JPH04120952A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily execute the operation of communication using an acoustic coupler by providing a first means to detect a component interrupting the communication from data inputted from the acoustic coupler, and a second means to output a message corresponding to the detected component when it exceeds a value decided in advance. CONSTITUTION:The inside of a main body 1 is equipped with a network control part 11, MODEM 12, communication control part 13, encoding/decoding part 14 and system control part 15 and between an acoustic coupler 2 and the network control part 11 of the main body 1, a noise detection filter 18 which is attachable and detachable through both connecting terminals is mounted When a first means 18 detects the component interrupting the communication from the data inputted from the acoustic coupler 2 and the detected component exceeds the value decided in advance, second means 4 and 15 output the message corresponding to the component. Thus, when executing communication, it can be easily judged whether surrounding noise interrupts the communication or not.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine equipped with an acoustic coupler for connection to a public telephone line.

[Prior Art] In recent years, the demand for portable facsimile devices has been increasing due to the miniaturization, weight reduction, and reduction in price of office automation equipment and the spread of mobile communications such as car phones.

Conventionally, some facsimile apparatuses have used an acoustic coupler that can be attached to a telephone handset and connected to a public line as a means for connecting to a public line at a destination.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, facsimile machines that communicate by connecting directly to public lines can provide relatively stable communication, even if the data modulated during communication may be erroneous due to electrical impulse noise, etc. However, in facsimile machines that use acoustic couplers such as those mentioned above, noise is likely to be introduced because the data that is modulated during communication is converted into voice by the acoustic coupler, and this noise can interfere with communication. Put it away.

Therefore, when communicating, users must judge from experience whether or not surrounding noise will interfere with the communication, which poses a problem in that communication operations cannot be easily performed. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily perform communication operations using an acoustic coupler.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a facsimile device that connects to a public line and communicates with other facsimile devices by attaching an acoustic coupler to the handset of a telephone. A first means for detecting a component that interferes with communication from data input from the coupler, and a second means for outputting a corresponding message when the component detected by the means exceeds a predetermined value. It was established.

Further, it is preferable to provide a variable threshold setting means for variably setting a threshold for determining the success or failure of modem training when the component detected by the first means exceeds a predetermined value.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the first means is a noise detection filter and is detachably provided so that filters with different characteristics can be selected and used.

[Function] In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, when the first means detects a component that interferes with communication from the data input from the acoustic coupler, and when the detected component exceeds a predetermined value, the facsimile apparatus transmits the second means. Since a message is output in accordance with the message, it becomes easy to judge whether or not surrounding noise will interfere with communication when communicating.

Further, when the component detected by the first means exceeds a predetermined value, the threshold variable setting means can variably set a threshold for determining the success or failure of modem training; If the noise detection filter can be replaced with one having different characteristics, it becomes possible to determine whether or not communication is possible depending on the level of surrounding noise.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be specifically described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention with its acoustic coupler attached to a telephone handset.

This facsimile device consists of a main body 1 and an acoustic coupler 2. The main body 1 includes an operation section 3 equipped with various operation keys, an LC
The image forming apparatus includes a display unit 4 which is a display device such as D, a scanner 5 which is an image reading device, and a plotter 6 which is a printing device.

On the other hand, the acoustic coupler 2 has a transmitting section 2a and a receiving section 2b, and is connected to the main body 1 by a cable 7 extending from a connector 1a of the main body 1.

In order to connect this facsimile device to a public line via the telephone set 9, the transmitting section 2a and the receiving section 2b of the acoustic coupler 2 are connected to each other.
are placed so as to face the transmitter and receiver of a handset 10, respectively, and are attached with an attached belt 8 so that the acoustic coupler 2 and the handset 10 are in close contact with each other.

Then, after setting the original on the scanner 5 of the main body L in this state, facsimile transmission is performed by pressing the transmission start button on the operation section 3, and the plotter 6 uses the image data received by facsimile to print the image data. Perform printing, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal and external configuration of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

In addition to the parts shown in Figure 2, this facsimile machine also includes:
A network control section 11 is provided inside the main body 1. Modem 12, communication control section 13. It is equipped with an encoding/decoding section 14 and a system control section 15, and each of these sections is connected to a bus 16 which is a communication line.
connected by.

