JPH08289034A - Information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow even a person having difficulty in hearing to easily utilize an information transmission function from a receiver to a facsimile equipment by providing an operation command device displaying prescribed operation command information based on a received reply signal. CONSTITUTION: An operation command device 903 is used to send information by a telephone set 901. A facsimile equipment 902 is provided with a means 907 that detects a tone signal 909 sent through a telephone line and converts it into a message, with a means 908 printing out the obtained message, and with a tone signal transmission means 906 sending the tone signal 910 to the telephone line. The operation command device 903 used while being externally mounted to a telephone set 901 is provided with a means 904 detecting the tone signal 910 sent through the telephone line and converting the signal into operation command information and with a display means 905 visually displaying the obtained operation command information. Thus, the operation procedure is properly reported to the operator according to operation command information displayed on the operation indicator 903.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication system, and more particularly to an information communication system for printing out information transmitted from an arbitrary telephone on a facsimile machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been widely used as an apparatus for exchanging image information such as documents and drawings with a remote place via a public line.
In the normal case, it is natural that the image information can be transmitted to the facsimile machine only from the facsimile machine.
Information cannot be transmitted even when a telephone is called from a general telephone or a public telephone to the facsimile device. However, if you are using a fax machine for business,
Since the facsimile machine is generally connected to a dedicated telephone line and used together with a telephone line to which a telephone is connected separately from the facsimile machine, the above-mentioned point, that is, the facsimile machine from the telephone is used. There was no case where the problem that information could not be sent to

However, in recent years, facsimile machines have been installed in general households. In such a case, unlike a case where it is used for business, it is often used in a usage mode in which a single telephone line is shared by a facsimile device and a telephone. Then, there arises a case where the above-mentioned point, that is, the point that the information cannot be transmitted from the telephone to the facsimile apparatus is regarded as a problem. For example, when a call comes in to a telephone line shared by a facsimile machine and a telephone, if no one answers the call, the facsimile machine will finally perform the line connection and facsimile reception operations. Be seen. Therefore, even if a telephone such as a public telephone is called to the above-mentioned telephone line to which the facsimile device is connected, image information such as a document or a drawing cannot be transmitted.

Therefore, an information communication system is proposed which solves the above-mentioned problems by making it possible to transmit information using a tone signal when a telephone call is made from a telephone to a telephone line to which a facsimile machine is connected. Has been done. This is because a facsimile device is provided with a means for detecting a tone signal (PB signal) sent from the telephone, and when the telephone is called from the telephone to the telephone line connected to the facsimile device, various information can be transmitted by the tone signal. It is what As a method of transmitting information by tone signal,
One in which the numerical information represented by the tone signal is used as it is, one in which the number is assigned to the message information stored in the facsimile device in advance and then the number is designated by the tone signal, and each character is a few characters. There has been proposed a method of expressing numerical information of about one digit and then transmitting numerical information representing these characters by a tone signal (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 62-260472 and 62-275263, JP 62-2
The invention described in Japanese Patent No. 60472).

[0005]

In the above prior art, when a telephone, such as a public telephone, makes a call to the telephone line to which the facsimile apparatus is connected, a tone signal is transmitted from the telephone to the facsimile apparatus. It is possible to send information. That is, specifically, the telephone is called from the telephone to the facsimile machine, the response from the facsimile machine (such as a carrier sound "Pi-Hyoro-Hyoro" and a voice message "Dengonwo Douzo") is confirmed, and the push button is pressed. It is possible to transmit information by the tone signal by performing a series of operation procedures of transmitting a predetermined tone signal according to the above.

By the way, since the facsimile device is a device for exchanging image information, it is very effective as an information transmission means between hearing impaired persons who have difficulty in conversation by voice signals. However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the tone signal transmission timing must be judged by checking the presence or absence of the response by the signal sound from the facsimile apparatus as shown in the above-mentioned operation procedure. There is a problem that it is very difficult to use the function of transmitting information to a facsimile device using signals.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an information communication system in which even a hearing impaired person can easily use the information transmission function from a telephone to a facsimile machine. It is in.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the information communication system of the present invention includes an arbitrary telephone capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal tone, and the signal transmitted from the telephone via a telephone line. In an information communication system including a facsimile device that prints out predetermined message information based on a sound, the facsimile device transmits a response signal sound for prompting transmission of a command signal sound for controlling its own telephone line. The telephone is provided with a signal sound transmitting means for transmitting to the telephone via the telephone, and the telephone is provided with an operation indicator for displaying predetermined operation instruction information based on the received response signal sound.

The command signal sound and the response signal sound are expressed by a combination of tone signals transmitted when the telephone number of the call destination is specified by the touch-tone telephone line, and the operation instructing device displays arbitrary characters. Is displayed and output using a display means capable of visually outputting.

