JPH06268807A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce wait time at a sender side by making a timing of ringing a simulated bell tone adjustable when a sender side commands talking. CONSTITUTION:Upon the receipt of a call signal S from a sender side, the facsimile equipment starts a voice reply R1 and sends an inquiry message about whether the sender side commands facsimile or talking communication. When a CNG signal from the sender side in the reply R1 is detected at a time t1, facsimile reception is started. Moreover, when no CNG signal is detected, either the facsimile transmission or the talking is discriminated and a simulated bell B1 rings to call persons in the neighbouring within a time of, e.g. the reply R1 in a proper timing afterward. The timing when the bell B1 rings is freely selected by software control. Moreover, after a voice reply R is finished, a simulated ring back tone to the sender side is sent.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus in which the timing of ringing a pseudo bell can be selected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional facsimile apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the timing of each operation of the facsimile apparatus. First, a calling signal (Call signal) S is sent from the transmitting side to the receiving side facsimile apparatus. When the facsimile device receives the call signal S, thereafter, for a certain period of time, whether the instruction of the transmitting side is automatic facsimile transmission or a call,
Etc., a voice response R is inquired. Then, when the instruction from the transmitting side is a telephone call or a manual facsimile transmission after the telephone call, a voice response R for a certain period of time is sent.
After that, the pseudo bell B1 is sounded and a person is called. Further, the facsimile machine sounds the pseudo bell B1 and, at the same time, sends the pseudo ring back tone B2 notifying the sender that the pseudo bell B1 is sounding to the sender.

When the receiving side picks up the handset by the pseudo bell B1, the call C becomes possible thereafter.

[0005]

In the configuration of the conventional device described above, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the receiving side rings the pseudo bell B1 for calling after the voice response R is completed. Therefore, on the transmitting side, after the voice response R is completed,
There is a long time T waiting for the person to pick up the handset when the pseudo bell B1 rings.

It is also conceivable that the transmitting side rings the pseudo bell immediately after the facsimile device receives the calling signal, without waiting for a long time, without waiting for the end of the voice response. However, in this case, it is expected that a nearby person picks up the handset by the sound of the pseudo bell, and the facsimile cannot automatically receive the so-called silent call.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus in which the timing of ringing a pseudo bell can be selected and the waiting time on the transmitting side can be shortened.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when a call signal is received from a transmitting side, a voice response signal including a message for inquiring whether the instruction of the transmitting side is facsimile transmission or call is provided. A means for sending to the transmitting side for a predetermined time, a means for ringing a pseudo bell when the instruction of the transmitting side is a call, and a means for sending a pseudo ringback tone to inform the transmitting side that the pseudo bell is ringing. The facsimile machine provided is characterized in that the timing of ringing the pseudo bell can be adjusted.

[0009]

According to the above construction, the pseudo bell can be sounded by adjusting the timing when, for example, the signal instructing the facsimile transmission is not detected in the signals sent from the transmitting side.

Therefore, the timing of ringing the pseudo bell can be made earlier, and the time for the receiving side to pick up the handset becomes shorter. As a result, the waiting time on the transmitting side can be shortened.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows the timing of the operation of the present invention. A calling signal (Call signal) S is sent from the transmitting side to the facsimile machine on the receiving side. Upon receiving the calling signal S, the facsimile machine starts the first voice response R1. Then, in the voice response R1,
First, a message inquiring whether the instruction of the transmitting side is a facsimile transmission or a telephone call is sent.

When the CNG signal sent from the transmitting side is detected at time t1 during the voice response R1, the facsimile apparatus judges that the facsimile is automatically transmitted and enables the facsimile to be received.

If the CNG signal is not detected after a certain period of time (the transmitter does not send the CNG signal),
It is determined to be either a manual facsimile transmission or a telephone call, and then the pseudo bell B1 for calling a nearby person is sounded at an appropriate timing, for example, within the time of the voice response R1. The timing of ringing the pseudo bell B1 can be freely selected by software control. The sending of the pseudo ringback tone B2 to the transmitting side is performed after the voice response R is completed.

