JPS63250271A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain information to lower the cost of transmission by automatically totalling the change for call every transmission destination so as to administer and outputting the report of the charge for call in which the data is rearranged in order of the one whose charge for call is expensive. CONSTITUTION:When the information indicating the output request of the table of the charge for call is inputted from a keyboard 1, a control part 13 rearranges the data of the charge for call to which destination information is added, previously stored in a total call charge memory 8, in order (ascending) of the one whose charge for call (total sum) is expensive in order to read out the data from the above-mentioned total call charge memory 8. And the control part 13 prepares the table of the charge for call (ascending call charge table) based on the data of ascending call charge read out from the memory and outputs it from an image printer 9. Thus, the use circumstances of a facsimile device can be accurately grasped with half an eye and the lowering step, etc., for the transmission cost, for instance, to the transmission destination, the charge for call to which is expensive, can be devised when necessity.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention provides a facsimile machine that automatically manages cumulative call charges for each destination, thereby providing information necessary to reduce transmission costs. Regarding.

2. Description of the Related Art Some conventional facsimile machines have a function of outputting a communication management report indicating the date, time, communication time, etc. for each document sent and received.

However, the communication management report does not record the cumulative call charges for each destination.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention For this reason, in this type of conventional facsimile machine, the operator must calculate the call charge for each destination and calculate the cumulative call charge for each destination. Accurately knowing the usage status of a device requires a tremendous amount of effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and automatically manages the cumulative call charges for each destination, and outputs a call charge report sorted in descending order of call charges, thereby improving usage status. To provide a facsimile device capable of storing information for lowering transmission costs, such as by knowing information on communication costs and transmitting information to destinations with high call charges during time slots where call charges are low.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention accumulates call charges calculated for each destination, sorts the accumulated call charges in descending order of charges, and transmits to this destination. Destination information corresponding to the destination is added and output (printed out).

Effects The present invention has the following effects due to the above-described configuration.

That is, according to the facsimile device of the present invention, the call charges accumulated for each destination are sorted in ascending order of charges, and furthermore, the call charges are sorted in ascending order of charges, and furthermore, the facsimile apparatus also includes the destination information, telephone number, company name, etc.
You can get a call charge report with your name added.

Therefore, by visually checking the call charge report (information for reducing transmission costs), it is possible to know the usage status of the facsimile machine. For example, for destinations with high cumulative call charges, This makes it possible to take measures to reduce transmission costs, such as transmitting during low-cost times.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine that is an embodiment of the present invention. To enter information necessary for so-called fee calculations, such as available communication time for unit rates (number of seconds of calls for unit rates per area code) and destination information such as phone number, name, company name, etc. for each destination. keyboard, 2 is a memory that stores destination information (telephone number, name, company name, etc.) entered from keyboard 1.
(hereinafter referred to as destination information memory), 3 is a memory for storing the call unit price and charge for each area code entered from keyboard 1 (hereinafter referred to as unit price and charge memory), 4 is telephone network communication time entered from keyboard 1 Memory for storing the time zone (hereinafter referred to as communication time zone memory), 5 is the keyboard 1
A memory (hereinafter referred to as available communication time memory) for storing the available communication time per unit price for each communication time zone for each destination inputted from the keyboard 1, and a display 6 for displaying the information necessary for the charge calculation inputted from the keyboard 1. , 7 is a memory for storing the sending telephone number (including area code), 1 communication start time, and call time (this call time is counted by a call time counting means for each send destination) for each destination at the time of sending (hereinafter referred to as , call time, etc.), and 8 is a memory for storing data obtained by adding destination information from the destination information memory 2 to call charges for each destination (including accumulated call charges) (hereinafter referred to as cumulative call charge memory). , 9 is an image printer that outputs (prints out) ascending order call charge data (ascending call charge table) created by sorting the data in the cumulative communication charge memory 8 in descending order of call charges; 10 is an image printer for facsimile signal transmission; A modem, 11 a network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) that controls connection with a communication network, 12 a telephone line, and 13 a control unit that controls the entire device.

