JPH04175059A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operating efficiency by setting the priority of an incoming call at random by means of the adjustment of a delay timer value defined as response permission time for the incoming call after it is come in. CONSTITUTION:When an effective call has come into each terminal of a system of a certain construction from an ISDN 1, a facsimile equipment 2a in whose delay timer is set at the smallest value first returns the response message to the ISDN 1. When the facsimile equipment does not respond, the call is come into a facsimile equipment 2b whose delay timer is set at the next smallest value. Thus, by setting the delay timer to the smaller value against the incoming call from a customer so that the higher priority of the incoming call can be given, transaction can be effectively executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile device that is operated by connecting to an integrated digital service network (hereinafter referred to as ■SDN).1.
In particular, it relates to improvements in response control for incoming calls from I5DNs.

(Prior Art) As is well known, in I5DN, it is possible to connect a plurality of terminals to one communication line.

Some terminals of this type are capable of automatically accepting incoming calls, including facsimile machines.

Traditionally, a single facsimile machine with an automatic answering function was used.
In a system in which a plurality of facsimile machines are connected to a 5DN line, when a valid call is received for all of these facsimile machines, the receiving terminal is determined by the answering device on a first-come, first-served basis.

For this reason, it is completely uncertain to which of these terminals an incoming call from the 15DN is transferred, and it is not always possible to perform an incoming call response operation in an optimal situation.

In order to resolve this inconvenience, a method of specifying the destination facsimile machine using a dial-in function or sub-address function may be considered.

However, when using these functions, the monthly usage fee is high (particularly, the monthly usage fee is added specially for the dial-in function), which is disadvantageous in terms of operational costs.

In addition, these functions do not allow you to specify the destination of the call from the existing telephone network, and are set so that only the designated terminal responds, so even if this designated terminal is in communication, other terminals may not be able to receive the call. Even if there was a call, there were inconveniences such as not being able to accept the call.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the above-mentioned conventional facsimile machines have a uniform response operation to incoming calls from an L5DN, and the incoming calls are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
In a system where multiple facsimile machines are connected on a line, when a valid call is received on all of these machines, it is uncertain which machine receives the call each time, and the incoming call response action reflects the circumstances of the called party. The problem was that it was not possible to do so.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems, and provides a facsimile machine that can specify a receiving terminal to some extent without using a dial-in function or a subaddress function, and that can perform efficient call response control that reflects the convenience of the called party. The purpose is to

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a facsimile device that is connected to and operates an integrated digital service network, and after an incoming call from the integrated digital service network is detected, a response operation for the incoming call is permitted. an incoming call delay timer value setting means for setting the time until the end of the incoming call as an incoming delay timer value; an incoming call acceptance message sending means for sending a message indicating acceptance of the incoming call to the integrated digital service network upon detection of the incoming call; the incoming call delay timer value clocking means for starting counting the incoming call delay timer value from the time when the incoming call delay timer value expires; and the control means for controlling the incoming call to respond to the incoming call upon expiration of the timing of the incoming call delay timer value. Ru.

(Function) The facsimile device of the present invention, when receiving a call from l5DN,
After sending an incoming call acceptance message such as a call setup acceptance message or a paging message to the l5DN to indicate the intention to respond, each terminal starts counting the set delay timer value, and the count expires. It is only when this happens that each terminal operates individually to respond to the incoming call.

In other words, the present invention specifies the time from when a call is received from an 15DN until response operation permission for the call is granted as a delay timer value, and by setting this delay timer value for each terminal, the priority order of the call can be controlled. This is what I did.

According to the facsimile device of the present invention, a desired incoming call priority can be set by adjusting the delay timer value set for each terminal, thereby realizing a call response operation that reflects the convenience of the called party to some extent. can.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, if a terminal with a high priority for incoming calls is in communication and cannot respond, a terminal with the next highest priority responds, so it is possible to easily avoid a situation in which incoming calls are rejected or irregularly received.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

In Figure 1, 1 is l5DN and 2 is (7) I
This is a facsimile device of the present invention that is operated by connecting to SDNI.