Further, the operation indicator is externally attached to a receiver portion of the telephone.

[0011]

The operation based on the above configuration will be described.

The information communication system of the present invention is an arbitrary telephone capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal tone, and a facsimile which prints out predetermined message information based on the signal tone transmitted from the telephone via a telephone line. In the information communication system including a device, the facsimile device includes a signal sound sending means for sending a response signal sound for prompting sending of a command signal sound for controlling the own device to the telephone through a telephone line. Since the telephone is equipped with an operation indicator that displays predetermined operation instruction information based on the received response signal sound, when the telephone outputs the message information to the facsimile device from any telephone, For each operation procedure to be performed by the operator, first define the specific operation instruction information that prompts the operator to execute the operation procedure, and then A unique signal sound (response signal sound) for prompting the execution of the operation procedure (sending of a command signal sound corresponding to the operation procedure) when the procedure is in a waiting state is a signal in the facsimile machine. By sending from the sound sending means, the operation procedure to be executed by the operator in response to the response signal sound can be accurately transmitted to the operator by the operation instruction information displayed on the operation indicator.

The command signal sound and the response signal sound are expressed by a combination of tone signals transmitted when a telephone number of a callee is specified on a touch-tone telephone line, and the operation instructing device displays an arbitrary character. By displaying and outputting the message that conveys the operation instruction information using the display means capable of visually outputting, all of the operation procedure for transmitting information from the telephone to the facsimile device is performed by the push button on the telephone. In addition to the pressing operation, it is possible to visualize the operation instruction information for prompting the execution of the operation procedure on the display means of the operation instructing device and convey it to the operator. The information transmission function of can be easily used.

Further, since the operation indicator is externally attached to the handset part of the telephone, whichever existing telephone including public telephone is used,
A hearing-impaired person can easily use the information transmission function from the telephone to the facsimile.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information communication system of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of an embodiment of the information communication system of the present invention. A telephone 901.
The tone signal 909 is used to transmit information to the facsimile apparatus 902 connected by the telephone line. In the figure, when transmitting information by the telephone 901, the operation indicator 903 is used. The facsimile device 902 receives the tone signal 909 sent from the telephone line.
(Corresponding to "command signal sound" in the claims) is detected,
A means 907 for converting this into a message, a means 908 for printing the obtained message, and a tone signal sending means 906 for sending a tone signal 910 (corresponding to "response signal tone" in the claims) to the telephone line (claim) "Signal sound transmission means" in the section
Equivalent to). An operation indicator 903 (corresponding to “operation indicator” in the claims) used externally to the handset portion of the telephone 901 detects the tone signal 910 sent from the telephone line and gives an operation instruction. It has a means 904 for converting into information and a display means 905 for visually displaying and outputting the obtained operation instruction information. It should be noted that the tone signal referred to here is a signal sound transmitted when the telephone number of the call destination is specified on the touch-tone telephone line.

From telephone 901 to facsimile 902
On the other hand, when transmitting a message by a tone signal, the facsimile device 902 sends a tone signal 910 to instruct the operator of the telephone 901 on the operation method, that is, the operation method for transmitting the message. Although details will be described later, the instruction of this operating method is given by representing a specific operating instruction by the configuration of a unique tone signal. The operation indicator 903 receives the tone signal 910 sent from the facsimile apparatus 902 sent from the telephone line, that is, the tone signal indicating the operation method, and displays the content of the corresponding operation instruction information by the display means. An operator who wants to transmit a message from the telephone 901 to the facsimile device 902 by a tone signal performs an operation of transmitting a tone signal 909 in accordance with the operation instruction displayed on the operation instructing device 903.

The configurations of the facsimile apparatus and the operation indicator for realizing the information communication system of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the external appearance of the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. Although details will be described later, since the facsimile machine 1 in this embodiment is a type in which a telephone is connected and used, the facsimile machine body does not have a telephone function.

In FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display unit 501 displays various information in facsimile communication such as the state of the facsimile apparatus and a simple operation method. Reference numeral 502 denotes a recording paper discharge unit, which is a facsimile device 1
When printing is performed, the printed recording paper is ejected from here. The facsimile apparatus of this embodiment does not have an automatic cutter function of automatically cutting the recording paper, and the user of the facsimile machine cuts the recording paper by himself after the recording paper is ejected. A start button 503 is used to instruct the facsimile apparatus 1 to start various processes. 504 is a stop button,
This is for instructing the facsimile machine 1 to suspend processing.

