JPH10145514A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile equipment that is connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program to perform facsimile reception without ringing and without discharging recording paper in the case that a facsimile communication network is contracted for an un-ringing in-coming call reception. SOLUTION: A 1st call signal detection circuit 31 of this equipment detects a 1300Hz call bell signal for an un-ringing in-coming call transmitted from an exchange and a 2nd call signal detection circuit 33 detects a 16Hz call bell signal for dial-in processing transmitted from the exchange. On the other hand, a CPU 14 based on the detection of those call bell signals outputs a control signal to attain facsimile reception by a computer PC for another computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus connected to a facsimile communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, facsimile communication is performed using a telephone network. This has the advantage that facsimile communication can be easily performed using the most widespread telephone network, but the transmission speed is limited because the telephone network originally designed optimally for voice transmission is used In addition, there is a restriction that a service for temporarily storing information in a network cannot be provided.

In order to solve these problems, an existing telephone network is used and a facsimile storage and exchange device (S) is installed in the telephone network.
A facsimile communication network (hereinafter, simply referred to as F-net) has been created in which a communication processing device such as TOC) is provided to provide various services. The STOC is the core of the STOC, has a large capacity facsimile signal storage function, and provides services such as broadcast communication, confidential communication, and facsimile box.

There is a non-ringing incoming call contract in this F-net contract form. In the case of a contract for the ringing-free incoming call, if there is a transmission using the F-net from the other party, the call signal coming from the exchange becomes 1300 Hz unlike the normal 16 Hz, but this 1300 Hz signal arrives. Sometimes, the sounding unit of the facsimile apparatus does not sound. For this reason, the user of the facsimile apparatus does not have to be bothered by the ringing sound that occurs with the arrival of the call signal. In addition, when the 1300 Hz calling signal arrives, it is known that the transmission destination is not a telephone but a facsimile machine. Moreover, since it is possible to reliably determine that the facsimile transmission was performed using the F-net, the facsimile operation can be immediately shifted to the facsimile operation after the call signal is received, and the image data transmitted through the F-net is transmitted. Can be reliably received.

[0005] Further, in the conventional facsimile reception by ringing incoming call, a personal computer having a facsimile communication program is connected to the facsimile apparatus, image data is transferred to the personal computer, and the contents of the facsimile reception are displayed on a monitor. That is being done. One of the reasons for displaying the facsimile reception contents on the monitor of the personal computer instead of the recording paper is as follows. That is, if the user visually recognizes that the recording paper is ejected onto the tray of the facsimile machine, he or she has to check what kind of received content is in a busy state. This is because this can be solved. Another reason is that when the facsimile apparatus is shared, troublesome reception when another person brings the facsimile reception addressed to the user is eliminated.

[0006]

However, in the conventional ringing incoming call, it is known that at least the facsimile reception has been performed by the ringing unit of the facsimile apparatus ringing, so that the receiving side cannot be completely indifferent. Did not.

[0007] Dial-in services have been widely used. In the dial-in service, one telephone line is connected to the outside, and a plurality of communication terminals such as a facsimile apparatus and a telephone are connected to the telephone line. A different telephone number is assigned to each communication terminal, and when there is a call to these telephone numbers from the outside, a call is received to the communication terminal corresponding to the called telephone number. However, conventionally, it has not been possible to control the computer terminal connected to the facsimile machine according to the called telephone number.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program when a facsimile communication network is contracted without ringing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which receives a facsimile without being connected to a sound and discharging a recording sheet. A second object is to provide a facsimile apparatus connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program with a dial-in processing function to enable selection of various communication modes according to the confidentiality of communication data.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus connected to a facsimile communication network and connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program. And detecting means for detecting a ringing signal for a non-ringing incoming call coming from the exchange, and controlling means for outputting a control signal for enabling facsimile reception to the computer based on the detection of the ringing signal. Is the gist. With such a configuration, when the detection means detects a ringing signal for a non-ringing incoming call, the control means outputs a control signal to the computer. Then, the computer enters a facsimile reception enabled state based on the control signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus having a dial-in processing function and connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program, wherein the facsimile apparatus detects a call signal for dial-in processing coming from an exchange. The gist of the present invention is to provide a control means for outputting to the computer a control signal for enabling facsimile reception based on the detection of the call signal. With this configuration, when the detection unit detects a call signal for dial-in processing, the control unit outputs a control signal to the computer. Then, the computer enters a facsimile reception enabled state based on the control signal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a second detecting means for detecting a second call signal for dial-in processing coming from the exchange, and detecting the second call signal. The gist of the invention is to provide a second control means for outputting a control signal for enabling facsimile reception to a computer based on the control signal. With this configuration, in addition to the function of the invention described in claim 2, when the second detection signal detects the second call signal for dial-in, the second control means is connected to the facsimile apparatus main body. The control signal is output to perform the printing operation.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment embodying a facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a dial-in processing circuit 11 for performing a dial-in processing operation is provided with a facsimile apparatus 12.
It is integrated inside. The telephone T is connected to the dial-in processing circuit 11.

