JPH05122428A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the malfunction of a facsimile equipment for the remote control of an automatic answering telephone set with respect to the facsimile equipment to which the automatic answering telephone set can be connected. CONSTITUTION:When the remote control signal of an automatic answering telephone set 16 is detected by a DTMF detector 8, a control part does not start facsimile communication in response to the detection signal from a CNG detector 7 (or the detection signal from a silent state detector), thereby preventing the malfunction that facsimile communication is started by reproducing of the CNG signal, which is recorded in the automatic answering telephone set, by the remote control (or the occurrence of the silent state due to the remote control).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine capable of connecting an answering machine and automatically switching between a facsimile machine and an answering machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an NCU (network control unit) of this type of device
Was configured as shown in FIG. In the figure, terminal L
1, L2 are connected to the line N, and the answering machine 16 is connected to the terminals T1, T2. The answering machine automatically responds to the ringing signal from the line, and if the other party is a human, records the other party's voice message. When the other party is a facsimile, the CNG signal sent by the other party's facsimile is input to the CNG detector 7 through the capacitor 5 and the transformer 6, and the CNG detector 7 outputs the CNG detection signal CNGDET.
Is output. When the CNGDET signal is output, the control unit switches the CML relay 1 from the T1, T2 side to the modem side to perform automatic communication. As described above, when a CNG signal is detected on the line after the answering machine automatically responds, the CML relay 1 is switched to realize automatic answering machine / facsimile switching.

Further, when the calling source is a facsimile machine which does not send out a CNG signal, the signal on the line becomes silent. Therefore, when a silent state for a certain time or more is detected,
There is also one that automatically switches the answering machine / facsimile by switching the CML relay 1.

[0004]

However, in the conventional example, CNG is recorded once or more on the answering machine in order to switch the CML relay 1 after confirming the CNG signal. Therefore, when a user of the answering machine or the like remotely plays a message recorded on the answering machine from another terminal of the switching network, the recorded CNG signal is played on the line, which is the capacitor 5, the transformer 6, or the like. Since it is input to the CNG detector 7 through the CML relay 1, the control unit switches the CML relay 1 to the modem side. Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot hear the reproduced sound of the answering machine.

In order to solve this, it was devised to limit the CNG detection to within a fixed time after the answering machine automatically answered. However, the output time of the response message output by the answering machine at the time of automatic answering CNG when the time is long
There was a problem that could not be detected.

Further, in the case where the silent state is detected and automatic switching is performed, it is necessary to rewind the tape on which the message is recorded when trying to reproduce the message recorded on the answering machine by remote operation. There is no sound while rewinding. If the silent state continues for a certain time or longer, facsimile communication is started by the automatic switching function of the facsimile apparatus, and the user cannot hear the reproduced sound of the answering machine.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the second detecting means for detecting a signal for remotely controlling a communication terminal such as an answering machine is provided, and when the remote control signal is detected, the other party By not detecting whether it is a facsimile machine,
For example, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the facsimile due to the reproduction of the answering machine.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 101 is a control unit composed of a microprocessor or the like, which is a CPU (central processing unit) 113, a ROM (read only memory) 114, a RAM (random access memory) 115, a buffer memory 112, Line memory 11
0, an encoding / decoding unit 111, and controls the entire image input / output and communication processing. The ROM 114 stores a control program described later, and the RAM 115 is used as a work area for the CPU 113.

The image input / output is performed by the reading unit 100 and the recording unit 10.
2 is performed. That is, the reading of the original image data is performed by the reading unit 100 including a CCD (charge storage element) sensor, an original conveying system, and the like. The received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 100 at the time of copying are recorded by the recording unit 102 including a thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or the like.

Input / output of image data between the reading unit 100, the recording unit 102 and the encoding / decoding unit 111 is performed via a line memory 110 in units of one line. Data input / output between the encoding / decoding unit 111 and the modem is performed via the buffer memory 112. Coding/
The decoding unit 111 performs encoding / decoding processing for suppressing redundancy, and may be configured by software of the CPU 113.

