JP2604942B2 - Facsimile system for public service - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public service facsimile system having a facsimile terminal with a charging function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile use has been rapidly increasing. A facsimile system for public service, which can pay a fee in accordance with this and transmit it to a facsimile machine of the other party, has become widespread. The method of calculating the fee is often determined by the number of documents.

[0003]

The transmission time varies depending on the contents of the document. For this reason, it is more reasonable to calculate the charge based on the transmission time in the same manner as the telephone charge. However, when the calculation is performed based on the transmission time, the following problem specific to the transmission time occurs.

If the transmission operation is started when the original is not set on the facsimile apparatus or when a paper jam occurs, the transmission time until the communication is stopped due to the abnormality is charged. When an error occurs in the facsimile machine, the original is not transmitted, but the telephone is connected and the fee is charged. If you call the wrong phone number and talk to the person at the destination to find out the mistake and stop the transmission procedure, you will be charged even though you have not sent any documents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a facsimile system for public services which reduces inconvenience incurred when calculating on a facsimile transmission time basis. I do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a facsimile system for public service provided with a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter. It has a dial function and a communication charge accounting function when transmitting to another facsimile terminal connected to the network, and has a detection sensor for detecting whether or not a document is set on the facsimile terminal, and when a document is not set Is to stop the transmission function of the facsimile terminal.

A facsimile system for public service having a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter, wherein the terminal adapter transmits the facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal connected to the telephone network. It has an hour dial function and a communication billing function,
The facsimile terminal has an alarm function for outputting an alarm when an abnormality occurs in itself, and when the alarm function is outputting an alarm, the transmission function of the facsimile terminal is stopped.

A facsimile system for public service having a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter, wherein the terminal adapter transmits the facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal connected to the telephone network. It has an hour dial function and a communication billing function,
The terminal adapter dials another facsimile terminal, and after inputting an identification signal from the other facsimile terminal, the charging function starts charging calculation.

[0009]

When the detection sensor detects that a document is not set on the facsimile terminal, the transmission function of the facsimile terminal is stopped, so that the charging function of the terminal adapter does not work, and the user is charged for an undesirable charging. Can be prevented.

Further, when an alarm occurs in the facsimile terminal when an alarm occurs, the transmission function of the facsimile terminal is stopped. Therefore, the charging function of the terminal adapter does not work, and the user is charged unfavorably. Can be prevented.

Further, the terminal adapter dials the facsimile terminal of the transmission destination, inputs the identification signal thereof, and activates the billing function. Therefore, the billing is performed after the facsimile communication is established, and the billing due to an incorrect telephone call is made. Can be avoided.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a public service facsimile system. The public service facsimile 1 is connected to a telephone network 3 via an adapter (ADP) 2. The adapter 2 has a function of dialing a general facsimile 4 connected to the telephone network 3 of the public service facsimile 1 and a center 5 to be described later, and a charging function. The center 5 has an information storage function and a charge calculation function, and has an e-mail function, a bulletin board function, a post office box function, and the like. When using these functions of the center 5, each facsimile has a terminal identification number ID, and the facsimile for public service 1 is charged from the adapter 2 for the usage fee,
In the case of a general facsimile 4, a charge is calculated based on the terminal identification number ID. The present invention relates to billing when transmitting from a public service facsimile 1 to a general facsimile 4. Further, the public service facsimile 1 has a detection sensor for detecting whether a document is set or not and an alarm function for outputting an alarm when an abnormality has occurred in itself.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the adapter (ADP) 2, and FIG. 3 is a detailed explanatory diagram of FIG. In FIG. 2, a communication unit 22 performs communication with a FAX 4 via the FAX 1 and the telephone network 3. The communication section 22 has a dial editing function and an incoming call processing function as shown in FIG. 3, and the dial editing function performs the next dial operation according to the contents of the dial sent from the FAX 1.

Registration of a message to the center 5 or reading of a message from the center 5 Dialing regulation Transmission of ID (identification symbol) of FAX 1 Direct communication in which FAX 1 directly communicates with FAX 1 equipped with another adapter 2 or general FAX 4 The ADP2 body has a FAX use start button.
Pressing this button connects the line between FAX1 and ADP2.

