JPH05236160A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make sure switching connection of a communication line to a voice speech equipment or a data communication equipment possible by reading a threshold level stored in a storage section for each destination to variably set the threshold level of a voice detection means. CONSTITUTION:A RAM 13 stores a threshold level SH of a level detection circuit 18d for each destination to which the equipment is set as a storage section. Then, a CPU 11 as a setting section reads a threshold level stored in the RAM 13 in response to the threshold level stored therein and the threshold level SH of the level detection circuit 18d is set variably. Furthermore, the destination is set in the variable setting by the CPU 11 receiving manual operation by the service man or telephone number registration of its own equipment at installation. After the destination is set, the destination and the threshold level are set in the RAM 13 by the CPU 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device in which one communication line is shared by a voice communication device and a data communication device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a communication device that automatically switches the connection destination of a communication line by detecting voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication device that shares one communication line between a voice communication device and a data communication device, such as a facsimile device, has been widely used. This facsimile machine
Since it has become smaller, less expensive, and has a built-in telephone, and a single telephone line can be used as both a telephone and a facsimile, it has become popular in ordinary households.

In order to properly use this composite function, a telephone / fax automatic switching function has been proposed. Generally, when a call arrives, the receiving side responds with a response message "Please talk to the telephone. "..." was sent, and it was determined whether it was a fax or a telephone by the response from the sender. As a conventional facsimile apparatus of this type, there is one described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-144761, which compares a signal input through a telephone line with a predetermined threshold level to determine the presence / absence of a voice signal. According to the presence or absence of the detected voice signal, the telephone line is switched and connected to one of a voice communication device (telephone) and a data communication device (facsimile device).

[0004]

However, in such a conventional communication device, a voice signal is generated due to a difference in telephone call transmission level at a destination where the device is installed, a noise level of the installation environment, and the like. There is a problem in that the presence or absence of erroneously is detected. Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 is
By storing the threshold level for each destination in advance and variably setting the threshold level depending on the destination,
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device which improves the detection accuracy of a voice signal and ensures the line switching operation.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 provides a communication device capable of improving the detection accuracy of a voice signal even in an installation environment different from the prediction by forcibly setting the threshold level separately from the destination. The purpose is to It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication device capable of reducing the cost of the voice detecting means by detecting the voice signal by the level detecting circuit permanently installed in the modem.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, by automatically adjusting the set threshold level according to the noise level of the communication line, the detection accuracy of the voice signal is improved even in an installation environment different from the prediction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that can be used.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In order to achieve the above object, a voice detection means for comparing the signal inputted through the communication line with a predetermined threshold level to detect the presence or absence of a voice signal, and the presence or absence of the voice signal detected by the voice detection means. A switching circuit for switching and connecting the communication line to one of a voice communication device and a data communication device in accordance with the above, and a storage unit storing the threshold level for each destination where the device is installed. And a setting unit for variably setting the threshold level of the voice detecting means by reading the threshold level stored in the storage unit according to the destination.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 2 is provided with a compulsory setting unit for compulsorily setting the threshold levels of the voice detecting means set according to the destination to different threshold levels. It is characterized by In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the level detecting circuit permanently provided in the modem is also used as a voice detecting means.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 4 is set in the noise detecting means for detecting the noise level of the communication line and the voice detecting means in accordance with the detected noise level. An adjusting unit for adjusting the threshold level is provided.

[0010]

In the invention having the above-described structure, the threshold level is stored in the storage unit for each destination where the device is installed, and the threshold level is read out by the setting unit according to the destination. Then, the threshold level of the voice detecting means is variably set.

In the invention having the above-mentioned structure, the threshold level of the voice detecting means set according to the destination is forcibly reset to a different threshold level by the forced setting section. Further, in the invention of the third aspect having the above configuration, the presence / absence of the voice signal is detected by the level detection circuit permanently provided in the modem.

Further, in the invention having the above structure, the noise level of the communication line is detected by the noise detecting means, and the adjusting section is set in the voice detecting means in accordance with the detected noise level. Adjust the threshold level.

[0013]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a facsimile apparatus as a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein FIG. 1A is a block configuration diagram thereof, and FIG. It is a block diagram of a modem.

First, the structure will be described. In FIG. 1A, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 is an RO
This device is controlled according to a program stored in M (Read Only Memory) 12. RAM (Random Access
Memory) 13 stores data necessary for control of CPU 11 and also stores image information related to facsimile communication.
The DCR (image information compression / reproduction unit) 14 encodes image information to be transmitted by a predetermined method to compress the amount of information, and
The image information encoded at the time of reception is decoded into the original image information. The operation port 15 includes various operation keys for an operator to arbitrarily operate the facsimile device, such as ten keys, one-touch dial keys, speed dial keys, various display devices for displaying a message from the facsimile device to the operator, and the like. Are arranged. The scanner (reading unit) 16 decomposes the transmission document into pixels with a predetermined resolution, and converts each pixel into a monochrome image signal. The plotter (writing unit) 17 records an image on recording paper at the same resolution as the scanner 16 and outputs the image.

