JPH03191666A - Image communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the illicit use of an image communication equipment for the users having no using right in the periods except a designated time by invalidating the prescribed communication function of the communication equipment in the periods except the time designated by a designating device. CONSTITUTION:A station of the remote side is called with push of a one-touch key 45 and the image transmission processing is carried out. The image read by a reading part 6 is recorded by a recording part. Thus the processing including the direct calling performed with operation of ten keys and the alteration of the register data can be attained only in a designated range of the time TA-TB. Then the direct calling and the alteration of the register data are inhibited in other periods. Thus it is possible to prevent the illicit use of an image communication equipment in accordance with the time band for the users having no using right.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application 1] The present invention relates to an image communication device, and particularly to an image communication device that performs predetermined communication processing in response to the operation of an operation input means.

[Prior Art] A conventional facsimile machine executes necessary communication processing according to the operation as long as the main power is turned on.

For this reason, in a device installed in a relatively public place where an unspecified number of people come and go, there is a possibility that the device may be used by someone other than the owner of the device who is not authorized to use the device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Recent facsimile devices have various calling modes such as various speed dial modes, but in particular, communication performed by directly dialing from the numeric keypad is similar to that of a telephone; It can be easily operated even by a person who has no knowledge of the device.

Therefore, it is thought that such communication in which a call is directly made from the numeric keypad (hereinafter referred to as a direct call) is most likely to be carried out in the event of unauthorized use of the device by a person who is not authorized to use the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device that can solve the above problems and prevent unauthorized use of the device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, in an image communication device that performs a predetermined communication process in response to an operation of an operation input means, a range can be specified at a desired time. A configuration is adopted in which a predetermined communication function of the device is disabled outside the time range specified by the specifying means.

[Operation 1] In the above configuration, the predetermined communication function of the device is disabled outside the specified time range.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram that best represents the features of the present invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 is a CPU that controls the entire facsimile machine, and operates according to a program stored in a ROM 2. In FIG.

A system bus consisting of an address bus, a data bus, etc. of the CPU 1 includes a RAM 3, a non-volatile RAM 4, a recording section 5, a reading section 6, a modem 7, an NCU 3, an operation section 11. Controls the display unit 12 and the clock ICl3. The operation of each member will be explained below.

The RAM 3 stores binary data read by the reader 6 or modulated by the modem 7 and output to the telephone line 9 via the NCLI 8. Binarized data obtained by demodulating an analog waveform input from the telephone line 9 by the modem 7 via the NCU 3 is also stored.

Furthermore, the non-volatile RAM 4 is a RAM for storing data that should be preserved even when the main power of the device is cut off. In addition, the recording unit 5 is a DMA controller control IC.
, a thermal head, etc., takes out recording data stored in the RAM 3 under the control of the CPU 1, and records and outputs it as a hard copy.

The reading unit 6 is composed of a DMA controller, a CCD, a control IC, etc., and is configured to binarize the data read by the CCU under the control of the CPU 1 and sequentially store the values in the RAM 3.

The modem 7 is composed of a modem and a clock generation circuit that is input to the modem, and modulates the transmission data stored in the RAM 3 under the control of the CPU, inputs it via the NCU 3, demodulates it, and converts it into binary data. RAM: 1
Store in 3. Furthermore, the modem 7 identifies the DTMF signal sent from the other party during the reception operation, converts the data into hexadecimal data, and stores it in the RAM 3.

The NCLI 8 has a function of switching and connecting the telephone line 9 to either the modem 7 or the telephone 10 under the control of the CPUI.

The operation unit 11 consists of keys for starting transmission and reception, etc., a stop key and a numeric keypad for stopping all processing and returning to a standby state. Control each part of the device accordingly.

The display unit 12 is an LCD that displays characters and the like under the control of the CPU 1. In addition, 1 clock ICl3 functions as a clock by CP [J l, and is a CPU stored in ROM2.
This is for displaying information on the clock ICl3 on the display section 12 by the interrupt processing program of I and operating it as a clock.

FIG. 2 shows the operation surface of the operation panel that constitutes the operation section 11 of the device shown in FIG.
Display unit 41 consisting of a D panel etc. (display section 12 in Fig. 1)
), and operation keys indicated by reference numerals 42 to 45 are provided.

