JPH066379A - Facsimile distributing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm whether or not a facsimile message and a speech message are stored from a user and to optionally specify an output destination and read them out. CONSTITUTION:A network control part 1 detects and sends an incoming from a sender to a communication control part 2, makes a connection request to the sender, and waits for service request input from the sender. A service request which is inputted is reported from the communication control part 2 to a storage control part 3 to retrieve a storage part 4. The storage control part 3 informs the communication control part 2 of the retrieval result and the contents of the request from the user and also sends them even to an answer output part 7, thereby outputting the answer. When the output destination of stored information is the access terminal of the user, image information of facsimile is sent through an image information output part 5 while the storage control part 3 reads the information out of the storage part 4 through a speech information output part 6 if the information is a speech message. When the destination terminal number is different, the line is temporarily disconnected after the retrieval result is reported to the user, and a specified address is newly called to output the information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile distribution device, and more particularly to a facsimile distribution device as a center device used when constructing a facsimile network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional method of using a facsimile machine, one-to-one communication in which a document is simply sent to the other party has been mainstream, but recently, with the spread of the facsimile machine and an increase in communication volume, Aiming at effective and efficient use of these facsimile communications, users tend to construct and operate their own facsimile networks.

The characteristic of these facsimile networks is that a facsimile message transmitted via a public network is temporarily stored, transferred to a storage device at a remote place through a dedicated line introduced by a user, and then transmitted to a facsimile device as a final destination. Saves communication charges by delivering and outputting via the network. Further, it is intended to extend the usage form of the facsimile apparatus by realizing a broadcast communication for transmitting the same electronic message to a plurality of destinations, a time designation communication for transmitting in a predetermined time zone, and a mail service.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional facsimile apparatus, what is important in introducing and operating a facsimile network is how to make it easy for users to use. Generally, when a facsimile apparatus is used, the telephone is almost always used separately to notify the other party of the transmission of the facsimile electronic message, and a supplementary explanation regarding the transmitted electronic message is performed.

However, when a storage type facsimile network is constructed, it becomes particularly difficult to confirm delivery with the other party. The reason is the time difference due to the accumulation of electronic messages. In conventional facsimile communication, which is real-time communication, the transmission time and the arrival time at the other party are deviated due to temporary accumulation. Therefore, there is a drawback in that it is difficult to perform supplementary explanation and confirmation of delivery by telephone, which has been conventionally performed without worrying about it.

[0006]

A facsimile delivery apparatus of the present invention has a large-capacity storage means, temporarily stores a received electronic message in the storage means, and stores the stored electronic message from a destination facsimile apparatus. In the facsimile delivery apparatus for outputting in response to the request, storage management means for storing a telegram to be transmitted together with a voice message accompanying the telegram, network control means for connecting to a public telephone network, and a facsimile apparatus of a communicating party. Means for controlling communication with
And a means for notifying the presence / absence of a telegram and a voice message to be transmitted in advance in response to a request for drawing the telegram, and a means for detecting output destination designation information from a communication partner. It is characterized in that a facsimile electronic message and a voice message attached to this electronic message are taken out at an arbitrary output destination according to the designation of the other party.

[0007]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a communication control procedure in this embodiment.

[0008] When a user makes a call to a facsimile distribution apparatus in order to receive or receive a facsimile message or voice message addressed to himself, the network control unit 1 connected to the public telephone network a detects an incoming call and communicates. The communication control unit 2 is notified of the incoming call by the control signal b. When the communication control unit 2 is notified of an incoming call, in order to notify the user that it has been connected to the facsimile distribution apparatus as shown in FIG. 2, a "connection response signal" (the name indicated by "" is shown in FIG. The contents are shown) are output to the public telephone network a through the network control unit 1 by the communication control signal b.

The user confirms this "connection response signal",
Next, as a request desired by the user, the presence / absence of a message or voice message addressed to the user and its output destination are input to the facsimile delivery apparatus as a service request signal. As the service request input signal input means, P, which is widely used at present, is used.
A B (dual tone type signal used in push button telephone) signal may be used.

When the communication control unit 2 detects the input "service request signal" shown in FIG. 2 with the communication control signal b via the network control unit 1, the communication control unit 2 instructs the storage management unit 3 according to the request content. The storage management signal e is requested to search for the presence or absence of a telegram and voice message and to register the service request content. When the storage management unit 3 receives the storage management signal e, the storage unit 4 is accessed to search the information according to the user's request content and register the user's request content with the stored information k, and the result is similarly obtained. receive. The storage management unit 3 receives the execution result from the storage unit 4 by the storage information k, and outputs the “acknowledgement signal” shown in FIG. 2 and information indicating whether to output the storage information or release the line once. The communication control signal 2 including the notification is notified to the communication control unit 2, and the response output unit 7 is also notified of the search result as the response information j.

In response to this signal, the communication control unit 2 requests the response output unit 7 to transmit the "confirmation response signal" shown in FIG. 2 by using the permission control signal f. When the response output unit 7 is requested to output the "confirmation signal" by the permission control signal f, for example, the voice response message generates a facsimile message according to the content specified by the response information j, and the network control unit as the response message d. 1 sends a "confirmation response signal" to the public telephone network a.

