JPH06217060A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operation convenience at the time of storing transmission originals in the storage device of a large capacity, and transmitting the transmission original. CONSTITUTION:A hard disk 9 stores a large amount of picture data or reception picture data read by a scanner 8, and a main control part 1 automatically transmits the transmission picture stored in the hard disk 9 when an idle transmission reservation time or a dead communication channel is in existence. When a DTMF transceiver in a communication and line control part 5 receives a DTMF signal to inquire about the transmitting situation of the transmission picture stored in the hard disk 9, a voice synthesizing circuit transmits the transmitting situation to the called party in a voice message.

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 storing image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent facsimile machines, a hard disk, for example, is used as a large-capacity image storage device in order to efficiently perform facsimile transmission and the like, and communication is performed by storing images in this large-capacity storage device. The transmission original can be read by the scanner regardless of whether or not it is scanned, and the image data accumulated in the storage device can be transmitted at the reserved transmission time or when the communication channel is available.

Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of facsimile transmission by using a large-capacity storage device to fill the idle time of the communication channel and use it efficiently. Further, since the user can reserve the transmission time and read his or her own transmission original during communication and transmit it at a desired time, daily work can be made efficient.

By the way, such a facsimile machine is often shared by a large number of users to some extent. For example, when several tens of people in a company or a government office work on the same floor, one facsimile machine on that floor is used. May be installed. Therefore, in such a usage environment, if the amount of image data read by the scanner and the operation amount of the communication channel are balanced, no problem occurs, but if the amount of image data read by the scanner is large or the image data already read If there are many parts or if the image data that has already been read cannot be transmitted because the other party is busy, a large time difference will occur at the time of reading and at the start of communication.

Conventionally, in this type of facsimile apparatus, in view of such a use environment, for example, a communication management report such as when an image read by a scanner is transmitted is printed through a plotter or displayed on a display. And informs the user.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, since the communication management report is printed via the plotter or displayed on the display, the user must go to the installation place and perform a predetermined operation. There is a problem that it is not convenient to use.

[0007] In particular, when a communication management report is printed, it takes time to output and paper is wasted. further,
Even if you want to send an urgent manuscript, you cannot send it preferentially, and sometimes you do not need to send it even though you reserved it. It has to be operated and is inconvenient.

In view of the above conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of improving usability when transmitting a transmission original by storing it in a large-capacity storage device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first means is a storage means for storing transmission images and a transmission reservation time or a communication channel for transmitting images stored in the storage means. An image transmitting unit that automatically transmits when there is a vacancy, a DTMF receiving unit that receives a DTMF signal via a communication line, and the DTMF receiving unit inquires the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage unit. When a DTMF signal is received, a voice message transmitting means for transmitting the transmission status as a voice message to the other party is provided.

The second means is the above-mentioned D in the first means.
When the TMF receiving means receives a DTMF signal inquiring about the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage means,
If the transmission is not completed and the communication channel becomes available, the image transmitting means preferentially transmits the image.

The third means erases the image from the storage means when the DTMF receiving means in the first or second means receives a DTMF signal for erasing the transmission image stored in the storage means. It is characterized by

[0012]

In the first means, when the DTMF signal for inquiring the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage means is received, the transmission status is transmitted to the other party by a voice message, so that the user can use a telephone or the like at a remote place. You can inquire the transmission status of the transmission image from the terminal of the
Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when the transmission original is stored in a large-capacity storage device and transmitted.

In the second means, since the untransmitted image is preferentially transmitted when the communication channel becomes free, the user can quickly transmit the untransmitted image from a terminal such as a telephone at a remote place via the communication line. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when the transmission original is stored in the large-capacity storage device and is transmitted.

In the third means, since the untransmitted image is erased from the storage means, the user can stop the transmission of the untransmitted image which is not required to be transmitted from the terminal such as a telephone at a remote place through the communication line. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when the transmission original is stored in a large-capacity storage device and transmitted.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail the communication / line control unit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a connection state of the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1 to a communication line. 4 is a block diagram showing an example, FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation procedure of the telephone of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a main control unit 1 is composed of a CPU or the like and controls the entire facsimile apparatus 10,
In particular, it directly controls the operation control unit 2, the communication / line control unit 5 and the image input / output control unit 7 as shown in detail in FIG. The main memory 3 is mainly composed of a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (random access memory), and stores a program for operating the CPU of the main control unit 1 in advance, or information when the program is executed, especially transmission reservation. The time, whether or not the transmission is completed, whether or not the transmission is normally completed, the transmission completion time, whether or not the information is erased due to non-delivery, etc. are temporarily stored. Image data read by the scanner 8 and image data received via the communication / line control unit 5 are temporarily stored in the image memory 4.