Further, inside the facsimile machine 12,
In addition to the dial-in processing circuit 11, a facsimile body 13 for performing an actual facsimile operation is provided. The facsimile main unit 13 is provided with a CPU (central processing unit) 14 shared with the dial-in circuit 11. The CPU 14 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 15 that stores a program for controlling the operation of the facsimile main body 13 and the operation of the dial-in processing circuit 11, and an RA that temporarily stores various information.
An M (random access memory) 16 and an image memory 18 for storing communication image data are connected. In this embodiment, each control means is constituted by the CPU 14, the ROM 15, and the RAM 16. A personal computer PC is connected to the CPU 14 by a cable Cb (RS in this embodiment).
232C standard cable).

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the RAM 16 previously stores a setting table in which communication functions are set in correspondence with a plurality of dial-in numbers. In the present embodiment, for example, “0001” to “0003”
Facsimile communication function by personal computer PC corresponding to the last four digits of the dial-in number
A normal facsimile communication function and a call function are respectively assigned.

The CPU in the facsimile main body 13
A modem 17, a reading unit 19, a recording unit 20, a key operation unit 21, a dial signal transmission circuit 22, a display unit 23, and a voice transmission unit 24 are connected to 14. The modem 17 modulates and demodulates transmission / reception data. The reading unit 19 reads an image on a document. The recording unit 20 performs recording on recording paper based on the received image data and the like. The key operation unit 21 inputs the telephone number of the other party or starts a facsimile operation. The dial signal transmission circuit 22 generates a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number input by the key operation unit 21. The display unit 23 is for displaying operation procedures, communication information, and the like. The sound transmitting unit 24 is composed of a bell, a buzzer, and the like.

Next, the dial-in processing circuit 11 will be described. The switching relay switch 26 is connected to the telephone line L
The wiring 28 connected to the connection terminal 27 of the
Under the control of 14, the contacts a to c are switched. The contact a is an off contact connected in the initial state in which the dial-in processing circuit 11 is waiting for an incoming call. The contact b is connected to the modem 1 of the facsimile main body 13 via the transformer 29.
7 is connected to the telephone T via the connection terminal 30.
Connected to.

The relay 31 is provided for temporarily opening the telephone line L. When the relay 31 is switched to the contact a side under the control of the CPU 14,
The telephone line L is connected to the changeover switch 26 side. On the other hand, when the relay 31 is switched to the contact b side,
The telephone line L is released. In the initial state in which the dial-in processing circuit 11 is waiting for an incoming call, the switching relay switch 26 and the relay 31 are both switched to the contact a side.

First paging signal detecting section 32 as detecting means
Is connected to the wiring 28, detects a 1300 Hz call bell signal transmitted from a telephone exchange (not shown) via the telephone line L, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 14. The 1300 Hz ringing signal is a ringing signal output from the exchange when the other party transmits using the F-net when the use of the F-net is subscribed to without ringing. A second call signal detection circuit 33 as second and third detection means is connected to the wiring 28, and the telephone line L
16 transmitted from a telephone exchange (not shown) via
Hz ringing bell signal is detected and the detection result is sent to the CPU.
14 is output. The push signal detection circuit 34 is also connected to the wiring 28, detects a predetermined push tone signal (DTMF signal) transmitted from the telephone exchange, and outputs the detection result to the CPU 14.

The false call signal generation circuit 35 is connected to the CPU 14 and sends a false call signal to the telephone set T via the wiring 28 and the changeover relay switch 26 to ring the telephone set T and call the user. is there. The off-hook detection circuit 36 is connected to the telephone T, detects an off-hook state of the telephone T (a state in which the handset is picked up), and outputs the detection result to the CPU 14.

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus 12 having the above-described configuration at the time of reception will be described with reference to FIG. Here, it is assumed that the F-net has a non-ringing incoming call contract. Further, in order to transfer communication data from the facsimile machine 12 to the personal computer PC, the modem 17 of the facsimile machine 12 needs to be initialized. In the control of the modem 17 including the initialization, an attention (AT) command is output from the personal computer PC to the facsimile apparatus 12 and the result code corresponding thereto is transmitted from the modem 17 to the personal computer PC.
It is sent back to the side.

First, when a call is made from an external calling apparatus to the facsimile apparatus 12 of this embodiment, step S1 is performed.
In 01, it is determined whether or not the second ringing signal detection circuit 33 has detected a ringing bell signal of 16 Hz from an exchange (not shown). If a 16 Hz ringing bell signal is not detected, it is determined in step S102 whether the first ringing signal detection circuit 31 has detected a 1300 Hz ringing bell signal from the exchange. Step S1
If no ringing bell signal of 1300 Hz is detected in 02, the facsimile apparatus maintains the reception standby state.

