JPH05347693A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a facsimile terminal in which an automatic reply means such as an automatic answering telephone set and a facsimile communication means are utilized effectively. CONSTITUTION:A certain silence period of time is continued based on on-hook of a caller terminal equipment after the reply by a telephone message recorder 2 in the facsimile terminal 1 comprising a main body 2 and the telephone message recorder 3 and the main body 2 is set in a reception state of a facsimile signal. When a busy signal outputted from an exchange is detected by the main body 2 in this state, the state is restored to the standby state from the reception state and the connection of a public telephone line 4 is open. Thus, the processing of transfer by the telephone message recorder 3 after automatic reply such as processing of a call of a pocket bell is surely executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine which is provided with a so-called answering machine and which automatically records a voice signal and receives a facsimile signal by switching connection of a public telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to effectively use one telephone line, a structure has been used in which a facsimile apparatus and a telephone are used together and the connection is switched automatically or manually as required. In such a configuration, by connecting a telephone having a so-called answering machine (hereinafter referred to as an answering machine) as a telephone, the voice signal from the calling side can be transmitted even when the operator (callee) is absent. It can be automatically stored in a magnetic tape, a voice memory, or the like, and these stored voice signals can be transferred to a predetermined transfer destination.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example of the operation of the answering machine. At time t0 to t1,
The operator of the calling station picks up the handset and dials in the telephone number of the called station. At time t1, an incoming call arrives at the called station, and the pager of the called station telephone is driven.
After the ringing beep is transmitted for a certain period of time, at time t2, the answering machine, which is the called station, goes into an off-hook state, and a preset response message is sent to the calling station for a period until time t3. After that, an alarm sound is sent for a period up to time t4, a recording operation is started from time t4, and a voice signal such as a message or message sent from the calling station is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a voice memory. To do.

At time t5, the calling station puts the telephone handset on and puts it in the on-hook state.
The line connection between the calling station and the exchange is released. afterwards,
The exchange starts to send a busy signal to the called station at time t6 after maintaining a silent state for a certain period. The answering machine, which is the called station, detects the busy signal output from the exchange for a certain period of time, and then sets the on-hook state at time t7 to cut off the connection with the exchange. Then, for example, 1
At time t8 after the lapse of 0 seconds, the answering machine is put into the off-hook state, and the calling operation of the preset transfer destination telephone number is started. The call arrives at the transfer destination at time t9, and the transfer process is executed until time t10.

[0005]

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5 described above.
6 is a timing chart showing an example of an operation when an answering machine that executes the operation shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the operation up to time t5 is the same as in FIG. 6 described above. When the silent state continues for a certain period of time, for example, 6 seconds from time t5, the facsimile apparatus enters the receiving state at time t11 and holds the line connection for a period of time t15, for example, 45 seconds.

Therefore, the busy signal sent from the exchange at time t6 is invalid and cannot be detected. At time t12, the answering machine goes into the on-hook state, and then, for example, at time t after 10 seconds have elapsed.
At 13, in order to perform a predetermined transfer process, for example, a pager transfer process, a calling operation based on a transfer destination telephone number registered in advance is started. However, since the facsimile machine is in the receiving state and the line is still held on the side of the facsimile machine, the calling operation by the answering machine becomes invalid.

After that, at time t14, the answering machine becomes on-hook, and at time t15 thereafter, the facsimile machine releases the reception state and returns to the standby state.

As described above, since the facsimile machine is set to the receiving state by detecting the silent period after the on-hook of the calling station after the automatic answering operation by the answering machine, the line is held by the facsimile machine side. , Inconvenience occurs that the transfer process is not executed by the answering machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile machine which can effectively utilize automatic answering means such as a so-called answering machine and facsimile communication means.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving a facsimile signal including an image signal and a control signal, and a public telephone line connected to answer a call from a calling side. A voice signal stored in advance is sent to the calling side, and thereafter, an automatic response means for receiving and storing the voice signal sent by the calling side is provided between the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means, Switching means for selectively connecting / disconnecting the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means, and after the response operation by the automatic response means, the switching means is switched to connect the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means, and the facsimile communication means Is set to the receiving state, and when a busy signal from the exchange is detected based on the received signal from the facsimile communication means, the switching means is switched to switch the public telephone number. A facsimile apparatus which comprises a control means for blocking.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the facsimile communication means and the automatic response means are connected to the public telephone line, and the reception of the facsimile signal including the image signal and the control signal and the storage of the voice signal transmitted by the calling side are selectively performed. To do. After the response operation by the automatic response means when the operator is absent, the control means switches the switching means to connect the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means, and sets the facsimile communication means to the receiving state. Therefore, when the calling side desires to transmit a facsimile signal after transmitting a voice signal, the facsimile signal is received by the facsimile communication means. When the calling side sends only a voice signal, the calling side places the handset of the telephone or the like into the on-hook state to open the line connection. As a result, the exchange starts sending a busy signal to the called side to notify that the line connection with the calling side has been released. When the busy signal from the exchange is received and detected via the facsimile communication means, the control means switches the switching means to cut off the connection between the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means.

