JPH04109745A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost by sounding and outputting a melody tone as a call notice based on a data in a melody storage means in the case of an operator call request so as to save a bell ring element and its drive circuit. CONSTITUTION:When a call is received, a facsimile equipment 10 drives a line switching relay 21 and a dial pulse transmission relay 22 to connect a telephone line L to a MODEM 12 to check whether or not a CNG signal is set within a prescribed time T0. When the CNG signal is not sent within the prescribed time T0, a melody data table of a RAM 13 is retrieved and a tone frequency data fp and a connection time data tp are read from the melody data table and outputted to a tone signal generating circuit 32, a tone frequency data fp therefrom is modulated by a MODEM circuit 31 and sounded and outputted from a speaker 52 via an amplifier 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present inventions relate to facsimile devices, and more particularly, to facsimile devices that generate melody sounds.

C. Prior Art Recently, facsimile machines have become popular, but when installing a facsimile machine, it is often the case that an existing telephone line is used instead of installing a new line for the facsimile machine. In this case, there are external and built-in telephones, but the facsimile machine has a hold function that puts the telephone on hold, and the facsimile machine has a function that sends out a melody sound when on hold. There's something I've done.

An example of such a conventional facsimile device is the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-316057, which was previously filed by the present applicant. This facsimile machine stores melody tones in a memory as a melody data table with information on tone frequencies and tone output times, and when on hold, sequentially reads out the tone frequencies and tone output times from the memory and outputs facsimile control signals from the facsimile machine. The melody tone is output as a hold tone by a tone signal generation circuit.

In addition, for facsimile devices integrated with telephones,
When a call is received and there is a request to call an operator, the ring tone output means 1 shown in FIG. 4 rings a bell to notify the operator that there is a request for conversation.

This ringing sound output means 1 includes a ringing element 2 such as a piezoelectric element,
and a drive circuit 3 that drives the ringing element 2. When an operator is called, the driving circuit 3 drives the ringing element 2.
to ring the bell.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in such conventional facsimile machines, the hold tone is stored in the memory as data of tone frequency and tone output time, and when the telephone is on hold, a melody tone is generated as the hold tone based on the data in the memory. When an operator is called, a ringing element is driven to ring a bell. As a result, the bell sound can be easily confused with environmental noise, making it impossible to fully utilize its call notification function. A problem with sound is that people are starting to feel uncomfortable due to noise.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 stores the melody sound in the melody storage means as information of tone frequency data and tone duration data for each frequency, and when an operator call request is made, the melody sound is stored based on the data in the melody storage means. By amplifying the melody sound as a call notification, it is possible to reduce costs by eliminating the need for a bell ringing element and drive circuit, and to avoid causing discomfort to the people around you. Ensure that you are notified that a request has been made so that you can promptly respond to the operator's call request.
An object of the present invention is to store a melody sound in a melody storage means as information of tone frequency data and tone duration data for each frequency, and to make it possible to carry out a conversation quickly. At this time, the melody sound is amplified as a call notification based on the data in the melody storage means, and when the call is on hold, the melody sound is sent to the line as a hold tone based on the data in the melody storage means. The data in the melody storage means is shared between the call notification tone and the hold tone, thereby further reducing costs, and the melody tone can be output as both the hold tone and the call notification tone. It is intended to be.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, claim i ic! The invention described above provides a facsimile apparatus comprising: a telephone; automatic call termination type network control means; and tone signal generation means for transmitting tone signals for facsimile control signals to a receiving line. melody storage means for storing tone duration data for each frequency as information; and amplification output means for amplifying the tone signal output from the tone signal generation means; The invention as set forth in claim 2 is characterized in that the tone signal generating means converts the melody sound into a tone signal based on the data of the tone signal generating means, and then the amplified sound output means outputs the melody sound as a call notification in a loud voice. A facsimile machine equipped with a holding function for holding a call, an automatic call termination type network control means, and a tone signal generation means for transmitting a tone signal for a facsimile control signal to a storage line. melody storage means for storing tone duration data for each frequency as information; and amplification output means for amplifying the tone signal output from the tone signal generation means; The tone signal generating means converts the melody sound into a tone signal based on the data in the melody storage means, and then the amplification output means amplifies the sound as a call notification. The melody is converted into a tone signal by the signal generating means, and then sent to the line as a hold tone.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given based on examples.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention and the second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile device 10, which includes a network control section 11, a modem 12, a system control section 13, an operation display section 14, other facsimile unit sections 15, a telephone 16, a loudspeaker 17, etc. It is equipped with These parts are connected by a data bus 18.