Here, the facsimile device 2 is made up of various components indicated by reference numerals 21 to 29. Of these, 21 is a network control unit that controls connection with the 15DNI, etc., and 22 is an incoming call detection unit that detects incoming calls through the network control unit 21. 23 is a paging message sending section that sends a paging message through the network control section 21; 24 is a delay timer value setting section that sets a delay timer value to be described later; and 25 is a delay timer counter that counts the set delay timer value. 26 is a response message sending unit that sends out a response message through the network control unit 21, 27 is a facsimile communication control unit that controls facsimile communication through the network control unit 21, and 28 is the network control unit 21 and incoming call detection unit 22 described above. , a main control unit that centrally controls the calling message sending unit 23, the delay timer value setting unit 24, the delay timer counting unit 25, the response message sending unit 26, and the facsimile communication control unit 27;
A bus 29 connects each of these circuit sections and the main control section 29.

This facsimile machine W2 has a specified time period from when it receives a call from the 15DNI until it is allowed to respond to the call, as the above-mentioned delay timer value, based on human power from an operation panel, etc. (not shown). It is set in advance in the delay timer value setting section 24.

Hereinafter, an example of the incoming call operation in the facsimile machine 2 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the facsimile device 2 is notified of an incoming call from the 15DNI, the network control unit 21 recognizes this, and the incoming call detection unit 22 detects whether the incoming call is valid.

Here, if it is detected that the incoming call is valid, the paging message sending unit 23 outputs a paging message to notify the 15DNI that the incoming call has been accepted;
This is sent to the 15DNI through the network control unit 21 (S
201).

Next, the main control unit 28 reads the delay timer value set there from the delay timer value setting unit 24 (5202), and at the same time reads the delay timer value set therein from the delay timer value setting unit 24 (5202).
5 to immediately start counting the delay timer value (5203).

Thereafter, the main control section 28 monitors the counting operation of the delay timer counting section 25 until the counting of the delay timer value expires, and during that time, performs the following processing.

First, after starting counting the delay timer value at 8203, the main control unit 28 monitors the incoming call status of the network control unit 21, and
It is determined whether or not a disconnection message indicating cancellation of the incoming call has been received from the 5DNI (S204).

Here, if the disconnection message has not been received, the main control unit 28 next determines whether the count of the delay timer value has expired (S205).

Here, until the count has not expired, the process returns to step 5204 and continues monitoring the incoming call status from the 15DNI and the delay timer count status (S204.205).

During this time, if the count of the delay timer value expires without receiving a disconnection message from the 15DNI, the main control unit 28 executes the following process to respond to the current incoming call.

First, the main control section 28 activates the response message sending section 26 to output a response message, and sends this to the 15DNI through the network control section 21 (S206).

Next, the main control unit 28 determines that this response message is 15DN.
It is determined from the state of the network control unit 21 whether or not a disconnection message indicating this has been received from the I5DNI (S207).

Here, if no disconnection message is received, the main control unit 28 further determines whether or not a response confirmation message indicating that the response message has been successfully accepted is received from the I5DNI (S208).

If no acknowledgment message is received here,
The main control unit 28 returns to the process of 5207 and repeatedly monitors the incoming call status from the 15DNI (S207, 20
8).

During this time, if a response confirmation message is received at 5208, the facsimile communication control unit 27 is immediately activated and facsimile communication processing is started for the first time (S
209).

With the above control, according to the present invention, the response operation of each facsimile machine connected to the 15DN2 is only permitted when the delay timer value 9 counts preset in each of these terminals has expired. The incoming call priority is controlled.

1 In addition, in the processing operations until the incoming call response is established in 5209, if a disconnection message is received from the 15DNI before the delay timer value expires in 5204, the main control unit 28 stops the counting by the delay timer counting unit 25. Control to stop immediately (S 2
10).

Furthermore, at the same time as resetting the count of the delay timer value, the main control section 28 instructs the facsimile communication control section 27 to send a release message indicating a recovery request to the I5DN1 to the I5DN1 through the network control section 21 (S211).
).

Thereafter, in response to this release message, it is determined whether the network control unit 21 receives a release completion message indicating recovery confirmation from the 15DN1 (5212), and if the release completion message is received within a predetermined time, all The processing operation is stopped and the process returns to the standby state (5212).

Note that the processing operations after 5211 are performed in the same way even when a disconnection message is received from the 15DNI in the processing at 8207 after the delay timer value has expired.

As described above, in the present invention, when receiving a call from the 15DNI, each terminal starts counting the delay timer value set in the terminal, and responds to the call only when the count expires.