In the incoming call processing function, the ADP 2 passes through the incoming call from the telephone network 3 and does not perform any processing. However, during ADP2 use and when the power is turned off, the incoming call is ignored.

As shown in FIG. 3, the charge management unit 23 requests the center 5 to calculate a usage charge when using the center function, and receives the result, a direct communication charge calculation function, and a usage charge aggregation function. Having. After the FAX 1 registers the message in the center 5 or reads out the registered message, the center 5 requests the center 5 to calculate the usage fee, receives the usage fee and the usage time from the center 5, and displays the usage fee on the LCD.
(Liquid Ctystal Display) 26, and print out a payment report of the usage fee and usage time from the recording unit 25.

When the FAX 1 directly communicates with the FAX 1 having the other adapter 2 or the general FAX 4, after receiving the direct communication command, the communication time is monitored, the charge is calculated, and the display and printout on the same LCD 26 as described above are performed. do. It also has a function of totalizing usage charges for a predetermined period, that is, from what time to what time, or for one day, one month, etc., and prints out the recording data from the recording unit 25 and collects total data for a predetermined period (for example, one month). Send to

In printing out the usage fee,
A bar code is displayed as well as the fee. The bar code includes items indicating the location where the FAX 1 is installed, items indicating that the fax communication is performed, communication fees, and the like. Thus, when the FAX 1 is installed in a superstore or the like, the usage fee can be processed by the barcode reader together with the settlement of the purchased product.

As shown in FIG. 3, the error management unit 24 has a power loss, recording paper break processing function, communication error charge processing function, and error totaling function. When the power is cut off due to a power failure or disconnection of the outlet, the connection between the FAX 1 and the telephone network 3 is cut off. Also, when there is no recording paper in the recording unit 25, the cutting state is maintained after detecting the paper breakage.

When a communication error occurs, an error report is output and free adjustment is performed. These error reports are tabulated for a predetermined period and printed out from the recording unit 25.
From the keyboard 27, an instruction such as printing out a fee for a predetermined period is input. Further, the control unit 21 controls each of the above devices.

FIG. 4 shows a public service facsimile (FA).
FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram in the case of transmitting from X1) to a general facsimile (FAX4) via an adapter (ADP2). First, set the manuscript and raise the handset.
Lines between AX1 to ADP2 and the telephone network 3 are connected. FA
When a code indicating direct communication not passing through the center 5 from X1 and the telephone number of the other party (FAX4) are sent by dial, ADP2 checks whether there is an error in the command, and if there is no error, the telephone number of FAX4 is used as direct communication. The user dials and transmits a 16-Hz signal from the telephone network 3 to the facsimile machine 4, and the ADP2 transmits a pseudo CNG (Calling tone). Note that the CNG transmits a 1100 Hz connection for 0.5 seconds every 3 seconds, but in the case of this embodiment, 1100 Hz is set to 1209H.
z. In response to this, an incoming call signal is returned from the FAX 4, the FAX communication is started, and the process ends on-hook.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart on the public service facsimile side when the public service facsimile 1 communicates with the general facsimile 4. First, it is checked by the alarm function whether or not the FAX 1 is abnormal and an alarm is generated (step 10). If an alarm is generated, an alarm is sounded (step 11), all operation buttons are locked (step 12), and transmission is possible. Not to be. As a result, it is possible to prevent an inconvenient state in which, although the line is connected, an attempt is made to transmit a document, an error has occurred and transmission is not possible, but a fee is charged.

Next, the detection sensor checks whether a document is set (step 13). If the document is not set, the transmission operation system button is locked (step 14) to disable transmission. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an inconvenient state in which the communication line is established but the original is not sent, but the user is charged.

After ticking and lifting the receiver (step 15) or pressing the monitor button (step 16), dial operation is performed (step 17). Alternatively, when these operations are not performed, if a one-touch dial for the other party's FAX 4 is set, the one-touch button is pressed (step 18). A command indicating direct communication with the telephone number input in this manner is A
A call is made to DP2 (step 19), and a line is established with the other party FAX4.

