JPH07177330A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent call-waiting telephone service from being interrupted at its call switching due to an undue execution of facsimile reception when on-hook operation for the call switching of the call-waiting telephone service is executed during the calling of a telephone set connected to the same line as a facsimile equipment. CONSTITUTION:A facsimile equipment F constituted so as to interrupt the line connection of telephone sets 10, D, B by the on-hook operation of the sets 10, D, B connected to the same line L as a facsimile communication control part 2 and switch its connection to a facsimile receiving mode is provided with a line control means 1 for restoring the sets 10, D, B to original line connection states so as to execute hooking operation to the line L when the sets 10, D, B are hooked off within a prescribed time from their on-hooking time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a setting mode of the facsimile machine by on-hook of a telephone such as an attached telephone, an external telephone or a branch telephone connected to the same line as a facsimile communication control section. The present invention relates to a facsimile machine of a type capable of controlling switching to a facsimile reception mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a telephone attached to a facsimile machine, an external telephone connected to the facsimile machine through a modular jack, a branch telephone connected to the same telephone line as the facsimile machine,
When the telephone and the fax machine are shared by one telephone line, the telephone set is picked up and responded even though an external fax machine is making a call for facsimile transmission. It may happen. In such a case, it is necessary to immediately switch the facsimile apparatus to the facsimile reception mode and start the facsimile reception operation.

Therefore, conventionally, as a means for coping with such a case, there has been proposed a facsimile machine which returns the handset of the telephone taken up, that is, puts it on hook to switch to the facsimile reception mode and execute the facsimile reception. There is.

[0004]

In recent years, a so-called call waiting service has become widespread. In this call waiting service, when a call request is made from another telephone during a call by the telephone, the telephone being called by the line exchange is called. A predetermined sound signal is sent to the telephone, whereby the operator of the telephone temporarily performs an on-hook operation to switch the call partner.

However, in the above conventional facsimile apparatus,
By switching to the facsimile reception mode and executing facsimile reception by the on-hook of the telephone of the same line,
Even when an on-hook operation of the telephone is performed for call switching of the call waiting service, the line is switched to the facsimile device, which causes a problem that the telephone call is hindered.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and when an on-hook operation is performed for call switching of a call waiting service during a call on a telephone connected to the same line as a facsimile machine, a facsimile is performed. The purpose is to prevent reception from being unduly executed and disturbing the call switching of the call waiting service.

[0007]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, which has been proposed to achieve the above object, the line connection of the telephone is cut off by the on-hook of the telephone connected to the same line as the facsimile communication control unit. A facsimile device configured to switch to a facsimile reception mode, wherein when the telephone is off-hook within a predetermined time after it is on-hook, the telephone is connected to the original line connection state so that hooking operation to the line is performed. It is equipped with a line control means for returning to.

[0008]

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when the telephone connected to the same line as the facsimile communication control unit is off-hooked within a predetermined time from its on-hook, hooking operation to the line is performed. Return the phone to its original line connection, as is done.

Therefore, if a telephone set connected to the same line as the facsimile device is picked up and responded to even if a call is made from the external facsimile device for facsimile transmission,
The operator need only return the handset. That is, by this operation, the on-hook state of the telephone continues and the predetermined time is exceeded, so that the facsimile apparatus is appropriately switched to the receiving state.

If a call waiting service sound signal is heard during a call on a telephone connected to the same line as the facsimile machine, the operator performs an on-hook operation once and then an off-hook operation within a predetermined time. Good. That is, by this operation, the telephone is returned to the original line connection state so that hooking operation to the line is performed, so that the call waiting service is appropriately executed and the call can be made with another party.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This facsimile apparatus F includes a signal processing unit 1, a facsimile communication control unit 2, a calling voltage generation unit 3, a timer circuit 4, and a storage unit. It includes a unit 5, a key operation unit 6, an image reading unit 7, a print output unit 8, a display unit 9, an attached telephone 10, hook detection circuits 11 and 12, modular jacks 13 and 14, and relays 15 and 16. In addition, the facsimile communication control unit 2 uses the relay 1
8, modem 19, incoming call detector 21, A / D converter 22,
A voltage detection circuit 23 is provided. Facsimile device F
Is connected to the line L, and the facsimile device F is connected to the external telephone D. A branch telephone B is connected to the line L.