The network control unit 11 includes a line switching relay 21, a dial pulse sending relay 22, a transformer 23, a ringing signal detection unit 24, etc. The network control unit 11 includes a telephone line and a line connected to the telephone 16. is connected. The line switching relay 21 is normally connected to the calling signal detection unit 24 side,
The calling signal detection unit 24 detects a calling signal from the line and outputs the detection result to the system control unit 13. The zero line switching relay 21 operates under the control of the system control unit 13.
The telephone line is switched between the transformer 23 and the telephone 16 for alternative connection.

The dial pulse sending relay 22 outputs dial pulses to the line by turning on/off, and
The circuit gL is connected to the modem 12 via the transformer 23.

The modem 3 includes a modulation/demodulation circuit 31, a tone signal generation circuit (tone signal generation means) 32, and a tone signal detection circuit 33.
etc. The modulation/demodulation circuit 31 modulates the transmitted signal and demodulates the received signal, and the tone signal generation circuit 32 transmits a facsimile control signal based on tone data from the system control section 13, and also transmits the melody sound of each invention of the present application. .

The tone signal detection circuit 33 detects the tone signal sent from the telephone line and outputs the detection result to the system control section 13.

The system control unit 13 includes a CPU (Central
Process-singing Unit) 41, ROM
(Read 0n1y Me+5ory) 42, RA
M (Randos + Access Memory)
43 and I10 boat 44, etc., and a ROM 42 stores a basic program for the facsimile device 1, a melody sound (hold tone) sending processing program of each invention of the present application, and the like. The RAM 43 contains the facsimile device 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, various data necessary for controlling
fn and tone duration data tt-tn of the tone frequency data are stored as a melody data table, and the tone frequency data f1 to fn and tone duration data t1 to tn are stored in a user-configurable area of the RAM 43, for example. is memorized. Therefore, RAM
43 functions as a melody storage means for storing melody sounds as information of tone frequency data and tone duration data for each frequency. CPU41 is RO
In accordance with the program in M42, each part of the facsimile machine 10 is controlled to execute the sequence of the facsimile machine 10, and at the same time, the melody sound output process of each invention of the present application is executed.

The operation display section 14 includes a numeric keypad and various operation keys, as well as a display section (for example, a liquid crystal display), and the facsimile machine 10 is operated using the numeric keypad and other operation keys. commands and various information from the facsimile WIO are displayed.

The facsimile unit section 7 is a general term for various units such as an encoding/decoding section, a plotter section, and a scanner section.

The loudspeaker means 17 is composed of an amplifier 51, a speaker 52, etc., and is used to monitor the telephone line IL and modem 12 during facsimile communication or on-hook dialing.
The tone signal from the tone signal generation circuit 32, especially the melody sound output from the tone signal generation circuit 32, is amplified and outputted.

Next, the effect will be explained.

The inventions of the present application are characterized in that a melody sound is stored as tone frequency and its duration data, and the melody sound is output as a ring tone for an operator and as a holding tone when a call is held.

This melody sound output process will be explained below based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, when there is a reception, the facsimile machine 10 detects the ringing signal by the ringing signal detection section 24 and outputs it to the system control section 13 (step Sl).

When the system control unit 13 detects the calling signal, it drives the line switching relay 21 and the dial pulse sending relay 22 to connect the telephone port vAL to the modem 12 (step S2), and sends out the CNG signal within a predetermined time TO. It is checked whether it has been received (step S3.34). C.N.
When the G signal is sent, it is determined that the other party is requesting facsimile communication using a facsimile device, and normal facsimile reception processing is performed (step S5). In step S3, if the CNG signal is not sent within the predetermined time To, it is determined that it is a conversation request, and the RAM 13
Search the melody data table and move the pointer P to P.
= 1 (step S6). The tone frequency data rp and duration data tp are read out from the melody data table (Step S7), and outputted to the tone signal generation circuit 32, and the tone of the tone frequency data rp from the tone signal generation circuit 32 is modulated by the modulation/demodulation circuit 31. , amplified sound is output from the speaker 52 via the amplifier 51 (
Step S8).

