JPH07283881A - Automatic reply communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a automatic reply communication equipment in response to a regular switching signal by eliminating a frequency component disturbing automatic reception changeover of a facsimile equipment from a signal sent from an external telephone set. CONSTITUTION:A sender side facsimile equipment 11, a network exchange 12 and a receiver side facsimile equipment 13 are connected by a communication line (telephone line) and an automatic answering telephone set 19 having a voice reply function is connected to the receiver side facsimile equipment 13 in the communication network. In the receiver side facsimile equipment 13, a detection signal elimination filter 21 eliminating a signal of the same frequency as that of a facsimile automatic reception switching signal (a signal comprising a prescribed frequency and a prescribed period) from a frequency component of a voice reply message sent from the automatic answering telephone set 19 in response to a call signal is provided between a switching signal detection circuit 15 and the automatic answering telephone set 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine to which a telephone can be connected to the outside, and more particularly to improvement of an automatic reception function for switching between the telephone and the facsimile machine according to an incoming call signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a schematic structure of a communication line network to which a conventional facsimile apparatus is connected. In this configuration, the transmission side facsimile apparatus 1, the network exchange 2, and the reception side facsimile apparatus 3 are connected by a communication line (telephone line). A telephone having a voice response function, for example, an answering machine 9 is connected to the receiving side facsimile apparatus 3.

In the receiving side facsimile apparatus 3, the telephone line from the network exchange 2 is connected to the switching signal detecting circuit 5 through the telephone line connecting terminal 4,
The switching signal detection circuit 5 includes a two-terminal switching switch 7
Connected to the switching terminal side of. The facsimile control processing unit 6 is connected to one terminal of the changeover switch 7, and the other terminal is connected to the outside answering machine 9 via an external telephone connection terminal 8.

Next, in such a receiving side facsimile apparatus, a flow from receiving a calling signal from the transmitting side facsimile apparatus to shifting to a facsimile receiving state will be described. Here, it is assumed that the changeover switch 7 is normally switched to the external telephone connection terminal 8 side and is connected to the answering machine 9.

First, a calling signal (calling signal) is transmitted from the transmitting facsimile machine 1, and reaches the telephone line connecting terminal 4 of the receiving facsimile machine 3 via the telephone line 10 and the network switch 2. The ringing signal is received from the telephone line connecting terminal 4 to the answering machine 9 connected to the external telephone connecting terminal 8 through the changeover switch 7.

Upon receipt of this call, the facsimile apparatus 1 on the sending side is sent.
A line loop is formed between the answering machine and the answering machine. Immediately after the formation, a continuous frequency signal of a frequency component (hereinafter, referred to as frequency f1) for operating the switching signal detection circuit 5 is transmitted from the transmission side facsimile device 1 in every specific cycle. That is, by operating the switching signal detection circuit 5,
The changeover switch 7 is switched to connect the telephone line from the answering machine 9 to the receiving side facsimile device 3.

Now, the detection of the specific period of the discontinuous frequency signal received by the switching signal detection circuit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The switching signal detection circuit 5 converts the frequency signal received from the transmitting facsimile machine 1 into the frequency f.
It is determined whether or not the discontinuous frequency signal of 1 is included, and if it is included, the frequency period is detected. Here, when the discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 is detected in every cycle t1, it is judged that the received signal is the switching signal of the automatic facsimile reception, the changeover switch 7 is operated, and the line is controlled by the facsimile control processing unit 6. Control to switch to.

[0008]

In the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when the external telephone connected to the receiving side facsimile apparatus is a telephone having a voice response function, for example, an answering machine, the telephone is first connected to the telephone line. Upon detection of the incoming signal from the sending side facsimile device 1, the answering machine 9 that is being sent sends a voice response message recorded in advance in the answering machine 9 to the sending side facsimile device 1. When this voice response message contains the same frequency component as the discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 for automatically receiving the facsimile apparatus, as shown in FIG. The discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 and the discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 emitted by the answering machine 9 are combined and input to the switching signal detection circuit 5. This combined signal disappears every frequency period t1 required for automatic reception, and is not detected as a switching signal by the switching signal detection circuit 5.

That is, when the frequency component of the voice response message includes the same frequency component as the signal used for automatic reception switching of the facsimile apparatus, the signal is regarded as the regular automatic reception signal sent from the transmitting side facsimile apparatus. Since the signals are mixed, the signal detection circuit 5 cannot detect the synchronization signal, and the reception side facsimile apparatus 3 is not switched to the automatic reception state.

