WO1996001017A1

WO1996001017A1 - Electronic mail network, transmitting method, and receiver

Info

Publication number: WO1996001017A1
Application number: PCT/JP1995/001288
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ryosuke Ito; Katsumi Matsumura; Takanobu Yamazi
Original assignee: Gaio Technology Co., Ltd.; Totsu-Soken Corporation
Priority date: 1994-06-29
Filing date: 1995-06-28
Publication date: 1996-01-11
Also published as: JPH0818689A

Abstract

A wide-area electronic mail network constituted of an information center (2) and a plurality of telephone sets, etc., (T, F, 22) connected to the center (2) through public telephone lines (1). When a detection circuit (23) detects a multiple-frequency signal from the center (2), the corresponding public telephone line (1) is disconnected from the telephone sets, etc., (T and F) by means of switching circuits (33 and 27) and connected to a MODEM (26) in a mail receiver (22). When the identification number returned from the mail receiver (22) coincides with a prestored number, the center (2) transmits useful data added with a classifying signal representing the class of the document to the receiver (22). The receiver (22) stores the useful data in a memory (28), and, at the same time, controls the output of the useful data to a printer (29) according to the classifying signal.

Description

Akira Itoda Electronic mail communication network, transmission method and its receiving device

[Technical field]

The present invention relates to an electronic mail system for constructing multi-media, and more particularly, to an electronic mail communication network for delivering document data, a transmission method, and a receiving apparatus therefor.

[Background technology]

Today, facsimile as well as telephone are widely used in offices and public facilities. It is also gradually spreading to ordinary homes and private homes.

Telephones are great for communicating intentions and situations with human voice, while facsimile is perfect for accurately conveying letters, numbers and images.

A conventional facsimile has high versatility and can perform transmission and reception and two-way communication. Due to its versatility, its external dimensions are large, and its bi-directional nature limits its price. It is still difficult to spread the cost to individuals, and the cost price barrier cannot be overcome. Also, if the wrong facsimile number was used at the time of transmission, the message would be sent to an unintended location at all times, resulting in erroneous delivery and inconvenience to both self and others. The reliability of the distribution was low and the prevention of confidential leakage was not sufficient.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, the present invention makes paper size uniform, makes it easy to introduce it to private homes at low cost, enables automatic reception, maintains confidentiality, and distributes It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable electronic mail communication network, a transmission method, and a receiving device therefor.

[Disclosure of the Invention]

The invention of the present application provides an information center comprising a transmitting unit, a data file storing useful data corresponding to a telephone number, and a central processing unit for controlling the data file; A wide-area electronic mail service consisting of multiple customer telephones and facsimiles connected by a call from the transmitter In the transmission network,

In the information center, a generator for generating a multi-frequency signal is provided in the transmission unit, and a unique identification number paired with each telephone number and a distinction signal indicating document distinction are stored in the data file, respectively. And a comparator that compares the identification number returned from the telephone set and outputs a match signal.

On the customer's telephone side, a first detection circuit that detects a call signal from a public line a predetermined number of times and generates a carry signal, a second detection circuit that detects a multi-frequency signal and outputs a detection signal, A storage circuit for storing the same number as the identification number; a memory for storing the useful data received from the transmission unit; a printer for printing the data; and a carry signal of the first detection circuit or a second detection circuit. A first switching circuit that connects the public line to the memory by a detection signal, a second switching circuit that disconnects the telephone and the facsimile from the public line by a detection signal of the second detection circuit, and an identification number from the storage circuit to the public line A receiving device consisting of another central processing unit that transmits a signal and outputs a command to prohibit printing to a printer in accordance with the discrimination signal received from the public line, and It provided in addition to the Shimiri.

A call is made from the information center to the telephone set of the customer's telephone number via the public line, the call signal is received by the telephone set, a predetermined multi-frequency signal is transmitted from the information center to the telephone set, and the multi-frequency signal is received. At that time, the information center and the receiving device additionally provided on the telephone side are connected by the first switching circuit, the information center inquires of a unique identification number relating to the customer, and the other central processing unit transmits the information to the information center by itself. The identification number will be returned.

