JPH05236239A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the picture communication equipment in which one transmitter makes simultaneous transmission to plural receivers. CONSTITUTION:A facsimile equipment consists of a modem 102, a tone transmission section 103, a tone detection section 104, a non-voice detection section 105 and a procedure control section 106. The transmission is made after the non-voice state of a line is confirmed by the non-voice detection section 105. At the reception, the tone transmission section 103 sends a reply signal and the tone detection section 104 monitors a reply signal sent by other equipment. As a result, the same picture is sent to plural destinations by one communication to save the communication charge.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication apparatus capable of constructing a communication system capable of simultaneously transmitting to one receiver with a plurality of receivers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines have been remarkably widespread and are entering not only offices but also homes.
This facsimile machine is based on CCITT Recommendation T.264. 30 and so on, most facsimile machines comply with this recommendation, but this is only 1: 1.
It is premised on communication (one receiving device for one transmitting device).

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent telephone lines,
Like a three-way call, three or more people can talk at the same time, but the person in this state (denoted as A) is the other two (B, C).
In order to send a facsimile to (1) to (2), first, A sends to B, and then A sends to C, and two communications are required. That is, the conventional facsimile apparatus has a problem that the facsimile cannot be simultaneously sent to a plurality of parties.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, a silence detecting means and a response signal transmitting / receiving means are provided.

[0005]

The transmitter side starts the transmission after the silence detector detects that the line is in the silence state. In addition, the receiving device side returns a response signal to the signal from the transmitting device, monitors the line, receives the response signal from another receiving device, and receives the signal from the next transmitting device. Prepare for

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus will be described in detail below as a typical example of the image communication apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic block configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 100
Is a telephone line, 101 is a network control unit (NCU) for switching and controlling the connection of the line 100, 1
Reference numeral 02 is a modem that modulates and demodulates signals, 103 is a tone transmission unit that controls transmission of tone signals, 104 is a tone detection unit that detects tone signals, 105 is a silence detection unit that detects a silent state of the line, and 106 is facsimile communication. The procedure control unit for controlling the procedure of 107, 107 is an encoding unit for encoding and decoding image data, 108 is an overall control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, and 109 is an operation unit for performing various operations of the apparatus. It is composed of various display devices. Reference numeral 110 denotes a reading unit that reads a transmission document, and is composed of a CCD sensor, a contact sensor, or the like. A printing unit 111 prints the received image, and includes a thermal head and an inkjet.
Reference numeral 112 is a timer circuit for controlling and managing time, and 113 is a telephone.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a system constructed by using the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a case where the system is applied to a three-way call state using three lines.
In the figure, 201-203 are facsimile machines according to the present invention, and 204-206 are facsimile machines 201-2.
03 is a telephone attached to the 03, 207 is a telephone exchange, 208-
Reference numeral 210 is a telephone line to each device. In this example, when three people are talking using the telephones 204 to 206 and the person using the telephone 204 uses the facsimile device 201 to send a facsimile to the other two, the facsimile device 202 is used. By setting 203 to the receiving state and the facsimile apparatus 201 to the transmitting state, it is possible to simultaneously transmit to two facsimile apparatuses in one communication.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another system configuration according to the present invention, and shows a case where two facsimile machines are connected in parallel to one line. In the figure, 30
1 to 303 are facsimile machines, 304 to 306 are telephones attached to the facsimile machines 301 to 303, 307 is an exchange, and 308 and 309 are telephone lines. In this example, two facsimile machines 3 are arranged in parallel with the telephone line 309.
02 and 303 are connected (branch connection), telephones 304 to 306 make a three-way call, and the facsimile device 30
1 to the facsimile devices 302 and 303 at the same time.

