JP2597399B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention performs a predetermined data communication via a communication device, in particular, a communication line, has a voice communication function, and makes an operator call based on a predetermined communication procedure. The present invention relates to a communication device that performs communication.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been known as a communication apparatus capable of calling an operator and recording a voice signal of a partner station without answering.

In this type of device, there are two modes: a home mode and an absence recording mode.
It has been proposed to provide two modes of operation.

In the home mode, that is, in a mode in which the voice response function first answers the partner station and then calls the operator, the operator calls the operator when a request for operator calling is received from the partner station. Head to recording of the audio signal.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-described home mode, the operator responds by, for example, off-hooking the receiver, and if there is a response, connects the telephone line to the terminal. However, if the operator has not responded for a predetermined time or more, the operation ends in an error (of course, if the operator does not respond even if a telephone reservation is made during communication except in the home mode, for example). Control terminated with an error).

Accordingly, despite having the absence recording mode, the communication ends without being able to make use of the function, and there is a possibility that an important communication opportunity is missed.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and in a communication device having an operator calling and voice communication function,
An object of the present invention is to provide a chance for a call even in the absence of an operator.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, predetermined data communication is performed via a communication line and an operator call is performed based on a predetermined communication procedure having a voice communication function. In a communication apparatus for performing voice communication, a means for recording a voice signal on a line is provided, and the recording means shifts to a voice recording operation according to a response state of an operator at the time of calling the operator.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, it is possible to record a voice signal on the line according to the response state of the operator to the operator call.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a facsimile apparatus having a voice communication function according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a telephone network used for data communication and the like, which is connected to a terminal of the telephone line to control connection of a telephone switching network, switch to a data communication path, and perform loop control. This is the NCU (network controller) that holds the data.

The NCU 2 is connected to a telephone line 2a and a signal line 2b.
Telephone 4 for voice communication and manual connection control via
Is connected to Further, it is connected to a facsimile machine after the modem 10 via a signal line 2c.

The NCU 2 inputs the signal on the signal line 22a, and when this signal is "0", connects the telephone line to the telephone side, that is, connects the signal line 2a to the signal line 2b. Further, the signal of the signal line 22a is inputted, and when this signal is "1", the telephone line is connected to the facsimile apparatus side, that is, the signal line 2a is connected to the signal line 2c. When the signal of the signal line 22a is input and the signal is "2", the telephone line is connected to the voice generating circuit 16 and the answering machine 18 side, that is, the signal line 2a is connected to the signal line 2d.
Connect to The above telephone line control is controlled by the control circuit 22 via the signal lines 2d and 2e.

In a normal state, the telephone line is connected to the telephone. Also, the NCU 2 can detect the state of the hook of the telephone 4 by detecting the state of the loop of the telephone 4 and the like. When the receiver of the telephone 4 is on-hook, the signal line
A signal of signal level "0" is output to 2e, and a signal of signal level "1" is output to signal line 2e when the receiver of telephone 4 is off-hook. The signal on the signal line 2e is input to the control circuit 22.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a reading circuit, which is located in the main scanning direction 1
It is composed of an image pickup device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and an optical system for sequentially reading the image signals of the lines and creating a signal sequence representing white and black values. The binary signal sequence of white and black is output to the encoding circuit 8 via the signal line 6a.

The encoding circuit 8 receives the read data output on the signal line 6a and outputs data encoded by the MH (Modified Huffman) method or the MR (Modified Read) method to the modem 10 via the signal line 8a. .

Reference numeral 10 denotes a modem, which comprises a CCITT recommendation V27ter (differential phase modulation), V29 (quadrature modulation) high-speed signal modem, and a V21 low-speed signal modem. From the encoding circuit 8 to the signal line 8a
The signal output to is modulated by a high-speed signal modem,
The signal is output to the NCU 2 via the signal line 2c. The control circuit 22
Is output to the signal line 22b by the low-speed signal modem and output to the NCU 2 via the signal line 2c. A request for an operator call to the partner station is input from the control circuit 22 to the modem 10 as a procedure signal via the signal line 22b.

The signal sent from the partner machine and demodulated by the high-speed signal modem is output to the decoding circuit 12 via the signal line 10a, and the procedure signal demodulated by the low-speed signal modem is sent to the control circuit via the signal line 10b. Output to 22. The operator calling signal from the partner station is output as a procedure signal to the signal line 10b.

The decoding circuit 12 receives the demodulated data output to the signal line 10a, decodes the data, and outputs the data decoded by the MH (Modified Huffman) method or the MR (Modified Read) method to the recording circuit 14 via the signal line 12a. I do.

The recording circuit 14 receives a signal output to the signal line 12a and sequentially performs recording for each line, and is composed of a thermal printer, a laser beam printer, or the like.