If the comparator determines that this identification number matches the identification number registered in the information center, the useful data stored in the data file corresponding to the telephone number is transmitted to the receiving device, and the receiving device The useful data received is stored in memory and printed on paper as necessary.If there is no response from the receiving device or if there is no match from the comparator, the information center will send the useful data. Terminates the connection between the information center and the receiving device without transmitting a message. According to the present invention, the receiving apparatus is inexpensive because of automatic transmission and reception, does not require erroneous distribution, and requires no human intervention. Therefore, the receiving apparatus is widely used in the market. It is low-priced, easy to introduce into private homes, highly popular, and plays a part in multi-media.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a receiving device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a transmitting server of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a data file of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic mail communication network, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a storage device of the transmission server of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the transmission server of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of the operation of the receiving device of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a specific circuit of the receiving device of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a specific diagram of the receiving device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the operation of the circuit, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another operation of the specific circuit of the receiving device of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the protocol of the transmitting server and the receiving device of the present invention. is there.

[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

Fee notices for gas, electricity, water, and telephone are semi-confidential notice slips sent by mail to individual subscribers and business establishments. For example, a telephone bill notification slip usually consists of a receipt for the previous month and a bill for usage for the current month.

In FIG. 4, a public telephone line 1 is connected to a transmission server 2 of a power company and a gas company, a transmission / reception device 3 of a general home, other telephones T, and a facsimile F. The transmission server 2 is built in a computer center of a power company or a gas company.

The transmission / reception device 3 for ordinary households is comprised of a printing reception device dedicated to data reception of the present application, namely, a mail receiver (MR) 22, a telephone T and a facsimile F, and the MR 22 is connected to the existing telephone T ゃ facsimile F. It can be added later.

The public telephone line 1 is an NTT line, and in a broad sense includes a facsimile net (Fnet) and an ISDN (high-density communication network) dedicated to data communication of the public telephone telephone network. The external general telephone T and facsimile F can communicate with the telephone T and facsimile F of the transmitting / receiving device 3 as before.

The following explanation from a gas company to a customer, for example, a general household, receipt of gas charges last month And the case of transmitting a usage fee bill for this month will be described.

In Figure 2, the information center will be described. The information center, i.e., the transmission server 2 of the computer center, is provided with a large-capacity magnetic storage device 5, and various data and items relating to a new contract customer are input from the input / output device 6, and the contract customer The usage fee is entered, and data about the canceled customer is deleted. The magnetic storage device 5 includes a hard disk or the like, and is managed by a central control device (CPU) 9. The central control unit (CPU) 9 is a front processor to which an address bus 7 and a data bus 8 are connected.

Now, a data file 14 is formed in the magnetic storage device 5, and the contents of the data file 14 are read out according to the designated address from the address recorder 13.

RAM4 is a readable and writable memory, where various data are stored by the CPU 9 during calculation. The ROM 20 is a read-only memory and stores an operation program of the CPU 9 that controls the transmission server 2.

The comparator 10 compares the specific signal from the data file 14 with the specific signal received from the external public telephone line 1, and outputs a match signal when they match. Gate 12 opens when it receives this match signal.

The transmission data read from the data file 14 is temporarily stored in the buffer register 11. The contents of the buffer register 11 are taken out when the gate 12 is open, and the gate 12 is normally closed.

Various data from the CPU 9 and the buffer register 11 are modulated by a modem (MODEM) 15 and transmitted to an external public (telephone) line 1 via a line control circuit (NCU) 16.

Various data modulated by the modem 15 are a destination dial number, a fax communication control signal, and image data. The data received from the external public telephone line 1 via the NCU 16 is demodulated by the modem 15 and sent to the CPU 9 and RAM 4.

The comparator 10, the buffer register 11, the gate 12, the modem 15, and the NCU 16 form the transmission unit 21 and multiple transmission units 2 1 in the same transmission server 2 to accommodate a large number of customers. Can be installed to execute parallel communication processing. Next, the data file 14 will be described with reference to FIG.

The data file 14 contains the name of the representative of the household receiving the gas, the so-called customer, the address and telephone number associated with this name and a unique identification number (hereinafter referred to as the ID number) identifying this telephone number. It is registered. This registration is performed by key at the time of contract from I / O device 6 or by OCR.

