JPH04242364A - Automatic changeover method for facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To devise the method such that a facsimile signal is received without changeover even when an opposite equipment is a facsimile equipment while a telephone set is hooked of at the arrival of an incoming call and to allow the operator of the telephone set to recognize the changeover to the facsimile equipment. CONSTITUTION:This method is applied to a facsimile equipment having an extension telephone set or an ancillary telephone set kept in standy mode. When the operator hooks off the extension telephone set or the ancillary telephone set on the arrival of an incoming call (S1), after the hook-off is confirmed (S2), the presence of a non-voice terminal call signal such as a CNG signal or the like is detected (S3). When the call signal is detected, the telephone line is switched to the facsimile connection mode (S4) and also the voice message representing the changeover to a slave telephone set is imparted (S5).

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for automatically switching a facsimile machine connected to an extension telephone or an attached telephone to a facsimile connection mode when an incoming call is received.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many facsimile machines have been used which are equipped with an attached telephone or which have a slave telephone connected through an extension line. In such a facsimile with a telephone, when set to a telephone standby mode, if the other party is using a facsimile when the telephone is picked up, the facsimile is switched to a facsimile connection mode by manual operation such as pressing a communication button.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of an extension telephone, if the caller is using a facsimile when the caller picks up the telephone as described above, the receiver must go to a facsimile machine that is far from the extension telephone, and then communicate. You have to press the button. Therefore, there is a problem that the switching operation takes time and effort.

[0004] Even if the telephone is attached to a facsimile machine, if a person who is not familiar with operating the facsimile machine picks up the telephone, he or she may not know how to switch the machine, and it may take some time to do so, and the line may be disconnected without communication being possible. It may break. In particular, when using a facsimile machine installed at home, there are many opportunities for people who are inexperienced in operating it to make calls.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to enable the operator to receive a facsimile without performing a switching operation even if the other party is using a facsimile when he or she picks up the phone upon receiving an incoming call, and to enable the operator to know that the call has been switched to a facsimile. To provide a convenient automatic facsimile switching method.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The structure of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment. This automatic switching method is
Applies to facsimile machines with telephones when in telephone standby mode. First, when an operator takes an extension or an attached telephone off-hook due to an incoming call (S1), after confirming this off-hook (S2), the presence or absence of a calling signal from a non-voice terminal is detected (S3). When this ringing signal is detected, the telephone line is switched to facsimile connection mode in response to the detection (S4), and a voice message to the effect of switching is given to the telephone (S5).

[0007]

[Operation] According to this method, when a call is received and the telephone is picked up, even if the other party is using a facsimile, the mode is automatically switched to the facsimile connection mode without any switching operation. Therefore, facsimiles can be received without performing any switching operations. The operator of the telephone will also be informed by a voice message that the telephone has been switched to facsimile.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a facsimile machine to which the method of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 2, a telephone line L is connected to a main control section 4 via a CML relay 2 and a modem 3 of an NCU 1, which is a network control device, and the main control section 4 has a recording section 5, a reading section 6, and a modem 3. An operation/display unit 7 is connected. Also, N
An extension or an attached slave telephone 9 is connected via the CML relay 2 of the CU 1.

[0010] The main control unit 4 includes a CPU, a ROM, and an RA.
A control program for controlling the entire facsimile machine is written in the ROM. A part of this control program is provided with automatic switching control means 8 for control operations, which will be explained later with reference to FIG.

The recording section 5 is a means for printing the received image data, and is composed of, for example, a thermal head, a recording paper feeding mechanism, and the like. The reading unit 6 is a means for reading a document, and is composed of an image sensor such as a CCD, a document feeding mechanism, and the like.

The operation/display section 7 is provided with various operation keys such as a numeric keypad for dialing and communication buttons, and a liquid crystal display panel for displaying characters of a telephone number and destination name. The communication button is used for both a command to start sending a document and a command to manually switch to the facsimile side when receiving a document.

[0013] In addition to switching by the CML relay 2, the NCU 1 has functions such as connection control of the telephone network, such as starting and restoring an exchange, sending out a selection signal, and receiving a call signal, and is a non-voice terminal. A calling signal detection circuit 10 is provided. This detection circuit 10 is a circuit that detects a non-voice terminal calling signal such as a CNG signal from a calling terminal and sends a detection signal e to the main control section 4. The NCU 1 is controlled by the main control section 4, and the CML relay 2 can be switched by a switching command a from the main control section 4 and a switching command b from the operation/display section 7.

