JPH03270553A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To relay communication even in the case of using a character code or a picture signal by devising the facsimile equipment such that the equipment is designed to enable the transmission and reception of a message comprising a character code or a picture signal and a transmission reception control means controls the transmission and reception employing which of the character code or the picture signal. CONSTITUTION:A CPU 101 confirms a message from a public line based on information sent from an interface section 110 or a communication control section 111 in the case of the reception, detects whether an opposite party (caller) is a facsimile equipment or a terminal equipment sending a character data, and controls the interface section 110 or the communication control section 111 so as to apply relevant communication control in the case of a facsimile equipment to allow the section to receive a picture signal. On the other hand, when the CPU detects a terminal equipment to be a terminal equipment sending a character data, the CPU controls the interface section 110 or the communication control section 111 so as to apply relevant communication control in the case of a terminal equipment sending a character data and allows the section to receive the character code and it is stored in a buffer memory 107.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a facsimile machine (prior art). Conventionally, a message has been sent to a facsimile machine from, for example, a word processor with a communication function. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, a facsimile adapter 2 is connected to the public line 4 and the character code sent from the word processor 1 is converted into an image signal.
There is a problem in that the word processor l cannot perform facsimile transmission by itself.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the facsimile machine 3 alone is connected to the public line A, and can send messages to the other party's facsimile machine. However, there is a problem in that this facsimile machine 3 cannot handle cases where the other party is a terminal that transmits and receives character codes.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As mentioned above, in conventional data terminals, the destination device is limited depending on whether the type of data handled is a character code or an image signal, and flexible communication cannot be performed. A problem arose.

The present invention was made in view of the limitations in communication between conventional data terminals, and its purpose is to exchange character codes and data between terminals connected to a private branch exchange and terminals connected to public lines. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device capable of relaying communication regardless of whether the communication is based on an image signal or not.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) A facsimile device according to the present invention comprises: a transmitting/receiving means that is connected to a private branch exchange and a public line and transmits and receives both image signals and character codes; Transmission and reception by the transmission and reception control means is controlled by converting and switching between the extension side terminal connected to the exchange and the external terminal connected to the public line, using both signals or character codes, as necessary. It is characterized by comprising a transmission/reception control means, and relaying message exchange between an extension side terminal connected to the private branch exchange and an external terminal connected to the public line.

(Function) According to the above configuration, it is possible to send and receive messages whether the sending/receiving means uses a character code or an image signal, and since control of which method is used is performed by the sending/receiving control means, relaying between terminals can be performed accurately. be able to.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication system configured using a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, numeral 10 indicates a private network consisting of a private branch exchange. A public line 41 is connected to the external line circuit of this private hmio, and adapters 51 to 53 are connected to the internal line circuit.
is connected. Although an extension telephone is connected to the extension circuit of the private network 10, it is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. Adapter 51-53
are connected to the word processors 11 and 12 and the facsimile machine 100, respectively, and the word processors 11 and 12
.

Private 1i signal from facsimile machine ioo
The word processor 110 converts the signal sent from the private network 10 into an acceptable signal.
1,12. The signal is converted into a signal transmitted and received by the facsimile machine 100. Therefore, the word processors 11, L2 and the facsimile machine 100 can communicate via the extension line. Further, the facsimile device 100 is directly connected to the public line A2, and the facsimile device 100 is connected to the public line A2 via the private network 100 or directly to the public line A2.
Communication is possible via 2.

Next, the configuration of the facsimile machine 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. 6 In FIG. 2, 101 indicates a CPU, which controls each section using programs and data in the main memory 102. An image signal reading section 104, an operation section 105, a recording section 106, a buffer memory 10γ, an encoding/decoding section 108, a character generator 109, an interface section 110, and a communication control section 111 are connected to a bus 103 extending from the CPU 101.

The above image signal reading section 104 is constituted by a CCD image scanner or the like, and photoelectrically converts the input document image to obtain an image signal. The operation unit 105 includes a numeric keypad, a transmission key, etc., and provides necessary instructions and data to the CPU 10I by operating these keys. The recording unit 106 performs recording output on recording paper based on the supplied image signal. Buffer memory 1
07 is used to temporarily store received or read image signals and character codes. Sign/
The decoding unit 10B is used for encoding and compressing the image signal to be transmitted and decoding and expanding the received image signal. A character generator 109 is used to convert a received character code into an image signal. Interface part 1
10 is connected to the adapter 53, for example, R3
It has a configuration that satisfies the -232C interface conditions. The communication control unit 111 includes an NCU and a modem,
In addition to performing facsimile communication according to a predetermined procedure, such as G3 facsimile according to CCITT recommendations, it is also possible to send and receive character codes.