The signal processing unit 1 comprises a CPU and the like, constitutes various control means including a line control means, and controls the entire facsimile apparatus F. For example, if, for example, the attached telephone 10 connected to the same line L as the facsimile communication control unit 2 goes on-hook and then the attached telephone 10 goes off-hook within a predetermined time, the attached telephone can be hooked to the line L. 10 is returned to the original line connection state. The facsimile communication control unit 2 controls communication with an external communication terminal via a circuit switch. The ringing voltage generator 3 generates a signal for generating a ringing tone for the auxiliary telephone 10 or the external telephone D. The timer circuit 4 measures the time from the on-hook of the attached telephone 10 or the external telephone D. The storage unit 5 is composed of a ROM and a RAM and stores programs and data. The key operation unit 6 is composed of a numeric keypad and other operation keys, and inputs an operation signal based on the operation of the operator to the signal processing unit 1. The image reading unit 7 reads and scans a document image. The print output unit 8 prints out image data on recording paper. The display unit 9 displays information to be transmitted to the operator. The attached telephone 10 is a telephone attached to the facsimile apparatus F. The hook detection circuit 11 is composed of a mechanical hook switch, a photo coupler, or the like, detects on-hook and off-hook of the attached telephone 10, and outputs a detection signal to the signal processing unit 1. The hook detection circuit 12 is composed of a photo coupler or the like, detects on-hook and off-hook of the external telephone D, and outputs a detection signal to the signal processing unit 1.
To enter. The modular jack 13 connects the facsimile device F and the line L. Modular jack 14
Connects the facsimile device F to the external telephone D.
The relay 15 is controlled to be turned on / off by the signal processing unit 1, connects the auxiliary telephone 10 and the ringing voltage generator 3 in the ON state, and connects the auxiliary telephone 10 and the line L in the OFF state. The relay 16 is controlled to be turned on / off by the signal processing unit 1, connects the external telephone D and the ringing voltage generator 3 in the ON state, and connects the external telephone D and the line L in the OFF state. The relay 18 is turned on by the signal processing unit 1.
The line L is connected to the modem 19 side when it is controlled to be turned off and is on, and the line L and the incoming call detection unit 21 are connected when it is off. The relay 18 also generates dial pulses for dialing. The incoming call detection unit 21 detects a call signal from an external communication terminal. The voltage detection circuit 23
Analog / digital converter 22 that detects the voltage on the line
Outputs the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 23 to the signal processing unit 1 after being digitally converted. The voltage detection circuit 23 enables the off-hook detection of the branch telephone B.

Next, the essential points of the operation of the facsimile apparatus F having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to the timing charts of FIGS. Now, the operator has attached telephone 1
It is assumed that 0 is in communication with the operator of the external telephone. In this state, as shown in FIG.
Is off-hook, external telephone D is on-hook, relay 18
Is off, the relay 15 is off, and the relay 16 is on, and the auxiliary telephone 10 is connected to the line L. The relays 15, 16 and 18 in FIG. 1 are shown in the off state. Here, when the sound signal of the call waiting service is sent from the line exchange to the attached telephone 10 via the line L, the operator of the attached telephone 10 operates the attached telephone 10 on-hook to switch the call partner. This time is designated as time t0 in FIG. Attached telephone 10
Is detected by the hook detection circuit 11, and the detection signal is input to the signal processing unit 1. As a result, the signal processing unit 1 activates the timer circuit 4, and the timer circuit 4 starts counting time. Further, the signal processing unit 1 turns on the relay 18 at time t1 and turns on the relay 15 at time t2.
When the relay 18 is turned on, the modem 19 side is connected to the line L, and when the relay 15 is turned on, the attached telephone 10 is disconnected from the line L. However, in this state, the response signal from the modem 19 to the calling side is not returned.

If the operator of the attached telephone 10 operates the attached telephone 10 off-hook, for example, at time t3 before the timer circuit 4 times up, the hook detection circuit 11 detects this and outputs a detection signal to the signal processing unit 1. To do.
As a result, the signal processing unit 1 turns off the relay 18 at time t4 and turns off the relay 15 at time t5. When the relay 18 is turned off, the modem 19 side is disconnected from the line L, and when the relay 15 is turned off, the attached telephone 10 is connected to the line L. As a result, the hooking operation is performed, and the attached telephone 10 is connected to the line L. It Therefore, after time t5, the attached telephone 10 is connected to another external telephone via the line L, and the operator can talk with another party by the attached telephone 10. The time from time t4 to time t5 is set to a time sufficient for the circuit switch side to recognize the hooking operation.

On the other hand, the operator picks up the handset of the attached telephone 10 and responds before the automatic incoming call of the facsimile apparatus F is made, although the call for the facsimile transmission is made from the external facsimile apparatus. In such a case, a signal unique to the facsimile is transmitted to the attached telephone 10, which causes a state different from a general call. Therefore, the operator returns the handset of the attached telephone 10. As a result, the attached telephone 10 goes on hook. If this time is also set to t0 in FIG. 4, the time t0
To the time t2, that is, step 10 in FIG.
The operation from 0 to step 102 is the same as that described above. However, since the handset of the attached telephone 10 has been returned and the timer circuit 4 has timed up at time t6, that is, the attached telephone 10 does not go off-hook even if a predetermined time has elapsed from the on-hook of the attached telephone 10, The signal processing unit 1 starts the facsimile reception control and causes the modem 19 to send out the digital identification signal DIS to the line L at time t7. Therefore, the facsimile apparatus F properly receives the facsimile. In addition,
If the user goes off-hook on the auxiliary telephone 1 again by the time the DIS transmission ends, the signal processing unit 1 determines that the user has gone off-hook for the next call, and suspends the DIS transmission.

