JP2932976B2 - Wireless communication system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless communication system including a master unit connected to a wired telephone line and a plurality of slave units connected to the master unit via a wireless line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been proposed to use a wireless communication system of this kind in an office or the like. in this case,
It is conceivable to provide not only a telephone but also a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device as a child device connected to the parent device via a wireless line. In such a configuration, a telephone call can be performed using the slave telephone, and facsimile communication or the like can be performed using the slave communication terminal device.

[0003]

However, there is a case where the calling side is a facsimile machine, for example, when the child telephone is off-hook based on a call from the parent machine, that is, when an incoming call is received at the child telephone. In addition, there is a case where the user wants to shift to facsimile communication as it is after making a call using the slave telephone. In general, a master unit, a slave phone, and a slave communication terminal device are often installed at locations separated from each other. Accordingly, in the above case, for example, the user goes to the parent device and performs a predetermined operation for switching the line to the child communication terminal device side while keeping the child telephone device in an off-hook state, It is necessary to perform an operation such as on-hook to disconnect the line with the master unit. For this reason, the transition from the call state by the child telephone to the data communication by the child communication terminal device becomes very complicated and time-consuming.

[0004] The present invention has been made by focusing on such problems existing in the prior art. The purpose is
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication system in which a line can be easily switched to a child communication terminal device even when the calling side is a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device when a call is received by a child telephone.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a base unit connected to a wired telephone line, and a child unit connected to the base unit by a wireless line. In a wireless communication system including a plurality of slaves including a slave communication terminal such as a telephone and a facsimile, a plurality of slave communication terminals are provided, and each of the slave communication terminals reports its own recording paper request state or jam state to the master unit. Means for switching the line to the side of the child communication terminal after receiving an incoming call; and a switching request means for requesting the base unit to switch the line to the side of the child communication terminal. The base unit includes calling means for calling the child communication terminal in response to the request. It has storage means for storing the priority order of the child communication terminals to be called in response to the request of the child telephone, and the calling means of the base unit, when requested from the child telephone, reports the status of each communication terminal reported. Priority in storage means Based on the order, the terminal having the highest priority among the communicable child communication terminals is called.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a call is received by a slave telephone based on a call from a base unit and the calling side is a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine, the switching request means is provided. Requests the parent device to switch the line to the child communication terminal side. Then
In response to the switching request, the master unit immediately calls the child communication terminal having the highest priority among the child communication terminals communicable by the calling means. Accordingly, when the child communication terminal responds to the call, communication by the child communication terminal becomes possible.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment. The master unit # 0 has two lines of P
They are connected to STN telephone lines (general telephone line networks) L1 and L2. The eight slave units # 1 to # 8 are connected to the master unit # 0 via a wireless line. In the present embodiment,
Slave units # 1 to # 5 are slave telephones, and slave units # 6 to # 8 are facsimile machines as slave communication terminals.

The wireless communication between the slave units # 1 to # 8 and the master unit # 0 is performed by PHS (Personal Handyphone
The system utilizes a recently developed mobile communication service called “system”. A PHS terminal (slave unit) can communicate with an outdoor base station like a mobile phone outdoors, and an indoor base station (base unit) connected indoors like a cordless phone indoors like a cordless telephone. Can be communicated over. The advantage of PHS is that TDMA
/ TDD (Time Division Multiple Access / Tim
Since the e-Division Duplex method is used, the line quality is good and it is suitable for digital data transmission. Therefore, data communication such as facsimile communication can be performed at a higher data transmission rate than an analog cordless telephone.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the master unit # 0. NC
U (network control unit) 1
0 and the connection and opening of the telephone lines L1 and L2, and the connection and opening of the telephone lines L1 and L2 and the handset 2 are controlled. ADPCM codec 3
Telephone line L by PCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation)
1 and L2, and decodes data received from the slave units # 1 to # 8 via a wireless line. Channel codec 4 is TDMA / TDD
It creates data conforming to the system and extracts necessary data from the data received from the slave units # 1 to # 8. Modulating section 5 shifts data to be transmitted to slave units # 1 to # 8 by π / 4 shift Q
The signal is modulated by the PSK method, and the demodulation unit 6 demodulates the data received from the slave units # 1 to # 8 by the same method. RF unit 7
Transmits data input from the modulation unit 5 to the slave units # 1 to # 8 via the antenna 8, and outputs data received via the antenna 8 to the demodulation unit 6.