The modem 18 modulates the transmission signal by the modulation / demodulation circuit 18a shown in FIG. 1B and demodulates the reception signal, detects the tone received by the tone detection circuit 18b, and detects the tone by the tone transmission circuit 18c. The tone is transmitted first, and the level detection circuit 18d detects the signal level of the line. Here, in the present embodiment, the level detection circuit 18d, as a voice detection means, compares the signal input through the telephone line L with a predetermined threshold level SH to detect the presence or absence of a voice signal.

An NCU (network control unit) 19 connects a telephone line L to a telephone circuit 20 which is a voice communication device or a modem 18 which is a data communication device according to the presence or absence of a voice signal detected by the level detection circuit 18d. A relay RY1 as a switching circuit is provided for switching connection to one side.
When an incoming call arrives, the relay RY1 is temporarily switched to the modem 18 side, and the voice response unit 21 sends out a response message "Please talk to the phone. FAX is ...", and the level of the modem 18 is detected as described above. The presence or absence of a voice signal is detected by the circuit 18d. In the NCU 19, the ringer ringing and ring detection circuit 22 detects a ringing signal from the exchange and rings the bell. The hook switch (Hook-SW) 23 detects on-hook / off-hook of the handset 24. On-hook dial relay RY2
Is a switch that passes the hook switch 23 when making a call with the handset 24 being on-hook. The I / O port 25 is a port that inputs and outputs signals between the NCU 19 and the CPU 11, and controls the switching operation of the relays RY1 and RY2. The dialer I / F 26 uses the calling dial input from the operation port 15 on the facsimile side as the NCU 19
The interface to transfer to.

In the above structure, the RAM 13 stores the threshold level SH of the level detecting circuit 18d for each destination where the apparatus is installed, as the storage section of this embodiment. The contents stored in the RAM 13 are shown in FIG. 2. First, as shown in FIG.
Destination codes up to (n is an integer) are stored. FIG. 2B shows a table that stores threshold level data corresponding to each of the destinations 1 to n.
A threshold level of n is specified.

The CPU 11 serves as the setting unit of this embodiment.
The threshold level stored in the RAM 13 is the destination 1
To n, the threshold level SH of the level detection circuit 18d is variably set. In addition, in the case of variable setting, the authorization of the destination is confirmed by the service person at the time of installation, or by the registration of the telephone number of the own machine, and the CPU 11
Done by After recognizing the destination, the CPU 11 sets the destination and the threshold level in the RAM 13 as shown in FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operation port 15 can list the destination code and the threshold level data shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b),
Any threshold level can be specified by the user or service person. In this case, the CPU 11
Represents a threshold level SH of the level detection circuit 18d set according to the destination as the compulsory setting unit of the present embodiment.
To a different specified threshold level. Even if the operation port 15 does not have a threshold level list function, the threshold level SH can be specified by referring to a separately prepared list.

Further, in this embodiment, the tone detecting circuit 18b in the modem 18 is used as noise detecting means to detect the noise level of the telephone line L. In this case, the CPU
Reference numeral 11 denotes the tone detection circuit 1 as an adjustment unit of this embodiment.
According to the noise level detected in 8b, the threshold level SH set in the level detection circuit 18d is adjusted so that optimum voice detection can be performed.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the line switching operation when the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 receives an incoming call. First, in the reception standby state, the ringer ringing and ring detection circuit 22 detects a ringing signal from the exchange (step S1). When the ringing signal is detected, the ringer ringing and ring detecting circuit 22 rings the bell and the C
PU11 is notified of ringing. CPU11 is I / O
The relay RY1 is switched to the modem 18 side via the port 25, and a DC loop is formed by the transformer T (step S2). Then, drive the voice response unit 21,
If it is a telephone call to the sender, a message indicating that voice is to be sent is sent (step S3). Where modem 1
The detection frequency according to the voice band from the transmitting side is set in the level detection circuit 18d of 8 (step S4), and the level of the voice signal is detected (step S5). This audio signal level is stored in the level detection circuit 18d or the CPU 11
It is internally compared with the threshold level SH (step S6), and the detected voice signal level is compared with the threshold level S.
If it is larger than H, the transmitting side determines that it is a telephone call and shifts to a known operator calling procedure.

On the other hand, if the voice signal is not detected in the determination in step S5, or if the voice signal level is lower than the threshold level SH in the determination in step S6,
After the detection operation of the voice signal is continued until a certain time has elapsed (step S7), the procedure shifts to a known facsimile reception procedure. Here, the threshold level SH data is the destination code set by the service person at the time of installation (Fig. 2 (a)).
Corresponding to the threshold data table (see FIG. 2).
The content is set from (b)) and is in the RAM area in which the service person can rewrite it by the function operation. Therefore, when the noise level of the installation environment is high,
The threshold data SH can be changed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the threshold level for each destination is stored in the RAM 13 in advance, and the threshold level SH is variably set according to the destination, so that the telephone transmission level and the noise level of the installation environment are set. A voice signal can be detected irrespective of the above, and the telephone line L can be surely switched and connected to a telephone or a facsimile machine.
Further, in this embodiment, since the threshold level is forcibly set separately from the destination, the service person can easily change the threshold level SH, and the false detection of the audio signal is reduced even under the installation environment different from the prediction. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, since the voice signal is detected by the level detection circuit 18d which is permanently installed in the modem 18, it is not necessary to add hardware for voice detection, and the cost can be reduced. In the above embodiment, there is a table of threshold data corresponding to the destination to be installed, and the threshold data SH can be changed according to the environment (noise level) of the installation location. Since the change requires the intervention of a service person, there is a possibility that the service cost will be incurred.