As described above, the line connection of the auxiliary telephone 10 connected to the same line L as that of the facsimile communication control unit 2, for example, the on-hook of the auxiliary telephone 10 is cut off to switch to the facsimile reception mode. In the facsimile device F, when the attached telephone 10 is off-hook within a predetermined time after the on-hook,
Since a signal processing unit 1 for returning the attached telephone 10 to the original line connection state is provided so that the hooking operation to the line L is performed, when a sound signal of the call waiting service is heard during a call on the attached telephone 10. For this purpose, the operator may perform the on-hook operation once and then perform the off-hook operation within a predetermined time. That is, by this operation, the signal processing unit 1 controls the relays 15 and 18 to return the attached telephone 10 to the original line connection state so that the hooking operation to the line L is performed, so that the call waiting service is appropriately executed. And you can talk to another person. Further, when a call is made for facsimile transmission from an external facsimile machine, if the operator picks up the handset of the auxiliary telephone 10 and responds, the operator simply returns the handset. That is, by this operation, the on-hook state of the attached telephone 10 continues and the predetermined time is exceeded, so that the signal processing unit 1 executes the facsimile reception control. Therefore, when an on-hook operation is performed for call switching of the call waiting service during a call using, for example, the attached telephone 10 connected to the same line as the facsimile device F, facsimile reception is unreasonably executed and call switching of the call waiting service is performed. Can be prevented from being disturbed.

From step 100 of the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numeral 106 shows a series of operation procedures of the facsimile apparatus F.

A predetermined time, that is, the timer circuit 4
The set time may be appropriately determined according to various design conditions such as operability within the range that does not hinder the reception operation of the facsimile apparatus F.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the telephone call is performed by the attached telephone 10 or the handset of the attached telephone 10 is taken up has been described, but the case where the telephone call is performed by the external telephone D or the external telephone D If you pick up your handset, relay 15
The same effect can be obtained by the same operation, only by replacing

In the above embodiment, the signal processing unit 1 controls the relays 15 and 18 to generate the hooking operation, that is, the on-hook state from time t4 to time t5. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. However, it does not include the following configurations.
For example, when the branch telephone set B goes on-hook, the signal processing unit 1 is based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit 23.
Then, the timer circuit 4 is activated to turn on the relay 18, and the line L is connected to the modem 19 side. When the branch telephone B goes off-hook by the time of the timer circuit 4, when the voltage detection circuit 23 detects it, the signal processing unit 1 relay 18 is turned off and the modem 19 is disconnected from the line L. The signal processing unit 1 is the next branch telephone B
If the branch telephone B answers the call to make a facsimile transmission from on-hook and off-hook again, the operator simply returns the handset to enter the facsimile reception mode. You can enter. Even with such a configuration, although a call for making a facsimile transmission is made from an external facsimile device, the handset of, for example, the branch telephone B connected to the same line as the facsimile device F is picked up and answered. If so, the operator simply returns the handset.
That is, by this operation, the branch telephone B continues to be in the on-hook state and exceeds the predetermined time, so that the facsimile device F is appropriately switched to the receiving state. Also, for example, when a call waiting service sound signal is heard during a call on the branch telephone B, the operator may perform an on-hook operation once and then perform an off-hook operation within a predetermined time. That is, this operation is nothing but a hooking operation to the line L, so that the call waiting service is appropriately executed and a call can be made with another party. Even in this case, since the branch telephone set B and the like are the called side, even if the on-hook state continues for a few seconds, the line is not cut off. The operation can be secured.

[0021]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the on-hook operation is performed for switching the call of the call waiting service during a call on the telephone connected to the same line as the facsimile apparatus. In this case, it is possible to prevent the facsimile reception from being unduly executed and to prevent the call switching of the call waiting service from being disturbed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the main points of the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the main points of the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the main points of the operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 signal processing unit 2 facsimile communication control unit 4 timer circuit 10 attached telephone 11 hook detection circuit 12 hook detection circuit 15 relay 16 relay 18 relay F facsimile device L line D external telephone B branch telephone

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus configured to switch to a facsimile receiving mode by disconnecting the telephone line connection by on-hooking a telephone connected to the same line as a facsimile communication control unit, the telephone being on-hook. A facsimile apparatus having line control means for returning a telephone to an original line connection state so that a hooking operation can be performed on the line when it is off-hooked within a predetermined time.