In the following, the customer will give an explanation on behalf of the telephone number. This ID number is the same as the unique number given to the mail receiver (MR) 22, which is a data-receiving-only receiving device of the present invention connected additionally to the customer's telephone.

In the data file 14, monthly gas usage fees and charges and the amount received last month are input and accumulated from the input / output device 6 for each telephone number of each customer. The monthly gas usage fee of each customer is added from the input / output device 6 on a monthly basis, and is written from the CPU 9 whether or not a monthly notice has been transmitted to the customer. A flag of 1 indicates that the mail has been sent and a flag of 0 indicates that the mail has not been sent. The input / output device 6 may be a manual key type or an automatic optical reading type.

Next, in FIG. 5, MODEM 15 is a DTMF generator 17 that generates a multi-frequency signal (DTMF), a calling tone Z a CNG generator 18 that generates a non-voice terminal identification sound (CNG) 18, and a line disconnection command ( A DCN generator 19 for generating DCN) is provided.

Multi-frequency signal (DTMF) is a dial signal used for ringing signals for touch-tone circuits, etc. 18 types of dial signals 0-9, *, #, A-F by combining low and high frequency groups Can be used.

. The non-voice terminal identification sound (CNG) is an intermittent signal of 1100Hz, and the disconnection command (DCN) is a binary code signal of X1101111.

Further, in FIG. 5, the ROM 20 stores a confidential signal K of a distinguishing signal indicating a document distinction, a confidential communication and the like, and a control program.

This confidential signal K is a so-called control signal, which is added to actual data output from the data file 14 and transmitted by the CPU 9 to the customer. Confidential signal K is added only for matters based on the agreement between the sender and the customer. In general, adding a confidential signal K is annoying if it is seen by someone other than the customer, such as a reminder letter on an invoice. Applicable documents. Discrimination signal indicating confidential communication, etc., confidential signal κ is data file 1

You may memorize in 4.

The signal input to the comparator 10 from the data file 14 is a unique identification number paired with each telephone number, and the signal input from the MODEM 15 is a mail receiver (reception device) returned from the customer. This is the unique identification number given to 22.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the transmission / reception device 3 of a general home in FIG. To the public telephone line 1, a mail receiver 22, a telephone T, and sometimes a facsimile F are connected. Similarly, many public home transceivers 3 are connected to the public telephone line 1 in a net-like manner, and each general home transceiver 3 is similarly configured from a mail receiver 22, a telephone Τ, and a facsimile F. .

The mail receiver 22 includes a DTMF detection device 23, a CPU 24, a program ROM 25 including a register 31, a modem 26, a second switch 27, a memory 28, a printer 29, an indicator lamp 30, a first switch 33, and a CI detection circuit. 38, composed of audio R0M40. The printer 29 of the mail receiver 22 receives the electronic slip from the transmission server 2 of the gas company, prints it on paper, and outputs it.

Facsimile F is compatible with a normal NTT line, and uses the same telephone line as telephone T.

The telephone T is a normal NTT subscriber telephone, and in the case of a gas company customer's telephone, the number is registered in the data file 14 of the computer center. A separate mail receiver 22 is additionally installed on the customer's telephone under the agreement of the gas company and the customer.

At that time, a unique identification number (ID number) of the mail receiver 22 is registered in the data file 14 of FIG. 2 as a set corresponding to the telephone number of the customer. On the circuit, the mail receiver 22 is interposed between the public telephone line 1 and the telephone T.

The program ROM 25 stores a control program to be executed when a signal is received and an ID number.The ID number, for example, # 5 is assigned to the mail receiver 22 at the time of manufacture, and is stored in the register 31 in the program ROM 25 Burned. This ID number differs for each mail receiver 22, and the same number is assigned to multiple mail receivers. It is not attached to Sheva 22.

The DTMF detection device 23 detects the DTMF signal or the F-network call signal 1300 Hz in the call signal sent from the public telephone line 1 and notifies the CPU 24 of the signal. The modem 26 demodulates and transmits the delivery data sent from the public telephone line 1 to the IC memory 32, and also has a modulation function. The delivery data transfers characters, symbols, and pictures as image data, and the printer 29 prints these as image images (not the transfer of coded characters). The DTMF detection device 23 forms a second detection circuit, and the DTMF detection signal becomes a detection signal.