Next, an example of a communication procedure used in the present invention is shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 401 is a digital command signal corresponding to a DCS signal in a GIII facsimile machine, which is a signal for notifying a receiving device of a transmission speed, an encoding system and the like. Reference numeral 402 is a training check signal corresponding to the TCF signal in the GIII facsimile.
A 0 "signal is transmitted for 1.5 seconds and is used to check the state of the line. 403 is image data. 404 is an acknowledgment signal to the signal from the transmission device. 405.
Is a negative acknowledgment signal to the signal from the transmitter. The digital command signal 401 is, for example, V.V. A digital signal from a 21 standard low speed modem is used. The training check signal 402 and the image data 403 are V. 27te
r and V. A digital signal from a 29 standard high speed modem is used. On the other hand, as the positive response signal 404 and the negative response signal 405, signals that can be distinguished even if they are output at the same time are used. For example, the acknowledgment signal 404 is 2100.
The Hz tone signal and the negative acknowledgment signal 405 are 1100 Hz tone signals and the like. In addition to such a single tone signal, a plurality of different tone signals may be used in combination, or another signal may be used.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 (1). Usually line 100
Is connected to the telephone 113 by the function of the NCU 101, and a telephone call (here, a three-way telephone call) is performed using the telephone 113. Then, in the case of performing facsimile communication, the facsimile apparatus, which is a transmission apparatus, sets the transmission original in the reading unit 110 and presses the transmission start button of the operation unit 109. Then, NCU 101 connects to line 1
00 is connected to the modem 102 and is in a transmission state. On the other hand, when the reception start button of the operation unit 109 is pressed, the plurality of facsimile devices serving as receiving devices are connected to the modem 102 by the function of the NCU 101, enter a receiving state, and wait for a signal from the transmitting device. When all the facsimile apparatuses are in the transmitting or receiving state in this way, all the modems 102 are connected to the line 100.
Unless 02 signals, line 100 is silent. Therefore, when the transmission device enters the transmission state, the line 100
When the silent state is detected by the silence detecting unit 105, it is determined that all the devices are in the receiving state, and the digital command signal 40 is transmitted via the procedure controlling unit 106.
Send 1. In this digital command signal 401, for example, information on a transmission condition of transmitting image data with MH code at 9600 bps is transmitted. On the receiving side, the digital command signal 401 is received, and the overall control unit 108 determines the transmission condition via the procedure control unit 106. If it can be received under this transmission condition, a tone signal of, for example, 2100 Hz is sent back as an acknowledgment signal 404 via the tone sending unit 103. The transmitting device sends the digital command signal 401, and then the timer 11
2 is activated, and an acknowledgment signal 4 is sent within a predetermined T1 time.
If 04 is received, the training check signal 402 is first transmitted at 9600 bps, for example. The receiver is
Each receives the training check signal 402, and when the training check signal 402 is normally received, an acknowledgment signal 404 is sent back. The transmitter uses the training check signal 40
When the acknowledgment signal 404 is received within T1 time after the transmission of 2, the modem 10 transmits the data 404 obtained by encoding the image data read by the reading unit 110 by the encoding unit 107.
2. Send via NCU 101. When the receiving device receives the image data 404, the receiving device decodes it with the encoding unit 107,
Printing is performed by the printing unit 111. When the reception is normally completed, the acknowledgment signal 404 is returned and the communication is ended.