A modem 106 and an NCU (network control unit) 1 are used for connection and data input / output with a communication line N such as a telephone line.
07. A telephone for telephone call and manual control or an answering machine 16 is connected to the NCU 107.
The NCU outputs a DCDET signal indicating that the answering machine 16 has seized the line, a CNGDET signal indicating that the CNG signal is on the line, and a DTMFDET signal indicating that the DTMF signal is on the line, and is output to the control unit. Is entered.

The operation panel 103 comprises a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number, various function keys and the like. The operation panel 103 is provided with a display device 104 used for displaying a telephone number and time.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the NCU of this embodiment.

Reference numeral 1 is a CML relay. 2 is a current sensor, which is composed of a coil and a Hall element or MR element provided near the coil and insulated from the coil, and detects the magnetic field generated by the current flowing through the coil by the Hall element or MR element. , A voltage output proportional to the coil current is obtained. The output of the current sensor 2 is input to the comparator 3, and the comparator outputs a DCDET signal indicating the presence or absence of current. The DCDET signal is output to the control unit 101.

5 is a capacitor for blocking direct current, 6 is CN
Transformer for transmitting G signal or DTMF signal to the detector, 7 is a CNG detector that outputs a CNGDET signal to the control unit when detecting CNG, and 8 is a DTMF detection that outputs a DTMFDET signal to the control unit when detecting DTMF It is a vessel. Reference numeral 4 is a transformer for transmitting a facsimile signal and performing 2-line to 4-line conversion.

Next, the operation of remote reception in the above configuration will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In addition, the control according to the flowchart of FIG.
01 (CPU113) is executed by the control program
It is stored in the ROM 114.

First, in the standby state, the control unit DCDE
Monitoring the T signal. When the answering machine 16 automatically responds to the call signal from the line, a direct current flows through the current sensor 2 and the comparator 6 outputs a DCDET signal. When detecting this, the control unit advances the control to S1.

When the other party is blowing a message to the answering machine, neither the CNG signal nor the DTMF signal comes, so the process proceeds to S2 and S3. The DCDET signal is monitored in S3, and since the line current is flowing, the process returns to S1 and then S1-S3 are looped. If the line is disconnected, the process returns from S3 to standby.

If the other party is a facsimile, a CNG signal is sent out, so that the CNG is detected in S1 and the process proceeds to S5 to perform the facsimile operation. CML relay 1 in S5
Is switched from a side to b side, and facsimile communication is performed in S6.

When the other party sends out a DTMF signal to remotely control the answering machine, this is detected in S2 and the process proceeds to S4. In step S4, the code of the received DTMF signal is compared with a code stored in the RAM 115 in advance to instruct remote reception of the facsimile. If they match, the process proceeds to S5 to perform the receiving operation. If they do not match, the received DTMF signal is for controlling the answering machine, so the process proceeds to S7. S7
In the loop of -S6, DTMF detection and current detection are performed, and D
If the TMF signal is received, the process proceeds to the remote reception check again at S4, and if the current is exhausted, the process returns to the standby.

The code for instructing remote reception is registered (stored) in the same way as the registration of the telephone number for automatic dialing of the facsimile. In addition to the receiving operation, the facsimile operation may be any operation of the facsimile such as transmission, copying, and output of a communication management report.

As described above, once the DTMF signal is detected, the CNG signal detection is not performed because it enters the loop of S7-S6, and the CNG signal detection is not performed until the line is disconnected. Therefore, even if the reproduced sound of the answering machine contains the CNG signal, the facsimile operation is not performed. Also, by registering a code different from the DTMF code for controlling the answering machine as a remote operation code for the facsimile, the user can remotely operate the facsimile after remote controlling the answering machine.