On the other hand, in step S102, 1300
Hz, a ringing bell signal is detected in step S103.
It is determined whether or not the facsimile communication program of the personal computer PC has been started. Whether or not the program has been started is determined by whether or not a personal computer PC has output an initialization command of the modem 17 to the facsimile apparatus 12 side.

If the personal computer PC determines in step S103 that the facsimile communication program has not been started, the process proceeds to step S117 described later. If it is determined in step S103 that the facsimile communication program has been activated, the CPU 14
Starts a timer in step S104. Here, step S103 corresponds to detecting means for detecting the activation state of the facsimile communication program of the facsimile apparatus 12 and the personal computer PC as a computer.

In step S104, the timer is started, and in step S105, the CPU 14 outputs a ring command to the personal computer PC. The RING command is a digital signal output to the personal computer PC in response to a ringing bell signal of 16 Hz or 1300 Hz from the exchange.

In step S106, it is determined whether an ATA command from the personal computer PC has been detected. Here, the ATA command is an R command from the modem 17.
This is a type of AT command for performing an automatic incoming call operation output in response to an ING command. In step S106, the CPU 14 counts the predetermined number of RING commands set. If the ATA command is not detected even after the predetermined number of times has been reached, the count is incremented later in step S107, and the series of processing ends.

On the other hand, when the ATA command is detected in step S106, the result code is returned to the personal computer PC side, and in step S10
8, the change-over relay switch 26 is switched from the contact a to the contact b.
, The telephone line L is closed, and an incoming call is made. Then, in step S109, the facsimile communication procedure is executed by the personal computer PC, and the facsimile reception is automatically performed.

In step S101, 16 Hz
If the call bell signal is detected, step S11
At 0, the switching relay switch 26 is switched from the contact a to the contact b, the telephone line L is closed, and a temporary incoming call state is set. Next, a predetermined telephone number is transmitted as a push tone signal from the telephone exchange side. When this push tone signal is detected by the push signal detection circuit 34, the CPU 14 decodes the telephone number (dial-in number) from the push tone signal in step S111.

Next, in step S112, it is determined whether or not the dial-in number is "0001". If the number is "0001", the facsimile communication function by the personal computer PC is selected according to the setting table in FIG. Step S113
A first ringing tone is emitted from the voice transmitting unit 24 to notify that the reception is from the telephone network. The ringing sound is a sound having a frequency of 400 Hz that is intermittently derived every two seconds with a one-second stop period. Then, when a ringing sound is emitted, the process proceeds to step S103.

On the other hand, if the previously decoded push tone signal is the number "0002" (step S11).
4) A normal facsimile communication function is selected according to the setting table in FIG. In step S115, the voice transmitting unit 24 informs that the reception is from the telephone network.
Produces a second ringing sound. The ringing sound is generated at a frequency 800 intermittently derived every 2 seconds, for example, with a 1-second pause period.
Hz sound. Then, in step S116, in order to execute a normal facsimile communication function, the switching relay switch 26 is switched to the contact b, and the relay 31 is switched to the contact b, so that the telephone line L is once opened. Then, after a predetermined time, the relay 31 is automatically switched to the contact a. Therefore, the facsimile main unit 13 and the telephone line L are closed, and the image data from the calling side is received.
0 prints out on recording paper. When the printing is completed, the line is disconnected and the processing is terminated.

Next, the push tone signal is "000".
If the number is "3", the normal call function is selected in step S118 according to the setting table in FIG. In step S119, the switching relay switch 26 is switched to the contact c to execute a normal call,
The relay 31 is switched to the contact "b", the telephone line L is once opened, and the pseudo ringing signal generation circuit 35 emits a third ringing sound to notify that the telephone line L is being received from the telephone network. The ringing sound is, for example, a sound having a frequency of 16 Hz that is intermittently derived every second with a pause of one second. Then, after the off-hook detection circuit 36 detects the off-hook of the telephone set T in step S120, the relay 31 is automatically switched to the contact a, so that the telephone set T and the telephone line L are closed. Becomes When the call is terminated, the line is disconnected and the process is terminated.

By configuring as described above, the embodiment has at least the following operations and effects. (1) When the F-net is subscribed to without ringing, the image data received without ringing is transmitted to the personal computer P
If the facsimile communication program of C is activated,
The receiving side does not know whether or not facsimile reception has been performed, since it is not printed on the recording paper and the ringing noise is not bothered. Therefore, the receiving side only needs to visually check the monitor MT of the personal computer PC when his / her work is completed to determine whether or not facsimile reception has been performed, and the reception side is not bothered by facsimile reception.

