JPH1098555A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability in the change-over operation of a facsimile equipment by stopping the operation of a CNG signal detecting means when a dual tone multi-frequency(DTMF) signal is detected or stopping a facsimile receiving operation in spite of the detection of a CNG signal. SOLUTION: When the facsimile equipment is ringing, an automatic answering telephone set 20 and the facsimile equipment 10 are changed-over by presence or absence of the CNG signal after that. When the DTMF signal which coincides with the permutation of a code indicated by the DTMF signal which is previously registered in RAM 16 concerning the change-over to the facsimile equipment 10 is transmitted from a line LINE, the facsimile receiving operation is stopped. Thus, when a calling signal is detected, the detection of the CNG signal by a tone detecting part 15 is started and the detection of the DTMF signal is started. When the prescribed DTMF signal is detected, the operation of a tone detecting part 15 is stopped or the facsimile receiving operation is stopped in spite of the detection of the CNG signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus in which an automatic switching operation of a facsimile apparatus connected to the same line as an answering machine is appropriately performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines have been reduced in size and improved in function with the spread of the facsimile machines, and have spread to homes, small businesses and business establishments such as shops. And a facsimile apparatus connected to a communication terminal such as a personal computer has appeared.

In such homes and small business establishments, one line is not used only for a facsimile apparatus, but is connected to another communication terminal such as a telephone for use. I have.

[0004] Such a conventional facsimile apparatus is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-116077. This facsimile apparatus is connected to the same line as a telephone, and is provided with CNG detecting means for detecting a call signal of facsimile communication, so that facsimile communication can be automatically performed by switching the line based on the detected signal. It is.

According to this facsimile apparatus, when the destination is a voice terminal, for example, a telephone, the telephone rings and the operator goes off-hook to carry out a conversation or, as shown in FIG. When the facsimile machine 1 and the answering machine 2 are connected to the LINE, the answering machine can be performed, and when the other party is a facsimile machine, a CNG signal can be detected and automatic reception can be performed.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, after detecting the calling signal, the facsimile reception and the switching operation of the telephone are performed depending on whether or not the CNG signal is detected. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in appropriately performing the switching operation when the answering machine is connected.

That is, in a conventional facsimile apparatus, when a CNG signal is detected, an incoming call is immediately started regardless of the use state of the telephone. Therefore, an answering machine is connected as a telephone. If the answering message of the answering machine is short, or if the response message contains a sound close to 1100 Hz which is the frequency of the CNG signal and the cadence of the CNG signal is destroyed, this short answering message or A response message of 1100 Hz is sent to the line, and a CNG signal transmitted thereafter cannot be properly detected, and a malfunction occurs in automatic switching, so that facsimile reception cannot be performed properly. The answering machine sometimes recorded the CNG signal. When the contents of the answering machine of the answering machine are reproduced by remote control using the DTMF signal from the outside while the CNG signal is recorded on the answering machine, the recorded CNG signal is played back, and
The facsimile apparatus connected to the same line as the answering machine starts the facsimile reception by the G signal, so that there is a problem that the contents of the answering machine cannot be heard thereafter.