Further, the NCU may be constructed as shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 4, by extracting only the AC component from the output of the current sensor 2 via the capacitor 9 and inputting it to the CNG detector 7 and the DTMF detector, the capacitor 5 and the transformer 6 become unnecessary.

Further, FIG. 5 shows that CNG and DT are set by a modem.
It is a figure showing the composition of NCU in the case of detecting MF, and the switch 10 is connected to the reception input terminal of the modem to input the facsimile signal or the output of the current sensor at the same timing as the CML relay. The CNG detector and the DTMF detector can be deleted by switching with.

The case where the CNG signal is detected and the answering machine and the facsimile communication are automatically switched has been described above. Next, a case where the CNG signal and the silent state are detected and automatic switching is performed will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus which detects a CNG signal and a silent state. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those explained in FIG. 7, the NCU 107 is provided with the silent state detection circuit 11 (see FIG. 8). This silence detection circuit 1
1 detects a silent state by detecting energy on the line, and sends a MUON signal indicating the detection to the control unit 10.
Output to 1.

Next, the automatic switching operation between the answering machine and the facsimile by detecting the CNG signal and the silent state will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 9 shows the control operation of the control unit 101 (CPU 113), and the control procedure in the drawing is stored in the ROM 114.

First, in the standby state, the control unit 101
Is monitoring the DCDET signal. When the answering machine 16 automatically responds to the call signal from the line, a DC current flows through the current sensor 13 and the DCDET from the comparator 6.
The signal is output. When the control unit 101 detects this,
A loop is entered in which steps S11, S12, S13 and S14 are executed and the process returns to step S1. When the line is disconnected during this loop and the direct current is cut off, the process returns from step S13 to the standby state.

If the other party is a facsimile machine which sends out a CNG signal, this is detected in step S11 and the process proceeds to step S18 to switch the CML relay 1 to the side b to start the facsimile communication operation.

If the other party is a facsimile machine which does not send out a CNG signal, the line is in a silent state, and therefore the process proceeds from step S12 to step S17, and step S17.
Determine the silent time. If the silent time is longer than the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S18 to perform the facsimile operation. If the silent time is short, the process proceeds to step S13.

If the other party is a user of the answering machine and sends out a DTMF signal for remotely operating the answering machine 16, the DTMF signal is detected in step S14, and the process exits from the above-mentioned loop and step S15.
Go to. In step S15, Mr. Wait waits until the line is disconnected, and when the line is disconnected, returns to the standby state.

According to the above operation, once the DTMF signal is detected, the CNG signal and the silent state are not detected thereafter, so that the facsimile operation is performed even if the silent state is produced during the remote operation of the answering machine 16. I can't.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, for example, when an answering machine is remotely reproduced, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of a facsimile due to the reproduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an NCU of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another configuration example of an NCU.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another configuration example of an NCU.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional NCU.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus of another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an NCU of another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a check-up operation of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CML relay 2 current sensor 3 comparator 4 hybrid transformer 5 capacitor 6 transformer 7 CNG detector 8 DTMF detector 9 capacitor 10 switch 100 reading unit 101 control unit 102 recording unit 103 operation panel 104 display unit 106 modem 107 NCU 110 line memory 111 Encoding / decoding unit 112 buffer memory 113 CPU 114 ROM 115 RAM

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus to which a communication terminal for performing a predetermined communication can be connected, the first detecting means for detecting whether or not a destination is a facsimile apparatus, and a signal for controlling the communication terminal. It has a 2nd detection means and a control means which starts facsimile communication according to the detection by the 1st detection means, and when the control signal is detected by the 2nd detection means, the control means has the 1st detection means. Facsimile apparatus characterized by not performing facsimile communication in response to detection by. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is an answering machine. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detecting means detects a DTMF signal. 4. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detecting means detects whether or not the other party is a facsimile apparatus by detecting a signal related to a facsimile. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detecting means detects whether or not the other party is a facsimile apparatus by detecting whether or not the silent state has continued for a predetermined time.