Further, when the sending time of the recorded voice response message is longer than the sending time of the signal for causing the sending side facsimile apparatus 1 to perform the switching, the sending side facsimile apparatus 1 is set in advance. There is a problem that the disconnection signal is sent out in accordance with the specified time, and as a result, the changeover switch 7 of the receiving side facsimile device 3 does not operate and the facsimile information cannot be received. In such a case, generally, the transmitting side facsimile apparatus 1 determines that the receiving side facsimile apparatus 3 is busy, stands by, and displays that effect.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic response communication device which removes a frequency interfering with automatic reception switching of a facsimile machine from a signal transmitted from an external telephone and responds to a regular switching signal.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automatic response terminal which automatically responds to a calling signal from an external communication device coming via a communication line and sends a response signal. A communication means for transmitting and receiving information through the communication line; a switching signal detecting means for outputting a switching instruction when a signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined cycle included in the calling signal is detected; and the switching signal detecting means. First switching means for switching and connecting a communication line to either the automatic response terminal or the communication means based on an instruction;
An automatic response communication provided between the first switching means and the automatic response terminal, and including signal removing means for removing the signal of the predetermined frequency included in the response signal transmitted by the automatic response terminal. Provide a device.

Furthermore, an automatic response terminal that automatically responds to a call signal from an external communication device that arrives via a communication line and sends a response signal, and a communication unit that transmits and receives information through the communication line. When a signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined cycle included in the ringing signal is detected, a switching signal detecting unit that outputs a switching instruction, and a communication line is connected to the automatic response terminal or the communication unit based on the instruction of the switching signal detecting unit. A first switching means switchingly connected to either one of the above, a signal removing means for removing the signal of the predetermined frequency included in the response signal sent from the automatic response terminal, the first switching means and the signal The signal removing unit is provided between the automatic response terminal and a path forming a circuit for directly connecting a telephone line to the automatic response terminal or between the automatic response terminal and the telephone line. A second switching means for selecting by switching one of paths interposing the stage, either by an instruction of the switching signal detecting means or Tsukishin means,
There is provided an automatic response communication device including a switching control unit for performing the switching operation of the second switching unit.

[0014]

In the automatic response communication device having the above-described structure, when the same frequency component as the facsimile automatic reception switching signal is mixed in the signal such as the voice response message responding to the incoming call signal, the same frequency component is used. The automatic reception switching signal from the facsimile machine on the transmission side is detected, and the switching operation to the facsimile machine on the reception side is performed.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic response communication apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the transmission side facsimile apparatus 11, the network switch 12, and the reception side facsimile apparatus 13 are connected by a communication line (telephone line).
A telephone having a voice response function, for example, an answering machine 19 is connected to the receiving side facsimile device 13.

In the receiving side facsimile machine 13, the telephone line 20 from the network exchange 12 is connected to the switching signal detecting circuit 15 via the telephone line connecting terminal 14, and the switching signal detecting circuit 15 is switched between two terminals. It is connected to the switching terminal side of the changeover switch 17. One terminal of the changeover switch 17 is connected to the facsimile control processing unit 16, and the other terminal is connected to the detection signal removal filter 21. The detection signal removal filter 21 is connected to the answering machine 19 via the external telephone connection terminal 18. For example, a band elimination filter (BEF) is used as the detection signal removal filter 21, and this BEF can remove unnecessary frequency components from the passing signal. ,
Frequency f1) is removed.

In such a structure, the flow from the reception side facsimile apparatus receiving an incoming call from the transmission side facsimile apparatus to shifting to the facsimile reception state will be described. Here, normally, the changeover switch 17 is closed on the side of the detection signal removing filter 21, and the telephone line 20 is connected to the answering machine 19.

First, a calling signal (calling signal) is sent from the transmitting side facsimile machine 11 and reaches the telephone line connecting terminal 14 of the receiving side facsimile machine 13 via the telephone line 20 and the network switch 12. An incoming call is received from the telephone line connection terminal 14 to the answering machine 19 connected to the external telephone connection terminal 18 through the switching signal detecting circuit 15, the changeover switch 17, and the detection signal removing filter 21.

This incoming signal forms a line loop between the sending side facsimile device 11 and the answering machine 19. Immediately after the line loop is formed, the transmitting side facsimile device 11 operates the switching signal detecting circuit 15 at a frequency. f
One discontinuous frequency signal is transmitted every specific period.

On the other hand, when the answering machine 19 detects an incoming signal from the sending facsimile machine 11, it sends a prerecorded voice response message to the sending facsimile machine 1.
Send to 1.

At this time, if the voice response message includes a signal of frequency f1, the detection signal removal filter 21 causes the voice response message to output the frequency f.
1 is removed, and the other voice response message is sent to the transmitting side facsimile apparatus via the switching signal detection circuit 15.