Therefore, FIG. 4 shows an automatic adjustment process of the threshold level SH. First, when the power is turned on at the time of installation (step T1), the CPU 11 turns on the on-hook dial relay RY2 (step T2), connects the telephone line L to the telephone circuit 20, and forms a DC loop.
When a direct current loop is formed, a dial tone comes from the exchange, so the dialer in the telephone circuit 20 is controlled to send a dial signal (for example, dial 1) (step T).
3) Prevent the dial tone from coming (it becomes silent).

Next, the relay RY1 is turned on to connect the telephone line L to the modem 18 side, and after this connection, the on-hook dial relay RY2 is turned off (step T4). The modem 18 connected to the telephone line L by the relay RY1 detects the noise level of the telephone line L by the built-in tone detection circuit 18b (step T).
5).

If the detection level at this time is, for example, X dBm, the CPU 11 compares this detection level X dBm with predetermined threshold data, for example, P dBm (step T
6) If the detection level XdBm is higher than the threshold data PdBm, it is judged that the noise level of the telephone line L is high, and the value of (X + M) dBm is written in place of the threshold data SH shown in FIG. T7), the relay RY1 is turned off (step T8), and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the detection level XdBm is smaller than the threshold data PdBm in the determination of step T6, it is determined that the noise level of the telephone line L is low, and the threshold data SH shown in FIG. 2C is not changed. To do. Although the threshold data P of the detection level X and the added value M of the detection level X in the tone detection circuit 18b can be set to arbitrary values, the threshold value SH set by the service person in the above embodiment is used. It doesn't matter.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the set threshold level SH can be adjusted according to the noise level of the telephone line L, and the voice level threshold value SH suitable for the installation location can be automatically set. It is possible to reduce false detections and service costs. In the above embodiments, the facsimile device provided with the telephone is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to the facsimile device, and for example, all data communication devices combined with a voice call device (telephone) such as a videophone and a conference system. Can be implemented in

[0030]

As described above, according to the communication device of the first aspect of the present invention, the threshold level is stored in the storage unit for each destination where the device is installed, and the threshold level is stored. Since the setting unit reads out according to the destination and variably sets the threshold level of the voice detection means, the voice signal can be detected regardless of the voice call level or the noise level of the installation environment, and the communication line can be reliably connected to the voice call device or Can be switched and connected to data communication equipment.

Further, according to the communication device of the second aspect of the invention, the threshold level of the voice detecting means set according to the destination can be easily changed to a different threshold level by the forced setting unit. False detection of audio signals can be reduced even in an installation environment different from the above. Further, according to the communication device of the third aspect of the present invention, since the presence or absence of a voice signal is detected by the level detection circuit permanently installed in the modem, it is not necessary to add hardware for voice detection, and the cost is reduced. Can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the noise detecting means detects the noise level of the communication line, and the adjusting section is set in the voice detecting means according to the detected noise level. Since the threshold level that is set is adjusted, the threshold level suitable for the installation location can be automatically set, and false detections and service costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a facsimile apparatus as a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, FIG. 1A is a block configuration diagram thereof, and FIG.
Is a configuration diagram of a modem.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents stored in a RAM, and FIG.
Shows a destination code table, FIG. 7B shows a threshold data table, and FIG. 7C shows a threshold data RAM.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a line switching operation when the facsimile device shown in FIG. 1 receives an incoming call.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an automatic threshold level adjustment process in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU (setting unit, forced setting unit, adjusting unit) 13 RAM (storage unit) 15 operation port 18 modem (data communication device) 18b tone detection circuit (noise detection means) 18d level detection circuit (voice detection means) 19 NCU (network) Control unit) 20 Telephone circuit (voice communication equipment) RY1 relay (switching circuit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A voice detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a voice signal by comparing a signal inputted through a communication line with a predetermined threshold level, and a voice detecting means depending on the presence or absence of the voice signal detected by the voice detecting means. In a communication device including a switching circuit that switches and connects the communication line to one of a voice communication device and a data communication device, a storage unit that stores the threshold level for each destination where the device is installed, A communication device, comprising: a setting unit that reads a threshold level stored in a storage unit according to a destination and variably sets the threshold level of the voice detection unit. 2. A forcible setting unit for forcibly setting a threshold level of the voice detection means set according to a destination to a different threshold level.
The communication device described. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the level detecting circuit permanently provided in the modem is also used as the voice detecting means. 4. A noise detecting means for detecting a noise level of a communication line, and an adjusting section for adjusting a threshold level set in the voice detecting means according to the detected noise level. The communication device according to claim 1.