In the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment,
The basic operation is performed by using the start button 503 and the stop button 504. For example, when facsimile transmission is performed by the facsimile device 1, a document to be transmitted is set on the facsimile device 1, a telephone connected to the facsimile device 1 is used to call the transmission destination, and the transmission destination is ready to perform facsimile reception. If you can
Facsimile transmission is started by performing a series of operation procedures of pressing the start button 503. When the facsimile transmission is stopped halfway, the stop button 504 is pressed. Further, when the facsimile device 1 receives a facsimile, the reception of the facsimile is performed by performing an operation procedure of pressing the start button 503 after answering the incoming call from the telephone connected to the facsimile device 1. Be started. As in the case of performing facsimile transmission, if the stop button 504 is pressed during facsimile reception, facsimile reception is stopped. The details of the operation when a call is received, that is, when a call is received will be described later. The description of the functions of the facsimile apparatus that are not directly related to the present invention will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of mutual connection between the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and a telephone. In the figure, a line connection terminal 13 and a telephone connection terminal 14 are provided on the back surface of the facsimile device 1. The line connection terminal 13 is connected to the telephone line terminal 507 of each home or office via the modular cable 506. Telephone line terminal 5
Since 07 is connected to the telephone line, the facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to the telephone line. The telephone 3 is connected to the telephone connection terminal 14 of the facsimile apparatus 1. Normally, the line connection terminal 508 of the telephone 3 is connected to the telephone line when the telephone 3 is used alone.
When the telephone 3 is connected to the facsimile apparatus 1, the line connection terminal 508 of the telephone 3 and the telephone connection terminal 14 of the facsimile apparatus 1 are connected by the modular cable 508. As described above, by connecting the telephone line and the facsimile device 1 and further connecting the telephone 3 to the facsimile device 1, both the facsimile communication by the facsimile device 1 and the telephone call by the telephone 3 are made into one telephone. It is possible to control it as if done on the line. 5
Reference numeral 09 is a power cord of the facsimile apparatus 1, which is connected to a power outlet 505.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance and use state of the operation indicator in FIG. In the figure, the operation indicator 3
0 has a display unit 34 and a voice input unit 31. The display unit 34 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The operation indicator 30 uses the voice input unit 31 by applying it to the speaker unit 35 of the telephone receiver 37 of the telephone. As a result, the voice output from the speaker unit 35 of the handset 37, that is, the voice transmitted through the telephone line is input to the operation instructing device 30.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the facsimile machine shown in FIG. 1. As described above, the facsimile machine 1 is connected to the telephone line 2 through the line connection terminal 13. In the figure, reference numeral 12 is a facsimile machine 1, a telephone line 2, and a telephone 3 connected to a telephone connection terminal 14.
This is a line control unit that controls connection with the network, and details of the configuration will be described later. Reference numeral 4 is a facsimile communication unit for performing facsimile communication, 5 is an image reading unit for reading image information of a document to be transmitted in facsimile communication, and 6 is a recording unit for printing a facsimile document received in facsimile communication or reception of information communication described later. Yes, as mentioned above,
The recording paper recorded here is the recording paper discharge port 5 shown in FIG.
It is discharged from 03. Reference numeral 9 is a tone signal detecting section for detecting a tone signal transmitted from the telephone line, 10 is a tone signal transmitting section for transmitting a tone signal to the telephone line, and 7 is a control section for controlling the entire operation of the facsimile apparatus 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes an operation unit for the user of the facsimile apparatus 1 to perform various operations on the facsimile apparatus 1 or to display the status of the apparatus to the user of the facsimile apparatus. In this embodiment, the start button described with reference to FIG. 503, a stop button 504, a liquid crystal display 501, and the like. 11 is a print information storage unit, 14 is a message storage unit,
Details will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the line controller in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 24 is a line connection switch, which is normally connected to the b side, but is connected to the a side when the facsimile apparatus 1 is connected to a telephone line. Reference numeral 21 is a 2-wire / 4-wire converting unit, which is generally composed of a hybrid transformer or the like. Reference numeral 25 is a voice response generation unit which sends a response message to the telephone line when the facsimile device 1 makes an automatic response. 22
Is a call signal detection unit, which detects a call signal sent from the telephone line 2. A telephone hook detection unit 23 detects whether the telephone 3 is in an off-hook state or an on-hook state. A CNG signal detector 26 detects a CNG signal transmitted from the telephone line 2 (a signal for transmitting a facsimile transmission to a receiving side device). Line connection switch 2
4 and the voice response generator 25 are controlled by the controller 7. The outputs from the ringing signal detector 22, the telephone hook detector 23, and the CNG signal detector 26 are input to the controller 7.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the operation indicator in FIG. In the figure, a voice input unit 31
Is for inputting the voice output from the speaker unit of the handset of the telephone, and is generally composed of a microphone and an amplifier. The tone signal detection unit 32 detects a tone signal from the voice signal input by the voice input unit 31. The control unit 33 controls the entire operation of the operation indicator 30. The display unit 34 displays various information under the control of the control unit 33, and is constituted by, for example, a katakana display type liquid crystal display device in the present embodiment. A display data storage unit 39 stores character string information and the like necessary for displaying on the display unit 34.

