JPH05219278A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the facsimile equipment by which proper countermeasure is taken to a reservation of conversation when a conversation reservation is applied from a destination at the time of facsimile communication during absence. CONSTITUTION:The facsimile equipment is provided with a signal processing section 3 in which after a control command for executing conversation reservation sent from a destination of facsimile communication is received, when off- hook of a telephone set 2 is not detected within a predetermined time, recording means 10, 6 are operated and the request of conversation reservation is recorded onto a prescribed recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly to an improvement of a facsimile machine having a conversation reservation setting function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus having a conversation reservation setting function can communicate original data by operating a conversation reservation switch provided on an operation panel before or during the facsimile communication of original data. At the time of termination, the call can be made through the handset without disconnecting the telephone line. Then, when executing such a conversation reservation, by sending a predetermined control command for executing the conversation reservation to the other party of the facsimile communication, the other party's facsimile machine sounds an operator call to prompt the other party to pick up the handset, Correspondingly, if the other party picks up the handset, it is possible to make a call according to a predetermined procedure thereafter. Thus, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, if the person who made the conversation reservation call is absent and the handset is not picked up, it is of course impossible to make a call. It did not have any informing function.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above conventional one,
Even the attempt to reserve the conversation cannot be transmitted to the other party who was absent during the facsimile communication.
Even after the other party returns home, it is hardly expected that the other party will contact the calling party of the conversation reservation, and in the end, the party who has reserved the conversation must call again after the facsimile communication. It caused such inconvenience. In the past, for example, a facsimile machine of a type in which an answering machine is connected has been developed, but such a facsimile machine uses a specific call signal (16) from an exchange.
Answering machine only operates when it receives an analog signal (Hz). It does not operate by receiving a control command for executing a conversation reservation different from this, so it is appropriate to confirm that there was a conversation reservation. I couldn't record it.

The present invention has been invented in view of the above points, and takes appropriate measures for a conversation reservation even when the other party makes a conversation reservation during the absence of facsimile communication. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile machine capable of performing the above.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, which has been proposed to achieve the above object, receives a control command for executing a conversation reservation, which is transmitted from the other party of the facsimile communication, in advance. When the off-hook of the telephone is not detected within a predetermined fixed time, the recording means is operated to control the recording of the fact that the conversation reservation is made on a predetermined recording medium.

[0006]

In the facsimile machine characterized by the above construction, when a predetermined control command for conversation reservation execution is received from the other party of the facsimile communication, the user is absent and the like within a predetermined time. If the handset of the telephone is not picked up and off-hook is not made, the recording means is activated to record that a conversation reservation has been made on a predetermined recording medium. Therefore, if you check these records,
While away, etc., the other party of the facsimile communication can know that the other party has made a conversation reservation, and can take appropriate countermeasures such as contacting the other party by telephone.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus F according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing an aspect in which a fact that a conversation reservation is made is printed out on a recording paper K, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of operation procedures when a request for conversation reservation is received using the facsimile device F.

The facsimile apparatus F shown in FIG. 1 has a facsimile main body Fa composed of a facsimile communication controller 1, a signal processor 3, etc., a communication circuit 2a and a handset 2b.
And a telephone answering machine 10 separately connected to the line controller 1a. The answering machine 10 corresponds to an example of a recording unit according to the present invention. The line control unit 1a of the facsimile communication control unit 1, based on a control signal output from the signal processing unit 3, will be described later with reference to the telephone 2, the answering machine 10.
Also, each of the modems 1d for transmitting and receiving image data is switched and connected to the telephone line L. The protocol signal generation circuit 1b and the protocol signal detection circuit 1c are
It is for transmitting and receiving protocol signals.

The signal processing unit 3 is composed of a CPU or the like. The signal processing unit 3 has an image reading unit 5, a print output unit 6, and a key operation unit 7 which are necessary for performing general facsimile communication. A display unit 8 including a liquid crystal display, a calendar clock circuit (not shown), a storage unit 11, and the like are connected. Of these, the print output unit 6 is equivalent to an example of a recording unit according to the present invention, like the answering machine 10. The storage unit 11 includes a system memory 11a including a ROM and a RAM, a voice message memory 11b in which a desired voice message is stored, and font data in which character and symbol data is stored as image data. It has a storage memory 11c.
The RAM of the system memory 11a stores a telephone number of a communication partner for performing one-touch dial transmission or speed dial transmission by a ten-key operation or a predetermined operation of a function key together with the name and name of the partner.