The voice generation circuit 16 is for notifying the operator of the partner machine by means of a voice message recorded in advance to shift to the absence recording modem, a voice synthesis circuit,
It consists of an analog or digital audio playback device. The sound generation circuit 16 is connected to the signal line 22c from the control circuit 22.
When a voice-generating life pulse is input to the device, for example, a message such as "This facsimile machine has shifted to the answering machine recording mode. Please speak. Please" is sent to the signal line 2d. When the transmission of the message is completed, the signal line 16a
Generates an end pulse.

The answering machine 18 can be composed of an analog (or digital) voice recording device, but here it is assumed to be composed of a magnetic tape recorder. The absence recording circuit 18 does not operate when the signal "0" is output from the control circuit 22 to the signal line 22d, and is output to the signal line 2d when the signal "1" is output to the signal line 22d. The voice is recorded, and when the signal "2" is output to the signal line 22d, the recorded information is reproduced. The magnetic tape position is
It is managed by the control circuit 22 via a signal line 22e.

The pseudo-bell sound generation circuit 20 is for generating a pseudo-bell sound for calling an operator, and the pseudo-bell sound generation circuit 20 outputs a signal of signal level “0” to the signal line 22f by the control circuit 22. Occasionally, a pseudo bell sound is generated, and when the signal of the signal level "1" is output to the signal line 22f, the generation of the pseudo bell sound is stopped.

The control circuit 22 includes a microprocessor, a RAM element, and the like, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus according to a control program stored in the ROM 22r.

 Next, an outline of the operation in the above configuration will be described.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, when receiving an operator call request by a predetermined procedure signal, a pseudo bell sound is generated and the operator is called. When the operator responds to the call of the operator, a signal to that effect is transmitted, and after detecting a signal from the other party or after a predetermined time has elapsed, the operator of the other party is told by voice means that "this facsimile apparatus is in the answering mode. The contents have been transferred. Please talk. Please tell the other party the contents of the message, and then perform the absence recording of the facsimile machine.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show control circuits stored in ROM 36a.
36 shows a control procedure of 36. 2 (A) and 2 (B), it is assumed that the flows are continuous at the positions of the same number.

In step S32 of FIG. 2A, standby control is started. In step S32, the signal level "0" is output to the signal line 22a, and the telephone line 2a is connected to the telephone 4.

Next, in step S33, a signal having a signal level “0” is output to the signal line 22f, and the generation of the pseudo bell sound by the pseudo bell sound generation circuit 20 is prohibited.

In step S34, it is determined whether facsimile reception has been selected. If facsimile reception has been selected, the process proceeds to step S38. This determination is made based on operation of an operation panel (not shown) or detection of a call signal from a known telephone line.

In step 38, a signal "1" is output to the signal line 22a, and the telephone line 2a is connected to the facsimile apparatus by the NCU 2.

In step S40, a known pre-route procedure is performed, and in step S42, an image signal is received. Here, a known G3 facsimile procedure is used.

In step S44, it is determined whether the document is the final document. It is determined whether or not the EOP (procedure interruption) signal or the PRI-EOP signal in the G3 procedure signal, which is the final document, is received. If it is not the final document, an intermediate procedure is performed (step S46). If there is a mode change according to the received signal, the process proceeds to step S40. If there is no mode change, the process proceeds to step S42. If it is the final document, the process proceeds to step S48. Procedure signal detection is modem 1
This is performed via the low-speed modem receiving unit of 0.

In step S48, it is determined whether or not there is an operator call request from the partner machine. Here, assuming that the operator call request from the partner device is made by the PRI-EOP signal, if this signal is received, step S5
Proceed to 2. If there is no operator call request from the partner device due to the PRI-EOP signal, the process proceeds to step S50. This determination is made by monitoring the output of the modem 10 via the signal line 10b.

 In step S50, a post-communication procedure is performed.

A step S52 sets 1 to a counter Q for counting the number of receptions of the PRI-EOP signal. The counter Q is configured using a work area RAM (not shown), a register in the control circuit 22, and the like.

In step S54, the timer T3 is set to 10 seconds. This timer is configured by software using a counter circuit (not shown), a RAM for a work area (not shown), a register in the control circuit 22, and the like.

In step S56, a signal of the signal level "1" is output to the signal line 22f, a pseudo bell sound is generated by the pseudo bell sound generation circuit 20, and the operator is called.

In step S58, it is determined whether the operator has responded. For example, when the signal on the signal line 2e is input and the receiver goes off-hook, it is determined that the operator has responded. If the operator responds, the process proceeds to step S60, and if the operator does not respond, the process proceeds to step S64.

In step S60, the signal level "0" is applied to the signal line 22f.
And the generation of the pseudo bell sound by the pseudo bell sound generation circuit 20 is stopped.

In step S62, after the reception of the PRI-Q signal is completed, a signal (PIP signal or PIN signal) indicating that the operator has responded is input to the modem 10 via the signal line 22b and transmitted to the partner station.