Here, the basic operation of the operation indicator 30 will be described. The operation indicator 30 displays a predetermined character string on the display unit 34 in accordance with the tone signal sent from the telephone line. The operation indicator 30 causes the tone signal detection unit 32 to detect a tone signal from the audio signal input from the audio input unit 31. The control unit 33 displays the character string information defined in advance corresponding to the tone signal detected by the tone signal detection unit 32, in the display data storage unit 3.
It is read from the display unit 9 and displayed on the display unit 34.

Next, the specifications of information communication using tone signals in this embodiment will be described. In the information communication using the tone signal in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, some message information is stored in the facsimile apparatus 1 in advance, and a message number for specifying each message information is designated by a numeral. By transmitting this message number by the tone signal, the facsimile device 1 prints the instructed message information.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of message information that can be received by the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.
It is possible to receive different types of message information. A unique message number 201 is given to each message information. Also,
The content 202 of the message information is composed of katakana, symbols, alphabets, numbers, etc. in this embodiment. The correspondence between the message numbers and the message contents shown in FIG. 9 and the information necessary for printing the message contents 202 in the recording unit 6 of the facsimile apparatus 1 are the print information storage unit 1 shown in FIG.
It is stored in 1. Here, a method of storing the print information in the print information storage unit 11 will not be described in detail, but for example, each message content is represented as character string information by a character code, and a character represented by each character code is printed. Information required to do (bitmap data, etc.)
There is a method to store.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of message transmission in the telephone shown in FIG. When transmitting a message to the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, a telephone capable of transmitting a tone signal (a telephone connected to a touch-tone telephone line or a telephone having a function of transmitting a tone signal connected to a dial line). After making a call to the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment and making a message by the method described later, the contents shown in FIG. 9 are dialed. Figure 10
At 211, a message number is selected, and the message information to be transmitted is selected from the five types of message information shown in FIG. 8, and the message number is dialed first. Then, dial an arbitrary four-digit number (212). As will be described later, this 4-digit number is printed as it is. In the present embodiment, it is possible to represent the time with this four-digit number. Finally, as a code (213) indicating the end of the operation,
Dial "* #".

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a print result of message reception in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. In the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, when the information transmitted by the tone signal is received, the information received by the recording unit 6 shown in FIG. 5 is printed out. 215 is the date and time when the printed information is received. In the present embodiment, the control unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 1 has a clock inside and outputs the date and time when the information was received by using this clock. In addition, in this embodiment, in order to emphasize the information, “*” is displayed above and below.
A message 214 (“Dengon Ga Arimashita” in FIG. 10) for indicating the output of the information reception is added, and the received message information 2 is added.
Print the 16 and four digit numbers 217. In the present embodiment, the four-digit number 217 is printed in the time format on the assumption that it represents the time. However, in the transmission operation of FIG. 9, the four-digit number 212 can be operated without dialing. When the code "* #" 213 indicating the end is dialed, 217 in FIG. 10 is not printed including ":". Further, reference numeral 218 denotes perforation printing, and the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment does not have a cutter mechanism for cutting the recording paper, and is therefore printed as a guide for the cutting position. If a recording paper cutting mechanism is provided, the recording paper may be cut to an appropriate length without printing perforations.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. The flow of processing when the facsimile device 1 receives a message using a tone signal will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 11.

As shown in step 101 in the figure, the control unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 1 sends a call signal from the telephone line 2 with the line connection switch 24 in the line control unit 12 connected to the side b. The call signal detection unit 22 detects whether or not it is sent. When it is detected that a call signal is sent from the telephone line 2, that is, when a telephone call is received (step 101 = yes), the control unit 7 causes the telephone 3 connected to the facsimile apparatus 1 to be in an off-hook state. While detecting whether or not (step 102), it waits for a calling signal to be sent from the telephone line a predetermined number of times (step 103). At this time, the telephone hook detection unit 23 in the line control unit 12 detects whether the telephone 3 is in the off-hook state, but the line connection switch 24 is still connected to the b side. Therefore, the call signal sent from the telephone line 2 is sent to the call signal detection unit 22 of the line control unit 12 of the facsimile apparatus 1 and at the same time, the telephone hook detection unit 23.
It is also sent to the telephone 3 through. Therefore, the ringing tone of the telephone 3 sounds in response to the ringing signal from the telephone line, and the user of the facsimile apparatus 1 can know that the telephone call is received.