Regarding the facsimile machine configured as described above, first, the operation related to charge calculation will be explained according to the flow chart shown in FIG. explain. In addition, in Figures 2 and 3, ST
I~5T15, 5T16~5T21 show each step of the flowchart.

In FIG. 2, at the end of transmission, the control unit 13 extracts information such as the sending telephone number, communication start time, and call duration.
T1), and stores these information such as call time in the memory 7 (S T2).

Next, in ST3, the control unit 13 searches for a telephone network communication time period. Here, the telephone network communication time zone (normal time start time and its end time, hidden time zone start time and its end time, late night time zone start time and end time, etc.) is input using the keyboard 1 ( ST8) and is stored in the communication time zone memory 4 (ST9).

Next, in ST4, the control unit 13 searches the available communication time per unit price for each communication time zone for each destination. Here, the available communication time for each communication time zone and unit price for each destination is inputted from the keyboard 1 (ST10), and is stored in the available communication time memory 5 (STII).

Next, in ST5, the control unit 13 calculates the call charge for each transmission destination from the searched available communication time per unit price, the call time stored in the memory 7 such as the call time, and the call unit charge. Here, the call unit charge (for each area code) is entered on the keyboard 1 (ST12),
The unit price is stored in the charge memory 3 (ST13).

Next, in Si2, the control unit 13 adds up the call charges for each transmission destination.

Then, in Si7, the control unit 13 adds destination information to the accumulated call charges for each transmission destination, and stores the call charge data to which the destination information has been added in the cumulative call charge memory 8. . Here, the destination information is input through the keyboard 1 (ST14) and stored in the destination information memory 2.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, first, the output operation of the call charge list will be explained.

At 5T16, the user inputs information on the keyboard 1 to request the output of the call charge list. Then, the control unit 13 senses this and stores the total call charge memory 8 in advance.
The call charge data to which destination information has been added is sorted in descending order (ascending order) of call charges (total amount) (ST17).
), the cumulative call charge memory 8 is read out (ST18
).

However, at 5T19, the control unit 13 creates a call charge table (ascending call charge table) based on the read ascending order call charge data, and outputs this to the image printer 9.

When the operator visually checks the ascending call charge list printed out in this way, he can see that the accumulated call charges for each destination are arranged in descending order of charges, and that destination information has been added. The usage status of the facsimile device can be accurately grasped at a glance, and measures can be taken, for example, to reduce transmission costs for destinations with high call charges, as necessary.

Finally, the operation of resetting the call charges (including the accumulated call charges) will be explained.

When resetting the call charge, the user inputs instruction information to reset the call charge using the keyboard 1 at 5T20 in FIG. Then, the control section 13 senses this and resets (deletes) all the data in the cumulative call charge memory 8 (ST21).

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the embodiments described above, the present invention includes means for accumulating call charges calculated for each destination for each destination, and adding destination information corresponding to the destination to the accumulated call charges; It is equipped with a means for sorting and printing out the accumulated call charges with destination information added, in descending order of charges, so that, for example, it is possible to see which destination the highest call charges are being paid to. , the usage status of the facsimile machine can be clearly and accurately grasped, and if necessary, a call charge report can be obtained that is useful for taking measures to reduce transmission costs.

According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly and accurately know the usage status of a facsimile machine without requiring the conventional operator to put in a lot of effort to accumulate call charges for each destination. can.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile machine that is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation related to charge calculation, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining operations related to reset. 1...Keyboard, 2...Destination information memory, 3...
・Unit price charge memory, 4...Communication time zone memory, 5...
・Communication time memory, 6...Display, 7...
・Memory for call time, etc. 8... Cumulative call charge memo 1 ha
9...Image printer. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and one other person? s
Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] A means for accumulating call charges calculated for each destination, and adding destination information corresponding to the destination to the accumulated call charges; A facsimile device characterized by comprising means for sorting in descending order and printing out the sorted information.