JPH07288697A - Facsimile information service system and facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate extraction of same information by simplifying the accessing to extract information from an information service system through the storage of operation to a one-touch key or the like and stopping communication when the information is not updated. CONSTITUTION:In order to access the facsimile information service system, a handset 210 is hooked off, a one-touch key registering a telephone number or the like is depressed, and a telephone number or a password is outputted through an NCU 108 taking interfacing between the system and the line while providing an interval depending on a count means 206. Facsimile information provided to an information storage section 104 is stored in the system and when it is updated, the updated date is read from the count means 105 and stored in a RAM 103. When FAX communication is started and an initial identification signal is sent, an instruction signal is sent to a predetermined area and updated date information stored in the RAM 103 are sent to a predetermined area, and the updated data information stored in the RAM 103 is sent to store the updated date information to a prescribed area of a RAM 203.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile information service system for providing an information service by facsimile using a telephone line, and a facsimile machine for receiving an information service from the facsimile information service system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a facsimile information service typified by house information and ski slope information, general subscribers call the information service for which information is desired to be extracted, and a password, a BOX number of the information, etc. are sent as a DTMF signal. Etc. to the information service side, and then FAX
By performing an operation to start communication, desired facsimile information is obtained.

There is also a structure in which the subscriber's FAX number is also sent to the information service side and sent to the facsimile device.

Further, the provided information is updated regularly or irregularly so that new information can be obtained.

[0005]

However, in the above system, the password, the BOX number of the information, the FAX number of one's own, etc. must be transmitted at a long time, and the operation is very troublesome. In addition, if the operation is mistaken during the process, it may not be possible to correct it, and there is the disadvantage that the desired information cannot be obtained despite the troublesome operation.

[0006] Further, there is a disadvantage that there is no means for knowing whether or not the provided information has been updated from the information retrieved last time, and even if the user performs a troublesome operation, only the same information as the last time can be obtained. is there. It's really common for information to be updated regularly, but not updated at what should have been.

The present invention provides a facsimile information service system capable of providing substantially useful information only, and a facsimile device capable of receiving substantially useful information only by a simple operation from the facsimile information service system. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

According to the present invention, an access operation for pulling out information from an information service system is stored in a one-touch key or the like to simplify the operation and to pull out information. In the communication procedure with the information service system, a means for exchanging information update information is provided, and if the information has not been updated from the one retrieved last time, the communication is stopped and the same information is retrieved again. It is to prevent that.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image transmitting section of a facsimile information service system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the construction of an image receiving section of a facsimile apparatus. .

In FIG. 1, the facsimile information service system includes a control unit 101 which controls the system.
The ROM 102 in which the control program of the facsimile information system is written, the RAM 103 for storing the change notification information such as the date and time when the image information to be provided is updated, the serial number of the image information and the like, and the image information to be provided. An information storage unit 104 to be stored, a clock means 105 for knowing the date and time when the image information was updated, an encoding unit 106 for encoding the image information for FAX transmission,
A modem 107 for performing fax communication, and an interface N between the facsimile information system and the telephone line.
And a CU 108.

In FIG. 2, the facsimile apparatus includes a control unit 201 for controlling the apparatus, a ROM 202 in which a control program for the facsimile apparatus is written, dial information for accessing the facsimile information service system, and provided information. RAM 203 for storing the updated date and time of the information, an operation unit 204 for operating the facsimile apparatus, a recording unit 205 for recording the received image information on recording paper, and a facsimile information service system when accessing the facsimile information service system. A timing unit 206 for timing operation, a decoding unit 207 for decoding the received coded image information into raw data, a modem 208 for modulation / demodulation for FAX communication, a facsimile and a telephone line. You can talk in the telephone mode with NCU209 that takes the interface of Those having a receiver 210 for.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an area for storing one-touch key information in the RAM 203. 0 in the figure
1, 02, 03, ... represent the numbers of the one-touch keys. For each one-touch key, an area for storing key information (telephone number, password, BOX number of information to be retrieved, etc.) and facsimile information And an area for storing the update notification information.

First, the operation unit 2 of the facsimile apparatus.
In 04, key information (telephone number, password, BOX number of information to be retrieved, etc.) necessary for accessing the facsimile information service system and the operation of registering the interval for sending each number in the one-touch key The unit 201 stores the key information and the sending interval in the area of the RAM 203 corresponding to the one-touch key.

Next, in order to access the facsimile information service system, the handset 210 is taken off-hook,
When the one-touch key in which the telephone number or the like is registered is pressed, the telephone number, the password, etc. are sent out through the NCU 209 at intervals determined by the time counting means 206. At this time, the DTMF signal is generated by the modem 208.

When the transmission of the DTMF signal is completed and the information service system announces that the FAX communication should be started, the FAX is pressed by pressing the start key.
Communication is started.

As described above, by registering the procedure for accessing the facsimile information service system in the one-touch key, the operation can be simplified and the operation error can be eliminated. It should be noted that, as in the present embodiment, not only the one-touch key but also the speed dial may be registered.

The facsimile information service system stores the facsimile information provided to the information storage unit 104. When the facsimile information is updated, the updated date and time is read from the time measuring means 105 and stored in the RAM 103.

