JPH0630173A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the load of the user and to decrease mis-operation by performing a voice guidance for the operation method at the time of registration and extraction of picture data. CONSTITUTION:The voice guidance device 3 consists of a line control section 5 controlling each communication circuit, a voice memory 7 storing a content of voice for the guidance, a voice transmission section 6 reading the content of the voice memory 7 and applying voice guidance to a telephone set of a facsimile terminal equipment 1, a PB signal transmission section 8 sending a PB signal representing an extraction signal or a registration signal generated and sent by the telephone set of the facsimile terminal equipment 1 according to the voice guidance to a facsimile store multiple address communication equipment 4, and a main control section 9 controlling the entire voice guide device 3. When the facsimile equipment registers picture data to the picture storage device, the generation of the registration signal is guided by voice information by making a call to the voice guidance device 3 with a telephone set. When the facsimile equipment extracts the picture data registered from the picture storage device, the voice guidance device 3 guides the generating method similarly to above.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image communication device having a facsimile terminal and an image storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is used a facsimile storage / broadcasting device having a mail box function capable of extracting stored image information according to an instruction from a terminal and registering image information from the terminal.

An example of such a facsimile mail system will be described with reference to FIG. Such a system
It is composed of a plurality of general-purpose facsimile terminals 1, a touch-tone telephone provided for each of these terminals 1, an exchange 2 connected to each facsimile terminal 1, and a facsimile storage broadcasting device 4 connected to this exchange.

The push-tone telephone transmits / receives control information such as a mailbox type, a mailbox number, and sender ID information to / from the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 prior to facsimile communication. Thereafter, according to the instruction content of the control information, the transmission of the stored image data to the facsimile device 1 or the registration process of the image data to the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 is performed.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of a conventional mailbox extraction. First, a telephone line is opened with a touch-tone telephone, and the retrieval request service code and mailbox number are transmitted with PB tone. An example of this PB tone is shown below. PB tone: 1234 # * 10 # 4321 ### 1234: User ID # *: Service code start identifier 10: Mailbox extraction request #: Service code end identifier 4321: Mailbox number ##: PB sequence end identifier

When the facsimile mail device 4 receives the PB tone, it terminates the telephone call, notifies the start of facsimile communication, and when it receives this response, it sends the electronic message requested from the mailbox to the facsimile device 4 and ends.

[0007]

However, in the conventional facsimile storage / broadcasting device as described above, the control information (mail command information) necessary for the mail communication is the manual input operation by the operator pressing the touch-tone of the facsimile device. Therefore, when specifying a large number of digits, for example, there is a problem that the input procedure is complicated and an operation error is likely to occur. Therefore, it may not be possible to efficiently perform the mail communication process.

The above problem occurs for the following reasons. That is, since the mail communication process relies on the operation of the touch-tone telephone by the operator, the operator has to memorize the complicated touch-tone telephone operation, but in many cases, the operation is performed with incomplete memory.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an image communication apparatus capable of correctly performing mail communication by assisting the operator even if the operator does not know the control information to be transmitted. The purpose is to provide.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus having a telephone, image data from the facsimile apparatus is stored by a registration signal from the telephone, and image data is stored by a take-out signal from the telephone. An image storage device for transmitting image data to the facsimile device is interposed between the facsimile device and the image storage device, and when the image data is stored in the image storage device from the facsimile device, a voice message is sent to the telephone. When the facsimile device takes out the image data accumulated from the image accumulating device while outputting the registration signal while guiding with, the telephone is guided by voice to output the taking out signal, and the output signal is output. The registration signal or the retrieval signal is transmitted to the image storage device and It is obtained by a voice guide device for setting the Akushimiri device a communication path between the image storage apparatus.

Further, a facsimile apparatus having a telephone, and image storage for accumulating image data from the facsimile apparatus according to a registration signal from the telephone and transmitting the accumulated image data to the facsimile apparatus by a take-out signal from the telephone. When the image data is stored in the image storage device from the facsimile device, it is interposed between the device, the facsimile device and the image storage device. When the facsimile device retrieves the image data accumulated from the image accumulating device, the image data stored in the image accumulating device is output to the telephone from the large classification to the small classification in order and the sound is output. The output signal is output while guiding, and the output registration signal or Image communication apparatus characterized by comprising a voice guide device in which out signal for setting a communication path between the image storage apparatus and the facsimile apparatus with transmitting to the image storage device Ri.

