JPH04348662A - Automatic incoming call method for facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To cope with both a talking and a facsimile call by closing a line to an incoming call, monitoring a facsimile identification signal and generating a pseudo call tone. CONSTITUTION:When a call comes and a ring tone is received from a line 1, a call tone rings in an ancillary telephone set 7 and a slave telephone set 8. When the facsimile equipment is set to the automatic incoming call mode, a line control section 2 closes a DC circuit of the line by the detection of ring tones for a prescribed number of times and a voice transmission section 6 sends a 1st voice message. Then a signal from a pseudo ring back tone generating section 4 is sent to the line 1 from the control section 2 and a pseudo call tone generated by a pseudo bell tone generating section 9 rings the telephone sets 7, 8. Moreover, a calling tone (CNG) detection section 3 monitors a CNG. Thus, the method copes with both a talking and a facsimile signal and talking is taken even during the monitor period.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic call receiving method in a facsimile machine that shares one line with a telephone.

0002

[Prior Art] A facsimile machine connected to a telephone line has two methods for receiving calls: an automatic method and a manual method. Normal facsimile devices can be used by switching to either method. It has become. The automatic call receiving method is often selected when the line is used exclusively for facsimile, and the manual call receiving method is often selected when the line is shared with a telephone.

[0003] The procedure for receiving a call using a facsimile machine set to automatically receive a call will be explained. When an incoming call is received, the facsimile machine counts the ringing signals, and when the ringing ring sounds a predetermined number of times, the line control unit closes the DC circuit, switches the line to the modem side, and enters the facsimile signal receiving state. Normally, the number of ringing rings is about two times, and from this point on, the exchange side starts counting time as the circuit is closed and enters a billing state.

[0004] When the circuit is closed, the calling side sends a calling tone CNG (1100 Hz, 0.5 seconds on, 3 seconds off repeatedly) to identify that it is a facsimile call. When the called side detects this, the called side sends a called terminal identification signal (CED) (2100H
z, 2.6-4 seconds) and sends out a digital identification (DIS) signal. In response, the calling side sends a digital command (DCS) signal, which determines whether the calling side should transmit or the called side should receive. If there is no response from the calling side to the DIS sent from the called side, the called side will repeat sending the DIS every 3 seconds, for example, and if there is no response within a certain period of time, Disconnect the line. This time is about 35 to 45 seconds. After the line is closed,
Even if the calling party does not send CNG, the called party
Send CED after 1.8-2.5 seconds.

[0005] In such a conventional automatic reception procedure, if the calling party is on the phone, no CNG is sent from the calling party even if the line is closed. The called side simply requests a facsimile procedure by repeatedly sending DIS, and after a certain period of time has passed, the called side disconnects the line. Therefore, it is not possible to make a call to a facsimile machine set for automatic reception. Moreover, since the called party cannot recognize that it is a telephone call, the called party does not pick up the receiver. During this time, the calling party will hear a loud DIS tone and will be billed.

In the case of manual facsimile reception, since the line is connected in a call mode, there is no problem in receiving a call from the calling party. When the calling party requests to send a facsimile during a call, the called party
By switching to facsimile mode, facsimile procedures are executed and facsimile reception is performed. However, if the called party is away or unable to go off-hook, the facsimile cannot be received from the calling party. Even if the calling party sets a facsimile machine to an automatic transmission mode such as broadcast transmission or time-specified transmission, the called party cannot respond to the facsimile machine.

[0007] As facsimile machines have become more widespread, it has become common for facsimile machines and telephones to share a single line. For incoming fax calls,
There are problems that cannot be adequately addressed.

In order to solve this problem, a method is known in which it is determined whether the incoming call is a telephone call or a data communication such as a facsimile, and the called party responds to either one.

[0009] In the automatic call receiving system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-262350, when a call is received, the called party closes the line, sends a message, and decides whether to communicate or make a call. If an identification signal is not transmitted from the calling party within a predetermined period of time, it is determined that the call is a telephone call, and a pseudo ringback tone is sent to the calling party, as well as a buzzer is output. According to this method, if an identification signal is received during the monitoring period, the system switches to communication mode, and if no identification signal is obtained, that is, in response to an incoming call, a buzzer sounds and the calling party is notified. Since it sends out a ringback tone, it can also respond to phone calls.

However, on the receiving side, even if a call is received, it is not known that it is a telephone call until the monitoring period has elapsed, resulting in wasted time. Moreover, after the calling party hears the message, there is no sound until the pseudo ringback tone is sent out, which causes anxiety.

[0011] On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 148750/1983
In the telephone/facsimile switching system described in the publication, when a call is received, the called party immediately sends out a pseudo ringback tone and monitors the CNG from the calling party. If CNG is not detected during the monitoring period, it is determined that there is a call, and the pseudo ringback tone is continued and a buzzer sound is generated to notify the incoming call.