The master unit # 0 further includes a CPU 9 for controlling the above-described units, a ROM 10 for storing programs and the like necessary for the control thereof, and a RAM 11 for temporarily storing data and the like required for the control. Have. In the present embodiment, a calling unit is configured by the CPU 9, the ROM 10, and the RAM 11. That is, base unit # 0 calls predetermined child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 in response to requests from child telephone sets # 1 to # 5 described later.

In the RAM 11, each of the sub telephones # 1 to #
5 is provided with an area 11A for setting the priority order of the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 to be called by the base unit # 0 in response to the request from the base station # 5. For example, in FIG.
In response to the request from the slave telephone set # 1, the calling priorities of the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 are set to "# 6, # 7, #
8 ". "# 6, # 7, # 8" for the request from the child telephone # 2, "# 7, # 8, # 6" for the request from the child telephone # 3, and # 4 for the request from the child telephone # 4.
"# 7, # 6, # 8" for the request from the sub-facsimile machine, and "# 8, # 6, # 7" for the request from the sub-telephone # 5, respectively. 8 call priorities are set. The setting of the priority order is performed, for example, by operating a predetermined key of a key input unit (not shown) provided in the base unit # 0.

The RAM 11 has an area 11 for storing the call priority order of the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8.
In addition to A, a slave unit status memory 11B for storing the “state” of each of the slave units # 1 to # 8 is provided.

Here, the "states" of the slave units # 1 to # 8 stored in the slave unit status memory 11B refer to the respective slave units # 1 to # 8.
"Standby" indicating that # 8 is in a communicable state, "During external line communication" indicating that it is communicating with an external partner through lines L1 and L2, and child through master unit # 0. Machine # 1 to #
8 that “internal communication” indicating that the two are communicating with each other, that the mobile phone is out of the service area of the base unit # 0 (a state in which wireless communication with the base unit # 0 is not possible), or that the power is off. "Out of service area, power off" or the like. Further, when the slave units are the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8, a "recording sheet request" requesting filling because the recording sheet has run out,
There is a "jam" indicating a paper jam of a document or a recording sheet.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the sub telephones # 1 to # 5. The speaker 21 and the microphone 22 are connected to an ADPCM codec 23. ADPCM codec 2
3 decodes data received via a wireless line by the ADPCM method and outputs the decoded data from the speaker 21;
The audio data input from the microphone 22 is encoded by a similar method. The channel codec 24 is a TDM
It creates data conforming to the A / TDD system and extracts necessary data from the received data. The modulation unit 25
Data transmitted to master unit # 0 is modulated by the π / 4 shift QPSK system, and demodulation unit 26 demodulates data received from master unit # 0 by the same system. The RF unit 27 transmits the signal input from the modulation unit 25 to the base unit # 0 from the antenna 28.
And outputs the signal received from the antenna 28 to the demodulation unit 26.

Each of the slave telephone sets # 1 to # 5 includes a CPU 29 for controlling the above-described units, a ROM 30 for storing programs and the like necessary for the control, and a RAM 31 for temporarily storing data and the like necessary for the control. I have. Key input unit 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a numeric keypad for inputting a telephone number and the like, and various operation keys such as a transfer key 32a to be described later. In the present embodiment, the CPU 29, the ROM 30, the RAM 31
And the transfer key 32a constitute switching request means. That is, when the transfer key 32a is operated after receiving an incoming call in the sub telephones # 1 to # 5, the sub telephones # 1 to # 5 are operated.
5 makes a request to the parent machine # 0 to switch the line to the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8. Then, the parent machine #
0 calls the predetermined child facsimile machines # 6- # 8 according to the table data in the RAM 11 in response to the request. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 33 displays various information such as an input telephone number.

