of course, various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist. An example of an application of the present invention is that the facsimile control device 1 is used to control various terminal devices such as an image scanner or a printer. Also,
It is also possible to block unnecessary facsimile reception by controlling the second relay 18 of the facsimile control device l as necessary. [Effects of the Present Invention] According to the present invention described in detail above, the information stored in the information center can be arbitrarily selected and called up on the facsimile machine side, and the information can be sent from the facsimile machine to the information center side. It is also possible to provide a facsimile control device that can realize facsimile device-driven information transmission.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the device, facsimile machine, and information center, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of information management means of the device. , Figure 4 is a block diagram of the line switching means of the same device. Main symbols in the diagram 1 ●●● Facsimile control device 3 ●●●●● Information management means 30 ●●●● Facsimile device 3l ●●●● Information center 34 ●●● Line switching means 35 ●●● ●Line controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A facsimile control device connected between a facsimile machine and a line connected to an information center includes an information management means for outputting line selection information and call information for the information center, and a facsimile control device that connects a line connected to the information center to the facsimile machine and information management means. A facsimile control device comprising: a line switching means for selectively switching and connecting between the means; and a line controller controlling the switching operation of the line switching means based on line selection information from the information management means.