[0012] In this method, the pseudo ringback tone continues during the monitoring period, so there is no anxiety as described above, but even in the case of a call, there is no wasted noise until the monitoring period has elapsed. The problem of wasting time remains unsolved.

[0013] Furthermore, when the calling party sends a facsimile using a manual transmission method, the above-mentioned method has the problem that if the called party is away or cannot make a call, the facsimile cannot be sent unless the caller switches to facsimile transmission during the monitoring period. be.

[0014]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of handling both telephone calls and facsimiles, and can pick up telephone calls even during the monitoring period. Another object of the present invention is to realize a facsimile device that can also handle manual facsimile transmission.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to claim 1, the present invention provides a facsimile automatic call receiving method, in which, in response to an incoming call, after the line is closed and a first message is sent, an intermittent pseudo Sends a ringback tone for a predetermined time,
The apparatus is characterized in that a pseudo ring tone is generated during the predetermined time period, and a facsimile identification signal is monitored. The facsimile transmission mode is characterized in that the facsimile transmission mode is sent and then switched to facsimile reception mode.

[0016] The facsimile identification signal may be monitored during periods of interruption in the pseudo ringback tone.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a facsimile machine to which an embodiment of the automatic facsimile reception method of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is the line, 2 is the line control unit, and 3 is the CN
G detection section, 4 is a pseudo ringback tone generation section, 5 is a modem, 6 is a voice transmission section, 7 is an attached telephone, 8 is a slave telephone, 9 is a pseudo bell tone generation section, 10 is an operation section, 11 is a document reader 12 is a recording section, and 13 is a main control section (CPU) in charge of overall control of these sections.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the passage of time in one embodiment of the facsimile automatic call receiving method of the present invention. Although the numbers in the figure indicate time in seconds, this value is an example and is not limited to this. This will be explained with reference to FIG.

When there is an incoming call, a 16Hz intermittent DC signal is received from line 1 as a ring tone, and the attached telephone 7
And the slave phone 8 sounds a ringing tone. When the facsimile machine is set to the automatic call reception mode, when a ring tone is detected a certain number of times, for example, twice, the line control section 2 closes the DC circuit of the line. As a result, the ringing tone stops, and billing starts on the exchange side.

[0020] Next, from the audio sending unit 6, R
Voice 1, which is a first voice message with content such as ``I'll call you, so please wait'' is transmitted, such as a synthesized voice based on data stored in AM or the like. If the calling party is on the phone, it is possible to confirm that the call has arrived and to recognize that billing has begun. When the sending of the first message is completed, a signal from the pseudo ringback tone generating section 4 is sent from the line control section 2 to the line 1 in order to notify the calling party of the calling state. The pseudo ringback tone, in this embodiment, is the same pattern as the ring tone, with 1 second on and 2 second off. at the same time,
The pseudo ring tone generated by the pseudo bell sound generator 9 rings as a ring tone in the attached telephone 7 and slave telephone 8.

The pseudo-bell sound may be generated as a low-frequency signal, and speakers may be provided on the facsimile main body side and the handset side to make the sound. or,
It may also be generated as an intermittent DC signal to ring bells provided on attached telephones and child telephones. In parallel with calling the operator with a pseudo-bell tone, the process proceeds to a sequence of determining whether the incoming call is a facsimile or a telephone call.

In this embodiment, CNG detection by the CNG detection section 3 is performed periodically during a period in which a pseudo ringback tone is being generated. That is, during the period when the pseudo ringback tone is off, the CNG detection unit 3
Accordingly, CNG detection is performed. CNG is 0.5
In this example, the pseudo ringback tone is sent for 1 second and interrupted for 2 seconds, so the detection period is 0.5 seconds, which is the CNG sending period. Even if the time deviates from the disconnection time of the pseudo ringback tone, it always matches the detection period within a few cycles and CNG can be detected. If CNG is detected, it is determined that the call is from a facsimile, and the main control unit 13 immediately stops generating the pseudo ringback tone and pseudo bell sound, and jumps to the CED/DIS sending procedure. Therefore, audio 2, which will be described later, is not transmitted. If there is a DCS response from the calling party, the facsimile reception procedure can begin. If the DCS cannot be received, a line disconnection command DCN is sent after approximately 40 seconds have elapsed to disconnect the line.

[0023] If the incoming call is a telephone call, the pseudo-bell sound is repeated because CNG is not detected. In this process, when the operator answers and lifts the handset of the attached telephone 7 or slave telephone 8, off-hook is detected, and the line control unit 2 transfers the off-hook handset to the line 1.
You can now connect to the calling party and talk to the calling party. The generation of pseudo ringback tones and pseudo bell sounds is stopped.

In this embodiment, the number of times the pseudo ringback tone occurs can be set from 4, 6, 8, or 10 times using a dip switch, so the operator can adjust the time during which he or she can respond. is possible.