On the other hand, the acoustic coupler 2 has a built-in hybrid circuit 17, and a noise detection filter 18 that can be attached and detached between it and the network control section 11 of the main body 1 via the connection terminals on both sides.
is installed.

The main part of this facsimile machine is implemented by a microcomputer.

The operation section 3 is an input device equipped with various input keys and function instruction keys, and is used to input an instruction to start transmitting a document, input an instruction for a heart sound check mode function to check surrounding noise, and the like.

The display section 4 displays operation guides, various messages, etc. when executing the noise check mode function or when transmitting/receiving facsimile.

The scanner 5 reads an image of a document printed in monochrome or full color and converts it into image data for facsimile transmission.

The plotter 6 prints a monochrome print or a full color print on printing paper based on the image data received by facsimile, or prints a message of the check result when executing the noise check mode function.

The network control unit 11 performs processing to detect signals input from the public line, and sends communication data sent from the noise detection filter 18 to the modem 12.

The modem 12 performs a process of modulating communication data such as image data sent from the communication control unit 13 and a process of demodulating communication data such as received image data received from the network control unit 11.

The communication control unit 13 performs processing related to communication for transmitting and receiving various signals, image data, etc. through public lines based on communication protocols (rules).

The encoding/decoding unit 14 performs processes such as compressing image data of a document to be transmitted and decompressing received image data.

The system control section 15 is in charge of overall control of the facsimile apparatus, and performs processing related to the execution of the noise check mode function, processing related to the aforementioned variable threshold value setting, and various types of processing during facsimile communication.

The hybrid circuit 17 of the acoustic coupler 2 converts the transmitting section 2a and the receiving section 2b into two wires, transmits image data etc. sent from the main body 1 to the public line through the transmitting section 2a, and receives data input from the public line through the receiving section 2b. Image data etc. are sent to the noise detection filter 18.

The noise detection filter 18 is equipped with a switch 18a that serves as a trigger for instructing the start and end of noise detection.The switch 18a is turned on in response to an instruction to execute the noise check mode function from the operation unit 3, and the acoustic coupler 2 is turned on. When a component that interferes with communication is detected from the data input to the receiving section 2b, processing is performed to send a pulse signal to the system control section 15.

That is, the display section 4 and the system control section 15 correspond to the aforementioned second means, the noise detection filter 18 corresponds to the aforementioned first means, and the system control section 15 also serves as the aforementioned threshold variable setting means. There is.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the function of an example of this noise detection filter 18.

This noise detection filter 18 cancels the 400Hz dial tone input from the public line and sends it to the network control unit 11, and detects level 19 of the surrounding noise, which is a predetermined value indicated by a broken line in the figure. For example, when a signal 20 indicated by a circle in the figure is detected, a pulse signal is sent to the system control section 15.

Therefore, it is preferable that the noise detection filter 18 is provided with a variety of different characteristics and selected and installed according to the surrounding noise situation.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4, a description will be given of the processing when the noise check mode function of this facsimile apparatus is executed, and the processing when facsimile reception of document image data is performed after the noise check mode function is completed.

When the user inputs an instruction to execute the noise check mode function from the operation unit 3 in step 1, steps 2 and 3
．． In step 4, the system control unit 15 sets a noise check timer and starts a countdown, and counts the pulse signal (signal that detects the noise level that interferes with communication) sent from the noise detection filter 18 until the timer expires, and calculates the number of noises ( NL).

When the timer times up, proceed to step 5 and set a predetermined value, for example NLO=300, to determine whether or not to interfere with facsimile communication, and set that value and NL
If the NL is greater than 300, proceed to step 6 and the environment is not suitable for using rFAX as a message.
is displayed on the display unit 4 or printed on the plotter 6, and step 7
Terminate the noise check mode function (OFF) by pressing L to finish the process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 5 that NL is 300 or less, the process proceeds to step 8, where it is further determined whether NL is greater than, for example, NL2=200, and if it is, TH2- 30 bits are set as the threshold TH for determining the success or failure of modem training, and the process proceeds to step 13.