By removing this frequency f1, as shown in FIG. 2, in the switching signal detection circuit 15, the frequency f1 necessary for automatic reception switching issued by the transmitting side facsimile machine 11 is generated.
Therefore, it is possible to automatically switch reception of facsimile information.

However, in the first embodiment, when the frequency component of the recorded voice response message, that is, the voice of the person who registers the actual voice includes a large frequency f1, the specific frequency component is Detection signal removal filter 21
Since it is removed by, the sound quality of the voice response message is changed.

Further, since the audible sound coming from the transmitting side telephone via the network exchange, for example, the quality of the calling signal changes, there is a possibility that the answering machine cannot cope with the trouble.

Therefore, FIG. 3 shows an example of the construction of a facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic response communication apparatus as a second embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the receiving side facsimile device 31.
Here, the same constituent members as those shown in FIG. 2 which are constituent members of the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the receiving side facsimile apparatus 31, the other end of the changeover switch 17 which operates under the control of the changeover signal detection circuit 15 is connected to the changeover terminal of the second changeover switch 32 which is a two-terminal changeover switch. One end of the second changeover switch 32 is directly connected to the answering machine 19 through the external telephone connection terminal 18, and the other end is passed through the detection signal filter 21 and then through the external telephone connection terminal 18. It is connected to the answering machine 19.

That is, by the switching of the second changeover switch 32, one of a line loop of a route interposing the detection signal filter 21 and a line loop of a route not passing the detection signal filter 21 is formed. .

The switching of the second changeover switch 32 is performed by the changeover signal detection circuit 15 or the facsimile control processing unit 1.
Switching is automatically performed by the switching control unit 33 driven by 6. The changeover of the second changeover switch 32 by the changeover control unit 33 is performed by time monitoring or state monitoring.

The flow from the reception of an incoming call from the transmission side facsimile device 11 to the shift to the reception state of the facsimile in the reception side facsimile device 31 thus configured will be described. Here, normally, the changeover switch 17 is
The second selector switch 32 is closed on the side of the second selector switch 32.
Is directly connected to the detection signal answering machine 19 via the external telephone connection terminal 18 and passes through the detection signal removal filter 21.

First, the switching of the second changeover switch 32
The case of performing time monitoring will be described. Calling signal (calling signal) from the sending side facsimile device 11
Is transmitted, and the telephone line 20 and the network switch 12
Then, the data arrives at the telephone line connection terminal 14 of the receiving side facsimile device 31. An incoming call is received from the telephone line connection terminal 14 to the answering machine 19 connected to the external telephone connection terminal 18 through the switching signal detection circuit 15, the changeover switch 17, and the second changeover switch 32.

This incoming signal forms a line loop between the sending facsimile machine 11 and the answering machine 19. Immediately after the formation, the sending facsimile machine 11
As a result, the discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 for operating the switching signal detection circuit 15 is sent out every specific period and input to the switching signal detection circuit 15.

At this time, the switching signal detection circuit 15 sends a signal to the switching control unit 33 which detects that a discontinuous frequency signal of frequency f1 is input, and the switching control unit 33 discontinues the first frequency f1. Counts the time elapsed since the frequency signal was input. Then, the monitoring time is set in the switching control unit 33, for example, 10 seconds, and when the count time exceeds 10 seconds (monitoring time), the second switch 32 is switched to the detection signal removal filter 21 side, The detection signal removal filter 21 is changed to operate from the next incoming call. That is, the voice response message from the answering machine 19 passes through the detection signal removal filter 21, the frequency component (frequency f1) is removed, and the switching signal detection circuit 1
Input to 5.

Therefore, after the detection signal removing filter 21 operates, only the discontinuous frequency signal of the frequency f1 from the transmitting side facsimile apparatus 11 is input to the switching signal detecting circuit 15. When it is determined that the signal is an instruction to switch, the changeover switch 17 is changed over, and the information from the telephone line is transferred to the facsimile control processing unit 1.
6 is input.

Next, the changeover of the second changeover switch 32
A case of performing the state monitoring will be described. The reception standby state of the reception side facsimile device 31 is similar to the time monitoring state described above, and the call signal is first received at the answering machine 19.

Then, the frequency f1 is detected from the incoming signal (first time) coming from the outside, but it is not detected at every specific cycle, so it is not judged as the signal instructing switching, and when the calling signal is disconnected. Does not switch to the facsimile control processing unit 16 and stands by in a state where the answering machine 19 is still connected. Next, when the next (second) call signal arrives and the frequency f1 is detected from this call signal, the second changeover switch 32 is forcibly forced by the second changeover switch 32 regardless of their cycle. To the detection signal removal filter 21 from the next incoming call.
Is set to work.