The second switch 27 is composed of an electronic switch, and usually connects the public telephone line 1 to the telephone T and the facsimile F. Further, the public line 1 is disconnected from the telephone T and the facsimile F by the control signal from the CPU 24.

The first switch 33 also comprises an electronic switch, and usually disconnects the modem 26 from the public power line 1. Also, the public line 1 is connected to the modem 26 by a control signal from the CPU 24.

The output end of the modem 26 is connected to the input end of an IC memory 28, and the output end of the IC memory 28 is connected to a printer 29.

When there is a detection signal from the DTMF detector 23, the CPU 24 causes the second switch 27 to disconnect the telephone T and the facsimile F from the public line 1.

When there is a detection signal from the DTMF detection device 23, the CPU 24 causes the first switch 33 to connect the public electric wire 1 to the modem 26.

Further, when receiving the confidential signal K of the control signal via the modem 26, the CPU 24 issues a print inhibit command to the printer 29, and stores the received data in the IC memory 28 as confidential data. When confidential data is stored in the IC memory 28, the lamp 30 is turned on by the CPU 24.

If the CPU 24 does not receive the confidential signal K, it issues a print command to the printer 29 to print the received data.

The CI detection circuit 38 is effective when there is no off-hook of the telephone T or the like, and counts a call signal. When the predetermined number of times has been counted, a carry signal is reported to the CPU 24. The CPU 24 receives the carry signal and sends the modem 26 to the first switch 33. Is connected to the public telephone line 1. At this time, the off-hook state is transmitted to the public telephone line 1. The public telephone line 1 is connected to the modem 26 of the mail receiver 22 when the DTMF signal is detected and when the call signal is detected n times. The CI detection circuit 38 forms a first detection circuit, and the carry signal becomes the first detection signal.

The voice R0M40 stores a voice indicating an operation procedure necessary for the mail receiver 22 and an answering voice, and is read out by the CPU 24 when necessary.

The printer 29 has a built-in paper supply device and prints out delivery data received via the IC memory 28. Paper for the paper feeder is standardized to standard A6 postcard size in order to unify office work and reduce costs. For example, # 5 and the like are stored in the ID register column 31 of the ROM 25, and another number # 6 and the like are stored in another mail receiver 22 of another general household, and each device is manufactured when the mail receiver 22 is manufactured. Shall be given different numbers separately.

The IC memory 28 records the data received from the public telephone line 1 until a reset command is issued from the CPU 2.4, and if the confidential signal K is included, when the printer 29 does not print.

The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the CPU 9 of the transmission server 2 of the computer center, and FIG. 7 shows the operation of the CPU 24 of a general home. In FIG. 6, a key is input from the input device 6, or the transmission server 2 calls the telephone number of the customer's home or office by an automatic program and starts.

In step S1, it is determined whether or not a call is in progress. If it is not in a call, the flow proceeds to step S2. In step S2, if the called station's fax machine F or telephone T goes off-hook, the line is connected (step S3). In step S4, a multi-frequency signal (DTMF) is generated from the DTMF generator 17 of the M0DEM 15 and transmitted to the public line 1 for a fixed time.

In step S1, if a call or facsimile communication is in progress, the process proceeds to step S5, in which the call is stopped and terminated.

If the mail receiver 22 does not go off-hook in step S2, the mail receiver 22 is not equipped or not connected, so the process goes to step S5 to stop calling and terminate. When the called station terminal signal and the CED signal are returned for 2.6 to 4 seconds from the mail receiver 22 via the public line 1, in step S6, an ID request is transmitted. In step S7, the returned ID number is received, and it is checked whether or not the ID number matches the ID number of the data file 14 paired with the calling telephone number.

In the case of match detection, in Fig. 2, the comparator 10 compares the ID number linked to the telephone number from the data file 14 with the ID number returned from the outside via the MO DEM 15 and matches. Then, a match detection signal is output. The gate 12 is opened by the match detection signal, and the delivery data in the buffer register 11 can be transmitted to the called station via the MODEM 15.

If they match, then in step S8, it is determined whether the data to be sent is general data or confidential data. If the data is confidential such as a bill receipt, in step S9 the confidential signal K is transmitted from R0M20. This confidential signal K is added to the head of the data to be read and notified, and transmitted in step S10. In step S8, if there is no confidential signal K and it is just a receipt, go to step S10 and transmit the data to be notified as it is.