Next, it is checked whether the facsimile communication start button has been pressed (step 20). As a procedure for facsimile communication, it is common to press the start button for facsimile communication after the telephone number of the other party is entered and a beeping sound indicating that the facsimile line has been established is returned from the telephone receiver. It is. Or, if the start button is not pressed, the other party's FAX 4 will send a CE of 2,100 Hz.
Check whether D (called terminal identification signal) is returned (step
21) If the CED is not returned, and a binary signal of 300 bps is returned (step 22), the transmission module is activated (step 23) and FAX communication is performed (step 22).
twenty four) .

By doing so, when the receiver is returned without pressing the start button, an inconvenient state occurs in which a facsimile communication is not performed, but the user is still charged for several seconds until the receiver is put down. Can be prevented.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are operation flow charts of the adapter 2, FIG. 6 shows a case of direct communication, and FIG. 7 shows a communication flow to the center 5. FAX at step 10 in FIG.
If it is determined that the number 1 is abnormal, an error is displayed on the LCD display (step 31), and an error is printed (step 31).
32) When the abnormality is recovered (step 33), the error display on the LCD is deleted (step 34).

Next, it is checked whether or not the FAX 1 has gone off-hook (step 35).
(Step 36). If it is not a transmission to the center 5, it is checked whether a code number indicating direct communication to the general FAX 4 is included (step 37). A call is made to the telephone number entered together with the code number (step 39). If not included, an alarm sound is sent to FAX 1 as an input error (step 38).

It is checked whether a CED signal of 2100 Hz has been returned from the general FAX 4 (step 40).
The AX line is connected (step 41), the time to be charged is started (step 42), and when the communication is completed on-hook (step 43), the charge calculation time is ended.
(Step 44) The charge is calculated, and a totalization report is printed and output (Step 45).

Next, a case where the FAX 1 registers a document in the center 5 will be described with reference to FIG. If it is determined in step 36 of FIG. 6 that the transmission is to the center 5, a call is made to the center 5 (step 46), and it is checked whether an incoming call permission to permit transmission is received (step 47). At this time, an error report is printed out on the assumption that there is an error in the transmission data (step 48).

When receiving the incoming call permission, the terminal ID which is the identification number of FAX 1 is transmitted (step 49). If there is a line connection instruction (step 50), the FAX line is connected (step 51), and the communication is terminated. Is monitored (step 52), and when it is completed, the center 5 is requested to notify the fee (step). Upon receiving the notice of the fee (step 54), the balance sheet is printed out (step 45).

As described above, the information registered in the center 5 can be read from another FAX 1 with an adapter or a general facsimile 4, and can be used as an e-mail, a bulletin board, a post office box or the like.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can reduce the occurrence of inconvenient billing in a public service facsimile system that bills based on the communication time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a public service facsimile system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an adapter.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating each function of an adapter.

FIG. 4 is a communication sequence diagram from a public service facsimile to a general facsimile.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of a public service facsimile.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of an adapter.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the adapter in the diagram connected to FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Public service facsimile 2 Adapter 3 Telephone network 4 General facsimile 5 Center

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile system for public service including a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter, wherein the terminal adapter transmits the facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal connected to the telephone network. It has an hour dial function and a communication charge accounting function, and has a detection sensor for detecting whether or not a document is set on the facsimile terminal, and when the document is not set, stops the transmission function of the facsimile terminal. A facsimile system for public services, characterized in that: 2. A public service facsimile system comprising a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter, wherein the terminal adapter transmits the facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal connected to the telephone network. The facsimile terminal has an hour dial function and a communication charge accounting function, and has an alarm function for outputting an alarm when an abnormality occurs in the facsimile terminal. When the alarm function outputs an alarm, transmission of the facsimile terminal is performed. A facsimile system for public services, wherein the function is stopped. 3. A public service facsimile system comprising a facsimile terminal connected to a telephone network via a terminal adapter, wherein the terminal adapter transmits the facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal connected to the telephone network. Having an hour dial function and a communication charge accounting function, wherein the terminal adapter dials to another facsimile terminal, and after inputting an identification signal from the other facsimile terminal, the accounting function starts accounting calculation. A facsimile system for public service characterized by the following.