FIG. 4B shows an example of the communication procedure when the receiving apparatus returns the negative acknowledgment signal 405. 960
Digital command signal 40 indicating 0 bps, MH code, etc.
On the other hand, in the case where one of the receiving devices cannot receive the signal unless the receiving device has a reception speed of 4800 bps or less, the device sends back a negative acknowledgment signal 405. At this time, when another receiving device outputs the positive acknowledgment signal 404, these two signals are simultaneously output on the line. For example, if the tone signals have different frequencies, the transmitting device outputs the negative acknowledgment signal 405. Can be received. After transmitting the digital command signal 401 and receiving the negative acknowledgment signal 405 within T1 time, the transmitting device next sets the transmission condition to, for example, 4800 bps, MH.
The digital command signal 401 changed to a code or the like is transmitted. On the other hand, if the receiving device is good, this time it sends back the acknowledgment signal 404. If only the acknowledgment signal 404 is received, then the training check signal 402 is transmitted at 4800 bps. When the receiving device cannot receive this normally, it sends back the negative acknowledgment signal 405. On the other hand, the transmission device reduces the transmission speed by one step and transmits the training check signal 402 at 2400 bps this time. The receiving device sends an acknowledgment signal 404 if it can receive this normally, and the sending terminal receives this and sends the image data 403 at 2400 bps.
It is important to note here that the receiving device receives the response signal 404.
That is, it is necessary to monitor the response signal transmitted by another receiving device while transmitting the signal 405 or 405. This is because the receiving device needs to receive according to the type of the signal from the transmitting device. For example, if there is no negative acknowledgment signal 405 for the digital command signal 401, then the V.V. Two
7ter and V.I. It is necessary to wait for the training check signal 402 by the high-speed modem of No. 29, and when there is the negative acknowledgment signal 405, the V.29 also follows. It is necessary to wait for the digital command signal 401 with a low speed modem such as 21. Further, the negative response signal 405 is not limited to one type, and a plurality of types of negative response signals may be used depending on the content to be denied. For example, the frequency of the tone signal is changed so that the tone signal has a frequency of 1300 Hz when the transmission speed does not match, and the tone signal has a frequency of 1500 Hz when the coding method does not match. Further, in the case where the signal from the transmitting device is normally received, no signal may be sent back instead of the acknowledge signal 404. In this case, the transmitting device determines that the receiving device affirms if no signal arrives within a certain time after transmitting the signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure,
501 is a telephone line, 502 is a network control unit (NCU), 5
Reference numeral 03 is a telephone connected to the outside, 504 is a telephone control unit for controlling the built-in telephone, 505 is a built-in telephone, 5
06 is a modem, and V. 21 standard as well as V.21 standard. 27t
er and V. It is a modem that can perform transmission and detection of 29 standards and tone signals. Reference numeral 507 denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling the entire apparatus, which is composed of a microprocessor or the like. Reference numeral 508 denotes a read only memory (ROM) for storing an operation program of the CPU 507, 5
Reference numeral 09 denotes a random access memory (R) used as a work area necessary for the operation of the CPU 507, a transmission / reception buffer, or the like.
AM) 510 is a system bus including an address bus, a data bus, and the like, 511 is an operation unit that performs various operations of the apparatus, 512 is an encoding that encodes read image data, and decodes received data. Part, 51
Reference numeral 3 is a reading control unit for controlling reading of originals, and 514 is a CC
Reading sensor composed of D sensor, contact sensor, etc., 5
Reference numeral 15 is a print control unit for controlling printing on recording paper, and 516 is a print head including a thermal head or an inkjet. The basic operation is the same as in the example of FIG. 1, and silence detection is performed using the tone detection function of the modem 506. For example, if a plurality of types of predetermined tone signals cannot be detected from the line 501, it is determined that there is no sound.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the facsimile apparatus, it can be applied not only to the facsimile apparatus but also to an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting a still image or a moving image using a telephone line. 2 and 3
In the above example, the state of three-way calling is shown, but it is also possible to use four-way calling or more.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the same image can be transmitted to a plurality of parties in a single communication, which is effective in saving communication charges.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration using a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the system configuration using the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a communication procedure used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another example of the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Telephone line, 101 ... Network control device, 102 ... Modem, 103 ... Tone sending unit, 104 ... Tone detecting unit, 1
05 ... Silence detecting section, 106 ... Procedure control section, 107 ... Encoding section, 112 ... Timer, 113 ... Telephone, 201-20
3 ... Facsimile device, 204-206 ... Telephone, 20
7 ... exchanges, 208-210 ... telephone lines.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image communication device for transmitting and receiving image data, wherein one image communication device simultaneously transmits data to a plurality of image communication devices in a line state of N (N is a natural number of 3 or more) person call. An image communication device characterized by being capable of performing. 2. The image communication device according to claim 1, further comprising silence detecting means for detecting a silence state of the line, and when the device operates as an image data transmitting device, the silence detecting means detects the silence state of the line. An image communication device, characterized in that communication is started after detection. 3. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a response signal transmitting / receiving unit, and when the image communication apparatus operates as a receiving apparatus for image data, the response signal is transmitted in response to a signal from the transmitting apparatus side. , An image communication device receiving a response signal from another receiving device.