JPH0548821A - Facsimile equipment with transmission function dependent upon voice input - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a facsimile equipment having the transmission function dependent upon voice input where transmission to the destination of a telephone number is automatically performed at the time of reading orally this telephone number by an operator instead of key operation. CONSTITUTION:A voice input means (incorporated microphone) 4, a voice recognition means 1A which recognizes the telephone number inputted with a voice from the voice input means 4 and is provided in a main control part 1, and a transmission means 1B which executes the transmission processing operation after the transmission operation of the telephone number recognized by the voice recognition means 1A and is provided in the main control part 1 are provided to constitute the equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of transmitting by voice input.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for operating a facsimile apparatus at the time of transmission, a transmission original is set on an original feeder, a ten key arranged on an operation panel or the like is operated, and a telephone number of a receiver is sequentially input. It is a common procedure to go. In addition, if a so-called auto dial function is provided, a continuous key operation at the time of transmission can be simplified by operating a one-touch key or a speed dial key. That is, in the current facsimile apparatus, it is premised that the operator inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination by key operation at any time during transmission.

[0003]

However, when attention is paid to the fact that facsimile machines are becoming more and more personalized in the future and they are used in each layer, if the current key operation is indispensable, the transmission operation becomes inconvenient. Is expected. A typical example is a case where a person who is blind or has a fingertip operates it. Even if not, for example, when both hands are blocked, when the fingertips are dirty, or when it is difficult for the fingertips to reach the operation panel due to the condition of the place where the facsimile machine is placed or the mounting height, for various reasons. , It is expected that key operation may be hindered.

In such a case, it is very convenient if the facsimile machine is equipped with a function of automatically transmitting to the destination of the telephone number when the operator verbally reads the telephone number instead of operating the keys. Can be something.

The present invention proposes a facsimile apparatus having a new voice input transmission function based on this idea.

[0006]

In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, as means for achieving the above object, voice input means and voice recognition means for recognizing a telephone number input by voice from the voice input means. And a transmitting means for transmitting the telephone number recognized by the voice recognizing means and then performing a transmission processing operation.

[0007]

In this facsimile apparatus, when the operator inputs the telephone number of the desired destination to the voice input means by voice after setting the transmission original, the voice recognition means recognizes the voice input telephone number, and the voice recognition is performed. When the telephone number is recognized by the means, the transmitting means performs the transmitting operation to send the telephone number to the line, and then the facsimile apparatus of the destination specified by voice input of the read image of the set document in the line connected state. The transmission processing operation of transmitting to will be automatically executed.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the appearance of a facsimile apparatus F according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a block configuration of the facsimile apparatus F.

The facsimile apparatus F has a C as a main control section.
The PU 1 is mounted, and is provided with input / output devices and various memories required for the PU 1.

The input device includes an operation unit (keyboard) 2 for inputting necessary operation commands to the main control unit 1, and a reading unit (scanner) 3 for reading an image of a transmission or copy document. A microphone 4 is built in as a voice input means for enabling voice input peculiar to the invention. The audio signal input from the microphone 4 is A
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the / D conversion unit 5 and then input to the main controller 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a document sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a document P (see FIG. 1) set in the document feeder of the facsimile apparatus F through the document insertion port 7.

As the output device, a recording unit (printer) 8 and a display unit (display) 9 for reproducing a received or copied image are provided, and a voice message prompting the operator for voice input at the time of transmission. The speaker 10 for outputting is included.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a ROM for storing an operation program executed by the main control unit 1, and 12 denotes a RAM for storing various data generated as the program progresses.

In addition, reference numeral 13 denotes an NCU which performs a control operation required for line connection with the partner machine, and 14 denotes a modem for modulating / demodulating transmitted / received data.

In this facsimile apparatus F, as shown in FIG. 1, with the transmission original P set in the original feeder, the operator verbally inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination into the built-in microphone 4 (3, 5, ... ) Then, the main control unit 1
The telephone number input by voice is recognized by the voice recognition means 1A provided in the. When the telephone number is recognized by the voice recognition means 1A, the transmission means 1 of the main control section 1
A transmission operation of transmitting the telephone number from the NCU 13 to the line L is performed by B, and thereafter, the read image of the set original P is transmitted to the receiver of the destination specified by voice input in the line connection state. Is automatically executed.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the processing operation executed by the main control section 1 which also has the voice recognition means 1A at the time of transmission.

In this apparatus F, when it is detected that the document P is set in the feeder from the standby state based on the input signal of the DS sensor 6 (step), the main controller 1 sends a predetermined voice message to the speaker 10. Is output,
The operator is prompted to enter a telephone number by voice (step). When a telephone number is input by voice from the built-in microphone 4, the voice recognition means 1A of the main control unit 1 sequentially performs voice recognition processing (step), and subsequently it is determined whether or not the recognition processing is possible (step). At this time, when voice recognition is not possible due to poor pronunciation of the operator or when voice input is not performed, the processing (steps, ...) After the input reminder is repeated.

On the other hand, when the voice recognition is confirmed in the step, the process proceeds to the next step, and transmission and transmission processing is performed (step). That is, in the step, the transmission means 1B of the main control unit 1 performs a transmission operation of transmitting the telephone number of the transmission destination recognized by the voice recognition means 1A from the NCU 13 to the line L, and further, in the line connection state, When the reception standby state is confirmed, the transmission processing operation of transmitting the read image from the NCU 13 via the modem 14 is automatically performed while the transmission document P is being read by the reading unit 3, and then the processing ends.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus F according to the present invention, the operator inputs the telephone number of the transmission destination by voice while the original is set, so that the transmission can be automatically performed to the desired destination without key operation. It will be possible.

In the above-described embodiment, only the telephone number necessary for specifying the destination is voice-input to the voice input means 4, but if the voice recognition means 1A can recognize voice signals other than the number as well. If so, it is possible to adopt various further advanced embodiments. For example, when the operator inputs a destination name whose telephone number is registered in the speed dial memory in advance, the operator can automatically transmit to the receiver having the destination name.
Further, if transmission images are stored in page units in the image data memory in advance, it is possible to perform transmission without a manuscript by the operator performing voice input to specify a page of the memory accumulation image after voice input of the transmission destination. In the latter case, completely hands-free facsimile transmission is realized.

[0021]

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus having the transmission function by voice input according to the present invention, the key operation such as ten keys at the time of transmission becomes unnecessary, and the operator can voice the desired destination telephone number. By inputting, it will be automatically sent to the destination.
Therefore, it can be very convenient when a person with a physical disability operates it or when the key operation is hindered due to the installation conditions of the facsimile device or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance example of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation during facsimile transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

 F Facsimile device 1 Main control unit (CPU) 1A Voice recognition unit 1B Transmission unit 2 Operation unit (keyboard) 3 Reading unit (scanner) 4 Voice input unit (microphone) 5 A / D converter 6 DS sensor 7 Original insertion port 8 Recording unit (printer) 9 Display unit (display) 10 Speaker 11 ROM 12 RAM 13 NCU 14 Modem L line P Document

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A transmission processing operation after performing a voice input means, a voice recognition means for recognizing a telephone number inputted by voice from the voice input means, and a transmission operation for transmitting the telephone number recognized by the voice recognition means. A facsimile apparatus having a transmission function by voice input, characterized in that the facsimile apparatus is provided with: