JPH0417499B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a facsimile device having an automatic reception function and a manual reception function.

In a facsimile device that has both an automatic reception function and a manual reception function, if the automatic reception function (absentee reception function) is set, images can be automatically received without operator intervention. If you set it to the manual reception function, the telephone is connected to the line, so you can talk to the other party just like you would with a normal telephone.
At this time, if the calling side uses a facsimile machine to transmit the image, the called side sends out a response signal by pressing a button, switches the line to the facsimile machine, and starts receiving operations. That is, in the latter manual reception mode, operator intervention is required for image transmission.

By the way, in relatively small business establishments, facsimile machines are often not assigned dedicated lines, but are shared with telephones. In such places, when no one is handling the telephone, such as at night, images can be automatically received by setting the telephone to automatic reception mode. However, if you always set it to automatic reception mode, you will not be able to make a call if you receive an incoming call. Therefore, in such offices, facsimile machines are set to manual reception mode when an operator is present, and switched to automatic reception mode only when the operator is absent.

Conventional facsimile devices of this type require mode switching as described above when sharing a line. Therefore, if the user forgets to switch to the automatic reception mode, there is a drawback that images cannot be received at night, etc., even though the automatic reception function exists.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile device that can automatically receive calls without operator intervention even when set to the automatic receive function.

In the present invention, when the cycle of the ringing signal sent from the exchange is repeated more than a predetermined number of times, it is assumed that there is no telephone operator on the receiving side, and the facsimile device is temporarily switched to automatic reception. , to achieve the above objectives.

The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples below.

FIG. 1 shows a facsimile device that shares a line with a telephone. Line 1 is splitter 2
It is designed to be connected to a facsimile device 3 and a telephone 4 via. The facsimile device includes a facsimile main body 31 having automatic reception and manual reception functions, a ring detection circuit 32 for detecting a calling signal, and a counting circuit 33 for counting pulsed calling signals.

The case where the facsimile machine is set to manual reception mode will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the manual reception mode, the line 1 is connected to the telephone 4 and the ring detection circuit 32 in the facsimile device 3. At this time, the facsimile device 3 is in a standby state. When a facsimile device (not shown) on the sending side dials the telephone number of the telephone 4, a calling signal 34 is sent to the telephone 4 from an exchange (also not shown). The ringing signal 34 is normally a 16 Hz, 75 V signal that is repeatedly sent out for 1 second and then cut off for 2 seconds. The telephone 4 converts this into an audible signal and outputs a ringing tone that is emitted for 1 second and interrupted for 2 seconds. If there is an operator on the receiving side, the ring tone causes the handset of the telephone 4 to be picked up and a call is made. After this, when the operator on the receiving side confirms the ready signal sent from the sending side and sends a response signal, the first
A facsimile signal is supplied to input terminal ₁ of. As a result, the recording operation by the facsimile main body 31 is started.

On the other hand, if there is no operator on the receiving side, the telephone 4 will repeatedly output the ringing tone. The ring detection circuit 32 detects the ringing signal 34 when the ringing tone is being output. Then, a call detection pulse 35 is output every cycle of the call signal 34. The call detection pulse 35 is supplied to both the counting circuit 33 and the second input terminal ₂ of the facsimile body 31. If the facsimile main body 31 is in the automatic reception mode, a response signal is immediately sent and a recording operation is started. However, in the manual signal mode being explained,
The facsimile body 31 receives this call detection pulse 35.
ignore.

On the other hand, the counting circuit 33 counts the number of call detection pulses 35 and determines whether or not it has been counted up to a predetermined value. When the count value is reached [;YES], carry signal 3
Output 6. When the carry signal 36 is supplied to the third input terminal ₃ of the facsimile main body 31,
For example, a flip-flop circuit (not shown) is set to switch to automatic reception mode. If the call detection pulse 35 is cut off before reaching the count value [;NO], the manual reception mode remains []. This state occurs when the operator picks up the handset of the telephone 4 or when the transmitting side cancels transmission for some reason. Therefore, the count value should not be too small, nor should it be too large. In this embodiment, this count value is set to "10".

The carry signal 36 is the third one of the facsimile main body 31.
When the signal is supplied to input terminal ₃ of , and switching to automatic reception mode is performed, a series of automatic reception operations is executed. That is, when the telephone set 4 is disconnected from the line 1, a response signal is sent from the facsimile body 31 to the sending facsimile device, and thereafter the control signal is transmitted and the image signal is received.

The facsimile body determines whether or not the series of reception operations has been completed [], and if the reception operation has not been completed [;NO], it continues to be maintained in the automatic reception mode. Reception operation ends [;YES]
A reset signal is supplied to the flip-flop circuit mentioned above, and the automatic reception mode is canceled. At the same time, the facsimile device 3 enters a state in which it waits for the next reception in manual reception mode. At this time,
The telephone is now connected to line 1 again.