The operation control unit 2 controls an operation panel (not shown) by the main control unit 1, the communication / line control unit 5 interfaces with the line network, and the image input / output control unit 7 of the plotter 7. The image output and the image reading of the scanner 8 are controlled. The hard disk (HD) 9 is the scanner 8
It is used to store a large amount of image data and received image data read by.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the communication / line control unit 5 connects the terminal board 21 for connecting the lines of the line networks 11 and 12 shown in FIG. And a line interface 22 for equalizing, a modem 23 for sending and receiving commands of a facsimile transmission procedure, and DTMF for the line networks 11 and 12.
(Dual Tone Muti-Frequency) signal dialing, DTMF transceiver 24 that receives DTMF signals from the line networks 11 and 12, and communication management such as when the transmission image stored in the hard disk 9 is transmitted. It has a voice synthesizing circuit 25 for transmitting a report to the other party telephones 14 and 15 by voice, and a microprocessor (MPU) 26 for controlling the entire communication / line control unit 5.

The voice message synthesized by the voice synthesizing circuit 25 is erased when the transmission stored in the main memory 3 is completed, whether the transmission is normally completed, the transmission completion time, or the failure. It is generated based on information such as whether or not. Of course, instead of controlling by the MPU 26, the CPU of the main control unit 1 may be used for control.

Such a facsimile device 10 is connected to a general line network 11 such as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) as shown in FIG. 3, or in a company or a government office, for example, a private line network (PBX or the like). Etc. are connected to a dedicated line network 12, and communication control and line control are performed via such line networks 11 and 12. The other party's telephone 1 on the general line network 11
5 is connected, and the other party's facsimile 13 and telephone 14 are connected to the leased line network 12.
Reference numeral 15 is configured to be capable of transmitting a DTMF signal.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 3, two lines 1 are used.
Although it is configured to accommodate 1 and 12, of course, it may be configured to accommodate only the general line network 11. However, this type of facsimile machine 10 is often installed in one facsimile machine on the floor when several tens of people work on the same floor in a company or a government office, and in this case, in general, Since the line network 11 is accommodated preferentially, 2
It is desirable that the two lines 11 and 12 can be accommodated.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation on the side of the telephones 14 and 15, particularly the operating procedure will be described. In step S1, the extension number of the facsimile device 10 is dialed in the case of the extension telephone 14 and the extension number of the facsimile device 10 is dialed in the case of the extension telephone 15 after being off-hooked in the telephones 14 and 15, respectively. The line network 12 and the general line network 11 establish a line between the telephones 14 and 15 and the facsimile apparatus 10.

When the line is established in this way, the called facsimile machine 10 normally receives the CE of the facsimile transmission procedure.
After transmitting D (callee identification signal), NSF (non-standard function identification signal) or CSI (callee identification signal), D
Since the IS (digital identification signal) is transmitted, the telephone 1
When this signal is heard on the 4 and 15 side (step S
2) The DTMF signal corresponding to the key "#" is transmitted by operating the preset key "#", for example, to set the facsimile apparatus 10 to the remote operation mode (step S3).

When the facsimile machine 10 receives the DTMF signal, it is set to the remote operation mode, and the preset response message is the voice synthesizing circuit 25 shown in FIG.
Sent from. When the telephones 14 and 15 hear this response message (step S4), the DTMF is operated by operating the key of the preset number for designating the service mode of the remote operation mode.
A signal is transmitted (step S5).

Next, when the communication management report of the transmission image stored in the hard disk 9 is requested, the DTMF signal is transmitted by operating the key "1", and when the response to the request is heard by voice. (Step S6) For example, when inquiring whether or not the transmission image stored in the hard disk 9 in the communication management report has already been transmitted, the DTMF signal is transmitted by inputting the file number, and the personal information is transmitted. If the individual management number is input, the DTMF signal is transmitted by inputting the individual management number (step S7).

When the service completion message is heard (step S8), the service end code is input to send out the DTMF signal (step S8).
9), the telephone 14 and 1 by finally going on hook
The operation and operation procedure on the No. 5 side are ended (step S10).

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the facsimile machine 1
The operation of 0 will be described. First, when an incoming call is received through the lines 11 and 12, the receiving operation is started, and the identification signal (CED) and function information (CSI, DIS, NSF) are sent to the other party.
Is transmitted (step S11). Then, it is determined whether or not the DTMF signal corresponding to the preset key "#" for setting the facsimile apparatus 10 to the remote operation mode is received (step S12). If not received, the process proceeds to step S13 and thereafter. If received, the process branches to step S16 and thereafter.