As one of the functions of the signal processing unit 3, the modem 1d sends a predetermined control command (PRI-Q as a binary signal as a binary signal) for executing a conversation reservation from a facsimile communication partner.
Signal) is received, the handset 2 of the telephone 2
Ring an operator call prompting b.
Then, when the handset 2b is picked up within a certain period of time and an off-hook detection signal is transmitted from the off-hook detection means 12, at that time, the operator call of the facsimile machine of the other party (conversation reservation calling side) is rung. When a predetermined control command for sending a predetermined control command is sent, and a predetermined control command for notifying the picking up of the handset on the other side is returned from the other side, a line for connecting the telephone 2 to the telephone line L is sent. It is configured to control the control unit 1a and enable the telephone 2 to make a call thereafter.

On the other hand, even when the handset 2b is not picked up within a fixed time and the detection signal is not transmitted from the off-hook detection means 12, the signal processing unit 3
At the time of the time-up, similarly to the above, a predetermined control command for ringing an operator call of the facsimile apparatus on the other side is transmitted. However, in such a case, the pseudo call signal generation circuit 13 sends a pseudo call signal to the answering machine 10 when a predetermined control command for notifying the pick up of the handset of the other party is returned from the other party. By sending
The line control unit 1a is configured to switch and control the answering machine 10 so that the answering machine 10 is connected to the telephone line L while the answering machine 10 is set to the incoming call state. As the answering machine 10, conventionally existing ones can be appropriately applied. However, the answering machine 10 according to the present invention, after being connected to the telephone line L, sends a predetermined voice message and then outputs a voice signal from the other party. The message recording of the voice transmitted as is automatically performed.

However, the facsimile apparatus F according to this embodiment is
When the answering machine 10 is not connected to the facsimile main body Fa or when the answering machine 10 is connected but the use of the answering machine 10 is not selected by the setting of the key operation unit 7. The signal processing unit 3
Is configured so that the answering machine 10 does not function as a recording unit but the following control is performed to operate the print output unit 6 as another recording unit. That is, when the off-hook detection signal of the telephone 2 is not transmitted from the off-hook detection means 12 to the signal processing section 3 within a predetermined time after receiving the predetermined control command for executing the conversation reservation,
A predetermined control command for ringing an operator call of the facsimile machine on the other side is transmitted, and when a predetermined control command for picking up the handset is returned from the other side, the signal processing unit 3 is sent at that time.
From the voice message memory 11b, for example, "I'm just out. I'm sorry, please press your phone number after the beeping sound "and have it output to the caller of the conversation reservation.

After the voice message is transmitted, the signal processing unit 3 operates the ten-key pad on the calling side of the conversation reservation to transmit the telephone number of the calling side by a push tone signal. After deciphering the telephone number of the other party, the print output unit 6 is activated, and data relating to the other party who has called the conversation reservation is recorded together with a message indicating that the conversation reservation has been made in a form conforming to a predetermined form. Print output on paper K. However, if the telephone number of the person who called the conversation reservation is registered in RAM, the name (or name) corresponding to the telephone number is printed out in a predetermined form and registered in RAM. If not, the telephone number is printed out instead of the name of the other party. It should be noted that, in such a printout, not only the name or telephone number of the other party who has called the conversation reservation, but also the date and time when the call is received is printed out on the recording paper K.

The facsimile apparatus F according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration. Next, its usage example and operation will be described. First, when the facsimile device F is transmitting or receiving document data, when a predetermined control command for executing conversation reservation is transmitted from the other party of the facsimile communication, this is detected by the modem 1d. Thus, the signal processing unit 3 sounds an operator call. Then, when the handset 2b of the telephone set 2 is picked up, a predetermined control command for prompting the other party (conversation reservation calling side) to pick up the handset is sent at that time, and then the other party picks up the handset, When a predetermined control command is returned, the line control unit 1a switches and connects the telephone 2 to the telephone line L at this point. In such a case, it is possible to directly talk with the other party via the handset 2b of the telephone set 2.

