JPH06334722A - Communication equipment using public line - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the communication equipment using a public line in which a memory is used efficiently and an abbreviated dialing and a one operation dialing can be registered. CONSTITUTION:A dial number registration area 12 storing a dial number corresponding to an abbreviated number and a substitute address designation area 13 storing an identification number used to identify a dial number receiving mutually an incoming call in deputy among dial number as one group are set in a RAM 5 and when a telephone set of a dial number called by an abbreviation number does not make a reply, other dial number in a group to which a called party belongs is read out of the dial number registration area 12 and the read dial number is used for dialing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device using a public line such as a facsimile device having a speed dial function or a one-touch dial function, and more specifically to a call destination registered in the speed dial or the one-touch dial. The present invention relates to a communication device that switches to an alternate destination to make an outgoing call when it does not respond to a call or a call.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some facsimile machines have a speed dial function or a one-touch dial function in order to simplify the operation when making a call. The speed dial function is a function of storing a dial number corresponding to each speed number in the memory and reading the dial number from the memory by inputting the speed number to make a call. The one-touch dial function is a function of storing a dial number in a memory corresponding to a one-touch dial key provided on a keyboard and reading the dial number from the memory by operating the one-touch dial key to make a call.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the basic operation of a conventional facsimile apparatus during transmission.

At step i1, it is judged whether or not facsimile transmission is instructed by a speed dial or one-touch dial. If it is judged that there is an instruction for facsimile transmission, the process proceeds to step i2. If not, the process returns to step i1 to instruct. Wait until there is. In step i2, the dial number designated by the speed dial or the one-touch dial is read from the RAM (random access memory). In step i3, a signal representing the dial number is generated in the dial control unit, and the destination registered in the speed dial or the one-touch dial is called.

At step i4, it is judged whether or not the called party has received the call. When the called party receives the call, the procedure goes to step i6. When the called party cannot receive the call, the procedure goes to step i5.

At step i5, it is judged whether or not the recall is completed, and if the recall is completed, the transmission is terminated,
Return to the standby state. If the recall has not been completed, the process returns to step i3, and the recall is performed a predetermined number of times with a predetermined time. In step i6, the image-processed data is transmitted via the modem and the line interface.

The above is the basic transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus, but today, a speed dial function and a one-touch dial function are added as general functions, and each speed dial and one-touch dial correspond to each other. A memory for storing dial numbers is allocated. This memory stores not only one dial number but also the dial number of a facsimile machine that can act on its behalf, and when the first dial number cannot be received, it is automatically switched to call the second dial number. By doing so, it is convenient because the user does not have to make a call again.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of registration of a substitute destination of a speed dial in a conventional facsimile apparatus. Since the same applies to the one-touch dial, only the speed dial will be described below. Here, it is assumed that a maximum 10-digit dial number is registered in the speed dial.

As shown in FIG. 6, memory areas 20 and 21 for registering respective dial numbers are allocated corresponding to the respective abbreviated numbers, and 10 digits of the dial number of the call destination and the call destination are busy. , Or the 10-digit dial number of the substitute destination that substitutes the incoming call when the call is not answered. For example, for the shortened number "1", the dialed number "0743"
520001 "and the alternate destination dial number" 074352 "
When "0011" is registered and the shortened number "1" is input, the dial number "0743520001" is called. At this time, if the called party is busy or does not answer the call, the dial number "0743520" that is the alternate party is called.
011 ”is called. When the proxy destination is busy or does not answer the call, the standby state is returned.

In this case, assuming that one digit of the dial number is 0.5 bytes, 10 bytes of memory area are allocated to each abbreviated number, and 50 bytes of memory are required to register the five abbreviated numbers shown in FIG. is necessary.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned case, even for abbreviated numbers such as abbreviated numbers "3", "4", and "5" that do not have a substitute destination, they each have a 5-byte substitute. Since the memory for pre-registration is allocated in advance, the memory is wasteful and the utilization efficiency is low.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to efficiently use a limited memory to store a plurality of terminal numbers, and further to use a public line capable of designating respective substitute destinations. Is to provide.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a communication device using a public line for communicating with a plurality of terminal devices connected via a public line, and a terminal number for identifying the plurality of terminal devices. A memory that divides the plurality of terminal devices into a plurality of groups and stores group identification information that identifies each group in association with each other; and a selection unit that selects any one of the plurality of terminal numbers. In response to the output of the selecting means, the selected terminal number is read out from the memory to make a call, and when the called terminal device does not respond, the selected terminal number is selected based on the group identification information. Is a communication device using a public line, including a calling means for reading out another terminal number of a group to which the user belongs and making a call.