In the confidential signal K in step S9, the billing / receipt and the dunning letter one level above correspond to confidential data overnight. This shall be agreed in advance between the gas company and the contractor at the time of contract and recorded in R0M20.

At this point, the delivery data for the called station, ie, the customer, is read from the data file 14, is in the buffer register 11, and the gate 12 is open so that it can be transmitted.

After transmitting the data to be notified in step S10, the communication is terminated. If the ID numbers do not match in step S.7, the ownership of the telephone may have been transferred to another person and the contact should be terminated to avoid misdelivery.

In FIG. 7, in a private home or office of a general household, if there is a call from the external public line 1, in step S20, if the receiver is picked up or the facsimile F supplements, the calling station goes off-hook. Connected to In step S21, the DTMF detector 23 checks whether there is a DTMF signal within 1.8 to 2.5 seconds from the calling station.

If there is a DTMF signal, it means that the call originated from transmission server 2, so step S22 The CPU 24 causes the first switch 33 to connect the modem 26 to the public line 1. At the same time, the CPU 24 causes the second switch 27 to disconnect the telephone T and the facsimile F from the public line 1. Connect public line 1 (calling station) to mail receiver 2 2.

Next, in step S23, since there is an ID request in the incoming signal, the ID number is read from register 31 of ROM 25 and its own ID number is returned to transmitting server 2 via public line 1.

Since the transmission server 2 accepts the ID number and the delivery data such as a bill is transmitted via the public line 1, in step S24, the delivery data is stored in the IC memory 28 (the delivery data is completed. At this point, the connection is disconnected from the sending server 2). In step S25, it is checked whether or not a confidential signal K exists in the delivery data. If there is a confidential signal K, the flow advances to step S26 to give a print prohibition instruction to the printer 29. In step S27, the lamp 30 indicating that the delivery data is present in the IC memory 28 is turned on so that the party can take it out later. In this case, after seeing the light of the lamp 30, the customer gives a predetermined print command and the delivery data can be taken out. At that time, the lamp 30 is reset.

In step S25, if there is no confidential signal K, the flow advances to step S28 to give a print command to the printer 29, print the received data in the IC memory 28 in step S29, and end.

If there is no DTMF signal in step S21, the process proceeds to step S29, and the CPU 24 continues to connect the public line 1 to the telephone T and the facsimile F by the second switch 27. This is a normal external telephone to telephone T or external facsimile to facsimile F communication and continues. Therefore, it indicates that there is no obstacle even if the mail receiver 22 is additionally installed in the telephone T. The same operation is performed when making an outgoing call on the F-net.

In step S20, if the call is not a CNG signal of facsimile F, 1100Hz, and the customer is not present and does not pick up the handset, proceed to step S30 and call the CI detection circuit 38. The signal is detected n times (appropriately set in advance), the CPU 24 connects the public line 1 to the modem 26 by the first switch 33, and the line is connected. You.

Thereafter, the presence or absence of the DTMF signal in step S31 is checked.

If there is no DTMF signal in step S31, the call is made by an external telephone, so the flow advances to step S32 to take out the voice of "absence" from voice R0M40 and transmit it to the other party via modem 26.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed example of the mail receiver 22.

The public telephone line 1 is connected to the frequency detection circuit 38 directly, and the telephone set T is connected via the relay RL3. Facsimile F is connected to public line 1 via relay RL4. Further, a DTMF detection device 23 is connected to the public line 1 via a transformer 36, a capacitor 35, and a relay RL3. Modem 26 is connected to public line 1 via transformer 37, relay RL1, and relay RL3. The DTMF detector 23 and the modem 26 are monitored by the CPU 24.

The relay RL1 corresponds to the first switching circuit 33 in FIG. 1, and the relays RL2 and RL4 correspond to the second switching circuit 27 in FIG. In addition, a set of a condenser 35, a transformer 36, and a DTMF detector 23 corresponds to the DTMF detector 23 in FIG.

The voice ROM 40 is connected to the modem 26, and the IC memory 28 of FIG. 1 is connected (not shown here). The capacitor 35 transmits the AC component DTM F signal from the public line 1 and the F-net 1300 Hz to the DTMF detector 23.