When the telephone hook detection unit 23 does not detect that the telephone 3 is in the off-hook state even if the telephone 3 rings the predetermined number of times (step 103 = yes), the control unit 7 sets the line connection switch. The line is connected by switching 24 to the side a (step 104). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the number of calls until the facsimile apparatus 1 connects the line, that is, the above-mentioned predetermined number of calls is about 6 to 8. This means that if the connected telephone 3 is a normal telephone, the user may answer the telephone before the facsimile device 1 connects the line if the ringing tone is sounded 6 to 8 times. This is because it is considered possible. On the other hand, telephone 3
Is an answering machine, in normal operation, the answering machine automatically connects to the line after the ring tone sounds two to five times before the facsimile machine connects to the line, and the answering machine responds. Therefore, no particular problem occurs. In addition,
If the answering machine answers, the telephone 3
Is detected to be off-hook (step 1
02 = yes), the process branches to step 110.

After connecting the line in step 104, the control unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 1 controls the tone signal sending unit 10 to send the tone signal TS indicating that the line is connected to the telephone line (step 105). ). The tone signal TS sent from the tone signal sending unit 10 is input to the 2-wire to 4-wire converting unit 21 in the line control unit 12, and then sent to the telephone line through the line connection switch 24. Control unit 7
After sending the tone signal TS, the line controller 12
The voice response generation unit 25 therein starts sending a voice response to the telephone line 2 (step 106). Step 10
The voice response sent in 6 is, for example, "I am out of the office right now. If you are a fax machine, please send it as it is. If you are a phone call, please call back." Further, it is also possible to add a content notifying that information can be received by the tone signal. Start sending this voice response,
The control unit 7 detects whether or not a CNG signal is sent from the telephone line 2 (step 107) by the CNG signal detection unit 26 in the line control unit 12 and sends a tone signal from the telephone line 2. Detection of whether to come (step 10
8) by the tone signal detector 9 in the line controller 12
It continues until the above-mentioned voice response ends (step 109).

When the CNG signal is not detected in step 107 and the tone signal is not detected in step 108, the transmission of the voice response is completed (step 10).
9 = yes) or when the CNG signal is detected in step 107 (step 107 = yes), the control unit 7 in the facsimile apparatus 1 performs a facsimile reception process (step 115). That is, the facsimile communication unit 4 performs facsimile communication, and the recording unit 6 prints the received image. As described above, CNG
The signal is a signal for the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus that transmits a facsimile to notify the receiving-side facsimile apparatus that it is about to transmit a facsimile. In the facsimile machine on the receiving side, as shown in FIG.
When the G signal is detected, the process branches to the facsimile reception process (step 115).

When a tone signal is detected in step 108 (step 108 = yes), a message receiving process (step 114) is performed. The details of the message receiving process will be described later.

Next, in step 102, the telephone hook detection unit 23 in the line control unit 12 causes the facsimile apparatus 1 to operate.
A flow of processing when it is detected that the telephone 3 connected to the telephone is in an off-hook state in response to a calling signal from the telephone line 2 will be described. When it is detected that the telephone 3 is in the off-hook state (step 102 = yes), the control unit 7 of the facsimile apparatus 1 first connects the line connection switch 24 to the side a, and then the tone signal transmission unit 10 The tone signal TS2 indicating that the line has been connected is sent to the telephone line by controlling (step 110). The tone signal TS2 transmitted at this time is a tone signal different from the tone signal TS in step 105 described above. After transmitting the tone signal TS2, the control unit 7 connects the line connection switch 24 to the b side again, and the telephone line 2
And telephone 3 are connected. As a result, the telephone 3 in the off-hook state is connected to the other party who has made a call through the telephone line.

Subsequently, the controller 7 controls the CNG signal detector 26.
Of the CNG signal by means of (step 111) and detection of the tone signal by means of the tone signal detector 9 (step 11).
2) Start. In this embodiment, the telephone hook detector 23 detects that the telephone 3 connected to the facsimile apparatus 1 is in the on-hook state (step 1).
These detections are continued until 13 = yes). Here, when the telephone 3 is in the on-hook state, the telephone 3
Is an ordinary telephone and is in an off-hook state because the user picked up the telephone, it means that the telephone call is ended and the telephone is hung up. On the other hand, if the telephone 3 is an answering machine and is in the off-hook state because the line is automatically connected for answering, if the answering machine, that is, the recording of the message is completed, the answering machine will leave the line. It becomes when cutting. It should be noted that the period for detecting the CNG signal and the period for detecting the tone signal are set in accordance with the usage status of the facsimile device, such as a predetermined time period after detecting the off-hook state. In the present embodiment, both CNG signal detection and tone signal detection are performed during the period immediately after off-hook detection to on-hook detection.