Further, when the telephone is receiving a voice guide, a predetermined signal is output to terminate the classification currently being guided and move to the next classification guide.

Further, a list of stored data extraction signals is stored in the image storage device so that the image data can be extracted from the facsimile device.

Further, the telephone transmits the retrieval signal to the voice guide device so that the corresponding stored data can be retrieved from the image storage device without voice guide.

[0015]

When the image data is registered from the facsimile device to the image storage device, a voice call is given to the voice guide device by telephone to guide the creation of the registration signal by voice. It has been transmitted to the device. Further, when the facsimile machine retrieves the registered image data from the image storage device, a retrieval signal is required, but similarly, the voice guide device may be instructed on the preparation method and the response may be made. As a result, these can be created correctly without knowing the registration signal and the take-out signal, the user's burden is reduced, and erroneous operations are reduced.

The image data registered by the voice guide device or the registered image data is classified into a large classification and a small classification in order to guide the voice, so that a user who has only vague knowledge at the beginning can obtain a desired registration signal. , It is possible to guide efficiently so that the extraction signal can be created.

Further, if such a voice guide is received several times, the content can be understood without listening to all the voice guides of a certain classification. Therefore, a predetermined PB signal is transmitted from the telephone to receive the voice guide of the next classification. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time for receiving the voice guide as the user gets used to it.

Further, a list in which the extraction signals of the image data registered in the image storage device are described is stored,
If the user can take out the list from the facsimile machine, the user can know the takeout signal of the desired registration image data by receiving this list.

In this way, if the picked-up signal of the desired registration image data is known, the picked-up signal is transmitted to the voice guide device by the telephone so that the voice guided device can pick up the picked-up signal without the voice guide. Since the registered image data is transmitted to the storage device and the corresponding registered image data is transmitted from the image storage device to the facsimile device, the registered image data can be quickly taken out.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. Reference numeral 1 is a facsimile terminal having a telephone, 2 is an exchange, 3 is a voice guide device, and 4 is a facsimile storage broadcasting device. A plurality of facsimile terminals 1 pass through a switch 2 and a voice accumulator 3 through a facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4
Connected to and register and retrieve image data.

The voice guide device 3 reads a line control unit 5 for controlling each communication line, a voice memory 7 storing voice contents to be guided, the contents of the voice memory 7 and voice guides to the telephone of the facsimile terminal 1. Voice sending unit 6
And P indicating the takeout signal and the registration signal that the telephone of the facsimile terminal 1 created and transmitted by the voice guide.
It is composed of a PB signal transmitter 8 for transmitting the B signal to the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4, and a main controller 9 for controlling the entire voice guide device 3.

Further, the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 includes a line control unit 10 including a modem and a network control circuit for communicating with the facsimile terminal 1, an image storage unit 12 for storing image data transmitted from the facsimile terminal 1, This image storage unit
A communication control unit 11 for reading out the image data registered in 12 and writing the image data transmitted from the facsimile terminal 1 in the image storage unit 12 with the line control unit 10.
And a main control unit 13 for controlling the entire facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4.

FIG. 2 shows image data stored in the image storage section 12 of the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 and its identification code. The menu of 0000 here is 00 after this.
The information of 01 to 9999, which allows the user to see the contents of this menu, know the desired information and its identification code, and send it as a retrieval signal from the telephone without the help of a voice guide. Is.

FIG. 3 shows a voice guide for the above-mentioned identification code.
The case where it is obtained by guiding the times is shown. The mailbox number is an identification code of the image data stored in the image storage unit 12.

FIG. 4 shows the case where the mailbox number is obtained by guiding the voice guide five times. The amount of image data to be stored is large, and the number of times increases in this way when trying to classify for easy understanding.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concrete example of the voice guide and the registration process when the image data is registered in the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 by the facsimile terminal 1. In this case, the sports information is divided into 5 categories, 1 sports information, 2 various information, 4 horoscopes, and 5 menus, and each is divided into small categories. For example, 1 sports information is 1 professional baseball result,
2 golf results, 3 horse racing results, and so on. In response to this, the image storage unit 12 also stores these image data in a tree structure as shown in FIG.

