JPS63139465A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately measure a line connecting time independent of the operation state of a communication equipment by storing an information regarding a line-releasing time in a memory means at the time of releasing the line. CONSTITUTION:If a telephone set is hooked on at the time of ending a transmission, the line is released at the time of changing a connecting point cml to a telephone TL-side. If the telephone TL is hooked off at the time of ending the transmission, a subcontrol part 6 receives an instruction to wait, and turns a main power source 7 off, thereafter, stores the time of releasing in a releasing time memory, then turns the main power source 7 on, and further, displays a capturing time (caturing time of facsimile+a time which is kept in off-hooked state by a user) and its charge, then returns to a stand-by state. This means that, even if the telephone is in hooked off state at the end of transmission, an accurate line capturing time and its charge can be obtained at the time of hooking on the telephone.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field: The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device that measures communication time.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, there have been facsimile machines that have functions such as measuring the communication time of a facsimile, calculating and displaying the charge based on the time, or printing it out on recording paper. In such devices, it is necessary to accurately measure line acquisition time in order to know accurate charges. .

However, conventional devices generally measure only the time that the facsimile device is seizing the line, and in such devices, when the communication ends, the user disconnects the telephone connected to the facsimile device. If the facsimile machine switches the line from the modem side to the telephone side, the line remains captured by the telephone, and charges are calculated based on the time until the end of the communication, even though billing continues. Therefore, there was a problem that the actual line usage fee and the fee displayed by the facsimile machine were not the same.

Therefore, a detector is installed to check whether the line is captured, and if it is off-hook at the end of the communication, it continues to measure time.
A configuration was devised that would calculate and display the time and charges when the line was released.

However, with this configuration, when the telephone is off-hook and the line is captured after the end of a communication, the control unit operates simply to measure time, consuming wasted power.

Also, even with the above configuration, if the control unit is busy when the telephone is on-hook, for example during copying, it measures the accurate line capture time to detect line release after the busy status is released. I couldn't do that.

<Object of the Invention> An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional example and provide a communication device capable of accurately measuring line acquisition time.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an NCU (network control unit).
A modem (modulator/demodulator) that modulates and demodulates signals sent and received over the line.
2 and the attached telephone T1.

This NCUI has a built-in circuit that detects the DC polarity of the line, and its output is connected to the main control section 3 and the sub-control section 6. Connected to the modem 2 is a main control section 3 composed of a microcomputer that performs overall control and encodes/decodes image data.

Connected to the main control section 3 are a recording section 4 composed of a thermal recording device or the like for recording received images, and a reading section 5 composed of a CCD sensor or the like for reading transmitted images. Reference numeral 6 denotes a sub-control unit to which the operating unit 9, the clock, and the output of the polarity detection circuit are connected.

7 is a main power supply for supplying power to the modem 2, main control section 3, recording section 4, and reading section 5, and is set to 0N10FF under control from the sub-control section. A standby power supply 8 constantly supplies power to the sub-control unit 6 and the NCUI.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation section where an operator controls the FAX machine. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the operating section. In the center is a numeric keypad TK mainly for entering numerical values, and to the right of it is a one-touch call key DK, with space reserved for pasting a sticker with the recipient's name written on it. In addition, function keys FK and set keys S used for registration operations
K, has a clear key CK and a liquid crystal display DY for confirming operations.

10 is a non-volatile memory that stores the destination telephone number corresponding to the one-touch call key DK and the line acquisition start time. This memory 10 retains its stored contents even when the main power is off.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the NCU of this embodiment.

A line is connected between Lb and -L2, and a telephone is connected between TI and T2. When not communicating, contact cml is Tl.

It is on the T2 side, and at this time, when the telephone is off-hook and captures the line, the photocoupler PC
Current flows to either I or PO2, POLARITY
Either O or 1 becomes L level. This allows the facsimile device to detect whether or not the line is captured by the telephone. Contact cmI during communication! is switched to the modem side, and if contact p is turned on, coil R
A direct current flows through the ET and captures the line. At this time, the voice band signal passes through the capacitor C and is transmitted to the modem 2 (FIG. 1) via the transformer T. Alternatively, the voice band signal from modem 2 passes through transformer T and capacitor C and is output to the line. During communication or when the line is captured by the telephone, the photocouplers PCI and PO
A direct current flows through either of POLARrTYO and 1, and either of POLARrTYO and 1 becomes L level. This allows the FAX machine to detect the polarity of the line. By connecting and disconnecting contact p with contact cml connected to the modem side, an outpulse selection signal can be output to the exchange.

In the above configuration, when first connecting the facsimile device to the line, the terminal L1 is connected to the negative polarity side and the terminal L2 is connected to the positive polarity side. Additionally, the user memorizes the destination telephone number corresponding to each one-touch transmission key from the operation panel.

Next, the transmission operation will be explained according to the operation flowchart of the sub-control section shown in FIG. 4 and the operation flowchart of the main control section shown in FIG.