Therefore, when the calling side goes on-hook after the response operation by the automatic response means and the facsimile signal is not transmitted following the voice signal, the busy signal from the exchange is received through the facsimile communication means and detected. , The connection between the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means is cut off. As a result, it is possible to reliably execute a predetermined process, such as a transfer process, which is executed after the response operation by the automatic response means, and it is possible to reliably and quickly transmit information.

[0013]

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a main body 2 which is a facsimile communication means.
And an answering machine 3 which is an automatic response means. The answering machine 3 may be built in the main body 2.

The public telephone line 4 is connected to a line control circuit 5 provided in the main body 2. A connection line 6 to which the answering machine 3 is connected and a signal line 7 to which a hybrid circuit 9 is connected are connected to the line control circuit 5. The public telephone line 4 and the connection line 6 are always connected, and the public telephone line 4 and the signal line 7 are connected via a relay, and this relay is controlled to open and close based on the control of the control circuit 8. ..

The hybrid circuit 9 is a circuit for transmitting / receiving an analog signal and a digital signal, and gives a received facsimile signal to the modem 10 and a signal to be transmitted from the modem 10 to the line control circuit 5. ..
The modem 10 demodulates a received signal and modulates a transmitted signal. The control circuit 8 is realized by a microcomputer or the like and controls the entire main body 2. A reading unit 11 and a recording unit 12 are connected to the control circuit 8.

The reading means 11 optically reads a document to be transmitted supplied to the main body 2, converts it into an electric signal, and supplies it as an image signal to the control circuit 8. This image signal is supplied to the modem 10 after being encoded by the control circuit 8 according to a predetermined procedure. The recording means 12 is
Among the received facsimile signals, the image signal decoded by the control circuit 8 is output to the recording paper. The power supply circuit 13 rectifies, smoothes, transforms, etc. AC power from a commercial AC power supply (not shown) to generate a DC current and a DC voltage necessary for driving the body 2, and supplies the DC current and the DC voltage to each circuit constituting the body 2.

The answering machine 3 comprises a telephone circuit 14, a handset 15, a recording means 16 and a control circuit 17. The telephone circuit 14 includes a calling bell, an incoming circuit,
It is provided with keys for inputting dial numbers, dials, etc., and controls call / call operations and calls by the handset 15. The handset 15 includes a microphone and a speaker for talking. The recording means 16 includes a memory that stores a predetermined response message and a memory that stores a voice signal such as a message or a message sent from the calling side when the answering machine function is executed. , Sends a response message and records a voice signal from the calling side.

In the normal mode, the answering machine 3 drives the calling bell in response to the calling signal from the exchange based on the calling operation of the calling side, and when the called side operator picks up the handset 15, the calling side is called. The telephone is connected to the telephone serving as the terminal device on the side, and a call is made with the operator on the calling side.

In the answering machine function mode, the answering machine 3 drives the calling bell a predetermined number of times in response to the calling signal from the exchange based on the calling operation of the calling side telephone, and then forcibly enters the off-hook state. It connects to the calling side telephone, and after connection, sends a preset response message to the calling side telephone. After that, the recording operation is started, and the voice signal sent from the calling telephone is stored in the magnetic tape or the voice memory by the recording means 16. After the recording of the voice signal from the calling telephone is completed and the line connection is released,
After the elapse of a predetermined period, a transfer process for notifying the operator that the voice signal has been received by the answering machine function, for example, a pager is called.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile machine 1 when the answering machine function is executed, and FIG. 3 is its timing chart. In step a1, when a calling signal from the exchange based on the calling operation (time s0 to s1) by the calling telephone is received, the process proceeds to step a2, and a period predetermined by the calling bell, for example, from time s1 to time s2. Is driven for. At step a3, the answering machine 3 is forcibly put into the off-hook state and connected to the calling side telephone. In step a4,
During the period from time s2 to time s3, the response message previously recorded in the recording means 16 is sent to the calling side telephone,
Then, in step a5, the alarm sound for the period from time s3 to time s4 is transmitted. This alarm sound is output to notify the operator of the calling side telephone that the answering machine 3 on the called side has been set to the recording state.

