JPH09116723A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability in the case of conducting remote control of a destination communication equipment by a DTMF signal at the time of facsimile transmission. SOLUTION: In the case of conducting facsimile communication, the operator enters a telephone number, a DTMF designation code and a DTMF code altogether. After the facsimile equipment receiving the entry connects a call with a destination communication according to the entered telephone number, the entered DTMF designation code is sent. Then it is confirmed automatically that the destination communication equipment receives the DTMF signal and the entered DTMF signal is sent.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for transmitting and receiving images, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus capable of instructing a partner communication apparatus to perform a special operation using a DTMF signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, when performing a facsimile communication, when a special operation is instructed to a counterpart facsimile apparatus by a DTMF signal, it indicates that a DTMF signal can be received from the counterpart facsimile apparatus. Upon hearing the signal, the operator directly operates the facsimile machine to input the DTMF code designating the desired operation.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus connected to the external information processing terminal, the normal transmission and reception can be controlled from the external information processing terminal, but the operation using the DTMF signal is the reason described above. Therefore, it is impossible to issue a communication instruction from the external information processing terminal because it requires an operation on the facsimile device.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, even if the operator inputs a certain DTMF code, the operator cannot leave the facsimile apparatus until the communication is completed, which wastes time.

Further, even in a facsimile machine connected to an external information processing terminal, when performing communication using a DTMF signal, it is necessary to directly operate the facsimile machine, which is very troublesome for the operator. was there.

According to the present invention, when performing facsimile communication accompanied by control of the other communication device by the DTMF signal, the other party telephone number and the DTMF code for instructing the other facsimile device to perform a desired operation are input to the facsimile device. Thus, the operator is not wastefully restrained in front of the facsimile machine, and the DTMF can be operated from an external information processing terminal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus having better operability by enabling a communication instruction to a partner communication apparatus by a signal.

[0007]

A facsimile apparatus of the present invention has a telephone number input means for inputting a telephone number of a transmission destination and a code for instructing a facsimile apparatus of the other party to execute a special operation by a DTMF signal. Do DTM
F code input means and DMT corresponding to DTMF code
DTMF signal transmitting means for transmitting an F signal, and DTMF
Before the code, a DTMF designation code indicating that the code to be subsequently input is DTMF, DTMF designation code input means, and a DTMF for detecting a response signal indicating that the partner facsimile machine is in the DTMF signal receivable state. A response detection means.

In the above configuration, when a telephone number, a DTMF designation code, and a DTMF code are collectively input when performing facsimile communication, the facsimile device connects a call with a partner communication device according to the telephone number. After that, the DTMF designation code is transmitted, and thereafter, it is automatically confirmed that the partner communication device is in the DTMF signal receivable state, and the inputted DTMF signal is transmitted.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a system including a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The CPU 101 is a system control unit.
The entire facsimile machine is controlled via the system bus 117. The ROM 102 stores a control program of the CPU 101, an operating system (OS) program, and the like.

In this embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 102 is stored in the ROM 102.
It is assumed that software control such as scheduling and task switching is performed under the management of S.

The RAM 103 is composed of an SRAM or the like,
This is for storing program control variables and the like. The RAM 103 also stores setting values registered by the operator, system management data, various work buffers, and the like.

The image memory 104 is composed of a DRAM or the like and is for storing image data.

An operation unit 105 includes various keys, LEDs, and LCs.
D, etc., for performing various input operations by the operator and displaying the operation status of the facsimile communication system.

The reading control unit 107 is composed of a CS image sensor, a document feeding mechanism, and the like. The reading control unit 107 optically reads a document using a CS image sensor and converts it into electrical image data.
The image processing control unit 108 performs various image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing, and outputs high-definition image data. The converted image data is encoded according to a predetermined encoding method via the read / write encoding / decoding control unit 112 and stored in the image memory 104.

The recording control unit 114 is composed of a page printer, a recording image processing control unit and the like. In the recording control unit 114, the image data to be recorded is decoded by the reading and recording code decoding processing unit 112, and the recording image processing control unit performs smoothing processing and recording density correction processing to convert it into high-definition image data. , Output to a page printer.

The communication control unit 109 is composed of a MODEM (modulation / demodulation device) or the like, and controls modulation / demodulation of a transmission / reception signal of a facsimile. NCU (Network Controller)
Reference numeral 110 sends a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to an analog communication line (PSTN) 116, detects a calling signal, and performs line control of automatic incoming call control.

The image data accumulated in the image memory 104 is decoded by the communication code decoding processing unit 111,
The resolution conversion processing unit 106 performs resolution conversion and enlargement / reduction processing in millimeter-inch. Then, the resolution-converted image is subjected to coding processing by the communication coding / decoding processing unit 111 according to the capability of the transmission destination, and transmission is controlled.

The I / F control unit 115 controls the interface with an information processing terminal (FAX server) 118 connected to the outside. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a parallel interface such as a bidirectional Centronics interface is supported.

Remote operations such as transmission from the FAX server 118 to a facsimile machine, printing, and data registration are performed by transmitting predetermined command, parameter, data, etc. to the facsimile machine via the I / F control unit 115. It is done. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the FAX server 118 is installed with application software and driver software for controlling the remote operation and the remote operation request.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the other facsimile machine has a memory box, and the sender can specify the memory box number by DTMF to perform facsimile transmission to the specified memory box.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the sequence according to this embodiment.

First, the telephone number of the other party, DT
Enter the MF designation code and DTMF code (S
201). Next, a call is made to the destination of the input telephone number (S202).