On the other hand, if the user of the facsimile device F is absent and the handset 2b is not picked up within a certain time, the signal processing unit 3 will call the operator of the facsimile device on the other side from the modem 1d at the time when the time is up. A predetermined control command for ringing is transmitted. After that, after the other party picks up the handset and receives a predetermined control command, a pseudo call signal is transmitted to the answering machine 10 to receive the call, and the line for connecting the answering machine 10 to the telephone line L is set. The control unit 1a is controlled. Then, after that, the answering machine 10 responds in the same manner as a general answering machine. That is, from the answering machine 10, for example, a voice message such as "I am out of office right now, please give a message after a beep" is sent to the other party, and if the other party gives a message to this, This message is recorded on a recording tape or the like, and the lamp that notifies that there is a conversation reservation is turned on. The above-described series of operation procedures is performed by steps 100 to 1 in the flowchart of FIG.
According to this operation, when the user who was absent returns home, the other party of the facsimile communication can immediately recognize that there is a conversation reservation and can confirm the message content.

On the other hand, when the answering machine 10 is not operated, steps 100 to 100 in the flowchart of FIG.
The operation procedure is 104, 108 to 110. That is, when the handset 2b of the telephone 2 does not pick up within a fixed time after receiving a predetermined control command for executing the conversation reservation from the other party of the facsimile communication,
When a predetermined control command for ringing an operator call of the facsimile machine on the other side is transmitted, and then a control command indicating that the handset is picked up from the other side is received, the voice message memory 11b displays, for example, "Absent now. I am. I'm sorry, please press your phone number after the beeping sound. ”A voice message is output and sent to the other party.

Next, when the other party on the calling side who hears the voice operates the touch-tone numeric keypad according to his / her own telephone number, the data of the telephone number is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus F side as a push tone signal. It is received by the modem 1d. Then, the signal processing unit 3 decodes the telephone number and compares it with the telephone number data registered in the RAM. If the telephone number of the other party received by the push tone signal is registered in the RAM together with its name, as shown in FIG. 2, the data A of that name has a predetermined date and time such as a request time for a conversation reservation. Along with the data B, it is printed out on the recording paper K in a predetermined form. If the other party's data is not registered in the RAM,
As shown in, the data Aa of the other party's telephone number is printed out in a predetermined form together with the predetermined date / time data B. Therefore, when the user of the facsimile device F returns home, he / she can see at a glance that the recording sheet K shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. You can contact the called party by phone.

In the above embodiment, since the name or telephone number of the person who made the conversation reservation is printed on the recording paper K, the advantage that the subsequent telephone contact can be made smoothly is obtained. Such matters are not mandatory.
That is, in the facsimile communication performed prior to the conversation reservation, it is customary to describe the sender's name, the sender's facsimile number and the telephone number in the transmitted document, and confirm the other party's telephone number with a push tone signal. This is because it is generally possible to identify the other party by looking at the contents of the manuscript, even if it does not exist. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to simply print out the message C indicating that the conversation reservation has been made on the recording paper K. The date / time data B is not always necessary. However, in the case of the same figure, when receiving a large number of facsimiles, it may not be known in which facsimile communication the conversation reservation was made. Therefore, from the practical point of view, the name and telephone number of the other party are printed. It is preferable to be able to output.

Further, in the above embodiment, as the recording means for recording the fact that the conversation reservation has been made, the answering machine 10 operated by the pseudo call signal, and the print output section for printing out a predetermined matter on the recording paper K. 6 has been described, the present invention does not necessarily have to have both of them, and may be configured as a facsimile machine having only one of them. The type of recording medium for recording the fact that a conversation reservation has been made is by no means limited to recording paper, recording tape, or the like.

[0020]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the conversation reservation of the conversation reservation can be made even when the other party of the facsimile communication calls the conversation reservation. Since the fact that the request is made can be recorded by a predetermined recording means, the person who confirms the request can take an appropriate response to the person who has requested the conversation reservation, and the conversation in the conventional facsimile communication. You can get a special effect that you could not see in the reservation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data printout mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a data printout mode according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another example of a data print output mode in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile communication control section 1a Line control section 2 Telephone 2b Handset 3 Signal processing section 6 Print output section (recording means) 10 Answering machine (recording means) 11 Storage section 12 Off-hook detection means 13 Pseudo-call signal generation circuit F Facsimile device Fa facsimile Main unit K Recording paper L Telephone line

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Yoshikawa 136 Takeda Mukoyo-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Murata Machinery Co., Ltd. Head Office Factory (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Tani 136 Takeda Mukoyo-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Murata Machinery Co., Ltd. Headquarters factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When the off-hook of the telephone is not detected within a predetermined time after receiving a control command for executing a conversation reservation transmitted from the other party of the facsimile communication, the recording means is operated. A facsimile apparatus comprising a signal processing unit for controlling to record on a predetermined recording medium that a conversation reservation has been made.