In step a6, for example, during the period from time s4 to time s5, the message from the operator of the calling side telephone
The message (voice signal) is recorded by the recording means 16.
At step a7, it is judged whether or not the recording of the message is completed. This determination is made by the operator of the calling telephone opening the handset to disconnect the line between the calling telephone and the exchange, for example, by detecting polarity reversal by the polarity reversal detection circuit. The polarity reversal detection circuit is a circuit that detects reversal of the direction of current flowing through a public telephone line.

In step a8, it is determined whether or not the silent state has continued for a predetermined period. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step a9, and the main body 2 is set to the receiving state at time s6. After that, at step a10, time s
At 8, the answering machine 3 goes on-hook, and the line connection with the exchange is released.

The exchange starts transmitting a busy signal from time s7 after a certain time has passed from time s5. Step a
At 11, it is judged whether or not the busy signal sent from the exchange is detected in the main body 2. When the busy signal is detected, in step a12 (time s9)
At 2, the main body 2 returns to the standby state and opens the line connection with the exchange.

At step a13, it is judged whether or not a certain period of time has passed from the time s8 when the answering machine 3 goes on hook. When it is determined that, for example, 10 seconds have elapsed as the fixed period, a preset transfer process is executed in step a14. That is, at the time s10, the call operation of the transfer destination telephone number registered in advance is performed, and when the call is received at the transfer destination at the time s11, the time s1
Transfer processing is executed for a period up to 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal sequence when the main body 2 detects a busy signal. When the main body 2 is set to the reception state of the facsimile signal, the CED is transmitted from the main body 2.
(Callee terminal identification signal) is sent out, followed by NSF (non-standard function identification signal), CSI (callee terminal identification signal), D
IS (digital identification signal) is transmitted. During these transmission periods, the modem 10 is set to the transmission mode and cannot receive the signal from the public telephone line 4.

After sending the above-mentioned various facsimile control signals, the main body 2 waits for reception of response signals from the calling side facsimile device. At this point, modem 10 is set to receive mode. When the calling side performs facsimile transmission, it responds to the various facsimile control signals by sending a CI
G (calling terminal identification signal), NSC (non-standard function command signal), DCS (digital command signal), etc. are transmitted.
In the present invention, the main body 2 returns from the receiving state to the standby state as described above by receiving and detecting the busy signal sent from the exchange in the receiving mode of the modem 10.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the main body 2 is set to the facsimile receiving state after the answering operation of the answering machine 3, the main body is detected by detecting the busy signal sent from the exchange. 2 returns from the reception state to the standby state and releases the line connection. As a result, the transfer processing by the answering machine 3, for example, the pager calling processing can be executed without delay, and the operator who is out is immediately notified that the answering machine function by the answering machine 3 has been activated. You can An operator who receives a pager call can listen to a voice signal recorded by calling an answering machine 3 installed at home or the like from a telephone outside the home. As a result, information (voice signal) can be transmitted accurately and quickly.

If the other party (sending) side disconnects the line while the main body 2 is receiving the facsimile signal,
By detecting the busy signal sent from the exchange, the main body 2 immediately returns from the facsimile receiving state to the standby state, so that an early response to the next call becomes possible.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the calling side goes on-hook after the answering operation by the automatic answering means and the facsimile signal is not transmitted subsequent to the voice signal, the busy signal from the exchange is facsimiled. It is received and detected through the communication means, and the connection between the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means is cut off. By this, a predetermined process executed after the response operation by the automatic response means,
For example, transfer processing can be executed reliably, and information can be transferred reliably and quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the facsimile device 1.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal sequence when a busy signal is detected in the facsimile apparatus 1.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of a general answering machine.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing an operation of a facsimile apparatus to which an answering machine is connected as an external telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device 2 Main body 3 Answering machine 4 Public telephone line 5 Line control circuit 6 Connection line 7 Signal line 8 Control circuit 10 Modem 14 Telephone circuit 15 Handset 16 Recording means 17 Control circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving a facsimile signal including an image signal and a control signal, and a voice signal which is connected to a public telephone line and responds to a call from a calling side and which is stored in advance. An automatic response means for transmitting to the calling side and thereafter receiving and storing a voice signal sent by the calling side and a public telephone line and a facsimile provided between the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means. Switching means for connecting / disconnecting the communication means, and after the response operation by the automatic response means, the switching means is switched to connect the public telephone line and the facsimile communication means,
And a control means for setting the facsimile communication means to a receiving state and switching the switching means to cut off the public telephone line when a busy signal from the exchange is detected based on the received signal of the facsimile communication means. And a facsimile machine.