The child telephone 9 has a hook switch 12, a speech network 13 having a communication circuit, etc., as well as a handset, a push dial (none of which are shown), and the like. The on/off state of the hook switch 12 is determined by the detection signal c.
The information is transmitted to the main control unit 4 via.

[0015] The voice message storage means 11 is connected to the slave telephone 9.
It consists of a voice ROM etc. that stores voice messages to be sent to the child telephone 9, and sends voice messages to the slave telephone 9 in response to a read command d from the main control section 4.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. The figure shows the case of telephone standby mode, that is, the C of NCU1.
The operation at the time of receiving a call when the ML relay 2 is connected to the child phone 9 and on standby is shown.

When the operator off-hooks the slave telephone 9 due to an incoming call (S1), the automatic switching control means 8 of the main control section 4
After confirming the off-hook detection signal c (S2), the presence or absence of the non-voice terminal call signal CNG from the calling side is detected (S3). When the calling signal CNG is detected, the automatic switching control means 8 switches the CML relay 2 in response to the detection signal e.
At the same time as changing the state of connection to the modem 3 (S4), the voice message stored in the voice message storage means 11 is transferred to the slave phone 9.
(S5). The voice message may be, for example, ``We will switch to a facsimile, so please hang up the phone.'' Either switching (S4) or message sending (S5) may be performed first.

If the CNG signal is not detected in the judgment process of step 3, the state in which the CML relay 2 is connected to the slave telephone 9 side is maintained, and conversation on the slave telephone 9 is possible (S6
).

This automatic switching method is as follows:
Even if the other party is a facsimile machine when you receive a facsimile, you can receive a facsimile without having to perform a switching operation. Therefore, this is particularly convenient when the slave telephone 9 is an extension telephone and is installed at a location far from the facsimile machine.

[0020] Furthermore, since the operator of the slave telephone 9 is informed by a voice message that the facsimile has been switched,
The operator does not have to worry about the connection state. Therefore, even in a home facsimile or the like where a person who is not familiar with the operation often has the opportunity to pick up the slave phone 9, it can be used with confidence and is convenient.

In this facsimile device, the slave telephone 9
Automatic switching in the case of not going off-hook is performed using a conventional general method. For example, if the call is not off-hook within a set time after receiving a call, the CML relay 2 is switched to the facsimile side.

If a facsimile call is received while the CML relay 2 is on standby on the facsimile side, facsimile communication is performed as is.

Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the case where there is only one slave telephone 9, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a plurality of slave telephones 9 are connected. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a cordless telephone in which the wiring between the NCU 1 and the slave telephone 9 is replaced with a wireless one.

[0024]

[Effects of the Invention] The automatic facsimile switching method of the present invention switches the telephone line to facsimile connection mode in response to the detection of a ringing signal from a non-voice terminal after confirming that the telephone is off-hook. , facsimiles can be received without any switching operations. Therefore, it is especially convenient when picking up a telephone located far from the facsimile machine.

[0025] Furthermore, since the operator of the telephone is informed of the change to facsimile by a voice message, the operator does not feel anxious. Therefore, it can be used safely and conveniently even in homes where people who are not familiar with facsimile operations often have the opportunity to make calls.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an automatic switching method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus with telephone to which this automatic switching method is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...NCU, 2...CML relay, 3...Modem, 4...Main control unit, 8...Automatic switching control means, 9...Slave telephone, 10...Non-voice terminal call signal detection circuit, 11...Voice message storage means, 12... Hook switch, CNG...non-voice terminal calling signal, L...telephone line, a...switching signal, c...detection signal, e...
detection signal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a telephone standby mode of a facsimile device with a telephone, the process of detecting the presence or absence of a ringing signal of a non-voice terminal after confirming that the telephone is off-hook, and disconnecting the telephone line in response to the detection of the ringing signal. A method for automatic facsimile switching comprising the steps of: switching to facsimile connection mode and providing a voice message to the telephone to the effect of automatic switching.