Among these operation keys, reference numeral 42 is a numeric keypad, which is used for direct dialing operations when making a call. code 43
．． Reference numeral 44 denotes a stop and start key, which is used to issue commands to stop and start various communication processes.

Reference numeral 45 denotes one-touch keys, which here consist of 15 keys, each of which can be used to register the telephone number of the other party.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. 3(A) to (E) i5 and FIG. 4 show the control procedure of the CPUI of FIG. 1, and these procedures are stored in the ROM 2 as the control procedure of the CPU 1.

In this embodiment, call processing is prohibited depending on which time zone of the day the current time falls in accordance with the current time. In the following embodiment, an example will be shown in which only a direct call to a partner station having a number entered using a numeric keypad is prohibited, rather than the call processing in general.

FIGS. 3A to 3E show various control procedures for setting time data used for call control.

First, FIG. 3(A) shows a procedure for setting the current time on the clock ICl3. By performing this procedure correctly, call control, which will be described later, can be executed as desired.

In step Sl of FIG. 3(A), the unit of [hour J] of the current time is set. Here, 2:00 to 23:00
Accepts numerical input of digits. Numerical input is performed using the numeric keypad 42 of the operation panel shown in FIG. 2 (the same applies to data input described later).

Similarly, in step S2, the minute data of the current time is input as two-digit numerical data from 00 to 59 minutes. The time data input in steps SL and S2 is
It is set as the current time for l3.

In FIG. 3(B), the start time TA and end time TB are set to permit all functions. In steps S3 and S4 of FIG. 3(B), the start time TA and end time TB are input according to the input from the numeric keys, and the data is stored in the RAM.
3 or stored in non-volatile RAM 4.

These time settings are performed as shown in FIGS. 3(C) and 3(D). Step S5 in FIGS. 3(C) and (D),
In S6, two-digit numerical values representing hours and minutes, such as HH:MM, are input.

In the configuration shown in Fig. 1, each time the clock IC 13 updates the clock data, it interrupts the CPU 1, but at the time of the interrupt, the time range judgment process shown in Fig. 3 (E) is performed. Note that the illustration of the known time display process using the display unit 12, which is performed by the same interrupt process, is omitted here.

In step S8 of FIG. 3(E), it is determined whether the start time TA and end time TB set in the procedure of FIG. 3(B) are equal.

If these data are equal, it is not clear whether all operations are prohibited or permitted during all time periods, so
The process moves to step S9 to perform error processing.

Here, the deletion flag, which will be described later, is set to either rlJ or "0", but in consideration of recovery from an error, it is preferable to set the deletion flag, which will be described later, to "0".

If step S8 is negative, the process moves to step SlO, where the current time is retrieved from the clock ICl3 and stored in the RAM3.
Alternatively, it is stored in any predetermined area of the nonvolatile RAM 4. Let this current time area be TI.

In step Sll, it is determined whether the start time TA and end time TB, which are set in advance, are large or small, TA<T
In the case of B, the process moves to step 512, and in the opposite case, the process moves to step S15.

The transition from step Sll to step S12 is T
Let A be 10:00, TB be 12+00, and during this period TA
This is a case where all operations are permitted between TB and TB. Also,
To proceed to step S15, TA is set at 19:00, T
This is a case where B is set to 07:00 and all operations are permitted during the period from TA to TB, that is, in an unattended state at night.

In step S12, it is determined whether the current time TI has passed the time TA, and in step S13, the current time TI is determined to be the time TB.
Determine whether the period has passed.

If step 512 is negative, step S14
Set the deletion flag to "l". This deletion flag is R
It is set in a predetermined area of the AM3, and has the meaning of prohibiting the modification of stored data or the input of data from the numeric keypad 42.

Similarly, if both steps 512 and S13 are affirmative, the deletion flag is set to "l" in step S14. If step 512 is affirmative and step S13 is negative,
The process moves to step 517 and the deletion flag is set to "0".

On the other hand, in step S15.516, it is determined whether the current time 'l has passed the time TO and if the current time TI is the time all-r
It is determined in order whether or not A has passed.

Here, if step 515 is negative, step S17 sets the deletion flag to "0", step 515,
If 516 are both affirmed, the deletion flag is set to "0" in step S17. If step 515 is affirmative and step 516 is negative, the process moves to step 514 and the deletion flag is set to rlJ.