When the CNG signal is detected in step 111 (step 111 = yes), the controller 7 connects the line connection switch 24 to the side a, and then performs the facsimile reception process (step 115). If a tone signal is detected in step 112 (step 112 = yes),
After connecting the line connection switch 24 to the side a, the control unit 7 performs a message reception process (step 114). Phone 3
When the telephone hook detection unit 23 does not detect that the call is in the on-hook state in step 113 (step 113 = yes), the processing is ended as it is.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the flow of the message receiving process in FIG. Hereinafter, the message reception process shown in step 114 in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
In the figure, first, in step 116, it is determined whether the tone signal detected in step 108 or step 112 in FIG. 11 is a command indicating that a message is transmitted (hereinafter, referred to as “message command”). Check that. If it is a message command (step 11
6 = yes), the control unit 7 notifies the telephone line 2 to inform that the message reception by the tone signal is possible.
A tone signal TM indicating a message mode is sent to (step 119). As with the tone signals TS and TS2 described above, the tone signal TM is controlled by the control unit 7 through the tone signal transmission unit 10.
Is transmitted to the telephone line 2 by controlling the. on the other hand,
When the detected tone signal is not a message command (step 116 = no), the control unit 7 sends a tone signal TE indicating an error to the telephone line 2 (step 11).
7). This tone signal TE is also the tone signal T described above.
Similar to S, TS2 and TM, the control section 7 controls the tone signal transmission section 10 to transmit the tone signal to the telephone line 2. Then, the process branches again to step 118 to detect whether or not a tone signal is sent from the telephone line 2.

After transmitting the tone signal TM indicating the message mode in step 119, the control section 7 further detects whether or not a tone signal is transmitted from the telephone line 2 (step 120). Then, when the first two digits of the tone signal detected in step 120 are the message numbers defined in the message text shown in FIG. 8 (step 121 =
yes), the message is received in step 123 and subsequent steps.
On the other hand, the top 2 of the tone signal detected in step 120
If the digit is not a message number (step 121 = n
o), the controller 7 sends a tone signal TE indicating an error to the telephone line 2 (step 122), and then step 1
Returning to the detection of the tone signal of 20, waiting for the operator making the call to retransmit the tone signal designating the message.
The tone signal transmitting unit 10 also transmits the tone signal TE indicating an error in Step 122, as in the case of transmitting the tone signal TE indicating an error in Step 117. The tone signal for which the message number has been confirmed in step 121 after being detected in step 120 is stored in the message storage unit 15.

In the message check of step 123, the third digit and subsequent digits of the tone signal stored in the message storage section 15 are checked. For the first two digits of the tone signal,
In step 121, it is confirmed that the message number corresponds to one of the message sentences in FIG. If the third digit or later is a numeral, it means that the numeral information of four digits or less described in FIG. 9 has been input. In the present embodiment, the numerical information is limited to 1 to 4 digits and cannot include "*" or "#". Therefore, the configuration pattern of the tone signal stored in the message storage unit 15 is
"Message number" + "* #", "Message number" + "4 digits or less" + "* #", and "*" or "#" is included in the 4 digits or less If the message is incorrect. If a message error is detected (step 12)
4 = yes), the tone signal TE indicating an error is transmitted in step 122, and the process returns to the tone signal detection in step 120 again. For this reason, if the tone signal TE indicating an error is returned by mistake in the operation method during the operation of transmitting the message to the facsimile apparatus, the operator will have to input again from the message number. In this embodiment, 5 is put between the message number and “* #”.
If more than one digit is detected, only the last four digits are treated as valid numeric information. For example, when "05123456 * #" is input when the message number 05 is instructed, the message "Kyoha Kaelemasen (;;)" corresponding to the message number 05 and "34
56 "is the target of print output.

When no message error is detected (step 124 = no), the control section 7 sends a tone signal TQ indicating termination to the telephone line 2 (step 125). The tone signal TQ is for notifying the operator who made the call that the message was normally received. In the present embodiment, the tone signal transmitter 10 also transmits the tone signal TQ. After transmitting the tone signal TQ, the control unit 7 disconnects the line by connecting the line connection switch 24 of the line control unit 12 to the b side (step 12).
6). Following this, the control unit 7 reads the print information corresponding to the tone signal stored in the message storage unit 15 from the print information storage unit 11, and causes the recording unit 6 to print the message (step 127).

Next, a process for making a call to the facsimile apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 5 and transmitting a message will be described. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the operator on the telephone side puts the operation indicator 30 on the speaker portion of the receiver of the telephone and operates according to the contents displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30. And 13. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of transmitting a message to the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the display output of the message in the operation indicator in FIG.