The tank-bottom facsimile device 100, like a normal facsimile device, transmits an image signal related to a set original through the interface section 110 or through the communication control section 111 in accordance with instructions such as the destination inputted from the operation section 105. In addition to transmitting the message to the public line 42 via the public line 42, the received message is processed based on the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. Note that this program is stored in the main memory 102.

The following description will be made based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when receiving data, the CPU 101 uses the interface unit 1.
10 or the communication control unit 111, it is checked whether the message is from an extension (301).

Here, if you confirm that the message is not from an extension but from a public line, the other party (sender)
detect whether the terminal is a facsimile device or a terminal transmitting character data (302), and if it is a facsimile device, control the interface unit 110 or communication control unit 111 to perform corresponding communication control; The image signal is received, given to the encoding/decoding section 108, decoded and expanded, and sent to the recording section 106 (303). Then, the recording unit 106 is activated to perform recording output (304
).

On the other hand, if it is detected in step 302 that the terminal is transmitting character data, the interface section 110 or the communication control section 111 is controlled to perform corresponding communication control, and the character code is received and stored in the buffer memory 107. (305), and after this communication is completed, it is sent to either of the destination word processors 11 or 12 via the interface unit 110 (30
&).

Further, when it is detected in step 301 that the message is from an extension, that is, from one of the word processors 11 and 12, the interface unit 110 is controlled to receive the character code and store it in the buffer memory 107 (307 ). Then, it is detected whether the destination of this message is a facsimile device that receives image signals or a terminal that receives character codes based on information sent from either word processor 11 or 12 (308). Here, if the terminal receives the character code, either the interface section 110 or the communication control section 111 is controlled to cause the character code to be transmitted after the communication from the extension is completed (309).

On the other hand, if it is detected in step 308 that the facsimile device is the destination, after the communication from the extension is completed, the character code in the buffer memory 107 is sent to the character generator 109 and used as an image signal (310). The signal is transmitted via the public line from the interface unit 110 or the communication control unit 111 (3
11).

In this embodiment, a message sent from a public telephone line in a character code is sent to either of the food processors 11 or 12, but if the destination is the facsimile machine, the character code is sent. into a pattern using the character generator 109,
It may also be provided to the recording unit 106 to perform recording output.

As described above, in this embodiment, the facsimile machine 100 relays between the extension word processor and the external terminal, and processes the character code as an image signal as appropriate.
It is now possible to send data without worrying about the type of data handled by the other party's terminal. In addition, when the private branch exchange that is the private network 10 provides dial-in service, external mail...
By setting the message destination as the facsimile device 100, sending the secondary destination using, for example, a DTMF signal, and providing the facsimile device 100 with a means for receiving the message, the two word processors 11 and 12 can be used as a secondary destination. The meso message to be sent as the next destination can be sent to the word processor 11.12 via the extension, and the public line and the word processor 1.12 can be sent via the extension. ．． 12 can be connected, and opportunities for communication by other terminals (for example, extension telephones) are not obstructed. For example, it includes a function that allows you to inquire whether information was sent correctly to a facsimile from an extension terminal such as a word processor, and whether information was sent to you.

Second, the extension terminal requires software to implement its functions.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, messages can be sent and received using both character codes and image signals, and the transmission/reception control means controls which one is used to send and receive messages. This means that communication using either signal can be relayed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The 1st construction drawing is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, 2 is a block diagram of a communication system using an embodiment of the present invention, and 3
The figure is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams for explaining the conventional example. 11.12... Word processor 41.42... Public line 51-53... Adapter 10... Private network 100... Facsimile machine 101... CPU 102... Main memory 104... Screen Signal reading section 105...Operation section 106...Recording section 107...Buffer memory 108...Encoding/decoding section 109...Character generator 110...Interface section 111...Communication control section

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Transmitting/receiving means connected to a private branch exchange and a public line, and transmitting and receiving both image signals and character codes; an extension side terminal connected to the private branch exchange, and a transmitting/receiving means connected to the public line. and a transmission/reception control means for controlling transmission and reception by the transmission/reception control means by switching conversion between the image signal and the character code as necessary between the external terminal and the extension side connected to the private branch exchange. A facsimile device that relays message exchange between a terminal and an external terminal connected to the public line.