The facsimile information service system is F
When the AX communication is started and the initial identification signal (DIS) is sent from the facsimile machine, the NSS of the reception command signal is received.
The information of the new update date and time stored in the RAM 103 is put into the area determined by the above and transmitted. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the NSS format in this case.

When the facsimile machine receives the reception command signal from the facsimile information service system, it receives the NS command.
Information on the update date and time written in the area where S was decided, and R
If the date and time are updated, that is, if the information is updated, the NSS update date and time information is compared to the RAM 20 by comparing the update date and time information stored in a predetermined area of the AM 203.
3 is stored in a predetermined area, the facsimile information is received according to the FAX communication procedure, the decoding unit 207 decodes it into raw data, and the recording unit 205 prints it.

If the update date / time information has not been updated, it is determined that the information has not been updated, and as shown in FIG. 5, DCN is transmitted instead of CFR and the communication is terminated. Then, the fact is displayed on the display unit included in the operation unit 204 or printed on the recording unit to notify the operator.

The facsimile information is received even when the information is extracted for the first time, that is, when the update information is not stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 203.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the receiving operation in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.

When the start key is pressed, the facsimile machine sends DIS in S101. Next, S10
2. When NSS, DCS and TCF are received in S103,
In S104, the information on the update date and time contained in the determined area of the NSS is compared with the information on the update date and time stored in the predetermined area of the RAM20, and if the information is updated, the process proceeds to S105 and the RAM203 The update date and time information stored in the predetermined area is overwritten with the new update date and time information.

Next, the CFR is transmitted in S105, and S10
In step 7, the facsimile information is received. If the date and time information is not updated here, the process proceeds to S108, DCN is sent, and the communication ends.

In addition, in the facsimile apparatus which does not have the double pull-out prevention function of the information according to the present embodiment as described above,
Since the NSS signal is ignored, double extraction cannot be prevented, but facsimile information can be received normally.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent double extraction of facsimile information from the facsimile information service system.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, the information for knowing the update of the facsimile information is included in the pre-procedure signal, but in the second embodiment, it is added to the head of the image information and transmitted.

In this case, when the facsimile communication is started by a predetermined operation, the facsimile information service system adds the update date information stored in the RAM 103 to the head of the image information in the format as shown in FIG. And send. The update date / time information and the image information are separated by EOL.

The facsimile machine uses the first E of the high speed signal.
The information between the OL and the second EOL is recognized as the update date / time information, and this information is compared with the update date / time information stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 203. If the information is updated, the RAM 203 is updated. The information of the update date and time in the above is rewritten, and the facsimile information after the information of the update date and time is received. If the information has not been updated, the line is released and the FAX communication is stopped.

When a facsimile machine which does not implement the double pull-out prevention function as described above receives a message,
Since the update date information at the beginning of the image information is processed as an error line or invalid data, the facsimile information can be extracted without affecting the received image.

The other constructions of the apparatus are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof is omitted.

The format shown in FIG. 7 is only an example of the format for adding the update information, and the format is not limited to this.

In each of the above embodiments, the update date and time information is used as the update notification information for knowing the update of the facsimile information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a serial number or the like may be used. good.

Although all the key operations for accessing the facsimile information system are stored in one one-touch key, the telephone number, password, BOX number, etc. may be registered in different one-touch keys. Then, another BO of the same information service system
This is convenient because it requires few registration operations when accessing the X number.

In this case, the update information is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM corresponding to the one-touch key pressed just before starting the FAX communication.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By registering the access method to the information service system in the storage means such as a one-touch key when extracting information from the facsimile information service system, the operation is simplified and the erroneous operation caused by the key operation with a long digit number is eliminated. Is possible.

Further, by providing the function of having the facsimile information system notify the update notification information such as the update date and time of the information to be extracted, it is possible to prevent the double extraction of the same information.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image transmitting unit of a facsimile information service system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image receiving unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an area for storing one-touch key information in the RAM in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an NSS format according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of a pre-procedure in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a format for adding update date / time information in the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 201 ... Control unit, 102, 202 ... ROM, 103, 203 ... RAM, 104 ... Image information storage unit, 105, 206 ... Timing means, 106 ... Encoding unit, 107, 208 ... Modem, 108, 209 ... NCU , 204 ... Operation unit, 205 ... Recording unit, 207 ... Decoding unit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a facsimile information service system for providing facsimile information by performing a predetermined operation, a facsimile information storage unit for storing the facsimile information to be provided, and each time the facsimile information is updated, A facsimile information service having a change notification information storage unit for storing change notification information indicating that the change has been made, and transmitting the change notification information by including it in a transmission signal when transmitting the facsimile information. system. 2. The facsimile information service system according to claim 1, wherein the change notification information is sent in NSS. 3. The facsimile information service system according to claim 1, wherein the change notification information is added to the head of image information and transmitted. 4. The access information storage means for storing access information for extracting facsimile information from a facsimile information service system according to claim 1, and the information stored in the access information storage means when a specific key is pressed. And a calling means for performing a dial operation based on the above. 5. The change notification information storage unit according to claim 4, which stores the update notification information sent from the facsimile information system when the facsimile information is retrieved from the facsimile information system,
When the facsimile information is received, the change notification information storing means has a comparison means for comparing the previously received change notification information stored in the change notification information storage means with the currently received change notification information. , Storing the change notification information in the change notification information storage means to receive the image information,
A facsimile machine characterized by stopping communication if it has not been updated.