In FIG. 13, when transmitting a message to the facsimile apparatus 1, a telephone capable of transmitting a tone signal, specifically, a telephone connected to a touch-tone telephone line or a function of transmitting a tone signal connected to a dial line is provided. A call is made to the facsimile apparatus 1 of this embodiment from the telephone having the telephone (step 131). As described with reference to FIG. 11, in the facsimile apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the line is connected (FIG. 11: step 104), the telephone 3 sets the tone signal TS indicating that the line is connected to the telephone 3 as the off-hook state. In the case (FIG. 11: step 102 = yes)
s) is a tone signal TS2 indicating that the line is connected.
Are transmitted to the telephone line by the tone signal transmitting unit 10. Then, when the tone signal TS is detected by the tone signal detection unit 32, the control unit 33 of the operation indicator 30 “displays a connection” on the display unit 34 (FIG. 14: 3).
01) is displayed and output, while the tone signal TS2 is detected, a “display indicating the other party's response” is displayed on the display unit 34 (FIG. 1).
4: 302) is displayed and output (step 132).

When transmitting a message to the facsimile apparatus 1, "display indicating connection" (301 in FIG. 14) or "display indicating response to the other party" is displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30 which is applied to the speaker portion of the handset. (FIG. 14: 302) is displayed (step 132 = y
es), and press the message command (step 133). As described above, the facsimile apparatus 1 sends out the tone signal TM indicating the message mode to the telephone line when the message command is sent (FIG. 12: step 119), while it receives the tone signal other than the message command. Sends a tone signal TE indicating an error to the telephone line (FIG. 12: step 117). When the tone signal detection unit 32 detects the tone signal TE indicating an error, the control unit 33 of the operation indicator 30 displays “display indicating a message command error” (FIG. 14: 304) on the display unit 34. When the tone signal TM indicating the message mode is detected, “display indicating the message mode” (303 in FIG. 14) is displayed and output on the display unit 34.

The operator on the telephone side "displays a message command error" on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30 (see FIG. 1).
4: 304) is displayed (step 134 = n
o), the process returns to step 133 again and the message command is sent again. In addition, when “display indicating message mode” (FIG. 14: 303) is displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30 (step 134 = yes), a two-digit message number that identifies the message message that the user wants to send. Press (Step 1
35). As described above, the message function of the facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment can receive the five types of messages shown in FIG. For example, press "05" to send "Kyoha Kaelemasen (;;)" and press "01" to send "Imakara Kaeruyo (^ O ^)".

As described above, when the designated message number is incorrect, the facsimile apparatus 1 sends the tone signal TE indicating the error to the telephone line (FIG. 12: step 122). When the operation indicator 30 detects the tone signal TE indicating an error, the operation indicator 30 outputs “display indicating a message error” (305 in FIG. 14) on the display unit 34. That is, when the message number is pressed in step 135, “display indicating message error” is displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30.
(FIG. 14: 305) is displayed (step 136)
= Yes) means that the facsimile machine 1 could not correctly detect the tone signal indicating the message number, or if an undefined message number (for example, "06" in the facsimile machine of this embodiment) is pressed. This is the case where the facsimile machine 1 cannot correctly detect the message number.
In such a case, the operator on the telephone side presses the message number again.

In the case of transmitting a message, if it is sufficient to transmit only the message number, the operation can proceed to step 140 (step 137). However, as described above, the message processing in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is performed. The feature can also send a four digit number along with the message number. When transmitting the four-digit number, the message number pressed in step 135 is followed by another four-digit number (step 1
38). In this embodiment, any number of digits may be specified as long as it is 4 digits or less. When “display indicating message error” (FIG. 14: 305) is displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30 while pressing the four-digit number (step 1)
39 = yes) is an input error (for example, when "#" or "*" is pressed) as in the case where the message number is pressed. Therefore, the process returns to step 135 and the message number is pressed again.

When the "display indicating message error" (305 in FIG. 14) is not displayed on the display unit 34 of the operation indicator 30 (step 139 = no), then "* #" is pressed (step 140). . As mentioned above, when sending only the message number without specifying the 4-digit number (step 137)
, Press "* #" immediately after the message number (step 140). Here, “* #” designates the end of message transmission using the tone signal, and as described above,
When the facsimile apparatus 1 receives "* #", it sends a tone signal TQ indicating the end of the operation to indicate that all the operations have been normally completed. When the tone signal TQ is detected by the tone detector 32 of the operation indicator 30 (step 141 = yes), the controller 33 causes the display 34 to display.
"Display indicating the end of operation" (FIG. 14: 306) is displayed and output.