The method of obtaining the mailbox number by the two voice guides shown in FIG. 3 is applied when the classification is made up of two classifications, that is, a large classification and a small classification as shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a voice guide and an extracting process when the facsimile terminal takes out the image data registered in the image storage unit 12.

Next, the operation of registering desired image data from the facsimile terminal 1 in the facsimile storage broadcasting device 4 will be described. This will be described with reference to the registration guidance explanatory diagram of FIG. 5, the flow charts of FIGS. 7 to 10, and the voice guidance example of FIG. As an example, a process of registering a professional baseball result will be described.

From the facsimile terminal 1 to the voice guide device 3
When dialed to (step 20), the voice guide device 3 reads out a predetermined voice from the voice memory 7 and transmits it to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 21). As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 12, this content is transmitted as “Please enter 1 for sports information. Please enter 5 for menu registration.”. The facsimile terminal 1 presses the first PB tone "1" because the image data to be received and registered is related to sports information (step 25). In this case, the voice guide device 3 detects the presence or absence of the PB tone input (step 22), and when the input is not made within the predetermined time (step 23), the guidance 2 (please check the usage before calling). Is sent (step 24) and the process returns to idle.

Step by the value of the first PB tone
Move to 26, 27, 28, 29. If these do not apply, guidance 4 (please enter the correct number) is sent and the process returns to step 22 (step 30). The case of PB = 5 (menu extraction) will be described later. In the case of this explanation, P
Since B = 1, the voice guide device 3 reads the guidance information corresponding to the first PB tone from the voice memory 7 and sends the guidance 3 (1 for professional baseball, 2 for golf) (step 31). .

The voice guide device 3 monitors whether the PB tone is input (step 32), and when the time-out occurs (step 33), the guidance 2 is sent again (step 3).
4) Return to idol. The facsimile terminal 1 receives the guidance 3 and presses the PB tone "1" corresponding to the professional baseball result (step 35). In other cases, the corresponding PB = 2, 3, 4 is pushed (steps 36, 37, 38).
If these are not applicable, guidance 4 is sent (step 39). In this case, PB = 1, so guidance 5
(The desired information is professional baseball information. When it is correct, #,
If you make a mistake, press * and #. ) Is transmitted (step 40).

The voice guide device 3 monitors the pressing of the PB tone (step 41). If the time has timed out (step 42), the guidance 2 is sent out to return to the idle state (step 43). Upon receiving the final guidance information, the facsimile terminal 1 presses the confirmation PB tone "#". When the voice guide device 3 receives this PB tone (step 44), it dials the facsimile accumulation broadcasting device 4 (step 47), confirms that the line is connected (step 48), and the facsimile accumulation broadcasting device 4 To PB tone "11" twice until now, and instruct to register the image data corresponding to this PB tone (step 4).
9). During this period, the voice guide device 3 outputs a voice message "Please wait for a while" to the facsimile terminal 1. In addition, in step 45, it is determined that there is an error, "*
If "#" is pressed, Guidance 7 (Retry from the beginning. Enter 1 to 1 for sports information)
Is transmitted (step 46) and the process returns to step 22.

Next, it is confirmed whether the telephone line between the voice guide device 3 and the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 has been disconnected and the facsimile line has been established (steps 50 and 51). If confirmed, the guidance 6 (fax start (Press the button to return the handset to its original state) (step 52), connect the line between the facsimile terminal 1 and the facsimile storing / broadcasting device 4 (step 53), and transfer the image data to be registered from the facsimile terminal 1. Send (step 54). The voice guide device 3 monitors the transmission of this image data (step 55), and releases the line upon completion (step 56).

Next, the menu fetch operation will be described with reference to FIG. If PB = 5 is pressed in step 29, guidance 8 (a menu is taken out. If it is correct, press # and if it is incorrect, press * and #) is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 60), and the PB tone is displayed. The input is monitored, but it is monitored (step 61). If the time is out (step 62), guidance 2 is sent out (step 63), and the process returns to idle.

