JPH0483456A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save communication cost and to improve the usability of this facsimile equipment by informing the communication mode of a self-terminal to a calling terminal in a call control procedure to be executed prior to the connection of a line. CONSTITUTION:When a SETUP message for starting the setting of an ISDN call is transmitted through an ISDN at the time of a FAX mode, a transmission control part 11 detects whether the communication mode of a originating communication terminal is in a TEL mode or a FAX mode based upon the SETUP message. When the originating communication terminal is in the TEL mode, prescribed mode information indicating that the self-terminal is in the FAX mode is added to the prescribed control information of the ISDN and transmitted by a CPU 2 to inform the information to the originating communication terminal. Since the communication mode of the self-terminal can be informed to the originating terminal in the call control procedure to be executed prior to the connection of the line, the communication cost is saved and the usability of the FAX equipment is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and in particular, to an ISD
This relates to a facsimile machine connected to N.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, facsimile machines are PSTN (public network 'f!
4) and communicates image information with the other party's facsimile device. Conventionally, facsimile devices connected to the PSTN have a machine mode in which voice communication is performed with the other party's facsimile device, and a FAX mode in which image information is communicated, and both modes can be switched. There are some things you can use. Various facsimile machines have been proposed that are equipped with both modes, allowing the initial mode to be set manually, and others that automatically switch between the two modes depending on the communication mode of the other party. ing. In such a facsimile machine that is equipped with both modes, when the operator is away, it is set to FAX mode and mainly receives image information from the other party's fax machine, and when the other party is using a telephone, it can send pre-stored voice messages. It has also been proposed to send a message to notify the person that the person is away. Also, when an operator is present,
A system has been proposed in which the printer is set to the standby mode and mainly enables reception of telephone calls, and when the other party is a facsimile machine, it is automatically switched to the FAX mode to receive image information.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since such conventional facsimile devices were supposed to be used by connecting to the PSTN, even when switching between the machine mode and the FAX mode is automatically performed, the PSTN cannot automatically switch between If you receive a call and the line is not connected to the other party's communication terminal, you will not know the other party's communication mode or the type of terminal, such as whether the other party's communication terminal is a voice terminal or a facsimile terminal. In order to properly switch over and notify the communication terminal of one's own mode, it is necessary to send out a voice message to the effect that one is in FAX mode after the line is connected. As a result, unnecessary communication fees are charged, and when a voice message is sent out using a special number, communication fees are also charged during the time the voice message is sent, resulting in unnecessary extra communication fees. This problem arises because, since the communication line is PSTN, the mode of the calling terminal and the type of the calling terminal cannot be determined unless the line is once connected.

However, in recent years, the I5DN (Integrated Service Digital Network) has been experimentally implemented as a communication network that meets the communication needs of realizing a highly information-oriented society. It is possible to determine the communication mode, etc. of the other party. However, this ISD
A facsimile machine equipped with mode switching processing compatible with N has not yet been developed. Therefore, there is a demand for a facsimile machine having a mode switching function compatible with ISDN.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, in a facsimile device that can be connected to an ISDN, the present invention allows a calling terminal to set its own communication mode in a call control procedure before a line for which communication fees are charged is connected to the other communication terminal. The purpose of this notification is to prevent unnecessary communication fees from being charged, save communication costs, and improve the usability of facsimile devices.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is capable of connecting to an ISDN, executes an rsDN call control procedure, and communicates with a partner communication terminal via the ISDN.
A facsimile device having a function of selectively switching between a stationary mode for communicating with a communication terminal by voice and a FAX mode for communicating image information, and in the above FAX mode. , ISD via ISDN
When a SETUP message is sent to start the call setup of N, it is detected from the SETUP message whether the communication mode of the other communication terminal is fax mode or fax mode, and if the other communication terminal is in fax mode, the specified ISDN The communication terminal is characterized in that it adds predetermined mode information indicating that the device is in FAX mode to the control information of the device and transmits the information to notify the other communication terminal.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given based on examples.