On the other hand, "display indicating the end of operation" (FIG. 14:
When 306) is not displayed, it means that the facsimile machine cannot normally receive "* #". In such a case, the tone TE indicating an error is transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 instead of the tone signal TQ. . Therefore, even with the operation indicator 30, the “display indicating the end of the operation” (FIG.
Instead of 4: 306), a “display indicating a message error” (FIG. 14: 305) is displayed on the display unit 34. here,
When the "display indicating the end of the operation" (FIG. 14: 306) is displayed, the facsimile machine 1 has normally completed the reception of the message using the tone signal, and the telephone is hung up (step 142). As a result, all the message transmission operations are completed, and as described above, the facsimile apparatus 1 prints out the message as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the message is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1, the operator on the telephone side uses the operation indicator 30 to operate the message transmission transmitted by the facsimile apparatus. Since the operation indicator 30 receives the tone signal for instructing through the telephone line and displays the operation instruction on the display unit, even a deaf person can reliably transmit the message to the facsimile device.

[0054]

As described in detail above, according to the information communication system of the present invention, an arbitrary telephone set capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal tone and the signal tone transmitted from the telephone set via the telephone line are used. In the information communication system including a facsimile device that prints out predetermined message information according to the above, the facsimile device transmits a response signal sound for prompting the transmission of a command signal sound for controlling its own device via a telephone line. Since the telephone has a signal sound transmitting means for transmitting to the telephone, and the telephone has an operation indicator for displaying predetermined operation instruction information based on the received response signal sound, an arbitrary telephone can be used as a facsimile device. For each operation procedure that the operator of the telephone should perform when printing out message information, unique operation instruction information that prompts execution of the operation procedure. In terms of previously defined and the like when it becomes execution waiting state of the operation procedure, execution of the operating procedures (transmission of the command signal sound corresponding to the operation procedure)
By sending out a unique signal sound (response signal sound) for prompting the user from the signal sound sending means in the facsimile apparatus, the operation indicator indicating the operation procedure to be executed by the operator in response to the response signal sound. The effect that the operator can be accurately notified by the operation instruction information displayed on the screen is obtained.

The command signal sound and the response signal sound are expressed by a combination of tone signals transmitted when the telephone number of the callee is specified on the touch-tone telephone line, and the operation instructing device displays arbitrary characters. By displaying and outputting the message that conveys the operation instruction information using the display means capable of visually outputting, all of the operation procedure for transmitting information from the telephone to the facsimile device is performed by the push button on the telephone. In addition to the pressing operation, it is possible to visualize the operation instruction information for prompting the execution of the operation procedure on the display means of the operation instructing device and convey it to the operator. The effect that the information transmission function of can be easily used is obtained.

Furthermore, since the operation indicator is externally attached to the receiver portion of the telephone, whichever existing telephone including public telephone is used,
The hearing-impaired person can easily use the information transmission function from the telephone to the facsimile.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of an information communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of the facsimile apparatus in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing an example of mutual connection between the facsimile apparatus and the telephone set in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance and a usage state of the operation indicator in FIG.

5 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of the facsimile apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of a line control unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of an operation indicator in FIG.

8 is a diagram showing an example of message information that can be received by the facsimile device in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of message transmission in the telephone set in FIG.

10 is a diagram showing an example of a print result of message reception in the facsimile apparatus in FIG.

11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of message reception processing in FIG.

13 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations for message transmission to the facsimile device shown in FIG.

14 is a diagram showing an example of display output of a message in the operation indicator in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile device 2 Telephone line 3 Telephone 4 Facsimile communication part 5 Image reading part 6 Recording part 7 Control part 8 Control part 9 Tone signal detection part 10 Tone signal sending part 11 Print information storage part 12 Line control part 13 Line connection terminal 14 Telephone Connection terminal 15 Message storage unit 21 2-wire / 4-wire conversion unit 22 Ring signal detection unit 23 Telephone hook detection unit 24 Line connection switch 25 Voice response generation unit 26 CNG signal detection unit 30 Operation indicator 31 Voice input unit 32 Tone signal detection Part 33 Control part 34 Display part 39 Display data storage part 501 Liquid crystal display part 502 Recording paper discharge part 503 Start button 504 Stop button 507 Telephone line terminal 508 Telephone line connection terminal of telephone 3

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Akio Shinagawa 1410 Inada, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Pref., Personal Media Equipment Division, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An arbitrary telephone capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined signal sound, and a facsimile device for printing and outputting predetermined message information based on the signal sound sent from the telephone via a telephone line. In the information communication system according to claim 1, the facsimile device includes a signal sound sending unit that sends a response signal sound for prompting sending of a command signal sound for controlling the own device to the telephone through a telephone line, and the telephone receives An information communication system comprising an operation indicator that displays predetermined operation instruction information based on the response signal sound. 2. The command signal sound and the response signal sound are expressed by a combination of tone signals transmitted when a telephone number of a callee is specified on a touch-tone telephone line, and the operation indicator is an arbitrary character. 2. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein a message for transmitting the operation instruction information is displayed and output using a display unit capable of visually outputting. 3. The operation indicator is externally attached to a receiver portion of the telephone.
Or the information communication system according to 2.