[0014]

According to the present invention, a communication device using a public line has a terminal number for identifying a plurality of terminal devices in a memory and a group identification for dividing each of the plurality of terminal devices into a plurality of groups. It is stored in association with information. The calling means reads out one of the plurality of terminal numbers selected by the selecting means from the memory and makes a call,
When the called terminal device does not respond, the other terminal number of the group to which the selected terminal number belongs is read out based on the group identification information to make a call. Therefore, the communication device using the public line can allow the plurality of terminal devices belonging to each of the groups to substitute the incoming call of the other terminal device. Further, since the group identification information only needs to be able to mutually identify the groups of terminal numbers stored in the memory of the communication device, it can be represented by a relatively small memory capacity. Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the terminal number selected by the selecting means and the terminal number of the terminal device acting on behalf of the incoming call are stored in the memory, it is not necessary to be assigned to the terminal number having no agent. Since the alternate destination storage area can be reduced and this area can be utilized as an area for storing another terminal number, many terminal numbers can be stored in the memory of the same capacity. further,
When the selected terminal device does not respond, the terminal numbers in the group can be sequentially read out to make a call based on the group identification information. Therefore, it is possible to store a plurality of alternate destinations for one terminal number. it can.

[0015]

1 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of a facsimile apparatus 11 which is an embodiment of the present invention. The reading unit 1 sequentially decomposes a transmission document into a large number of fine pixels in a grid pattern according to a certain rule, and converts the light and shade of each pixel into a time series electric signal by photoelectric conversion or the like. The image processing unit 2 converts an electric signal input from the reading unit 1 into image information of a digital signal that can be processed by a CPU 4 described later at the time of transmission, converts the received image information into an electric signal at the time of reception, and a recording unit. Output to 3. The recording unit 3 records the received image information on paper based on the electric signal input from the image processing unit 2.

The CPU 4 is a central processing unit for controlling the operation of the facsimile apparatus 11 as a whole. A RAM (random access memory) 5 stores registration data such as dial numbers registered in correspondence with abbreviated numbers, and temporarily stores a certain amount of image information as an input / output buffer when transmitting / receiving image information. Memory. The modem 6 modulates the image information for transmission via the public line and demodulates the received image information. The dial control unit 7 generates a dial signal for selecting and calling a desired subscriber from a large number of line subscribers. The line interface 8 performs incoming / outgoing processing such as calling a telephone or a facsimile machine of a communication partner, and switches the telephone 17 and the facsimile to connect to the line.

The keyboard 9 is provided with a ten-key pad, various function keys, a one-touch dial key, etc., for inputting a dial number which is a terminal number of a call destination and data such as speed dial registration, and for each function key. Instruct corresponding action. The display unit 10 displays the dial number input from the keyboard 9 and the reception state of the facsimile device 11. The handset 16 transmits and receives voice when communicating as a telephone.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the speed dial registration method of this embodiment using the speed dial registration example shown in FIG. Since the same applies to one-touch dial registration, only the speed dial will be described. Further, as in the registration example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that a 50-byte memory is allocated in the RAM 5 for speed dial registration.

As shown in FIG. 2, a dial number corresponding to each abbreviated number is registered. Further, among the dialed numbers registered for each abbreviated number, the group identification information of the dialed numbers belonging to the groups having a mutual proxy relationship is registered using the identification number of each abbreviated number.
Similar to the example shown in FIG. 6, each speed dial has a 5-byte dial number registration area 12 for registering a 10-digit dial number in the RAM 5, and a destination designation area 13 for designating a destination. Are assigned.