Therefore, even if a system is assumed to consist of a plurality of terminals connected to one I5DN, the incoming call response priority can be determined by setting the delay timer value for each terminal.

An example of the operation mode according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. 3.

That is, FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a system in which three facsimile machines 28 to 2c according to the present invention are housed in one I5DNI.

This system uses three facsimile machines 2a to 2C.
As shown in the figure, the delay timer values for the facsimile machine W2a are set to 0 seconds, the facsimile machine 2b to 1 second, and the facsimile machine 2c to 2 seconds.

When a valid call is received from the I5DNI to each terminal in a system having such a configuration, the facsimile machine 2a to which the shortest delay timer value has been set will first send a response message back to the I5DNI.

Here, if the facsimile machine 2a with the highest priority is already in a state such as receiving a call and cannot respond to the current call,
The incoming call will then be sent to the facsimile machine 2b to which the shortest delay timer value has been set.

Furthermore, if the facsimile machine 2b with the second priority cannot respond to the incoming call due to the same reasons as described above, the incoming call will be sent to the facsimile machine 2c for which the longest delay timer value has been set.

Therefore, when dealing with this incoming call operation from the user side,
If the presence or absence of an incoming call is confirmed in the facsimile machines 2a, 2b, and 2c in this order, the incoming facsimile output can be efficiently obtained.

Note that the specific setting value of the delay timer value may be determined in accordance with the priority order that matches the desired form of incoming call.

For example, if you have a facsimile machine that uses a recording method for plain paper and a facsimile machine that uses thermal recording, and you would normally like to receive data using a facsimile machine that only uses plain paper, you can set the delay timer value of this facsimile machine to thermal recording. By setting the length shorter than that of conventional facsimile machines and setting the incoming call priority higher, the desired incoming call operation can be achieved.

In addition, in the above embodiment, only the operation in which the delay timer value is set in advance for each terminal before the system startup is described, but as another embodiment, it is possible to set the delay timer value in advance for each terminal before starting the system. Alternatively, the incoming call delay timer value may be set.

Using this method, for example, by setting a shorter delay timer value for incoming calls from Hikari Highlights to increase the priority of incoming calls, transactions can be carried out efficiently.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the delay timer value may be set while paying attention to the communication mode information in the information notified from the I5DN1 at the time of incoming call.

Using this method, for example, if you set a shorter delay timer value for incoming G4 facsimile calls than for incoming calls in other modes, G4 facsimile communication can be
This can be carried out preferentially over facsimile communications, etc., and operational efficiency can be further improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the facsimile device of the present invention, after receiving a call, the facsimile device of the present invention prioritizes the incoming call by adjusting the delay timer value defined as the response permission time for the incoming call. Since the order can be set arbitrarily, incoming call response control is realized that fully responds to requests from the receiving party, such as when a nearby facsimile machine or a facsimile machine with good recording performance wants to receive calls preferentially. It has the excellent advantage of dramatically increasing operational efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an incoming call operation of the facsimile device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the facsimile device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a method. 1...l5DN (Integrated Digital Service Wri, 2.2
a~2C...Facsimile machine, 21...Network control unit,
22... Incoming call detection section, 23... Calling message sending section, 24... Delay timer value setting section, 25... Delay timer counting section, 26... Response message sending section, 27... Facsimile communication Control unit, 28... Main control unit, 29... Bus Figure 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile machine that is connected to and operated with an integrated digital service network, set the time period from when an incoming call from the integrated digital service network is detected until a response operation for the incoming call is permitted as an incoming call delay timer value. incoming call delay timer value setting means for setting the incoming call delay timer value; incoming call acceptance message sending means for sending a message indicating acceptance of the incoming call to the integrated digital service network upon detection of the incoming call; A facsimile apparatus comprising: an incoming call delay timer value clocking unit that starts time counting; and a control unit that controls the incoming call to be answered upon expiration of the incoming call delay timer value. (2) After detecting an incoming call, the incoming call delay timer value is set based on the calling terminal information in the incoming call information from the integrated digital service network. facsimile machine. (3) The facsimile according to claim (1), wherein after detecting an incoming call, the incoming call delay timer value is set based on communication mode information in the incoming call information from the integrated digital service network. Device.