(2) Even if a large amount of image data is transmitted, since the data can be stored in a large-capacity memory or a hard disk of the personal computer PC, the data hardly overflows. Further, since printing is not performed on the recording paper, the risk of running out of paper during reception is also eliminated.

(3) If the personal computer PC has not been activated despite the ringing-less incoming call, the image data can be printed on the recording paper from the facsimile apparatus 11, so that the image data received by the silent ringing incoming call can be printed. Can be reliably recognized.

(4) A normal ringing incoming call and a non-ringing incoming call using the F-net can be selected, and various receiving modes can be taken depending on the dial-in numbers. For example, according to the degree of urgency, if the degree of urgency is high, the facsimile apparatus 11 is sounded using dial-in to call attention of the receiving side. Then, printing is performed on the recording paper by the facsimile machine 11. When the degree of urgency is in the midst of the degree of emergency, the information is displayed on the monitor MT of the personal computer PC using dial-in. When the degree of urgency is low, the F-net is used for the non-ringing incoming call, and is further displayed on the monitor MT of the personal computer PC. Available as

(5) When a call is made via the telephone network using a dial-in number, the ringing sounds are different depending on the communication mode. Therefore, the facsimile reception to the personal computer PC is performed depending on the difference in the ringing sound. It can be easily recognized whether facsimile reception or call.

The present invention may be configured as described below in addition to the above-described embodiment, and the same operation and effect as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained with such a configuration. (A) The first paging signal detection unit 32 that detects a 1300 Hz paging signal may be built in the modem 17.

(B) A plurality of telephones T may be connected.
Further, the facsimile apparatus 12 may include an attached telephone. (C) The frequency of the ringing signal of 1300 Hz for non-ringing incoming call may be appropriately changed.

(D) The first to third ringing sounds are not limited to the above embodiment, and the frequency and ringing pattern may be changed as appropriate. It is also possible to make the first and second ringing sounds non-ringing.

Further, a technical idea which can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below. (1) The facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising detection means for detecting whether a transmission / reception state between the personal computer PC and the facsimile apparatus 12 is normal. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the received image data can be output to the personal computer PC.

(2) The control means determines that the ringing sound from the ringing unit (voice transmitting unit in the above embodiment) differs between the facsimile reception by the personal computer PC and the facsimile reception by the facsimile apparatus in dial-in reception. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein With this configuration, it is possible to easily recognize whether the reception is performed by the personal computer PC or the normal facsimile apparatus in the dial-in reception.

(3) Detecting means for detecting the operating state of the computer (the state in which the facsimile communication program is activated), and image data when the computer is determined not to be operating based on the detection by the detecting means. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising control means for controlling output from the facsimile apparatus. According to this configuration, the image data can be output even when the personal computer is not operating in the case where the incoming call is made without ringing.

(4) The control means receives the ringing sound from the ringing unit (the voice transmitting unit in the above embodiment) during reception by dial-in, by facsimile reception by the personal computer PC, facsimile reception by the facsimile apparatus, and call reception. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the facsimile apparatuses are different from each other. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily recognize whether the reception is performed by facsimile reception by the personal computer PC, facsimile reception by the ordinary facsimile apparatus, or telephone call in the dial-in reception.

[0043]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data received by the non-ringing incoming call is not printed on the recording paper, and the ringing sound does not bother, so the receiving side does not know whether the facsimile reception has been performed. . Therefore, whether or not facsimile reception has been performed can be confirmed by visually checking the monitor of the computer when the work of the user is completed or the like, and his or her own pace is not disturbed by facsimile reception.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, a call or communication data can be transmitted by selecting a non-ringing incoming call using the F-net and a dial-in number using a normal telephone network. It is convenient to select the communication mode according to the confidentiality. According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the present invention, since a dial-in number is assigned to a computer and a facsimile apparatus, communication according to the degree of confidentiality of communication data is further required. Mode selection can be expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of reception according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of a communication function setting table.

[Explanation of symbols]

12: facsimile machine, 14: CPU as control means,
Reference numeral 32 denotes a first call signal detection circuit serving as detection means, and reference numeral 33 denotes a second call signal detection circuit serving as detection means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus connected to a facsimile communication network and connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program, wherein the detecting means detects a ringing signal for a non-ringing incoming call coming from an exchange. A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that outputs a control signal for enabling facsimile reception based on detection of a signal to a computer. 2. A facsimile apparatus having a dial-in processing function and connected to a computer terminal having a facsimile communication program, comprising: detecting means for detecting a dial-in processing call signal coming from an exchange; A facsimile apparatus comprising: a control unit that outputs a control signal for enabling facsimile reception based on detection to a computer. 3. A second detecting means for detecting a third call signal for dial-in processing coming from an exchange, and outputting a control signal for causing a facsimile apparatus main body to perform a printing operation based on the detection of the call signal. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second control unit.