[0008] Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, when the call signal is detected, the detection of the CNG signal by the CNG signal detection means is started, and the detection of the DTMF signal by the DTMF signal detection means is started. When a predetermined DTMF signal is detected, the operation of the CNG signal detection means is stopped, or the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when the CNG signal is detected, thereby enabling the answering machine to operate the remote control function using the DTMF signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable facsimile apparatus by preventing a problem of switching to a facsimile receiving operation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at the time of an automatic switching operation, a numerical value or a symbol indicated by a first detected DTMF signal is compared with a numerical value or a symbol registered in advance.
If they match, the detection of the CNG signal is stopped, or
By stopping the facsimile reception operation even when a signal is detected, a failure to switch to the facsimile reception operation during the operation of the remote control function using the DTMF signal of the answering machine is appropriately prevented, and a more reliable facsimile is achieved. It is intended to provide a device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at the time of an automatic switching operation, a permutation of a numerical value or a symbol indicated by a DTMF signal detected first is compared with a pre-registered permutation of a numerical value or a symbol. Stops facsimile reception or stops facsimile reception even when a CNG signal is detected, thereby more appropriately preventing the problem of switching to facsimile reception during remote control function operation using the DTMF signal of an answering machine. It is another object of the present invention to provide a more reliable facsimile machine.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus connected to the same line as a telephone, for detecting a call signal, a CNG signal detecting means for detecting a CNG signal, D for detecting DTMF signal
After the TMF signal detecting means and the calling signal detecting means detect the calling signal, the CNG signal detecting means
Control means for starting a facsimile receiving operation when an NG signal is detected.
When the call signal detecting means detects the call signal, the control means controls the CN signal by the CNG signal detecting means.
The detection of the G signal is started, the detection of the DTMF signal by the DTMF signal detection means is started, and when the DTMF signal detection means detects the predetermined DTMF signal, the operation of the CNG signal detection means is stopped. The above object is achieved by stopping the facsimile receiving operation even when the CNG signal detecting means detects the CNG signal.

According to the above configuration, when the call signal is detected, the detection of the CNG signal by the CNG signal detecting means is started, and the DTMF signal is detected by the DTMF signal detecting means.
When the signal detection is started and the DTMF signal detecting means detects a predetermined DTMF signal, the operation of the CNG signal detecting means is stopped, or the facsimile receiving operation is stopped even if the CNG signal is detected. It is possible to prevent a problem of switching to the facsimile reception operation during the remote control function operation using the signal, and to improve the reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile apparatus connected to the same line as the answering machine.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the facsimile apparatus further includes storage means for storing a specific numerical value or symbol created by the DTMF signal, and the control means includes: The numerical value or symbol indicated by the DTMF signal first detected by the DTMF signal detecting means is compared with the numerical value or symbol stored in the storage means, and when the two numerical values or symbols match, the operation of the CNG signal detecting means is performed. Or the facsimile receiving operation may be stopped even if the CNG signal detecting means detects the CNG signal.

According to the above configuration, at the time of the automatic switching operation, the numerical value or symbol indicated by the first detected DTMF signal is compared with the numerical value or symbol registered in advance, and if they match, the detection of the CNG signal is stopped. Since the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when the CNG signal is detected, it is possible to appropriately prevent a failure to switch to the facsimile reception operation during the operation of the remote control function using the DTMF signal of the answering machine. The reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile connected to the line can be further improved.

Further, for example, as set forth in claim 3, the storage means stores a predetermined permutation of numerical values or symbols generated by the DTMF signal, and the control means controls the DTMF signal detection means. The D which was first detected
The permutation of the number or symbol indicated by the TMF signal is compared with the permutation of the number or symbol stored in the storage means.
The operation of the NG signal detecting means may be stopped, or the facsimile receiving operation may be stopped even if the CNG signal detecting means detects the CNG signal.

According to the above configuration, at the time of the automatic switching operation, the permutation of the numerical value or symbol indicated by the first detected DTMF signal is compared with the permutation of the numerical value or symbol registered in advance, and if they match, the CNG signal is detected. To stop or
Since the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when the CNG signal is detected, the trouble of switching to the facsimile reception operation during the operation of the remote control function using the DTMF signal of the answering machine can be more appropriately prevented. The reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile apparatus connected to the same line can be further improved.

[0017]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a main circuit of a facsimile apparatus 10 to which an embodiment of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram.

In FIG. 1, a facsimile machine 10 comprises
Network control unit 11, operation display unit 12, DTMF detection unit 13,
FAX transmission / reception unit 14, tone detection unit 15, RAM (Random
Access memory 16 and a main control unit 17, and an image reading unit (not shown) for reading an image of a manuscript required for the facsimile apparatus 10, an image recording unit for recording a received image and the like on recording paper, and the like. .