In step S64, the signal line 10b is input, and it is determined whether or not an operator call procedure signal has been received from the partner station, specifically, whether or not a PRI-EOP signal has been received. Upon receiving the telephone call procedure signal, proceed to step S68,
If the telephone call procedure signal has not been received, step S6
Proceed to 6.

In step S66, it is determined whether the timer T3 started in step S54 has timed out. If the timer T3 has timed out, the process proceeds to step S72. If the timer T3 has not timed out, the process proceeds to step S58.

In step S68, the counter Q that counts the number of times the PRI-EOP signal has been received is incremented by one.

In step S70, it is determined whether the content of the counter Q is 3, that is, whether the PRI-EOP signal has been received three times. If the counter Q is not 3, that is, if the PRI-EOP signal has not been received three times, the process proceeds to step S58. If the counter Q is 3, that is, if the PRI-EOP signal has been received three times, the process proceeds to step S72. .

After step S72, in the case of the conventional facsimile apparatus, the MCF (message confirmation) signal, the RPT signal, or the RTN (retrain failure) signal is transmitted, and the facsimile reception is terminated because the operator does not respond to the call. However, after step S72 in the present embodiment, automatic voice communication using the absence recording circuit 18 is automatically performed.

A signal indicating that the operator has not responded in step S72, but the operator intentionally wants to respond,
Specifically, a PIP (procedure interruption affirmation) signal or a PIN (procedure interruption denial) signal is transmitted to the partner station.

In step S74, the signal level “0” is applied to the signal line 22f.
Is output, and the pseudo bell sound generation circuit 20 stops generating the pseudo bell sound.

In step S76 of FIG. 2B, the timer T3 is set to 1
Set 5 seconds. This time corresponds to the calling time of the operator.

In step S78, it is determined whether or not an operator call request from the partner station due to the PRI-EOP signal has been detected. If an operator call signal is detected, step S84
If the operator call signal has not been detected, the process proceeds to step S80.

In step S80, it is determined whether a voice has been detected. Voice detection is performed by a frequency discrimination circuit or the like built in the NCU 2 or the modem 10 by a known method. When voice is detected, the process proceeds to step S84, and when voice is not detected, the process proceeds to step S82.

In step S82, it is determined whether the time counted by the timer T3 of 15 seconds has elapsed. timer
When the T3 time expires, the process proceeds to step S84. Timer T
If the time has not elapsed for step 3, the process proceeds to step S78.

In steps S78 to S82, detection of an operator call request, detection of a voice signal, or time-out of the timer T3 is sequentially determined, and if any of the conditions is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S84.

In step S84, a signal "2" is output to the signal line 22a, and the telephone line 2a is connected to the voice generating circuit 16 and the answering machine 18 by the NCU 2.

In step S86, a voice generation start pulse is generated on the signal line 22c. For example, the voice generation circuit 16 transmits a voice saying, "This facsimile machine has switched to the answering machine recording mode. Then, the other party is notified of the transition to the absence recording mode.

In step S88, an absence recording is performed by the absence recording circuit 18.

According to the above configuration, when an operator call request is received, an operator call with a pseudo bell sound is performed,
If there is no response from the operator for a predetermined period of time, the system automatically shifts to the absence recording mode, so there is no need to make a new line connection without losing a communication chance due to error termination due to time over as in the past. At least voice message recording can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the image transmission side makes a telephone call request has been considered. However, it goes without saying that the same control can be performed when the image receiving side makes a telephone call request and the transmitting side makes an operator call.

In addition, a call may be made in advance, and even when the operator does not answer, a transition to the answering machine may be made.

Further, in a facsimile apparatus having an absence recording function and having the above-mentioned home mode and absence recording mode,
When the operator calls in the home mode, if there is no operator response as described above, the mode may be automatically shifted to the absence recording mode.

Further, it goes without saying that the same control can be performed in a data communication device other than the facsimile.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, predetermined data communication is performed via a communication line, and a voice communication function is provided to perform an operator call based on a predetermined communication procedure to perform voice communication. The communication device has a means for recording a voice signal on a line, and adopts a configuration in which the recording means shifts to a voice recording operation according to a response state of the operator at the time of calling the operator. The voice signal on the line can be recorded according to the response state of the operator to the telephone, and even if the operator does not respond, it is possible to guarantee the minimum call function without missing the chance of a call unlike the conventional case. effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus employing the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are flow charts showing a communication control procedure of the control circuit of FIG. 2 NCU 4 Telephone 6 Reading circuit 8 Encoding circuit 12 Decoding circuit 14 Recording circuit 16 Voice generating circuit 18 Voice recording circuit 20 Pseudo Bell sound generation circuit 22 ... Control circuit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication device for performing a predetermined data communication via a communication line, a voice communication function, and calling the operator based on a predetermined communication procedure to perform a voice communication, and to record a voice signal on the line. A communication device which shifts to a voice recording operation by the recording means in accordance with a response state of the operator at the time of calling the operator.