If the PB tone is input but not "#" (step 64) but "* #" indicating a mistake (step 64)
65), send guidance 7 (step 66), and step
Return to 22. When "#" is entered in step 64, the facsimile storage broadcasting device 4 is dialed (step 67),
It is checked whether the line has been connected (step 68), and if it is connected, a PB tone for requesting menu extraction is sent to the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 (step 69). During this time, the facsimile terminal 1 outputs a voice saying "please wait for a while".

Next, it is monitored that the line with the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 has been disconnected and the facsimile line has been established (steps 70 and 71), and the guidance 6 is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 72). 1 is connected to the facsimile storage / broadcasting device 4 (step 73), the menu is sent to the facsimile terminal 1 (step 74), and this communication is completed (step 7).
5) Release the line (step 76).

Next, an example of shortening the voice guide will be described.
If the user experiences the audio guide several times, only the first few words will tell the entire guide for that category. For this reason, if a predetermined PB signal is output, the voice guide time can be shortened by moving to the next voice guide, and the user will not be asked to listen to the guide for a long time.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of this shortening guide.
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing each part in the voice guide device 3 related to this operation.

First, the voice guide in the previous stage is finished (step 80), the current voice guide is moved to, the main control unit 9 instructs the voice sending unit 6 to send voice (step 81), and the voice sending is finished. Whether or not the PB signal instructing the line controller 5 to stop the current voice guide and move to the next voice guide is input to the line controller 5 before the end is monitored (step 83). ). When this PB signal is input, the current voice guide is interrupted and the next voice guide is performed (step 84).

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when registering or retrieving image data, the operation method is voice-guided, which reduces the burden on the user and reduces erroneous operations. In addition, when the user gets used to it, the voice guide can be shortened and the voice guide can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a menu of registered image data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a case where a mailbox number is designated by two voice guides.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a mailbox number is instructed by voice guidance five times.

[Figure 5] Registration guidance explanatory diagram

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the ejection guidance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a part of a flow chart of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart connecting to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for connecting to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for connecting to FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart connecting to FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of voice guidance.

[Figure 13] Voice guide shortening flow chart

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing members in the voice guide device related to shortening the voice guide.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a conventional mailbox system.

16 is a sequence diagram of image data extraction in the system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile terminal 2 Switchboard 3 Voice guide device 4 Facsimile storage / broadcast device 5,10 Line control unit 6 Voice transmission unit 7 Voice memory 8 PB signal transmission unit 9,13 Main control unit 11 Communication control unit 12 Image storage unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having a telephone, and image storage for accumulating image data from the facsimile apparatus according to a registration signal from the telephone and transmitting the accumulated image data to the facsimile apparatus according to a take-out signal from the telephone. A device, which is interposed between the facsimile device and the image storage device, and when the image data is stored in the image storage device from the facsimile device, causes the telephone to output the registration signal while guiding by voice. When the facsimile device takes out the image data stored from the image storage device, the telephone is guided by voice to output the takeout signal, and the output registration signal or takeout signal is output to the image storage device. Transmission and communication between the facsimile device and the image storage device. An image communication device, comprising: a voice guide device for setting a channel. 2. A facsimile machine having a telephone, and image storage for accumulating image data from the facsimile machine according to a registration signal from the telephone and transmitting the accumulated image data to the facsimile machine according to a take-out signal from the telephone. When the image data is stored in the image storage device from the facsimile device, it is interposed between the device, the facsimile device and the image storage device. When the facsimile device retrieves the image data accumulated from the image accumulating device, the image data stored in the image accumulating device is output to the telephone from the large classification to the small classification in order and the sound is output. Output the extraction signal while guiding, and then output the registration signal or the extraction signal. And a voice guide device for transmitting a signal to the image storage device and setting a communication path between the facsimile device and the image storage device. 3. The present invention is characterized in that when the telephone is receiving a voice guide, a predetermined signal is output to terminate the classification currently being guided and move to the next classification guide. Image communication device. 4. The image communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a list of stored data extraction signals is stored in the image storage apparatus so that the facsimile apparatus can retrieve the stored data. 5. The telephone according to claim 1, wherein the telephone transmits the retrieval signal to the voice guide device so that the corresponding stored data can be retrieved from the image storage device without voice guide. Image communication device.