Line LI housed in facsimile machine 10
An answering machine 20 is connected to the NE. The answering machine 20 has a normal answering function and
This is an answering machine that can be remotely operated, such as playing an answering machine, by using a TMF (Dual Tone Multifrequency) signal.

The network control section 11 includes a changeover switch 18 and a ringing detection section 19 and the like. The network control section 11 is connected to a line LINE, for example, a general public line. The changeover switch 18 of the network control unit 11 connects the line LINE and the FA
It is connected between the X transmission / reception unit 14 and operates under the control of the main control unit 17 to connect and disconnect the line LINE and the FAX transmission / reception unit 14. Ringing detecting section (ringing signal detecting means) 19 detects a ringing signal (ringing signal) from line L and outputs a detection result to main control section 17. The network control unit 11 operates under the control of the main control unit 10 to perform an automatic call processing to the line LINE.

The operation display unit 12 includes various operation keys such as a numeric keypad, a start key, and a function key, and also includes a display (for example, a liquid crystal display). Various commands such as a transmission operation are input from the operation keys. On the display, a command content input from the operation keys and various information notified from the facsimile machine 10 to the operator are displayed. In particular, from the operation keys of the operation display unit 12, when remotely operating the answering machine 20, the detection of the tone detection unit 15 or the permutation of symbols and numerical values for stopping the facsimile reception operation, that is, A plurality of symbols and numerical values created by the DTMF signal are input in a predetermined order, and the main control unit 17
Are stored in the RAM 16.

DTMF detection section (DTMF signal detection means)
Reference numeral 13 is connected to the line LINE.
Operates under the control of, detects the DTMF signal transmitted via the line LINE, and reports the detection result to the main control unit 17.
Output to That is, the DTMF detection unit 13 is controlled by the main control unit 17 to turn on / off its operation, and detects the DTMF signal transmitted via the line LINE when the DTMF detection unit 13 is turned on by the main control unit 17. , And outputs the detection result to the main control unit 17.

As described above, the facsimile transmission / reception unit 14 is connected to the line LINE via the changeover switch 18 of the network control unit 11, operates under the control of the control unit 2, modulates and receives the transmission signal. A modem function for demodulating a signal is executed, and a facsimile control signal is exchanged with a facsimile apparatus to execute a facsimile communication procedure.

Tone detector (CNG signal detector) 15
Is connected to the line LINE and operates under the control of the main controller 17 to detect a tone signal such as a CNG signal transmitted via the line LINE. That is, the tone detector 15 is turned on / off by the main controller 17.
When the main control unit 17 is turned off and detects a tone signal such as a CNG signal transmitted via the line LINE, the detection result is output to the main control unit 17. When the tone detection unit 15 detects the CNG signal after the detection signal indicating that the ringing signal has been detected is input from the ringing detection unit 19, the main control unit 17 outputs a changeover signal for turning on the changeover switch 18 to the changeover switch 18
To start facsimile reception.

The RAM (storage means) 16 stores various kinds of information unique to the facsimile machine 10, various kinds of management information such as a destination telephone number, a name, and own telephone number and name. A predetermined permutation of symbols and numerical values created by the DTMF signal is stored. This DT
It is convenient to set the same sequence of symbols and numerical values formed by the MF signal as the password used for remote operation of the answering machine 20. Also, multiple passwords used for remote operation of the answering machine 20 can be registered. In such a case, it is convenient to register the same number of symbols or numerical values in the RAM 16 as the password, or the same number as the password, or a plurality of numbers smaller than the password.

The main control section (control means) 17 includes a CPU (Ce
ntral Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memor)
y), a random access memory (RAM), etc., and stores various programs such as a basic processing program of the facsimile machine 10 and an incoming call control processing program, which will be described later, and is necessary for executing these processing programs. Various data and system data are stored. The main control unit 17 determines that the CPU
Facsimile machine 1 using M as a work memory
0, and executes facsimile communication processing as well as incoming call control processing described later.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When there is ringing, the facsimile machine 10 automatically switches between the answering machine 20 and the facsimile machine 10 depending on the presence or absence of the CNG signal. The switching to the facsimile machine 10 is performed by a DTMF signal registered in the RAM 16 in advance. DTMF that matches the permutation of the symbol shown
When a signal is transmitted from the line LINE, facsimile reception is stopped.