As the substitute destination designating area 13, 0.5 bytes of memory is allocated to each speed dial.
In this alternate destination designation area 13, one of all the shortened numbers can be designated as the alternate destination, and the alternate destination can be designated by an identification number represented by a minimum number of digits, for example, a sequential number attached to the abbreviated number. be registered. The identification number does not have to be a sequential number given to each abbreviated number, and may be a code corresponding to each abbreviated number that can be identified only inside the facsimile apparatus 11, or each abbreviated number in the memory. May be the address assigned to. In this case, since the number of speed dials is less than 10, a one-digit, that is, 0.5-byte proxy destination designating area 13 is required.

Further, in FIG. 6, the abbreviated number "1",
The dial number "0" that was registered as a substitute for "2"
74352001 ”and“ 0743520012 ”are
In the registration example of FIG. 2, the abbreviated numbers “6” and “7” are registered. Further, the destination designation area 13 with the shortened number "1"
The dialed number "0743520011" is registered in the shortened number "6", and the dialed number "07435" is stored in the substitute destination designation area 13 of the dialed number "2".
The shortened number "7" in which "20012" is registered is recorded. Also, shortened numbers “3”, “4”,
Since "5", "8", and "9" have no substitute destination, the abbreviated numbers "3", "4", "5", and "8" are respectively displayed in the substitute destination designating area 13 to represent this. And identification numbers "9", "3", "4", "5", "8" and "9".
Alternatively, 0.5-byte predetermined identification information indicating “no substitute” is recorded.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, compared with the registration example shown in FIG. 6, the memory area in the case where there is no substitute destination by changing the substitute destination designating area 13 from 5 bytes to 0.5 bytes As a result, in the 50-byte memory area, 10-digit dial numbers “07435020021” for the shortened numbers “8” and “9”,
“0743520022” and the designation of the substitute destination “8”,
"9" can be newly registered. That is, two speed dials can be registered more than in the registration example shown in FIG. Further, in the destination designation area 13 of the shortened numbers "6" and "7" registered as the substitute destinations of the shortened numbers "1" and "2", the shortened numbers "1", "2", which are in a substitute relationship, That is, "1" and "2" are recorded.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the facsimile device 11 during data transmission. At step j1, it is judged whether or not there is a transmission instruction by the speed dial or the one-touch dial. If it is determined that there is an instruction for transmission by the speed dial or the one-touch dial, the process proceeds to step j2, and if not, the process returns to step j1 to wait for the input. At step j2, the identification number indicating the input speed dial or one-touch dial is temporarily stored in a memory such as a register. At step j3, the dial number is read from the dial number registration area 12 of the speed dial or the one-touch dial stored at step j2. At step j4, the read dial number is called.

At step j5, it is judged whether or not there is an incoming call to the dialed number which has been called.
Go to 6.

At step j6, it is judged whether or not the call is to be interrupted, for example, whether or not the stop key has been input, and whether or not the call has been made a predetermined number of times, and the call is interrupted. In this case, the calling is interrupted and the process moves to step j11 to enter the input standby state. When the calling is not interrupted, the process proceeds to step j7. At step j7, the identification number of the speed dial or one-touch dial designated as the substitute destination is read from the substitute destination designation area 13 of the speed dial or one-touch dial stored at step j2, and temporarily stored in the register.

At step j8, it is judged from the read identification number whether or not the proxy destination is registered. If the proxy destination is registered, the procedure goes to step j9. If the proxy destination is not registered, the procedure goes to step j11. Enter the input standby state. At step j9, the memory such as the register used at step j2 is cleared and the read identification number of the speed dial or one-touch dial is temporarily stored. Then, it moves to step j3.

At step j10, the image data read from the transmission original is transmitted. At step j11, the transmission process is terminated and a standby state is prepared for the next input.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the facsimile machine 11 is provided with the dial number registration area 12 and the alternate destination designation area 13 in the RAM 5 for registering the speed dial and the one-touch dial, and Among the dial numbers registered in the number registration area 12, dial numbers that are in a proxy relationship are registered in the proxy destination designation area 13 by using the identification number with the minimum number of digits that can mutually identify all speed dials and one-touch dials. By doing so, the capacity of the memory assigned to each speed dial or one-touch dial as the substitute destination designation area 13 can be suppressed to the minimum number of digits. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the memory capacity of the unusable substitute destination designating area 13 assigned to the speed dial having no substitute destination or the one-touch dial to the minimum, and to improve the use efficiency of the speed dial and the one-touch dial registration memory.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a substitute destination registration method of the facsimile apparatus 11 according to another embodiment of the present invention. One-touch dial registration is similar to speed dial, so only speed dial will be described. R
A memory area for registering speed dials is allocated in the AM5, and corresponding to each speed dial as shown in FIG.
A dial number registration area 14 having a predetermined number of digits, for example, 20 to 30 digits, and a destination designation area 15 for designating a speed dial as a destination are provided.

