JPH05130262A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately hold time management of the communication equipment such as a facsimile equipment by connecting automatically the equipment to a time calling station, recognizing a reception tone in voice and correcting the time in an internal time storage means. CONSTITUTION:An automatic dialer 105 is dialed automatically by a command of a control section 108 or the like and the signal is connected to a telephone line 101a via a network controller 101 to make prescribed phone calling. A voice recognition means 107 is a means to recognize a signal inputted from the telephone line 101a as a voice signal and recognizes only a limited voice signal. A clock correction means 114 corrects the time of a time storage means 115. Then based on the time stored in the time storage means 115, a time station is called from the automatic dialer 105 at a set time. The time station always sends time information based on the standard time and recognizes the voice signal to correct the time in the time storage means 115. In this case, a reception tone continuous repetitively is detected to index the time for the correction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device that communicates image data or makes a call with a partner terminal via a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine having an automatic transmission function has been known as an apparatus of this type. In this type of facsimile apparatus, in the case of automatic transmission or the like, transmission is performed at a time set by an internal clock function. There is a limit to the accuracy of the internal clock, and it is common for manufacturing errors and temperature-dependent characteristics to cause deviations over a long period of time. As a method of correcting the time, a time correction that is in tune with the time signal of the television station used in the VTR is famous.
That is, the time signal of the television broadcast at the scheduled time is automatically selected by the channel, and the internal time is corrected by the signal. This is an effective method when a TV signal is input.

[0003]

Similar to the VTR, even in a communication apparatus represented by a facsimile, once a time is set, a clock boasting faithful time accuracy is required.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems In a communication device for communicating image data or a telephone call with a partner terminal via a telephone line, an auto dialer means for making a predetermined telephone call and a voice signal from the telephone line. Which has means for recognizing the time, time holding means, and means for correcting the time, and is automatically connected to the time transmitting station to recognize the received sound by voice to correct the time in the internal time storage means. As a method of recognizing the voice, a received sound that is repeated continuously is detected, and the time is calculated and corrected by the repetition rule.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an automatic transmission facsimile apparatus adopting the present invention. Reference numeral 101 denotes a data network for use in data communication and the like. It is an NCU (network control unit) that switches to a communication path and holds a loop. The NCU 101 is switched to connect the telephone line 101a to the telephone side 101c or to connect the facsimile side 101b. The input / output terminal 101b of the facsimile apparatus is connected to the mixing unit 102, and this mixing unit 102 is a circuit function unit that separates a reception signal connected to 102a and a transmission signal connected to 102b. A signal switching unit 103 is a control signal 10
3c switches the signal 103b to the telephone and the automatic dial signal line 103a. Reference numeral 104 denotes a telephone, which may be inside or outside the unit. Reference numeral 105 denotes an auto dialer, which is automatically dialed according to an instruction from the control unit or the like and is connected to the telephone line 101a via the NCU 101. The voice recognition unit 107 is a unit for recognizing a signal input from the telephone line 107 as a voice, and only the limited voice is recognized by this unit. Reference numeral 108 denotes a control unit of the entire apparatus, which is a unit that controls all controls such as a communication system control, a printing system, and an image input system. A modem unit 109 is a unit that performs modulation and demodulation for communication. Reference numeral 110 denotes an encoding means for performing compression and expansion processing in accordance with the recommendation of CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee). For example, a G3 facsimile apparatus performs processing based on compression rules such as MH and MR. Reference numeral 111 is a code and signal detecting means which decodes the received signal and data and enables facsimile transmission and reception. Reference numeral 112 denotes a code and signal sending means, which is a sending section for sending, which is opposite to the code signal detecting means 111. Reference numeral 114 is a clock correction means, which is means for correcting the time in the clock storage means 115. Reference numeral 116 denotes a printing unit, which is a unit responsible for the printing function of the facsimile apparatus. Reference numeral 117 denotes a scanner means, which is a part that controls the image input of the facsimile. Reference numeral 118 denotes a detection means, which is a detection means for the present apparatus to detect various inputs.

Next, the center point of this embodiment will be described. Based on the time stored in the clock storage means 115, the control unit 108 causes the auto dialer 10 to operate at a set time.
Call the time office from 5 through the telephone line 101a. The time station constantly transmits time information based on standard time, recognizes its voice signal, and maintains the accuracy of the clock function of the facsimile apparatus shown in this block. That is, the voice recognition unit 107 recognizes the connection of the line to the time station from the repeatability of the time station. When the connection of the time station is recognized, the time recognition is also performed by the voice recognition means 107. Time recognition can also be detected by utilizing the repeatability of time voice. FIG. 2 shows a flow of time setting according to the present embodiment. In step s201, the clock setting is started, and in step s202, the set time is waited for. In s203, the time office is called by auto dialing according to the set time.
In s204, the time is detected by the signal of the time station. s20
It is decided in 5 steps whether the time needs to be adjusted, and s20
At 6, the time is set. The above is only one embodiment, and other time setting procedures are not taken.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pattern of a time information broadcast of a time station. S301 is a voice that ticks the time in units of 10 seconds, and this pattern is ticked in units of 10 seconds. S
302 is a dial tone in units of seconds, and S303 is a dial tone in units of 10 seconds. S304 is a dial tone that is 10 seconds and 3 seconds. The present time is detected by classifying and recognizing these four types of voice patterns. In particular, it is assumed that the time can be surely recognized by the degree of recognition of the voice pattern in S303 and that the near time can be recognized. Repeatability, such as the afternoon of S301,
The time can be recognized more easily by detecting a certain pattern such as hour, second, or notification. In addition, various detection methods are conceivable, such as utilizing the fact that a voice signal is transmitted as a synthetic voice at regular intervals, storing the voice once, and detecting the time based on the difference in each step.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment.
Although the facsimile device is described in FIG. 1, the interface part 119 is added in FIG. 4, and by connecting this part to a personal computer or the like, the device can function as a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, or a copying machine. Is. The present invention is also effective for a device having such a composite function. Further, although each function sharing is shown in the block diagram, each function sharing can be implemented by software processing using a processor such as a CPU.

When the connection to the time signal station is charged for connection to the commercial line, the frequency of auto dialing may be reduced, and further, the selection of the user side of this function may be switched. It will be possible.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the time management of the communication device can be accurately maintained. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a device that simplifies the voice recognition method.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a voice recognition pattern diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 NCU 105 Auto dialer 107 Voice recognition means 108 Control section 109 Modem section 110 Encoding means 115 Time storage means 116 Printing means 117 Scanner means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A communication device for communicating image data or a telephone call with a partner terminal via a telephone line, an automatic dialer means for making a predetermined telephone call, and a means for recognizing a voice signal from the telephone line. And a time holding means and a means for adjusting the time, which are automatically connected to a time transmitting station to voice-recognize a received sound and correct the time in an internal time storage means. apparatus. 2. A communication device having the above-mentioned means, characterized in that, as a method of voice recognition, a reception sound which is repeated continuously is detected, and a time is indexed and corrected by a repetition rule thereof.