That is, the facsimile machine 10 checks whether the main controller 17 has ringing from the line LINE, that is, whether a detection signal indicating that ringing has been detected is input from the ringing detector 19 (step S1). ), When ringing is detected, the tone detector 1
The operation of Step 5 is turned on to start the detection of the CNG signal (Step S2), and the CNG detection timer for setting the detection time for detecting the CNG signal is started (Step S3). Further, the main control unit 17 turns on the operation of the DTMF detection unit 13, starts detection of the DTMF signal (step S4), and first checks whether a CNG signal is detected (step S5).

When the CNG signal is not detected in step S5, the main control unit 17 stores (registers) in the RAM 16.
It is checked whether the DTMF detection unit 13 has detected a DTMF signal indicating a permutation of a symbol or a numerical value that matches the permutation of the symbol or the numerical value (step S6). If the DTMF signal is not detected, the CNG detection timer is activated. It is checked whether a timeout has occurred (step S7).

If no timeout occurs in step S7, the main control unit 17 returns to step S5 to execute CNG
The same processing as described above is performed from signal detection (steps S5 to S5).
Step S7). When the CNG signal is detected in step S5, the main control unit 17 determines that facsimile reception has been performed, turns on the changeover switch 18 of the network control unit 11, starts normal facsimile reception processing, and terminates the incoming call control processing. Is ended (step S8).

In step S5, without detecting a CNG signal, in step S6 a DTMF signal indicating a permutation of a symbol or a numerical value that matches the permutation of a symbol or a numerical value stored (registered) in the RAM 16 is sent to the DTMF detecting unit 13 Is detected, the main control unit 17 switches the changeover switch 18 of the network control unit 11.
The incoming call control process is terminated while keeping off. That is, the facsimile reception operation is stopped and the answering machine 2
0 reception operation is enabled.

In step S5, when the CNG detection timer times out without detecting the CNG signal and without detecting the coincident DTMF signal, the main control unit 17 terminates the incoming call control processing.

Therefore, when a short response message is recorded on the answering machine 20 or when one
Even if the sound near 100 Hz is mixed and the cadence of the CNG signal is destroyed, the answering machine 20
By sending the DTMF signal registered in M16 to the facsimile apparatus 10, that is, to the answering machine 20, facsimile reception is started by the message content recorded on the answering machine 20 or the CNG signal,
It is possible to prevent the user from being unable to listen to the contents of the answering machine thereafter, and it is possible to appropriately remotely control the answering machine 20 by using the DTMF signal. As a result, the automatic switching operation of the facsimile machine 10 in which the answering machine 20 is connected to the same line LINE can be made appropriate and the usability of the facsimile machine 10 can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the RAM
16 stores the permutation of symbols and numerical values created by the DTMF signal. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately determine the coincidence with the permutation of the symbols and numerical values indicated in the DTMF signal transmitted from the line LINE, and to perform a malfunction. And the remote operation of the answering machine 20 by the DTMF signal can be made possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the password for remotely operating the answering machine 20 is registered in the RAM 16 as a permutation of a plurality of symbols and numerical values indicated by the DTMF signal. By transmitting the password for the remote control when the remote control 20 is performed, the reception operation of the facsimile machine 10 can be stopped, and the usability can be further improved.

Also, in the above embodiment, a plurality of passwords for remotely controlling the answering machine 20
Since a plurality of symbols and numerical values created by the DTMF signal are stored in the AM 16 as permutations, the operator using each password inputs his / her own password to stop the facsimile receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus 10. And the usability can be improved.