In the alternate destination designation area 15, a memory area having a minimum number of digits that can identify all dial numbers registered in the speed dial is allocated. As shown in FIG. 4, by designating the alternate destination in the alternate destination designation area 15, for example, when the speed dial "10" is called, the dial number "0743520001" is called. At this time, if the called party is busy or does not answer the call, the speed dial identification number "15" specified in the alternate destination designating area 15 of the speed dial "10" is read out, and this speed reduction is performed. Dial "15"
The dialed number "0743520006" is called based on the call. At this time, if the call cannot be received by the other party, the speed dial identification number "16" registered in the alternate destination designation area 15 of the speed dial "15" is read. Further, the dial number "0743520007" is called based on the speed dial "16". At this time, if the called party cannot receive the incoming call, the speed dial identification number "10" specified in the alternate destination designating area 15 of the speed dial "16" is read out, and based on this, the dial number "10" is read. 0743520001 "is called. In this way, by sequentially reading the alternate destinations in the alternate destination designation area 15 of each speed dial, two alternate destinations can be designated for each of the speed dials "10", "15", and "16". You can

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the facsimile machine 11 selects all the dial numbers registered in the speed dial or the one-touch dial, which are in the substitute relationship, from all the speed dials and the one-touch dials. Is registered in the alternate destination designating area 15 by using the identification number with the smallest number of digits that can identify the call, and when the calling party does not answer the call, it is designated by the identification number registered in the alternate destination designating area 15. By sequentially reading the dial number and the identification number of the speed dial or the one-touch dial, the two or more dial numbers in the proxy relationship can be called as the proxy destination.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a communication device using a public line divides a plurality of groups into a plurality of groups and a terminal number for identifying a plurality of terminal devices in a memory. The group identification information for identifying each group is stored in association with each other, and the calling means reads out the terminal number selected by the selecting means from the memory to make a call, and when the called terminal device does not respond, said group Based on the identification information, another terminal number of the group to which the selected terminal number belongs is read and a call is made. In this way, the communication device using the public line can act as a substitute for another terminal device from among a plurality of terminal devices belonging to each group. The group identification information only needs to be able to mutually identify the terminal numbers stored in the memory of the communication device, and the capacity of the memory that stores the group identification information can represent the number of terminal devices that store the terminal numbers in the memory. Only the number of digits is enough. Therefore, unlike the prior art, compared with a communication device that stores the terminal number selected by the selection unit and the terminal number of the substitute terminal device in the memory, it is not necessary to be assigned to a terminal number that has no substitute destination. Since the alternate destination storage area can be reduced and this area can be utilized as another terminal number storage area, many terminal numbers can be stored in the memory of the same capacity.

Further, when the selected terminal device does not respond, the terminal numbers in the group can be sequentially read out to make a call based on the group identification information, so that a plurality of alternate destinations can be set for one terminal number. You can make a call.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a facsimile device 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a speed dial registration method in the facsimile apparatus 11.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile device 11 during data transmission.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another registration method of the speed dial in the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a basic operation of a conventional facsimile device at the time of transmission.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of proxy dial destination registration of a conventional facsimile apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 reading unit 2 image processing unit 3 recording unit 4 CPU (central processing unit) 5 RAM (random access memory) 6 modem 7 dial control unit 8 line interface 9 keyboard 10 display unit 11 facsimile device 16 handset 17 telephone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a communication device using a public line for communicating with a plurality of terminal devices connected via a public line, a terminal number for identifying a plurality of terminal devices and a plurality of the plurality of terminal devices are provided. Memory for storing the group identification information identifying each group in association with each other, selecting means for selecting any one of the plurality of terminal numbers, and responding to the output of the selecting means. Then, when the selected terminal number is read from the memory and a call is made, and the terminal device of the call destination does not respond, the other terminal numbers of the group to which the selected terminal number belongs based on the group identification information. And a calling means for reading and calling.