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile machine 1,
The facsimile device 1 has a CPU (CentralP
rocessing Unit) 2, ROM (Re
ad 0nly Mea+ory)3, RAM (R
andom Access Memory) 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, encoding/decoding unit 7, image memory 8, encoding/decoding unit 9, modem 10, l5DN transmission control unit 11, l5DN interface unit 12, and telephone 13 etc. The main parts mentioned above are connected by a bus 14.

The ROMa stores the basic program for the facsimile device W1, the communication mode notification processing program of the present invention, etc., and the RAM 4 stores various data necessary for controlling the facsimile device 1 and the communication mode notification processing program of the present invention. The necessary data is stored.

The CPU 2 controls each part of the facsimile device 1 according to the program in the ROMa, executes a sequence as a facsimile device, and executes the communication mode notification process of the present invention.

As the scanner 5, for example, COD (Charge
An image scanner using a Coupled Device (Coupled Device) is used, and the scanner 5 scans a document and reads image information of the document.

For example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used as the block 6, and the block 6 records an image directly on thermal recording paper or indirectly on ordinary recording paper via an ink sheet.

The encoding/decoding unit 7 encodes image information according to a predetermined encoding method, and also decodes the encoded image information.

The image memory 8 has a predetermined capacity and stores received image information, image information for transmission, and the like.

The operation display unit 9 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, and a mode selection key used in the present invention, and also has a display (for example, a liquid crystal display).
Various commands are input by key operations, and the input contents and various information transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the operator are displayed on the display. In particular, the mode selection key is used to select the mode of the facsimile machine 1, that is, to manually select between the text mode and the FAX mode.

The modem 10 is used when the facsimile device 1 is used in 03 mode, and modulates the transmitted signal and demodulates the received signal.

The 15DN transmission control unit 11 performs ISDN call control, and in particular exchanges messages during call setup according to the present invention.

The l5DN interface unit 12 physically connects the facsimile machine 1 and the l5DN.

The telephone 13 enables voice communication with the other party's communication terminal in the stationary mode.

Next, the effect will be explained.

The present invention is characterized in that during ISDN communication, the communication mode of the communication terminal is notified to the other communication terminal in the call setup procedure, thereby avoiding unnecessary line connections. below,
This communication mode notification process will be explained.

Now, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, when a communication terminal connected to the ISDN (hereinafter referred to as a calling terminal) is taken off-hook by an operator and a call setup request is made, the calling terminal sends a call setup to the ISDN. A message (SETUP) is sent through the D channel, and the 15DN sends the call setup message (SETUP) to the facsimile machine 1. At this time, the call setup message (SETUP) includes B and C.
−? ) The HLL includes the functions of the equipment of the calling terminal, and includes information indicating the communication mode, ie, information indicating whether it is a station mode or a FAX mode.

The communication mode information of this call setup message (SETUP) is transparently transferred to the facsimile device l without being interpreted by the ISDN.

When the facsimile machine 1, which is the called terminal, detects an incoming call, as shown in FIG. 4, it checks whether its own communication mode is the answering mode (step S1), and
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, CALL PROC (call setup acceptance signal) and AL
Send ERT (ringing signal) to ISDN. At this time, when the facsimile machine l is in the absence mode, the facsimile machine l sends out an ALERT (calling signal) including display information. l5DN is CALL PROC (
A call setup acceptance signal) and ALERT (calling signal) are sent to the calling terminal to notify the calling terminal that the calling terminal has started calling.

When the facsimile machine 1, which is the called terminal, is not in the answering mode, as shown in FIG. At step S2, when receiving a facsimile, the call is received, and the CED signal, NSF signal, and DI are output.
A normal facsimile reception process is started by transmitting an S signal or the like (step S4).

