JPH11331467A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly cope with a generated error by recognizing it in voice in an external device relating to a facsimile equipment connectable to a PC or the like. SOLUTION: This facsimile equipment 10 connectable to a PC 20 through a PC I/F 13 is provided with a memory 14 (voice code storage area 14a) for storing the voice code of an error message corresponding to the kind of a generated error and a main control part 11 for recognizing the generated error, reading the corresponding voice code from the memory 14, transferring it to the PC 20 and voice-outputting it from a speaker 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus which can be connected to an external device such as a PC.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus connected to a communication line for performing facsimile communication with a destination and transmitting / receiving (transmitting) image data read from a document has been known. As the amount of information increases, it has become more popular and improved convenience has been demanded.

In this type of facsimile apparatus, when an error such as communication failure, paper jam, running out of toner, running out of recording paper, etc. occurs, the error is output to a display unit such as an LCD or a buzzer sound is output. By notifying the user in advance, it is possible to take prompt action. In addition, JP-A-6-164882 discloses that
A facsimile apparatus is described in which an error situation is notified to a service center by a predetermined help operation, and a returned treatment method is recorded and output, thereby facilitating the coping.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, it cannot be known that an error has occurred unless the user goes to the installation location of the facsimile apparatus, and the contents of the error can be viewed in the display section. I didn't know. For this reason, it becomes impossible to transmit and receive without knowing, and even though it is necessary data immediately, it is not transmitted to the other party in memory or received from the other party. There was sometimes.

[0005] Further, the output of the error occurrence does not greatly differ regardless of the content and frequency of occurrence, so that the urgency and necessity of the countermeasure cannot be recognized, and the countermeasure may be delayed. Was. For example, a situation where memory reception is not possible may continue. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable an error occurring in an external device used by a user to be recognized by voice so that the error can be quickly dealt with, and the urgency and necessity of the solution can be easily recognized. The purpose is to be.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for recognizing an error that has occurred and notifying the occurrence of the error, wherein the external apparatus includes voice output means. A connecting means for connecting, a storing means for storing a voice code of a voice message corresponding to the type of error, and a voice code corresponding to the type of error recognized at the time of the error being read from the storing means and connected to the external device so that voice can be output; And notification control means for sending the notification to the external device via the means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the storage means stores the voice code so that the importance of the type of error can be identified, and the notification control means has It is characterized in that the importance of the voice code read from the storage means is identified, and the voice code is transmitted to an external device so as to output a voice at a volume corresponding to the importance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided storage means for counting and storing the frequency of occurrence of the recognized error for each type, and the notification control means comprises a storage means. The information according to the frequency of error occurrence corresponding to the voice code read from the device is added to the voice code and transmitted to an external device. In the inventions according to claims 1 to 3, when an error occurs, the type is recognized and the corresponding voice code is read,
For example, when the external device can output a voice code as a voice, the voice code is transmitted to the external device as it is, or when the external device can output a voice signal, the voice code is converted into a voice signal and then transmitted to the external device. Therefore, a voice message corresponding to the type of the error is output as voice by the external device, and the user can be notified of the error that has occurred.

At this time, the voice message is output from the external device as a voice at a volume corresponding to the importance of the type of error (the invention according to claim 2), so that the user can obtain the importance of the generated error, for example, Urgency can be easily grasped. In addition, information according to the frequency of occurrence of the error, for example, the number of occurrences is output as an audio message together with a voice message on an external device, or information indicating a volume according to the frequency of occurrence is transmitted to the external device and the voice message is output as a voice By doing so (the invention according to claim 3), the user can grasp the necessity of coping in accordance with the frequency of occurrence of the error.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. This facsimile apparatus is configured to be usable as a system to which a PC is externally connected.

Referring to FIG. 1, a facsimile apparatus 10 includes a display LCD, an LED, and operation keys, displays an operation state of the apparatus main body, and performs various operations by an operator. Reading unit, a printing unit that transfers and fixes toner to recording paper based on received image data and read image data, and records and outputs images, and a telephone that connects by modulating and demodulating image data to be transmitted and various procedural signals A communication unit that performs facsimile communication via a line, and an image memory that temporarily stores image data to be transmitted and received image data are provided.The main control unit 11 controls the various units as a facsimile device. Function. Since the basic configuration of the facsimile machine 10 is a known one, further description will be omitted.

The facsimile machine 10 includes a PCI / F (connection means) 13 for connecting the PC 20 as an external device via a communication cable, and receives a document or an image created in the PC 20 to perform facsimile transmission or facsimile transmission. The received image data can be sent to the PC 20. The PC 20 can perform various processes such as creation of a document or an image by the main control unit 21 performing arithmetic processing or the like in accordance with an application program, and perform facsimile communication via a facsimile device connected to the FAX I / F 23. It is also possible to output a voice from a speaker 22 provided by converting a voice code.

The facsimile apparatus 10 stores in advance a character code of an error message such as an error content (error type) for an error (type) expected to occur and an error canceling method in a memory (storage means) 14 built in the main control unit 11. When the main control unit 11 receives a detection signal from a group of error detection sensors 12 provided in each unit, the main control unit 11 reads out the error message from the memory 14 and reads out the error message from the memory 14 such as an LCD display of the operation display unit. And notify the user. For example, when the facsimile apparatus 10 detects a communication error in the communication unit, a jam of the conveyed document in the reading unit, or a running out of toner or a running out of recording paper in the printing unit, the content of the error and a canceling method are displayed on the operation display unit. Display output is possible. Therefore, the user can confirm the error message and perform an appropriate error clearing operation.