It goes without saying that the same circuit operations as in the above-described embodiments can be processed by software using a microcomputer or the like.

As explained above, according to the present invention, automatic reception is temporarily performed in the manual reception mode, so there is an advantage that facsimile reception can be performed even when the operator is not present in the room. In addition, not only can a single line be shared between a telephone and a facsimile device, but if the line is always set to manual reception mode, reception problems can occur due to forgetting to switch, unlike conventional facsimile devices with a reception mode switching function. do not have. That is, with only one line, it is possible to operate as if there were two lines, a telephone line and a facsimile line, and both can coexist at low cost. This becomes even clearer by considering the following specific case.

(b) When the receiving party is in manual reception mode and the calling party makes a call from a facsimile line telephone In this case, the receiving party's operator is in the room and hangs up the phone before the number of rings reaches the specified number. If you pick it up, you can talk straight away. Then, when the receiving side manually connects the facsimile to the line, a response signal confirming the line connection is returned to the calling side, so the sending side can start sending the image information by pressing the start transmission button etc. can. Conversely, if the operator is absent and does not pick up the handset before the number of rings reaches a predetermined number, the facsimile is automatically connected to the line and a response signal confirming the line connection is returned to the calling party. Transmission of image information is started by pressing a transmission start button or the like.

(b) When the receiving party is in manual reception mode and the calling party makes a call from a telephone.

In this case, if the receiving operator is present in the room and picks up the phone within a predetermined time, the call can be continued. On the other hand, if the operator is absent and does not pick up the handset before the number of repeated rings reaches a predetermined number, the facsimile is automatically connected to the line and a response signal is returned to the calling party to confirm the line connection. , calls cannot be made.

(c) When the receiving party is in automatic reception mode and the calling party makes a call from a facsimile telephone.

In this case, the facsimile is immediately connected to the line and a response signal confirming the line connection is returned to the calling party, so that the calling party can start transmitting the image information by pressing a transmission start button or the like.

(d) When the receiving party is in automatic reception mode and the calling party makes a call from a telephone.

In this case, the facsimile is immediately connected to the line and a response signal confirming line connection is returned to the calling party, but the call cannot be made.

Of these, (c) and (d) operate in the same way as a normal automatic reception facsimile device, but the effects of (a) and (c) have a remarkable degree that cannot occur with a conventional facsimile device. In addition, the following effects will occur.

(e) For example, when a facsimile device is used in a small business or private home, it would be a heavy financial burden to provide a dedicated line for the facsimile device in addition to the telephone line for telephone calls. The facsimile device of the present invention has great effects.

(f) In other words, not only can you simply share the phone line and facsimile line, but if you set it to manual reception mode, you can use only one line as if you were using two telephone lines and a facsimile line.
can be made to behave as if it existed. Therefore, there is an effect that a facsimile device can be introduced at low cost.

(g) With conventional facsimile devices that have automatic reception and manual reception modes, when the phone line for calls and the line for the facsimile device are shared, the mode is set to manual reception mode when the operator is present, and the mode is switched to manual reception mode when the operator is present. It was necessary to set it to automatic reception mode when this happened.

(H) Therefore, conventionally, if the operator forgot to switch to automatic reception mode when leaving the room, it was impossible to receive image information.

(li) On the other hand, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, even if the operator forgets to switch to the automatic reception mode when leaving the machine, that is, even if the operator remains in the manual reception mode, it is possible to automatically receive image information.

(J) After the automatic reception ends, the telephone returns to manual reception mode, so it can be used as a telephone for telephone calls after the operator returns.

As explained above, according to the present invention, if a telephone line already exists, the operation can be performed as if there were two lines: a telephone line and a facsimile line, without adding a new facsimile line. You can make it happen. Therefore, there is an effect that the facsimile device can be introduced at low cost. In addition, even if the operator is present in the room, you can make normal calls by picking up the handset before switching to automatic reception mode, so one telephone can be used for both calls and facsimile communication. It also has the advantage of being able to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile device that shares a line with a telephone, and Fig. 2 shows a series of operations of this facsimile device in manual reception mode. This is a flowchart. 2...Separator, 3...Facsimile device,
31...facsimile body, 32...ring detection circuit, 33...counting circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Detection means for detecting a call signal sent from an exchange in a state set to a manual reception mode that requires operator intervention to receive images; and a call detected by the detection means. a counting means for counting the number of periodic repetitions of the signal; and when the number of said repetitions counted by the counting means reaches a predetermined number of times or more, the facsimile body is operated until the electronic transmission of the image signal is completed; while,
1. A facsimile device comprising: switching means for switching to an automatic reception mode that does not require operator intervention and then returning to a manual reception mode.