Also, in step S1, if the caller is in the away mode, it checks whether the other party's communication terminal is in FAX mode, that is, if it is receiving a facsimile (step S5), and if it is receiving a facsimile, it receives the call as described above and receives the normal facsimile. Processing is performed (step S4). In step S5, if the facsimile is not being received, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, display information is used in CALL PROC (call setup acceptance signal) followed by ALERT (calling signal), and the own communication mode is set to Send display information to notify that the mode is active (step S6)
. The facsimile device 1 uses this ALERT (calling signal)
is sent, a timer is started (step S7).
), and checks whether a disconnection message (DISC) is received before the timer times out (steps S8, S9). The setting time for this timer is determined by the operator of the calling terminal determining whether to switch the communication mode or interrupt communication based on the displayed information.
A time sufficient for performing the required operation is set, for example, about 10 seconds.

On the other hand, ALERT (calling signal) with display information added
The calling terminal that receives the ALERT analyzes the display information of ALERT and displays the content of the display information on, for example, the display of the operation display unit. The displayed content is, for example, "TAGIMAL STE FAX MODE DEST", and the operator of the calling terminal can tell from this displayed content that the called terminal is in the absent mode. The operator of the calling terminal can determine whether to switch the communication to facsimile communication or terminate the communication by looking at the display contents, and can perform operations on the equipment of the calling terminal in accordance with the judgment.

On the other hand, the facsimile machine 1, which is the called terminal, sends a disconnection message (Disc) before the timer times out.
) is not received, as shown in Figure 2, C0N
N (response signal), and then the called terminal sends an IS
When a C0NNACK (response confirmation signal) is transmitted via the DN and the called terminal's response is confirmed, the caller shifts to the B channel for l5DN communication, performs normal ISDN facsimile communication, and starts facsimile reception (step 510). ). When the facsimile communication is completed, a disconnection message (DISC) is sent from the calling terminal to rsDN.
A release message (REL) is then sent from the facsimile machine operator, which is the called terminal.

After that, a release completion message (REL-C) is sent from the calling terminal.
OMP) is sent to complete the release of the call.

If a disconnection message (DISC) is received before the timer times out, the release message (REL) and release completion message (REL-COMP) are exchanged and the call is terminated, as shown in Figure 3. A cutting process is performed (step S11).

Therefore, in communication using ISDN, before a line for which communication charges are charged is connected, this setting procedure (message) is used to determine the communication mode of the calling party, and also to determine the communication mode of the calling party. When in the absentee mode, it is possible to notify the other party's calling terminal that the caller is in the absentee mode, thereby avoiding unnecessary line connections. As a result, unnecessary communication charges can be avoided, communication charges can be reduced, and ISDN
It is possible to improve the usability of a facsimile machine using

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, in a facsimile device that can be connected to an ISDN, in a call control procedure before a line for which communication charges are to be charged is connected to the other party's communication terminal, the calling terminal is given its own communication mode. Since the notification can be made, unnecessary communication charges can be prevented from being charged, communication costs can be saved, and the usability of the facsimile device can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing one embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. Figure 3 is a sequence diagram of a case where communication continues without sending a line disconnection message within a specified time. Figure 3 shows a sequence diagram in which the calling terminal sends a line disconnection message within a predetermined time and communication is interrupted when the facsimile machine is in the away mode. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the communication mode notification process. 1...Facsimile machine, 2...CPU. 3...ROM. 4...RAM. 5... Scanner, 6... Plotter, 7... Encoding/decoding section, 8... Image memory, 9...... Operation display unit, 10...modem, 11...l5DN transmission control unit, 12...
・15DN interface section, 13...telephone. Attorney Patent Attorney Ugagun Figure 1 Diagram No.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is connectable to ISDN, executes ISDN call control procedures and communicates with the other communication terminal via ISDN,
A facsimile device having a function of selectively switching between a TEL mode for voice communication with a communication terminal and a FAX mode for communicating image information, and in the above FAX mode. , I via ISDN
When a SETUP message for starting SDN call setup is sent, it is detected from the SETUP message whether the communication mode of the other communication terminal is TEL mode or FAX mode, and if the other communication terminal is in TEL mode, the specified ISDN What is claimed is: 1. A facsimile device that adds predetermined mode information indicating that the facsimile device is in a FAX mode to control information of the facsimile device and sends the control information to notify a communication terminal of the other party.