The CI detection circuit 38 detects a call signal 400 Hz / 16 Hz from the public line 1, detects a combination of 1 second onZ2 seconds o f f, counts as one call, and notifies the CPU 24.

The voice R0M40 stores in advance the voice guidance for using the mail receiver 22, the answering voice of the answering machine, and the notification voice when the progress data is recorded in the IC memory 32. The CPU 24 monitors each hook detector and controls the operation of the relays RL1 to RL4.

In Fig. 8, relay RL1, relay RL2, relay RL3, and relay RL4 all show a non-energized state, and facsimile F and telephone T are connected via relays RL2 to RL4. Connected to public line 1, modem 26 is disconnected from public line 1 by relay RL1. The facsimile F and the telephone T are in a normal standby state, indicating that no inconvenience occurs due to the addition of the mail receiver 22 of the present invention.

The protocol between the transmitting server 2 and the transmitting / receiving device 3 of the customer will be described with reference to FIG. 11 using FIGS. 9 and 10 in which the relays RL1 to RL4 of FIG. 8 operate. In each relay state shown in FIG. 8, the transmission server 2 makes a call in a of FIG. 11, the mail receiver (MR) 22 receives a call signal from the public line 1 in b, and the facsimile F or the telephone T in c. Answer off-hook first. That is, the receiver is picked up by a ringing tone, or the communication from the general facsimile is taken in by the facsimile F. Since the interaction between the facsimile F and the telephone set T is not directly related to the present invention, the description is omitted.

If the communication is not for the MR 22, the normal facsimile or telephone call is prioritized in the state of the step S21, and the document data is immediately transferred in h. (Omitted) However, each relay RL1 to RL4 ends as it is.

In the case of communication for MR 22, in the state of step S21, the DTMF signal is transmitted as d from the transmitting server 2, and the capacitor 35 does not form a DC closed circuit. The signal DTMF signal is passed, and the DTMF detector 23 detects the DTMF signal. In response to this, the CPU 24 excites the relays RL1, RL2, and RL4, and shifts to the state shown in FIG.

That is, the relay RL1 is connected, the modem 26 is connected to the public line 1, the relay RL2 and the relay RL4 are disconnected, and the facsimile F and the telephone T are disconnected from the public line 1. Then, the CPU 24 returns a CED signal and a 210 OHz signal through the modem 26 for 2.6 to 4 seconds.

The sending server 2 requests the ID number in f, and the responding MR 22 returns its own ID number in g, and when the sending server 2 confirms that the ID numbers match, the transfer data is transferred in h. . After transmission, the transmission server 2 sets the transmission flag of the data file 14 to 1. (On the MR 22 side, the printer 29 receives and prints the data from the data file 14 via the modem 26). When the printer 9 prints at the end of the communication, the MR 22 returns a reception confirmation signal to the transmission server 2, and the CPU 9 sets the reception flag of the data file 14 to 1. In FIG. 10, all except the CI detection circuit 38 are disconnected from the public line 1 by the relay RL3, and the MR22 and the telephone T are connected. Viewed from public line 1, it is on-hook.

Relays R L1 and R L2 are closed, relays R L3 and R L4 are open. The telephone T is used to listen to the usage and operating instructions of the MR22 using the voice ROM.

In this way, the customer can easily receive the required text and picture data as documents using the existing telephone line without any operation and without any trouble. Because of automatic reception, distribution can be performed during off-peak hours in the middle of the night, further reducing costs. In addition, billing and receipt of utility bills have a clear and visible effect, such as reducing the labor required for preparation for mailing and eliminating the need for postage.