If a facsimile call is received but the call goes off-hook before CNG is detected, the facsimile reception procedure can be started by manually switching to the facsimile mode as soon as the CNG is heard.

[0026] When the number of times the pseudo ringback tone occurs reaches the set number due to the absence of the operator, etc., the voice transmitter 6 sends a second voice message saying, ``We are not nearby. Please send the message after the sound.'' Voice 2 is sent out. The calling party hears this and knows that you are not home, so by hanging up at this point, you can prevent further charges.

After sending voice 2, the facsimile machine:
Set to facsimile reception mode. If the calling party uses a manual transmission facsimile, after listening to the second message, the calling party can hear the CED followed by the DIS beep and press the send button. This makes it possible to receive a facsimile from the calling party.

If there is no facsimile transmission from the calling side, the CED/DIS transmission is repeated, and when approximately 40 seconds have elapsed, a line disconnection command DCN is transmitted to disconnect the line.

[0029] In this embodiment, CNG monitoring is as follows:
This was done during the period when the pseudo ringback tone was disconnected. Therefore, when monitoring CNG, since the pseudo ringback tone is not sent to the line, CNG can be detected without being affected by harmonics of the pseudo ringback tone. CNG may be detected even while the pseudo ringback tone is being sent using a determination means that is not easily affected by harmonics of the pseudo ringback tone.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the facsimile automatic call receiving method of the present invention explained in FIG.

[0031] The flow starts with the arrival of a call. Ste
At step p1, the DC circuit of the line is closed, and at step 2, the first message of voice 1 described above is sent. Then, S
Proceed to step 3, generate a pseudo bell sound, and step 4
, Step 5 are looped to detect CNG from the calling side. If no CNG is detected within 2 seconds, S
Moving from step 6 to step 7, a pseudo ringback tone is sent out. After 1 second, cut off the pseudo ringback tone, loop from Step 8 to Step 4, and
NG detection and pseudo ringback tone transmission are repeated.

[0032] If CNG is detected, from Step 4
Move to step 11, stop the pseudo bell sound, and step
In Step 12, CED is sent out, and in Step 13, DIS is sent out. In response to this, in Step 14, the DC from the calling side is sent.
S is received, the process moves to Step 17, and the facsimile reception procedure is performed. If DCS cannot be received, St.
The process loops from ep15 to step 13, repeats sending DIS, and waits for DCS. If a response from the DCS is not obtained within a predetermined period of time, in this embodiment approximately 40 seconds, the S
Moving from step 15 to step 16, the DCN is sent and the line is disconnected.

[0033] If CNG cannot be detected within the set number of pseudo ringback tones, proceed from Step 6 to Step
18, the pseudo bell sound is stopped, step 19 sends out the second message of voice 2 mentioned above, the facsimile machine is switched to reception mode, and step 12
Then proceed to the facsimile procedure described above.

[0034] If the attached telephone or slave telephone goes off-hook during the loop of CNG detection and pseudo ringback tone repetition in Steps 4 to 9, S
The process moves from step 8 to step 9, in which the pseudo-bell sound is stopped, and in step 10, the line is switched to the off-hook telephone, and a call is made. During a call, if the calling party requests facsimile transmission, the facsimile machine can switch to facsimile reception mode and receive the facsimile by operating a button on the operation section.

Note that the generation of the pseudo-bell sound and the monitoring of the facsimile identification signal may be performed immediately after the line is closed. Furthermore, if CNG is not detected, generation of the pseudo ring tone and monitoring of the facsimile identification signal may be extended until after the second message is sent. In any of these cases, if you take the attached phone or slave phone off-hook while the pseudo ring is occurring, you can make a call, and the C
If NG is detected, the mode shifts to facsimile reception mode.

[0036]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when the line is closed, the facsimile identification signal is monitored and a pseudo ringing tone is generated, so that both calls and facsimiles are not affected. You can pick up calls even during the monitoring period. Furthermore, it is possible to realize an automatic call receiving method for a facsimile machine on the called side that can handle manually transmitted facsimile even when the operator is not present and does not impose an unnecessary burden on the calling side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the automatic facsimile reception method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile machine applied to an embodiment of the automatic facsimile reception method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the time course of an embodiment of the facsimile automatic call receiving method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Line 2 Line control section 3 CNG detection section 4 Pseudo ringback tone generation section 6 Audio transmission section 7 Attached telephone 8 Child phone 9 Pseudo bell sound generation part 13 Main control unit (CPU)

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1. An automatic facsimile reception method, in response to an incoming call, after closing the line and transmitting a first message, an intermittent pseudo ringback tone is transmitted for a predetermined period of time, and the method comprises: , an automatic facsimile reception method characterized in that a pseudo ringing tone is generated and a facsimile identification signal is monitored. 2. An automatic facsimile reception method, characterized in that the second message is sent after the predetermined time has elapsed, and then the mode is switched to facsimile reception mode.