Although the invention made by the present inventors has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

In the above embodiment, the DTM
A permutation composed of a plurality of symbols and numerical values is registered in the RAM 16 as symbols and numerical values formed by the F signal, and when a DTMF signal indicating a symbol or numerical value matching this permutation is received, the facsimile receiving operation is stopped. It is also possible to register only one symbol or numerical value in the RAM 16 and stop the facsimile receiving operation when a DTMF signal indicating the one symbol or numerical value is received.

In the above embodiment, the RAM
When a DTMF signal indicating a symbol or numerical value that matches the symbol or numerical value registered in 16 is received, the facsimile receiving operation is stopped. However, the present invention is not limited to the case where the facsimile receiving operation is stopped. The detection of the CNG signal may be stopped.

[0041]

According to the facsimile apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when a call signal is detected, the detection of the CNG signal by the CNG signal detection means is started, and the DTM is detected.
The detection of the DTMF signal by the F signal detection means is started,
When the DTMF signal detecting means detects a predetermined DTMF signal, the operation of the CNG signal detecting means is stopped, or
Since the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when a signal is detected, it is possible to prevent a problem in which the facsimile reception operation is switched to the facsimile reception operation during the remote control function operation of the answering machine using the DTMF signal. The reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile apparatus can be improved.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, during the automatic switching operation, the numerical value or symbol indicated by the first detected DTMF signal is compared with the numerical value or symbol registered in advance, and if they match, the CNG is determined. Since the signal detection is stopped or the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when the CNG signal is detected, it is necessary to appropriately prevent a failure to switch to the facsimile reception operation during the remote control function operation of the answering machine using the DTMF signal. And the reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile apparatus connected to the same line as the answering machine can be further improved.

According to the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect, during the automatic switching operation, the permutation of the numerical value or symbol indicated by the DTMF signal detected first and the permutation of the numerical value or symbol registered in advance are compared. If they match, CN
Since the facsimile reception operation is stopped even when the detection of the G signal is stopped or the CNG signal is detected, the problem of switching to the facsimile reception operation during the remote control function operation using the DTMF signal of the answering machine is more appropriately performed. Thus, the reliability of the switching operation of the facsimile machine connected to the same line as the answering machine can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part circuit block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an incoming call control process performed by the facsimile machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where an answering machine and a facsimile apparatus are connected to one conventional line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Facsimile apparatus 11 Network control part 12 Operation display part 13 DTMF detection part 14 FAX transmission / reception part 15 Tone detection part 16 RAM 17 Main control part 18 Changeover switch 19 Ringing detection part 20 Answering machine

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A call signal detecting means connected to the same line as a telephone, for detecting a call signal, and a C signal for detecting a CNG signal.
NG signal detection means and DTMF for detecting DTMF signal
A facsimile apparatus comprising: signal detection means; and a control means for starting a facsimile reception operation when the CNG signal detection means detects the CNG signal after the call signal detection means detects the call signal. When the call signal detecting means detects the call signal, the control means starts the detection of the CNG signal by the CNG signal detecting means, and starts the detection of the DTMF signal by the DTMF signal detecting means.
When the MF signal detecting means detects the predetermined DTMF signal, the operation of the CNG signal detecting means is stopped, or the facsimile receiving operation is stopped even if the CNG signal detecting means detects the CNG signal. Facsimile machine. 2. The facsimile apparatus further comprises storage means for storing a specific numerical value or symbol created by the DTMF signal, and the control means comprises: the DTMF signal detected first by the DTMF signal detection means. Is compared with the numerical value or symbol stored in the storage means, and when the two numerical values or symbols match, the operation of the CNG signal detecting means is stopped or the CNG signal detecting means 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile receiving operation is stopped even when a CNG signal is detected. 3. The storage means stores a predetermined numerical value or symbol permutation created by the DTMF signal, and the control means stores a numerical value or a value indicated by the DTMF signal detected first by the DTMF signal detecting means. Comparing the permutation of symbols and the permutation of the numerical values or symbols stored in the storage means, if the permutations of both numerical values or symbols match,
Stopping the operation of the CNG signal detecting means,
2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile receiving operation is stopped even when the NG signal detecting means detects the CNG signal.