First, in the standby state, the main power supply 7 is OFF, so the main control section 3 is not operating. The sub-control unit 6 includes Sl, S2. It is running in the loop of S3. Here, when the user sets the document on the facsimile machine and presses the one-touch transmission key DK, the sub-control unit 6 detects this and proceeds to 84 from Sl.
Since the main power supply 7 is OFF, proceed to 85 and turn the main power supply 7 off.
Do N. When the main power supply 7 is turned on, the main control section 3 starts operating, receives a key code indicating the one-touch transmission key DK from the sub-control section 6 at S31 in FIG. 5', and proceeds to S36.

At this time, the sub-control unit 6 instructs the main control unit 3 the key code of the one-touch transmission key DK in S6, and proceeds to 82, where the previous 8
Repeat the loop from 1 to S3. When the main control unit 3 analyzes the key code in S36 and finds that it is the one-touch transmission key DK, it proceeds to S339. Here, the destination telephone number corresponding to the one-touch transmission key DK is taken out from the non-volatile memory IO, and in S40, the contact cml is switched from the telephone TL side to the modem side, and the pulse relay contact P is set to 0N10FF to send the out-pulse method selection signal to the line. put out. Or from the modem side
TMF (Dual Tone Mu 1 tipr
The system sends a selection signal to the line (makes a call). Next, in S41 POLARITYO and POLARI
Monitor TYl, and when the polarity is reversed, proceed to S42 and proceed to S4.
In step 2, a line open monitoring command is issued to the sub-control unit. At this time,
When the sub-control unit 6 receives the command from the main control unit 3, the process proceeds from 83 to S12, and since the command is neither a line release time request nor a current time request nor a display request command, the sub-control unit 6 proceeds from S12 to S14.
The process advances to S16.318, and from 318 to S19. Here, set the line release monitoring flag to monitor whether the line has been released or not. Next, return to Sl.
, S2. S7. Repeat the loop of S3.

The main control section 3 then issues a current time request command to the sub-control section 6 in step 343. Upon receiving this, the sub-control unit 6 performs steps S3 to S12.
．． The process advances to S14, and since this is a current time request command, the process advances to 315, where the time is read from the clock and this time data is passed to the main control unit 3. And again Sl, S2゜S7. Return to the loop of S3. When the main control unit 3 receives this time data, it stores this data in the line acquisition time memory in the nonvolatile memory 10 at 344 . Then, in S45, the original is transmitted, and in 846, the relay contact cml is turned off to return the line from the modem side to the telephone TL side.

Next, the process advances to step 533, and the subsequent operations will be explained in two cases.

(A) If the telephone is on-hook at the end of transmission (B)
) If the telephone is off-hook at the end of transmission (case A) If the telephone is on-hook at the end of transmission, the contact cmj! The line is opened when the telephone is switched to the TL side.

At this time, the sub-control unit 6 controls Sl, S2. S7. As the loop of S3 is repeated, the line is released, so the process proceeds from 87 to 88. Then, a line release flag is set to notify the main control unit 3 of the line release, and the line release monitoring flag is reset so that no line release monitoring will be performed from now on. Next 8
At step 9, the time is read from the clock and this time data is stored in the open time memory in the sub-control unit 6. Next, since the main power supply 7 is in the ON state at SIO, the process advances to 83. Since line release monitoring will not be performed after this, St, S2. Repeat the loop of S3.

The main control unit 3 switches the contact cmj? in S46. After switching the S
At step 33, it is checked whether or not the line release flag of the sub-control unit 6 is set. In this case, since it is set as described above, the process advances to step S47. Next, in S48, a line release time request command is issued to the sub-control unit 6.

- When the sub-control unit 6 receives this command, it performs S3. S12.
Proceeding to S13, the line release time is retrieved from the release time memory and passed to the main control unit 3. and St, S2. S3
Return to the loop.

When the main control unit 3 receives the release time from the sub-control unit 6 at S° 47, it reads out the line acquisition time stored in S44 from the non-volatile memory lO at 348, calculates the difference between these two times at S49, and acquires the line. ask for time.

Next, in 350, the telephone line usage fee (charge) is calculated from the line acquisition time, in S51, data to be passed to the sub-control unit to display the acquisition time and charge is created, and in S52, this data is sent to the sub-control unit. Send it and display it. Next, in step 353, an instruction to clear the line release flag is issued to the sub-control unit.

Next, in S53, since the line release flag of the sub-control unit has been reset in S53, the process advances to S34, and in S34, a standby command is issued to the sub-control unit.

When the sub-control unit receives the standby command, it changes from 83 to 512.514.
゜S16. S18. S20 and S21 Turn off the main power supply 7 and switch to SL, S2. Return to the loop of S3.

As described above, if the telephone is on-hook at the end of the transmission, the acquisition time and charge will be displayed immediately after the transmission ends.

(In the case of B) If the telephone TL is off-hook at the end of transmission, S46
When the contact cml is switched to the telephone TL side, the line remains captured. Therefore, the process advances from the facsimile communication mode to the telephone call mode.

Therefore, in step 333, the line release flag of the sub-control unit 6 is not set, and the process proceeds to S32, in which a standby command is issued to the sub-control unit 6, and the process waits for the main power supply 7 to be turned off in S35.