With such a single order, the deletion flag can be set correctly regardless of the setting of the start time TA and end time TO, which permit all operations.

In this embodiment, the state of the deletion flag is used to prohibit/permit operations caused by input from the numeric keys, ie, data settings or direct calls using the numeric keys. The procedure for this is shown in FIG.

Steps 521-S24 in FIG. 4 show a procedure for detecting the operation of the operating section 11 in the standby state.

In step 521, it is determined whether the numeric keypad 42 has been operated, and in step S22, it is determined whether one-touch transmission using the one-touch key 45 has been commanded.

In addition, in step S23, it is determined whether a copy operation has been specified (this designation is determined using the numeric keypad 42 or one-touch key 45).
(This is done by pressing the start key 44 without specifying the partner station), and furthermore, in step S24, there is an output from the line, and in response to this, it is determined whether or not to perform image reception. .

If any step is affirmed in the loop of steps 521-524, step S25 is executed from that position, respectively.
, S27, S28. The process moves to either i3 or S29.

In step S25, it is determined whether the deletion function flag set by the procedure shown in FIG. 3(E) is "l". If the deletion flag is set, the input from the numeric keypad is ignored and the process returns to the loop from step S21. Only when the deletion flag is "0", the process moves to step S26, where input from the numeric keypad is accepted, and registration data is modified accordingly, or transmission processing by direct input of a telephone number, etc. is executed.

In step S27, a one-touch transmission process is performed in which the other station is called in response to pressing the one-touch key 45 and an image is transmitted.In step S27, a recording process is performed in which the image read by the reading unit 6 is recorded in the recording unit 5. Step S
At step 29, known image reception processing is performed.

According to the above configuration, all processes including direct calls and modification of registered data by numeric keypad operations are possible only during the specified range of time TA-TB, and during other periods, direct calls and changes based on numeric keypad inputs are possible. Processing such as modification of registered data can be prohibited. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by persons who are not authorized to use the service depending on the time of day, and to prevent an increase in communication costs.

In addition, in the above configuration, one-touch sending and copying operations that do not require numeric keystroke input first, and receiving operations are based on numeric keystroke input even within the time range (with a configuration that prohibits various processes outside the specified time range). However, other desired processes such as one-touch key transmission and copy operations may be prohibited.

In addition, the operation unit 1 can prohibit processing outside the specified time range.
It may be possible to specify from 1. Of course, it is also possible to disable all functions of the device outside the specified time range.

In addition, according to the above configuration, since numeric keypad input is prohibited outside the specified time range, it becomes impossible to specify the time range shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(D). It is also possible to prevent an unauthorized user who is familiar with the suppression method from changing the time range setting and fraudulently using the device.

[Effect of the Invention J As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, an image communication device that performs a predetermined communication process in response to an operation of an operation input means is provided with a means for specifying a desired time range, and a means for specifying a desired time range is provided. Since the device adopts a configuration that disables the predetermined communication function of the device outside the time range specified by the means,
Outside of a specified time range, certain communication functions in the 'A' location can be disabled, thus preventing unauthorized use of old devices that are not authorized to use them, and is an advantage that eliminates the risk of incurring unexpected communication costs. An image communication device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile device adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the operating section and display section of the device in FIG. ) is a flowchart showing the time range designation and determination procedure according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing communication control using the time range designation of the present invention. l...CPU 2...ROM 3-...RAM 4...Nonvolatile RAM5...
Recording section 6...-Reading section 7...Modem 8...NCU 9...Telephone line 10...Telephone 1m--Operation section 12--Display section 13...Clock IC 41-- Display 42...Numeric keypad 43...-Stop key 44...Start key 45...-One-touch key〃7mm'A 1cy) Block same number 1 Figure 70 1 Naya F figure 33 (E) Animation 1111 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In an image communication device that performs predetermined communication processing in response to the operation of an operation input means, means for specifying a desired time range is provided, and the device is configured to perform communication processing outside the time range specified by the specifying means. An image communication device characterized in that a predetermined communication function of the image communication device is disabled. 2) According to claim 1, the function to be disabled is making a call based on input from the numeric keypad of the operation input means and modifying data stored in the device using the numeric keypad. image communication device.