JPH04329751A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the equipment to guide automatically the instruction manual of the equipment for the user by storing a document picture of the instruction manual of the equipment and sending the stored picture at the reception of specific code information based on a call of the user. CONSTITUTION:The instruction manual of the equipment is stored in a picture memory 14 of the facsimile equipment 1. When a DTMF signal detection circuit 16a of a network control circuit 16 detects the reception of a specific code by a DTMF signal according to the arrival of a call from a user side facsimile equipment 2, the instruction manual document picture in the memory 14 is sent to the facsimile equipment 2. Thus, the instruction manual of the equipment for the user is implemented automatically without manual intervention.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When a user attempts to use various electronic devices, such as a facsimile machine, for example, and does not know how to operate the device or what to display on the device, he or she usually refers to the instruction manual attached to the device.

However, there are cases where the instruction manual is lost or cannot be referenced. In this case, the user would, for example, call the manufacturer's service center and inquire.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In this case, the service center side has to listen to the user's question and answer it orally, or send a copy of the instruction manual using a facsimile machine, which requires manual effort. There was a problem in that it was time-consuming and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and can provide a service for explaining how to use the equipment to a user without manpower or effort.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To this end, the present invention stores document images of device manuals in a facsimile device, and after receiving a call, the facsimile device identifies the document using a DTMF signal different from the facsimile signal. When code information is received, facsimile signals are transmitted and received in a fixed procedure to transmit the document image.

[0007]

[Operation] The above facsimile device is installed on the service center side, and the user can receive the document image of the manual using a normal facsimile device by calling the service center and operating a touch-tone phone, etc. Can be done. As a result, the service center can provide instructions on how to use the equipment to the user without manpower or effort.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a facsimile machine 1 is disposed on the side of a service center that provides information such as manuals for devices, and a facsimile machine 2 and a touch telephone 3 are disposed on the user side. The facsimile machine 1 and the facsimile machine 3 are connected via a public telephone line network 4.

In the facsimile machine 1, a scanner 11 is used to read original images, and a plotter 12 is used to record and output received images. The encoding/decoding unit 13 compresses the image information to be transmitted, and decodes the received image information to restore the original image information. The image memory 14 stores various images, and in this embodiment, the image memory 14 stores an instruction document image showing how to use the facsimile device 2 on the user's side.

The modem 15 is for transmitting and receiving image information and various procedure signals for transmission control. Network control device 16
is connected to a telephone line and performs predetermined line control when making and receiving calls. This network control device 16 has DTM
F (Dual Tone Multi-Frequ
ency) Signal detection circuit 16a and reception sound sending circuit 16b
and are provided. The DTMF signal detection circuit 16a is
It detects the reception of a DTMF signal from the line, and the acceptance tone sending circuit 16b sends out an acceptance tone, which is a certain tone signal, to the other party when a predetermined DTMF signal is received.

The operation display section 17 is used by the operator to perform various operations and to display the operating status of the apparatus. The system control section 18 is a microphone computer that controls each of the above sections, and the system bus 19 is a signal line through which the above sections exchange various control signals and data with each other.

On the other hand, the facsimile machine 2 on the user side
This is a normal facsimile machine, and differs from facsimile machine 1 in that it does not have a DTMF signal detection circuit 16a and that no instruction document image is stored.

Suppose now that the user does not know how to operate the facsimile machine 2, such as how to register a speed dial, with the above configuration. In this case, the user calls the service center using the touch phone 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1 on the service center side constantly monitors incoming calls (processing 1).
01 N loops). Then, when a call arrives (process 101
Y), as shown in Figure 3, CED, NSF and DI
Send out various facsimile machine signals such as S (processing 1
02), the received signal is monitored (process 103).

[0016] The user confirms the reception of the facsimile signal using the handset of the touch-tone telephone 3, and then presses one preset push button, for example, "#". As a result, the DT corresponding to the button that was just pressed
The MF signal is sent to the facsimile machine 1.

When the facsimile machine 1 receives the DTMF signal (Y in process 103), the facsimile machine 1 transmits the acceptance tone sending circuit 16.
A reception sound is sent from b (process 104), and the next received signal is monitored (process 105).

[0018] The user confirms the reception tone and sends out the preset ID code by operating the push button.

The facsimile machine 1 has a DT
When a predetermined ID code is received in the MF signal (processing 105
Y), the reception tone is sent out again (processing 106), and the next received signal is monitored (processing 107).

[0020] Similarly to the above, the user confirms the reception tone and sends the preset manual request code.

When the facsimile machine 1 receives the manual request code (Y in process 107), it sends out the acceptance tone again (process 108), and then transmits the stored manual document image using a known procedure. . That is, first, CN
G signal is sent (process 109), and then CE is sent for a certain period of time.
Monitor reception of D signal (process 110, N of process 110)
From process 111, from N of process 111, process 110). If the CED signal is not received even after the predetermined period of time has elapsed (Y in process 110), the CED signal is sent again (proceed to process 109).

On the other hand, when the user confirms the CED signal, he activates the receiving operation of the facsimile machine 2. When the facsimile machine 2 starts up, the CED, NSF and DI
Each signal such as S is sent out sequentially.

When the facsimile device 1 receives the CED signal (Y in process 110), it transmits and receives the facsimile signal using a known procedure and transmits the instruction document image (process 112).

The facsimile device 2 on the user side receives the instruction document image and records and outputs it. This allows the user to know how to operate the facsimile machine 2.

By the way, in the process 107, if another preset request code is received (N in process 107), other corresponding processes are executed. Through this process, for example, a manual for another device can be sent.

[0026] Furthermore, if an ID code different from the preset predetermined code is received (N of process 105),
), immediately stop communication.

On the other hand, when the facsimile device 1 receives an image from another facsimile device, the NSS signal is sent back after sending out the facsimile signal. In this case (N in process 103), a normal receiving operation is performed using a known procedure.

As described above, in this embodiment, the facsimile machine 1 that stores the instruction manual document images of the facsimile machine 2 is installed on the service center side, receives a call from the user side, and receives a certain DTMF signal. Then, the document image is sent.

[0029] As a result, the service center can provide instructions on how to use the equipment to the user without manpower or effort. Furthermore, the user can easily obtain desired information without having to ask the person in charge at the service center every time.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the user makes a call using a touch-tone telephone and receives DTM from the touch-tone telephone.
I tried to send an F signal, but the facsimile machine received a D signal.
Of course, if the device is equipped with the function of transmitting TMF signals, it is not necessary to use a telephone.

[0031]Also, although an example has been described in which the service center provides a service for the manual of the facsimile machine itself used by the user, the service center can similarly service manuals for various devices other than facsimile machines.

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a facsimile machine stores a document image of an instruction manual, and when a predetermined signal is received when an incoming call is received, the document image is transmitted. Therefore, by equipping the service center with this facsimile machine, it becomes possible to provide instructions on how to use the equipment to users without manpower or effort.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an operational flowchart of manual transmission processing of a facsimile machine on the service center side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a signal transmission procedure between each facsimile device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 Facsimile machine 3 Touch phone 11 Scanner 12 Plotter 13 Encoding/decoding unit 14 Image memory 15 Modem 16 Network control device 16b Acceptance sound sending circuit 16a DTMF signal detection circuit 17 Operation display section 18 System control section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A facsimile device that sends and receives facsimile signals in a fixed procedure to transmit or receive images, comprising: an instruction storage means for storing document images explaining how to handle the device; A facsimile apparatus comprising: instruction transmitting means for transmitting and receiving a facsimile signal according to the predetermined procedure to transmit the document image when specific code information is received by a DTMF signal different from the facsimile signal.