In this case, if there is no information requested by the user or an error is found in the input service request signal, the response information j corresponding to the result is generated and the corresponding message is "acknowledged". It may be output as a "signal" to end the communication. To end the communication, the communication control unit 2 may instruct the network control unit 1 to release the line using the communication control signal b, and the network control unit 1 may release the line. If the electronic message and voice message requested by the user are present in the facsimile delivery apparatus and the "service request signal" shown in FIG. Response signal ”output after communication control unit 2
If the is a voice message, the voice output may be performed as it is, and the facsimile communication procedure may be performed when the facsimile message is output to output the information required by the user.

When the user has requested the output to another terminal, the line is disconnected once after outputting the "acknowledgement signal" as shown in FIG. 2, and then the destination requested by the user is sent. It suffices to automatically make a call from the facsimile distribution device and output the information requested by the user. In the case of voice message output, a voice message may be output immediately after the line is connected, and in the case of a facsimile message, the communication may be terminated by outputting to a partner terminal according to a normal facsimile communication procedure.

The output of the information requested by these users is executed based on the management information generated and accumulated by the "service request signal" shown in FIG. When the communication control unit 2 finishes outputting the “confirmation response signal” shown in FIG. 2 from the response output unit 7 in response to the permission control signal f, if the “confirmation confirmation signal e received from the accumulation management unit 3 in advance is confirmed, If only the "response signal" is transmitted, the communication is terminated, and if the accumulated information is continuously output, the information output sequence may be executed.
The only difference between the case of disconnecting the line once and the case of continuing communication and outputting information is only whether or not to automatically call again the destination specified by the user.

When automatic call is made again, when the storage management unit 3 detects the end of communication by the storage management signal e from the communication control unit 2, the storage management unit 3 accesses the storage unit 4 again and outputs it. The destination to be output and the information to be output are received as the storage information k, and the storage management information e is used to request the communication control unit 2 to make a call and continuously instruct the output of the information. In response to this request, the communication control unit 2 uses the communication control signal b to request the gate control unit 1 to call and connect to the public telephone network a. The storage management unit 3 requests the communication control unit 2 to make a call / connect, and at the same time outputs the information extracted from the storage unit 4 to the facsimile information output unit 5 if the information is a facsimile message, and outputs the voice message if the information is a voice message. Output to the unit 6 is possible.

When the communication control section 2 detects that the network control section 1 has completed the connection with the partner terminal by the communication control signal b, the communication control section 2 sends the image information output section 5 or the voice information output section 6 using the permission control signal f. , Requesting the output of the stored data to the partner terminal, and transferring the stored data to the image information output unit 5 or the voice information output unit 6 while sequentially extracting the stored data from the storage unit 4 to the storage management unit 3 by the storage management signal e. Give instructions.
The storage management unit 3 extracts the stored information from the storage unit 4 and outputs the facsimile data g to the image information output unit 5 if it is a facsimile message, and outputs it to the voice information output unit 6 as voice data h if it is voice information. .

In the case of a facsimile telegram, the communication control unit 2 requests the output of facsimile information by the image information output unit 5 while the communication control unit 2 is proceeding with the partner facsimile. When the facsimile information output unit 5 is permitted to output the facsimile information by the permission control signal f from the communication control unit 2, it takes in the facsimile data g and outputs it as transmission data c to the public telephone network a through the network control unit 1. . The same applies to the case of a voice message, except that in the case of voice message output, the communication control unit 2 immediately starts outputting a voice message without proceeding with the execution of the facsimile communication procedure.

When outputting a voice message, the voice information output unit 6 takes in the voice data h, reproduces the voice data compressed at the time of storage into the original voice, and sends it as the transmission data c through the network control unit 1 to the public telephone. Output to network a.
The storage management unit 3 manages the termination of the withdrawal of the stored data.
If the storage management unit 3 detects that all data has been output,
The communication control unit 2 is instructed to end the communication using the storage management signal e. In response to the end instruction, the communication control unit 2 uses the permission control signal f, and in the case of facsimile information,
In the case of a voice message to the image information output unit 5, the voice information output unit 6 is notified of the end of the output information, and the communication control unit 2 itself terminates the communication procedure currently being executed,
In addition, the communication control signal b may be used to instruct the network control unit 1 to release the line. In addition, without making a call again, FIG.
When the stored information is extracted subsequent to the “confirmation response signal” shown in FIG. 3, when the storage management unit 3 receives the end of the “confirmation response signal” output from the communication control unit 2 by the storage management signal e, the storage is performed. The management unit 3 may access the storage unit 4 to extract the data to be output, and at the same time, to instruct the communication control unit 2 to execute the output of the storage information by the management information signal e. The stored information output method may be considered in the same manner as in the case of disconnecting the line once and calling again.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the voice information accompanying the electronic message as well as the facsimile electronic message can be output or extracted at a necessary place as needed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a communication control procedure of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Network control unit 2 Communication control unit 3 Storage management unit 4 Storage unit 5 Image information output unit 6 Voice information output unit 7 Response output unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/00 104 A 7046-5C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile delivery apparatus having a large-capacity storage means, temporarily storing a received message in the storage means, and outputting the stored message in response to a request from a destination facsimile machine, A storage management unit that stores a voice message accompanying the message together with a message to be transmitted, a network control unit for connecting to a public telephone network, a unit for performing communication control with a facsimile device of a communication partner, and a voice message The communication device has a means for reproducing, a means for notifying the presence or absence of a telegram and a voice message to be transmitted in advance in response to the request for drawing the telegram, and a means for detecting output destination designation information from the communication partner, and designating the communication partner. According to the above, the facsimile delivery apparatus is characterized in that a facsimile electronic message and a voice message attached to this electronic message are taken out at an arbitrary output destination.