If NL is 200 or less in step 8, step 1
0 and further determines whether NL is greater than, for example, NL1 = 100, and if it is greater than NL1, then the value THL-20 bits determined corresponding to NLI in step 11 is set as the threshold for determining the success or failure of modem training. Set as value TH,
Proceed to step 13.

If NL is 100 or less as determined in step 10, the process proceeds to step 12, where THO=10 bits is set as the normal threshold value TH for determining the success or failure of modem training, and the process proceeds to step 13.

In step 13, the message "RFAX is available in an environment J" is displayed on the display section 4 or printed on the plotter 6, and the process advances to step 14 to end the noise check mode function.

That is, Step 5 and Steps 8 to 12 described above are processes for variably setting a threshold value for determining the success or failure of modem training.

Next, when you start facsimile reception in step 15,
Proceeding to step 16, a digital identification signal (DIS signal) is sent to the source facsimile device to inform it of all the functions it has, and in step 17, the source facsimile device selects a function from among the functions notified by the DIS signal. When the digital command signal (DC3 signal) specifying the modem training signal and the modem training signal are received, the process proceeds to step 18.

Step 18 is the step 5 and steps 8 to 12 above.
Compare the threshold value TH for determining the success or failure of modem training set in the process with the number of error bits T in the modem training signal sent from the sending facsimile machine, and if T is greater, then Proceed to step 19,
If T is less than or equal to TH, proceed to step 21.

Then, in step 19, a modem training failure signal (FTT signal) is transmitted to the facsimile machine of the transmission source, and when the transmission source transmits a DC3 signal and a modem training signal for retraining in response to the signal, step 18 The process returns to step 1, and if it is not sent, the process ends.

On the other hand, in step 21, when a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR signal) is transmitted, the process proceeds to step 22, where image information including image data from the sender is received, normal facsimile reception processing is performed, and all processing ends. do.

In the above description, the processing of facsimile reception has been described, but the noise check mode function is also implemented when transmitting a facsimile to check whether or not the transmitted data is interfered with by noise.

Further, the process of variably setting a threshold value for determining the success or failure of modem training may not be performed.

In this way, in this facsimile device, ambient noise is measured with the acoustic coupler attached to the handset of the telephone, so that the reliability of determining the influence of noise on communication is high.

Furthermore, since there is no need to perform facsimile transmission and reception in a location unsuitable for communication, which can cause communication errors, economical efficiency is also improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the facsimile device according to the present invention measures ambient noise when communicating using an acoustic coupler, and determines whether or not the noise interferes with communication. The user can easily communicate using an acoustic coupler.

Furthermore, success or failure of modem training can be determined based on a threshold value that is variably set depending on surrounding noise.

Furthermore, the noise detection filter used for detecting noise can be replaced with one having characteristics depending on the surrounding noise.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal and external configuration of the facsimile device shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the facsimile device according to the present invention with its acoustic coupler attached to the handset of a telephone. , FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the function of an example of the noise detection filter shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing the noise check mode function of this facsimile machine and the processing when receiving a facsimile. 1... Main body of facsimile machine 12... Acoustic coupler 2a... Transmitting section 2b... Receiving section 3...
・Operation unit 5...Scanner 6...Plotter 8...Belt 9...Telephone 10...Handset 11...Network control unit 12...Modem 13...
Communication control unit 14...encoding/decoding unit 15...
System control unit 16...Bus 17...Noise detection filter 18...Hybrid circuit 18a...Hybrid circuit switch a...Connector 4...Display section 7...Cable

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a facsimile machine that connects to a public line and communicates with other facsimile machines by attaching an acoustic coupler to the handset of a telephone, data input from the acoustic coupler interferes with communication. A facsimile device comprising a first means for detecting a component, and a second means for outputting a message corresponding to the detected component when the component detected by the means exceeds a predetermined value. . 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a threshold value for determining success or failure of modem training is variably set when the component detected by the first means exceeds a predetermined value. A facsimile machine characterized by being provided with threshold value variable setting means. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first means is a noise detection filter, and is detachably provided so that filters with different characteristics can be selected and attached. facsimile machine.