Here, if the call connection is not confirmed even after the lapse of the determined time (S203, S204), the redial is performed after the set redial interval time (S206). If the number of redials is exceeded (S205), the redialing is not performed and the present sequence is terminated.

When the call connection is confirmed (S20)
3) After that, a DTMF instruction signal indicating that the signal to be sent is a DTMF signal is transmitted (S207), and a response signal to the DTMF instruction signal is waited for.

When the response signal is received (S
208), DTM the memory box number entered in advance
The F signal is transmitted (S210). Furthermore, if a response signal to the memory box number transmission is received (S
211), transmission processing is performed for the designated memory box (S213).

If the response signal to the DTMF instruction signal is not received for a certain period of time (S209), or if the response signal to the sending of the memory box number is not received for a certain period of time (S212), the communication interruption process is performed (S214), and this sequence is executed. To finish.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, when the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an external information processing terminal and the transmission destination, the DTMF designation code, and the memory box number can be designated from the external information processing terminal. Will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the sequence according to the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, the transmission destination, the DTMF designation code, and the memory box number are received from the connected external information processing terminal (S301), and thereafter the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed (S302 to S314). ).

Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, a case will be described in which the DTMF instruction signal and the response signal to the memory box number in the first embodiment have means for identifying whether the response signal is OK or NG. .

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts showing the sequence of the third embodiment.

After inputting the telephone number, the DTMF designation code and the memory box number (S401), a call is made (S40).
2) When the call connection is confirmed (S403, S404),
A DTMF instruction signal is transmitted (S407). A response signal to the DTMF instruction signal is received (S408),
If this is OK (S410), then the previously input memory box number is transmitted as a DTMF signal (S411).

Next, the response signal to the transmission of the memory box number is received (S412), and if it is OK (S414), the transmission processing is performed to the designated memory box (S415).

If the response signal to the DTMF instruction signal transmission or the memory box number transmission is not detected for a certain period of time (S409, S413), or DTM
When the response signal to the F instruction signal transmission or the memory box number transmission is NG (S410, S4
14) Then, the input memory box number is ignored and normal transmission processing is performed (S416).

As a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the above first and second embodiments, when the response signal from the facsimile apparatus of the other party is not received, the above third embodiment is performed.
Normal transmission processing may be performed as in the embodiment.

As a fifth embodiment of the present invention, conversely,
Also in the third embodiment, the normal transmission process is not performed, and the communication may be interrupted.

Further, the present invention does not limit the transmission of the DTMF signal to one time. Multiple DTMF signals,
The same effect can be obtained even if it is sent a plurality of times.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When a facsimile device capable of instructing a partner communication device to perform a special operation by a DTMF signal performs communication including transmission of a DTMF signal, the partner communication is performed with respect to the DTMF instruction signal and the DTMF signal transmitted by the facsimile device. Since the facsimile machine automatically detects the response signal sent from the apparatus, the operator performing this operation may input the destination telephone number, the DTMF designation code, and the DTMF code all at the beginning of communication. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the waste of time, which is required to be in front of the facsimile device during communication.

Further, since all the data that needs to be input may be input all at once, better operability can be obtained. In addition, facsimile communication using the DTMF signal from the external information processing terminal becomes possible, and the functionality can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Image memory, 105 ... Operation unit, 106 ... Resolution conversion processing unit, 107 ... Read control unit, 108 ... Image processing control unit, 109 ... Communication control unit, 110 ... NCU, 111 ... Communication code decoding processing unit, 112 ... Read / write code decoding processing unit, 113 ... I / F code decoding processing unit, 114 ... Recording control unit, 115 ... I / F control unit, 116 ... communication line, 117 ... system bus, 118 ... information processing terminal.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A telephone number input means for inputting a telephone number of a transmission destination, and a DTMF for inputting a code for instructing execution of a special operation by a DTMF signal to a partner communication device when receiving.
A code input means, a DTMF signal sending means for sending a DTMF signal corresponding to the DTMF code, and a DTM input by the DTMF input means for sending a DTMF signal by the DTMF signal sending means
Before the F code, a DTMF designation code indicating that the code to be subsequently input is DTMF, a DTMF designation code input means, and a response signal indicating that the partner communication device is ready to receive the DTMF signal are detected. DTMF response detection means, and at the time of transmission, the DTMF designation code input means and the DTMF code input means and the DTMF designation code and the DTMF code are input together with the destination telephone number, and a call is made to the destination of the telephone number. After that, check the call connection,
When it is determined by the DTMF response detection means that the other communication device is ready to receive the DTMF signal, the DTMF signal corresponding to the DTMF code is sent to the DTM.
A facsimile machine characterized by transmitting by an F signal transmitting means. 2. The interface according to claim 1, further comprising: an interface for connecting the facsimile apparatus to an external information processing terminal, and a telephone number, a DTMF designation code, and a DTM from the external information processing terminal connected by the interface.
After accepting the F code and calling the destination of the accepted telephone number, the connection of the call is confirmed, and when the DTMF response detecting means finds that the partner communication device is ready to receive the DTMF signal, the DTMF code is added. Corresponding D
A facsimile apparatus, wherein a TMF signal is transmitted by the DTMF signal transmitting means. 3. The DTMF response identifying means for identifying the type of the response signal detected by the DTMF response detecting means according to claim 1, wherein the DTMF signal is used during transmission for special communication with the partner communication device. When instructing an operation, the DTMF response detecting means detects the response signal of the partner communication device to the instruction, and if the DTMF response identifying means indicates that the response signal indicates “OK”, the operation is instructed. A facsimile apparatus, which performs a corresponding process, ignores an instruction by a DTMF signal and performs a normal transmission process if the response signal indicates "NG".