Then, the facsimile control processing unit 16
When the reception of the information coming from the telephone line is completed, the switching signal detection circuit 15 activates the changeover switch 17 so that the facsimile control processing unit 16 side causes the answering machine 1 to operate.
9 and the facsimile control processing unit 16
The changeover control unit 33 is driven by a signal from the above, and the second changeover switch 32 is operated to change over to the route side excluding the detection signal removal filter 21, and the first receiving side facsimile device 3
The reception standby state of 1 is set.

Further, in the above-mentioned example, the method of automatically switching the second changeover switch has been described, but it may be manually changed as appropriate. When the second changeover switch is manually changed over, the changeover control unit 33 is not necessary.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the following constitution can be obtained. (1) An automatic response terminal that automatically responds to a call signal of a communication line and sends a response signal, and a switching signal detecting unit configured with a predetermined frequency and a predetermined cycle from the communication line, and via the communication line. An automatic response communication device comprising: communication means for transmitting and receiving; and first switching means for switching and connecting a communication line to either the automatic response terminal or the communication means based on an instruction from the switching signal detection means. ,
There is provided an automatic response communication device which removes the signal of the predetermined frequency included in the response signal by providing a signal removing means for removing only the signal of the predetermined frequency between the switching means and the automatic response terminal.

(2) The signal removing means is a parallel circuit in which a direct connection circuit and a signal removing circuit for removing only the signal of the predetermined frequency are connected in parallel, and the parallel circuit is switched and connected on the terminal side of the switching means. The switching means are connected in series and provided between the switching means and the automatic response terminal.
There is provided an automatic response communication device provided with a switching control means for controlling the switching means to switch from the direct connection circuit to the signal removal circuit. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0041]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the frequency component contained in the switching signal can be removed from the voice response message that is conventionally issued from the answering machine and is input to the switching signal detecting circuit. It is possible to provide an automatic response communication device in which the receiving side facsimile device can receive the facsimile information even when is automatically responded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile device equipped with an automatic response communication device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing signals input to a switching signal detection circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic response communication apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing signals input to a switching signal detection circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication line network to which a conventional facsimile apparatus is connected.

6 is a diagram showing signals input to a switching signal detection circuit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11 ... Sending side facsimile machine, 2, 12 ... Network exchange, 3, 13, 31, 31 ... Receiving side facsimile machine, 4, 14 ... Telephone line connection terminal, 5, 15 ... Switching signal detection circuit, 6, 16 ... Facsimile machine Control processing unit, 7, 1
7 ... Changeover switch, 8, 18 ... External telephone connection terminal, 9,
19 ... Answering machine, 10, 20 ... Telephone line (communication line), 21 ... Detection signal removal filter, 32 ... Second changeover switch, 33 ... Changeover control section.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic response terminal that automatically responds to a call signal from an external communication device that arrives via a communication line and sends a response signal; and a communication unit that transmits and receives information through the communication line. A switching signal detection unit that outputs a switching instruction when a signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined cycle included in the ringing signal is detected, and a communication line is connected to the automatic response terminal or the communication unit based on the instruction of the switching signal detection unit. A first switching unit that is switch-connected to either one of the two, and the predetermined frequency of the predetermined frequency included in the response signal that is provided between the first switching unit and the automatic response terminal. An automatic response communication device comprising: a signal removing unit that removes a signal. 2. An automatic response terminal that automatically responds to a call signal from an external communication device that arrives via a communication line and sends a response signal, and a communication unit that transmits and receives information through the communication line. A switching signal detection unit that outputs a switching instruction when a signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined cycle included in the ringing signal is detected, and a communication line is connected to the automatic response terminal or the communication unit based on the instruction of the switching signal detection unit. A first switching means for switching connection to any one of the above, a signal removing means for removing a signal of the predetermined frequency included in the response signal transmitted by the automatic response terminal, the first switching means and the signal The signal removing means is provided between the automatic answering terminal and the telephone line, or is provided between the automatic answering terminal and the telephone line. Second switching means for switching and selecting any one of the intervening paths, and switching for performing the switching operation of the second switching means in response to an instruction from either the switching signal detecting means or the notification message means. An automatic response communication device comprising: a control unit. 3. The switching control means actuates the second switching means to activate the second switching means when an elapsed time from the arrival of a signal including the predetermined frequency from the outside has passed a predetermined set time. 3. The automatic response communication device according to claim 2, wherein a route for interposing the signal removing means between the response terminal and the telephone line is selected. 4. The switching control means does not output a signal instructing switching by the switching signal detection means with a first signal including the predetermined frequency coming from the outside, and a first signal including the predetermined frequency is output. When the signal containing the predetermined frequency is received again after being disconnected, the second switching means is operated to select a route for interposing the signal removing means between the automatic response terminal and the telephone line. 3. The automatic response communication device according to claim 2, which is characterized in that.