In step S13, it is judged whether or not the function information or the like (TSI: transmission terminal identification signal, DCS: digital command signal, NSS: non-standard function setting signal) is received from the other side. The normal facsimile reception procedure is executed (step S14), and if it is not received, the retransmitting process of the function information and the like is executed (step S15).

In this embodiment, when the DTMF signal for setting the remote operation mode is received in step S12, the voice synthesizing circuit 25 is controlled to send a voice message indicating that the remote operation mode has been entered ( When the DTMF signal for designating the service mode is received (step S17), the next operation message is transmitted (step S16).
18) When the DTMF signal corresponding to this operation message is received (step S19), the voice message is transmitted (steps S20, S21). Then, when the transmission of the voice message is completed, a service completion message is transmitted (step S22), and this process ends.

That is, as described above, when the DTMF signal inquiring whether or not the transmission image stored in the hard disk 9 has already been transmitted is received, the voice message is transmitted and it is managed by the personal information. In that case, when the DTMF signal of the individual management number is received, the voice message is transmitted.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, when the transmission original is stored in the large-capacity storage device and is transmitted, when the external telephones 14 and 15 inquire the transmission status by the DTMF signal, the telephones 14 and 15 are inquired. On the other hand, since the transmission status is transmitted as a voice message, it is not necessary for the user to go to the place where the facsimile device 10 is installed, and therefore the usability of the facsimile device 10 can be improved. Further, since the communication management report is not printed, the paper is not wasted.

In the above embodiment, the case where the transmission status is transmitted as a voice message for each file or each individual has been described. However, it is also possible to transmit by each department, and when not transmitted, May preferentially send the result to the destination when the line is free and notify the caller of the result by voice. Also, when the DTMF signal for deleting the stored image from the hard disk 9 is received, the image is displayed. Alternatively, the result may be deleted and the caller may be notified of the result by voice.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the telephone sets 14 and 15
I explained the case of sending DTMF signal from
Of course, the facsimile apparatus 10 can be remotely controlled from another terminal such as an electronic notebook equipped with a DTMF transmitter.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the storage means for storing the transmission image and the transmission reservation time or the communication channel for the transmission image stored in the storage means are free. An image transmitting means for automatically transmitting a DTMF signal via a communication line
F receiving means and DTMF for inquiring the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage means by the DTMF receiving means
Since a voice message transmitting means for transmitting the transmission status to the other party by a voice message when the signal is received is provided, the user inquires the transmission status of the transmission image from a terminal such as a telephone at a remote place via a communication line. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when the transmission original is stored in a large-capacity storage device and transmitted.

According to a second aspect of the invention, when the DTMF receiving means in the first aspect of the invention receives a DTMF signal inquiring about the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage means, the transmission is completed. If there is no communication channel, the image transmission means preferentially transmits the image when the communication channel is free, so that the user can quickly transmit an untransmitted image from a terminal such as a telephone at a remote place via a communication line. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability when the transmission original is stored in a large-capacity storage device and transmitted.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described above, the DTMF receiving unit deletes the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage unit.
When the signal is received, the image is erased from the storage means, so that the user can stop the transmission of the untransmitted image which is unnecessary to be transmitted from the terminal such as the telephone at the remote place through the communication line, and therefore the transmission is performed. It is possible to improve the usability when storing and transmitting a document in a large-capacity storage device.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail a communication / line control unit of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing an example of a connection state of the facsimile apparatus of FIG. 1 to a communication line.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation procedure of the telephone of FIG.

5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Control Unit 5 Communication / Line Control Unit 9 Hard Disk (HD) 24 DTMF Transceiver 25 Voice Synthesis Circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing transmission images, an image transmission unit for automatically transmitting the transmission images stored in the storage unit at a reserved transmission time, when a communication channel is idle, and the like. DTMF receiving means for receiving a DTMF signal via a line, and when the DTMF receiving means receives a DTMF signal for inquiring the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage means, the transmission status is transmitted to the other party by a voice message. A facsimile device provided with a voice message transmitting means for transmitting. 2. The DTMF receiving unit inquires about the transmission status of the transmission image stored in the storage unit.
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the signal is received and the transmission is not completed, the image transmission means preferentially transmits the image when the communication channel becomes available. 3. The image according to claim 1, wherein when the DTMF receiving means receives a DTMF signal for erasing the transmission image stored in the storage means, the image is erased from the storage means. Facsimile machine.