FIG. 4 shows child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 6.
8 shows the configuration of FIG. The reading unit 41 binarizes image data obtained by scanning a document with a CCD or the like. Recording section 42
Prints on recording paper based on the image data. The FAX codec 57 encodes the image data binarized by the reading unit 41 for redundancy compression, decodes the encoded data received from the wireless line, and outputs the decoded data to the recording unit 42. FAX modem 58 modulates the data encoded by FAX codec 57 into deemed voice, and demodulates deemed voice received from master unit # 0. Also, this F
AX modem 58 also has a function of detecting a CNG signal transmitted from a communication partner via master device # 0.
The ADPCM codec 43 encodes the deemed voice data input from the FAX modem 58 by the ADPCM method, decodes the deemed voice data received via the wireless line by the same method, and outputs the data to the FAX modem 58. Channel codec 44 uses TDMA /
It creates data conforming to the TDD system and extracts necessary data from data received via a wireless line. Modulating section 45 modulates data transmitted to base unit # 0 by the π / 4 shift QPSK method, and demodulation section 46 demodulates data received from base unit # 0 by the same method. The RF unit 47 converts the signal input from the modulation unit 45 into an antenna 48
, And outputs a signal received from the antenna 48 to the demodulation unit 46.

Further, slave facsimile machines # 6 to # 8
The ADPCM codec 43 and the channel codec 44 are connected to a CPU 49, a ROM 50 storing programs and the like necessary for control, and a RAM 51 for temporarily storing data and the like necessary for control. Similarly, a CPU 54, a ROM 55 and a RAM 56 are connected to the FAX codec 57 and the FAX modem 58. The key input unit 52 includes various operation keys such as numeric keys for inputting a telephone number and the like. LCD53
Displays various information such as the input telephone number.

Each of the slave units # 1 to # 8 reports its current state to the master unit # 0 each time its own state changes. In the present embodiment, the CPUs of the handset telephones # 1 to # 5
29, ROM 30, RAM 31, and CPUs 54, ROM 55, and RA of slave facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8.
M56 constitutes reporting means. Each time the master unit # 0 receives a report from each of the slave units # 1 to # 8, the master unit # 0 updates the storage content of the slave unit status memory 11B, and updates each of the slave units # 1.
The current state of # 8 is always grasped.

Next, the operation of the wireless communication system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5, master unit # 0 receives a call from the exchange based on a call from the calling side, and
Calls are made to 1 to # 8. Based on this call, when the user goes off-hook, for example, to the child phone # 1,
The line between the slave telephone set # 1 and the calling side is closed, and the call is received. (Step S1). If the calling side is a telephone, the user can talk with the calling side via the base unit # 0 using the sub telephone # 1 (step S2). When the calling side is a facsimile machine, the CNG signal transmitted from the calling side is reproduced as voice via the speaker 21 of the slave telephone set # 1. Therefore, based on the CNG signal tone, the user determines that the calling side is a facsimile machine and operates the transfer key 32a. Then, the slave phone # 1 sends the switching request signal to the master unit # 0.
(Step S3).

Upon receiving the switching request signal from slave phone # 1, master unit # 0 transmits a response signal to slave phone # 1, and then releases the wireless line with slave phone # 1 (step). S4, S5). At this time, the line between master unit # 0 and the calling side is kept in the closed state. The switching request signal and the response signal are FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel) or SACCH (SlowACCH) based on the TDMA / TDD system.