The facsimile machine 10 includes a main controller 11
In the memory 14, a voice code storage area (storing means) 14a for storing the voice code of the error message in association with the character code of the error message, and whether or not it is necessary to promptly clear the error and repair to the manufacturer Error level storage area 14b for storing the level of urgency (importance) of handling such as the necessity of a serviceman call for requesting an error, and incrementing (counting) a counter for each type of error that has occurred and for each type of error An error frequency storage area (storage means) 14c for storing the frequency of occurrence of an error, and a volume adjustment storage area 14d for storing a command for specifying a volume for outputting a voice code in accordance with the urgency of the response are prepared. In the voice code storage area 14a, the voice code of the voice message of the number of times of error occurrence is also stored. Then, the main control unit 11 (notification control unit) selects an error message in the memory 14 corresponding to the detection signal received from the error detection sensor 12 of each unit (recognizes the type of the error), and from the memory 14 At the same time as outputting the character code of the read error message on the display LCD of the operation display unit, the voice code of the error message associated with the error code in the voice code storage area 14a is stored in the error level storage area 14b. (Urgency) and information corresponding to the frequency of occurrence in the error frequency storage area 14c.
It is sent (transferred) to C20.

Specifically, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the main control unit 11 receives a detection signal from the error detection sensor 12 (step P1), the main control unit 11 determines the type of the error,
That is, while recognizing the error message (step P2), the count number n corresponding to the error message in the error frequency storage area 14c is incremented and it is confirmed whether or not the count value has exceeded a predetermined value (step P2).
3, P4). If the error occurrence frequency does not exceed the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step P6. If the error occurrence frequency exceeds the predetermined value, the voice code of the voice message for notifying the count number n as the number of error occurrences is stored in the voice code storage area 14a. At the same time as the selective reading and temporary storage (step P5), the voice code corresponding to the recognized error message is selectively read from the voice code storage area 14a and temporarily stored (step P6), and then the error corresponding to the error message is detected. The error level in the level storage area 14b is confirmed (step P7), a command for designating a volume corresponding to the error level is selected (step P8), and data is transferred to the PC 20 together with the temporarily stored voice code (step P9). ). For this reason, the P
C20 converts the voice code into voice according to the attached command and outputs the voice from speaker 22 (step P10).

Therefore, when any error occurs in the facsimile machine 10, an error message such as the content of the error and the error canceling method is transmitted to the PC 20 operated by the user in accordance with the urgency of the action according to the type of the error. When the frequency of occurrence is high, a voice is output together with the number of times of error occurrence, and the user can be notified of the error occurrence.

As described above, in this embodiment, the occurrence of an error in the facsimile machine 10 can be determined by the urgency and necessity without going to the place where the work is continued while the work is continued on the PC 20 which is separated from the facsimile machine 10. Can be notified to the user so as to be grasped. Therefore, a state in which an error occurs and facsimile transmission and reception cannot be performed is not left unnecessarily, and the state can be appropriately restored. For example, a serviceman call can be performed promptly when an uncommunicable communication error occurs, and when toner or recording paper runs out, image data can be received in memory and replenished as needed. . Further, if the conveyed document is repeatedly clogged, it is also possible to request an inspection of the automatic document conveyance mechanism by a serviceman call or to judge the time for replacing the consumables. As a result, the convenience of the facsimile apparatus can be improved.

In this embodiment, the PC 20 of the external device is used.
Since voice is output using the speaker 22 provided in the facsimile machine, the cost of the facsimile machine 10 does not increase.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a voice message corresponding to an error that has occurred can be output as voice by an external device, so that a user working on the external device can receive an error without going to the installation location of the facsimile machine. Can be notified of the occurrence of the error,
It can be restored properly.

At this time, the user can output a voice message by an external device at a volume corresponding to the importance and the frequency of occurrence of the error, or output the number of occurrences by the external device, so that the user can deal with the urgency of the coping and the necessity of the necessity. The recovery work can be performed according to the nature of the apparatus, and the recovery work can be performed at an appropriate timing according to the state of the apparatus or the convenience of the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, and is a block diagram illustrating a schematic overall configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Facsimile apparatus 11 Main control unit (notification control means) 13 PCI / F (connection means) 14 Memory (storage means) 14a Voice code storage area (storage means) 14b Error level storage area 14c Error frequency storage area (storage means) 14d Volume control storage area 20 PC (external device)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus for recognizing an error that has occurred and notifying the occurrence of the error, comprising a connecting means for connecting an external device having a voice output means, and a voice code of a voice message corresponding to the type of the error. Storage means for
A facsimile apparatus comprising: a notification control unit that reads out, from a storage unit, a voice code corresponding to the type of an error recognized when an error has occurred, and sends the voice code to an external device via a connection unit so that the external device can output a voice. . 2. The storage means stores the audio code so that the importance of the type of error can be identified. The notification control means identifies the importance of the audio code read from the storage means, and determines the volume according to the importance. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice code is transmitted to an external device so that the voice code is output. 3. A storage means for counting and storing the frequency of occurrence of a recognized error for each type, wherein said notification control means stores information corresponding to the frequency of error occurrence corresponding to the voice code read from the storage means in the voice code. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile is additionally transmitted to an external device.