[Possibility of industrial use]

As described above, according to the present invention, an information center including a transmitting unit, a data file storing useful data corresponding to a telephone number, and a central processing unit for controlling the data file; In a wide-area electronic mail communication network consisting of a plurality of customer telephones and facsimile units connected by a call from a transmitting unit via a public line at a remote location,

In the information center, a generator for generating a multi-frequency signal is provided in the transmission unit, and a unique identification number to be paired with each telephone number and a distinction signal indicating a document distinction are stored in a data file, respectively. In addition to providing a comparator that compares with the identification number returned from the telephone and outputs a match signal,

On the customer's telephone side, a first detection circuit that detects a call signal from a public line a predetermined number of times and generates a carry signal, a second detection circuit that detects a multi-frequency signal and outputs a detection signal, A storage circuit for storing the same number as the identification number, a memory for storing useful data received from the transmission unit, a printer for printing the data, and a first detection circuit A first switching circuit for connecting the public line to the memory by a carry signal of the second detection circuit or a detection signal of the second detection circuit; and a second switching circuit for separating the telephone and the facsimile from the public line by a detection signal of the second detection circuit. And a central processing unit that transmits an identification number from the storage circuit to the public line and outputs a command to prohibit printing to the printer in accordance with the distinction signal received from the public line. Added to facsimile.

Since automatic reception eliminates the need for manual operation, it will be a new era electronic mail post in homes and offices. An apparatus can be realized in which only a designated person can read a confidential document.

A wide range of applications are available for printing output terminals such as bills, receipts, tickets, coupons, home banking, mail-order sales, and information distribution for various membership organizations in homes and offices. It is possible. It is versatile, secure, confidential, and economical for these versatile uses.

This is a reception-only device attached to ordinary telephones. It can be easily installed by ordinary people, is widely used because of its low cost, and plays a part in multi-media.

Claims

Scope of demand

An information center including a transmitting unit, a data file storing useful data corresponding to the telephone number, and a central processing unit for controlling the data file, and transmitting the data via a public line at a position distant from the information center In a wide-area electronic postal communication network consisting of a telephone and a facsimile of a plurality of customers connected by calling from the department,

In the information center,

A generator for generating a multi-frequency signal is provided in the transmission unit, and a unique identification number paired with each of the telephone numbers and a distinction signal indicating a document distinction are stored in the data file, respectively. A comparator is provided for comparing the ID number returned from the customer's telephone with the identification number and outputting a match signal.

On the customer's phone side,

A first detection circuit that detects a call signal from the public line a predetermined number of times and generates a carry signal,

A second detection circuit that detects the multiplex frequency signal and outputs a detection signal, and a storage circuit that stores the same number as the identification number,

A memory for storing useful data received from the transmission unit,

A printer to print this data,

A first switching circuit that connects the public line to the memory by a carry signal of the first detection circuit or by a detection signal of the second detection circuit;

The telephone and the facsimile are connected from the public line by the detection signal of the second detection circuit.

A second switching circuit for disconnecting the simil;

A receiver comprising the other central processing unit, which returns the identification number from the storage circuit to a public line and outputs a command to prohibit printing to the printer according to the distinguishing signal received from the public line,

An electronic mail communication network provided in addition to the telephone and the facsimile.

A call is made from the information center to the telephone side of the customer's telephone number through the public line, and the call signal is received and answered by the telephone side. A fixed multi-frequency signal is transmitted, and when the multi-frequency signal arrives, a receiving device additionally provided on the telephone side is connected to the information center. The receiving device returns its own identification number to the information center. If the identification number matches the identification number registered in the information center, the useful data stored from the data file corresponding to the telephone number is returned. To the receiving device, the receiving device stores the received useful data in a memory, prints it on paper as necessary, and when there is no response of the unique identification number from the receiving device or when the identification number is If there is no match, the information center does not transmit the useful data and terminates the connection between the information center and the receiving device. .

A receiving device that is located at a position distant from the transmitting unit, is connected to and responds to a call from the transmitting unit via a public telephone line, and is provided in addition to a telephone and a facsimile.

The receiving device,

A first detection circuit that detects a call signal from the public telephone line a predetermined number of times and generates a carry signal,

A second detection circuit that detects a predetermined multi-frequency signal from the public telephone line and outputs a detection signal;

A storage circuit for storing a unique identification number;

A memory for storing data received from the transmission unit;

A printer to print this data,

A first switching circuit that connects the public telephone line to the memory by a carry signal of the first detection circuit or by a detection signal of the second detection circuit;

A second switching circuit that disconnects the telephone and the facsimile from the public telephone line according to a detection signal of the second detection circuit;

A central processing unit that transmits the identification number from the storage circuit to a public telephone line and outputs a command to prohibit printing to the printer in accordance with a distinction signal indicating the distinction of data received from the public telephone line. Receiving