As a result, a melody sound is emitted from the speaker 52 as a call notification.
This melodic sound allows the operator to know that there is a conversation request, and allows the operator to have a conversation using the telephone 16. At this time, since a melody sound is output instead of a bell sound, it is possible to reliably notify the operator that there is a conversation request without causing discomfort to people around. Further, unlike the conventional case, there is no need for a ringing element or a driving circuit for ringing a bell sound, and costs can be reduced.

The output of the tone frequency data rp is checked every predetermined time, for example, every 20 seconds, to see if the output of the tone frequency data rp has elapsed for the duration data tp.
When the time has elapsed, it is checked whether the mode is on hold (step S10). When hold mode is off,
Step S11) checks whether the handset of the telephone 16 is off-hook; if it is not off-hook, it is determined that the operator has not yet taken the handset of the telephone 16 off-hook in response to the call notification by the melody sound, and the pointer P is is incremented by "1" (P=P+1) and checks whether the melody data table is completed (steps S12 and S13).
.

If the melody data table has not been completed, the process returns to step S7 and reads out the tone frequency data fp and duration data tp of the incremented pointer P from the melody data table, and outputs the tone of the frequency data fp for the duration time data tp. (Steps 87 to S9). On the other hand, when the melody data table is finished in step S13, the process returns to step S6.
The pointer P is set to P=1, and a tone is similarly generated from the tone signal generation circuit 32 and outputted as amplified sound.

In step Sll, when the handset 11 is off-hook, the operator responds to the call notification and calls the telephone 11.
It is determined that the handset No. 16 is off-hook, and the line switching relay 21 and the dial pulse sending relay 22 are activated.
is activated to connect the telephone line to the telephone set 16 side, and this flow ends (step 514).

Therefore, a melody sound different from the environmental noise can be amplified as the operator ring tone, that is, the call notification tone, and the incoming call can be reliably notified without being interfered with by the environmental noise. As a result, it is possible to promptly respond to conversation requests, and the usability and convenience of the facsimile machine IO can be improved. Further, the ringing element and its driving circuit can be omitted as in the conventional case, and the cost of the facsimile machine 10 can be reduced.

Next, processing during hold will be explained.

In the facsimile machine 10, in the initial state, the line switching relay 21 connects the telephone line to the telephone set 16, and when the operator goes off-hook the telephone set 16 in this state,
When the hold key on the operation display unit 14 is pressed during a call in which the telephone 16 can be used as it is (step 315), the system control unit 13 drives the line switching relay 21 and the dial pulse sending relay 22. and connects the telephone line to the transformer 23 side and puts it on hold (step 316). Next, the system control unit 13 performs processing to send out a melody sound as a hold tone. In other words, the system control unit 13 Similar to the call notification process, R
The melody data table is read from AM43 and the pointer P is set to P=1 (step S6).

Tone frequency data r from the melody data table
Step S7) to read p and duration data tp,
The tone signal generating circuit 32 outputs the tone of the tone frequency data rp to the telephone line (step S8).

Therefore, the melody tone is sent to the other party via the line as a hold tone.

Check whether the time set by the duration data tp has elapsed (Step S9), and when the time set by the duration data tp elapses, check whether the mode is on hold (Step 5I).
O) When in the hold mode, check whether the hold has been released.Step S) If the hold has not been released, increment the pointer P by "l".
-P+1), checks whether the melody data table is finished (step S12.513); if the melody data table is not finished, step S
Returning to step 7, the tone frequency data rp and duration data tp of the incremented pointer P are read out from the melody data table, and at the same time, the tone of the frequency data rp is sent out for the duration time data tp (step 8).
7 to S9), On the other hand, when the melody data table is completed in step S13, the process returns to step S6, the pointer P is set to P-1, and a tone is similarly output from the tone signal generation circuit 32 to the telephone line. .