If a nearby person picks up the handset by the pseudo bell B1, then the call C becomes possible. If no one picks up the receiver even if the pseudo bell B1 rings, such as when there is no person nearby, a message to the effect that switching to facsimile reception will be sent to the sender as the second voice response R2. send.

The pseudo bell B1 including the voice response R1 is included.
The timing for ringing can be freely selected after t1 when the CNG signal is detected by software control or the like.

According to the above configuration, the receiving side, for example, immediately rings the pseudo bell B1 without waiting for the end of the voice response R1 when it determines that the CNG signal is not detected even after a certain period of time. You can Therefore, the nearby person can pick up the handset earlier, the receiving side can answer the call even during the voice response R1, and the waiting time t of the transmitting side is shortened accordingly.

Now, the operation procedure on the transmitting side in the facsimile apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

On the transmitting side, the dial of the telephone is turned to send a calling signal (Call signal) (step 20).
1). After that, in the first voice response with the receiving side, a CNG signal for identifying whether it is a facsimile transmission or another call, for example, is sent. When the CNG signal is detected on the receiving side during the voice response (step 202),
The protocol is exchanged with the receiving side (step 203),
The facsimile transmission is started (step 204).

In step 202, when the CNG signal is not detected by the receiving side (when the transmitting side does not send the CNG signal), the receiving side judges that the instruction of the transmitting side is manual transmission of a facsimile or a call, and, for example, Ring a pseudo bell that calls a nearby person at an appropriate time such as during voice response. After the end of the voice response, a pseudo ringback tone is sent to the transmitting side. Then, when the receiving side picks up the receiver (step 205), the call becomes possible (step 206). If the receiving side does not pick up the receiver in step 205, the receiving side sends a message to the effect that the reception side will switch to facsimile reception to the transmission side as the second voice response, and switches to facsimile reception. When the sender sends a facsimile (step 20)
7) exchanges the protocol with the receiving side (step 2).
08), and the facsimile is transmitted (step 209).
When the facsimile is not transmitted in step 207, the telephone is disconnected (step 210).

When the receiving side does not detect the CNG signal, the timing for ringing the pseudo bell can be freely selected within the time of the voice response by controlling the software.

Next, the operation procedure of the facsimile machine on the receiving side will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

On the receiving side, during the first voice response, CN
The G signal is detected (step 300). When the CNG signal is detected, the facsimile is automatically received (step 301). If no CNG signal is detected, a pseudo bell is rung (step 302). It should be noted that the timing of ringing the pseudo bell can be freely selected as long as it is after t1 when the CNG signal is detected, for example, within the time of the voice response by the software control as described above.

After the voice response is completed, a pseudo ringback tone is sent to the transmitting side (step 304).

When the receiving side picks up the receiver (step 305), it becomes possible to talk with the transmitting side (step 306).

If the receiving side does not pick up the receiver at step 305, a second voice response is made with the transmitting side (step 307) to inform the transmitting side that no one is picking up the receiver so that the facsimile can be received. (Step 308).

[0027]

According to the present invention, since the timing of ringing the pseudo bell can be freely selected, it is possible to ring the pseudo bell at an appropriate timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention and shows operation timing.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention and is a flowchart showing an operation procedure on the transmitting side.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention and is a flowchart showing an operation procedure on the receiving side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a conventional device, showing operation timing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S ... Ringing signal R1 ... First voice response B1 ... Pseudo bell B2 ... Pseudo ringback tone C ... Call R2 ... Second voice response

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When a calling signal is received from the transmitting side,
A means for sending to the sender a voice response signal containing a message inquiring whether the sender's instruction is a facsimile transmission or a call, and a pseudo bell when the sender's instruction is a call. In a facsimile apparatus having a means for ringing and a means for sending a pseudo ringback tone indicating that the pseudo bell is ringing to a transmitting side, the facsimile machine is characterized in that the timing for ringing the pseudo bell can be adjusted. apparatus.