The sub-control unit 6 includes SL, S2. S7. The loop in S3 is repeated, but when a standby command is received, S3. S12°S14. S16. S18. Proceeding to S20, the main power supply 7 is turned off at 521. Hereafter SL, S2. S7. S3
The process continues through the loop 87 and proceeds to 88 when the user puts the telephone TL on hook. Here, the line release flag is set, the line release monitoring flag is reset, and the line will no longer be monitored. Next, at step 89, the time is read from the clock and stored in the open time memory, and at step S10, since the main power supply 7 is OFF, the main power supply 7 is turned on at Sll.
From now on, S3. Repeat Sl, S2 loop.

When the main power supply 7 is turned on, the main control unit 3 proceeds to 831, and since there is no key code, proceeds to 332. Since the line release flag of the sub-control unit is set, the process goes from 332 to 347, displays the acquisition time (facsimile acquisition time + time the user was off-hook) and the charge as in case A, and goes to standby. return. In other words, even if you are off-hook at the end of transmission, you can obtain accurate line acquisition time and charges up to that point when you go on-hook.

Furthermore, in case B, even when the main control unit is busy, such as during one-touch destination registration or copying when on-hook, accurate line acquisition time and charges can be obtained.

Let's explain its operation.

When the communication is off-hook after the end of communication, the main power supply 7 is turned OFF, and the sub-control unit 6 is turned OFF, as explained in the example B.
, 52. S7. Going around the S3 loop and waiting for the phone to go on hook.

In this state, for example, when the user presses the function key to register a one-touch destination, the sub-control unit 6
From there, the process advances to 84, and since the main power source 7 is in the OFF state, the main power source 7 is turned on in 85, the key code of the function key is notified to the main control unit 3 in S6, and the process goes to Sl again.

S2. S7. Return to the loop of S3.

The main control unit 3 receives the key code of the function key from the sub-control unit in step 531 and receives the key code of the function key in step S36. The process advances to S37, and since the key code is not a one-touch key, the process advances to 538. 33
When the user goes on-hook while performing the registration operation in step 8, the sub-control unit 6 performs the steps from step 7 to step 8 in the same way as in the previous example. S9
．． Proceed with SIO, SL, S2. Repeat the loop of S3.

When the main control unit 3 completes the registration operation of 338, it goes to S33, and since the line release flag is set, it goes to S47, and goes to S48. S49. S50. S51.552.
Proceeding to S53, the line release flag is not set in S33, so 834. The process advances to S35 and enters a standby state.

As mentioned above, when the line is released, the sub-control unit memorizes the time, and the main control unit receives this time from the sub-control unit after the current processing is completed and calculates the line acquisition time. No matter when the telephone goes on-hook, accurate line acquisition time can be obtained, and therefore accurate charges can be obtained.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, when a line is connected, the main control unit issues a command to the sub-control unit to start monitoring the line release, and at the same time, the line capture information is stored in the non-volatile memory. .

After that, the sub-control unit monitors the line release, and when it detects the line release, it stores the time in the sub-control unit, sets a flag to notify the main control unit of the line release, and turns off the main power.
If so, turn on the main power. The main control unit checks the flag indicating line release when the main power is turned on or at the end of some operation, receives the time from the sub control unit if the line is released, and stores it in the nonvolatile memory within the main control unit. The line acquisition time is calculated by comparing it with the set line acquisition time, and the fee is calculated based on this time.

With the above configuration, even if the telephone is off-hook at the end of the operation, and even when it is on-hook at any timing, it is possible to accurately measure the line acquisition time, and therefore more accurate charge calculation is possible. Also, while the line is captured by the telephone, only the sub-control unit is operating.
Although this embodiment has been described using a facsimile machine as an example of wasteful power, it is also applicable to other communication devices that perform telephone calls, such as teletex devices, telephones, etc.

<Effects> As described above, in the present invention, even if the control means performs a predetermined operation when the line is opened, the information regarding the release time is stored in the storage means, so that the information can be accurately maintained regardless of the operating state of the communication device. You can measure line connection time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the NCU shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an external view of the operation section, and Fig. 4 is a control of the sub-control section shown in Fig. 1. Flowchart FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the main control section of FIG. 1. In the figure, 1 is the NCU, 2 is the modem, 3 is the main control unit, and 4
is the recording section, 5 is the reading section, 6 is the sub-control section, 7 is the main power supply, 8
is a standby power supply, 9 is an operation unit, 10 is a non-volatile memory,
L is a telephone line, TL is a telephone, Pct and PC2 are photocouplers, emu is a CML relay contact, p is a pulse relay contact, C is a capacitor, T is a transformer, and RET is a coil.

Claims (1)

[Claims] After the line is connected, it consists of a monitoring means for monitoring whether or not the line has been opened, a storage means for storing information regarding the time when the line was opened when it is detected that the line has been opened, and a control means for controlling the device, and the control means performs predetermined operations. A communication device, characterized in that it receives the information in the storage means after completion of the communication.