When the hold is released in step S17, the system control unit 13 drives the line switching relay 21 and the dial pulse sending relay 22 to connect the telephone line to the telephone a16 side, and ends this flow (step 514). , This makes it possible to make a call using the telephone 16 again. Therefore, the tone signal generation circuit 32 for calling the operator of the facsimile machine 10 can be used to send out the melody sound as a hold tone, making the facsimile machine 1 inexpensive.
When set to 0, a melody sound can be played as a hold tone.

In this way, the hold tone and reception notification tone can be output as a melody tone using the existing tone signal generation circuit 32 according to the melody data table in the RAM 43.
It is possible to reduce the cost of the facsimile machine IO that can output a melody sound as a hold tone and a reception notification tone.

〔effect〕

According to the invention set forth in claim 1, the melody sound is combined with tone frequency data and 1/2 for each frequency.
The information on the duration time of the melody and 7 is stored in the melody storage means, and when an operator makes a call request, the melody sound is outputted as a call notification based on the data Q in the melody storage means. Bell duck ω for call notification can be
It is possible to reduce costs by eliminating the need for electronics and drive circuits, and it can also cause discomfort to people around you. The distributor may be notified that the distribution has been made.As a result,
It is possible to quickly respond to call requests and improve the usability and convenience of the facsimile machine! can be done.

According to the invention set forth in claim 2, 5, the melody sound is divided into one frequency data and one for each frequency.
・The melody is stored in the melody storage means as information on the tone duration data, and when an operation call request is made, the melody sound is audibly output as a call notification based on the data in the melody storage means, and when on hold. , based on the day and evening within the same melody storage means.

Since the day tone can be sent to the line as a hold tone, the voice of the day memory T means can be shared between the call notification tone and the hold tone, making the In addition to being able to output the melody ``,'', and ``-'', it can also be used as a hold tone, or as a call notification?:) and (-7) to output the melody.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the invention as claimed in claims 1 and 2. FIG. The figure shows the second day data table, and FIG. 3 shows the first part of the melody sound output process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional call notification sound output device. 10...Facsimile machine, 11...Network control unit, 12...Modem, 13...System control unit 1. 14... Operation display section, 15... Facsimile unit section, 16...
... Telephone, 17 ... Loudspeaker means, 18 ... Data bus, 21 ... Line switching I/- 22 ... Dial pulse sending relay 23・～
...Transformer, 24... Calling signal detection unit, 31...Modulation/demodulation circuit, 32...Tone signal generation circuit, 33...
- Tone signal detection circuit, 41...CPtJ. 42...ROM. 43...R, AM. 44...110 boats, f1~fn...Tone frequency data, tl;t
n...Duration data, L...Line. Figure 1: Employed Patent Attorney, Part of the Armed Forces

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile machine equipped with a telephone, an automatic call termination type network control means, and a tone signal generation means for sending a tone signal for a facsimile control signal to a storage line, a melody sound is combined with tone frequency data for each frequency. melody storage means for storing the tone duration data as information on the tone duration data; and amplification output means for amplifying the tone signal output from the tone signal generation means, and when an operator call request is made, the data in the melody storage means is A facsimile apparatus characterized in that a tone signal generating means converts a melody sound into a tone signal based on the following, and then amplifies the melody sound as a call notification by an amplification output means. (2) A facsimile device comprising a telephone, a hold function for holding a call on the telephone, an automatic call termination type network control means, and a tone signal generation means for transmitting a tone signal for a facsimile control signal to a receiving line. The operator further comprises: melody storage means for storing melody sounds as information of tone frequency data and tone duration data for each frequency; and amplification output means for amplifying and outputting the tone signal output from the tone signal generation means. At the time of a call request, the melody sound is converted into a tone signal by the tone signal generating means based on the data in the melody storage means, and then amplified output as a call notification by the amplification output means. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that the melody tone is converted into a tone signal by the tone signal generating means based on the data, and then the melody tone is sent to the line as a hold tone.