Next, the master unit # 0 is located in the area 11A of the RAM 11.
Are called to the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8 in accordance with the table data registered in. Here, for example, when all of the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 are in a "standby" state in which communication is possible, the child telephone that has requested the switching is # 1, and the parent machine # 0 is in the area 11A. A call is made to the child facsimile apparatus # 6 having the highest priority according to the table data in (step S6). When there is a response from the child facsimile machine # 6 to the call from the base machine # 0, the wireless line between the master machine # 0 and the child facsimile machine # 6 is closed,
An incoming call is received (step S7). Therefore, the CNG signal transmitted from the calling side is detected by the FAX modem 58 of the child facsimile machine # 6 via the master unit # 0. As a result, the child facsimile apparatus # 6 recognizes that the calling side is a facsimile apparatus, and performs facsimile communication with the calling side (step S8).

When the facsimile communication is completed, the wireless line between the child facsimile machine # 6 and the base unit # 0 is opened, and the line between the base unit # 0 and the calling side is opened (step). S9). Thereafter, the base unit # 0 receives information on the facsimile communication (for example, communication partner, communication time,
The number of originals, the quality of the communication result, etc.) are notified to the handset # 1 that has requested the switching (step S10). The notified information is displayed on the LCD 33, for example, or is notified by voice from the speaker 21. as a result,
The result of facsimile communication by the child facsimile machine # 6 can be easily known from a remote place via the child telephone # 1 that has made the switching request.

On the other hand, after the processing of steps S1 to S5 in FIG. 5 is performed, all the child facsimile machines #
6 to # 8 are not necessarily in a “standby” state in which communication is possible. Therefore, in that case, the following processing operation is performed. That is, the parent machine # 0 can communicate with the child facsimile machines based on the current status of each of the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8 stored in the child machine status memory 11B of the RAM 11 and the table data in the area 11A. #
A call is made to the one with the highest priority among 6 to # 8 (step S36).

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the child facsimile apparatus # 6 is in the "outside communication" state where facsimile communication with an external facsimile apparatus is being performed, and the child facsimile apparatus # 7 is filled with recording paper. Is requested, and the child facsimile machine # 8 is in a "standby" state in which communication is possible. In addition, child phone #
Assume that the calling priorities of the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 in response to the request from No. 1 are set in the order of "# 6, # 7, # 8". In such a case, the parent machine # 0 calls the child facsimile machine # 8 having the highest priority among the communicable child facsimile machines.

Accordingly, the child facsimile machine # 8 immediately responds to the call, and the line is switched from the child telephone # 1 to the child facsimile machine # 8 to receive an incoming call (step S37). Thereafter, the same processing as in steps S8 to S10 in FIG. 5 is performed (step S3).
8-S40).

Since the wireless communication system of this embodiment operates as described above, the following advantages are provided. (1) Child phones # 1 to # in response to a call from the calling side
If the caller is a facsimile machine instead of a telephone when receiving an incoming call at # 5, the user sets the child telephones # 1 to # 5.
Is operated by operating the transfer key 32a provided in. Then
A request for switching the line to the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 is made from the child telephones # 1 to # 5 to the parent machine # 0. Then, the parent machine # 0 receiving the request from the child machines # 1 to # 5 calls the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8. Therefore, the user can switch the call from the child telephones # 1 to # 5 to the facsimile communication by the child facsimile devices # 6 to # 8 by switching the child telephones # 1 to # 1 at hand.
This can be easily performed using # 5.

(2) The base unit # 0, which has received the request from the sub telephones # 1 to # 5, sets the sub facsimile machines # 6 to # 8 according to the priorities set in advance according to the sub telephones # 1 to # 5.
Make a call to. Then, facsimile communication is performed using the highest priority order among the communicable child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8. Accordingly, it is possible to cause the user to use the child facsimile apparatus # 6 to # 8 which can communicate with the one he / she wants to use most (for example, the facsimile apparatus closest to the user), which is very convenient. is there.

(3) Information regarding the communication is notified to the slave telephone sets # 1 to # 5 that have made the switching request after the facsimile communication, so that the user who has performed the switching operation can reliably perform the facsimile communication after the switching. Can be easily confirmed via the child telephones # 1 to # 5 at hand.

(4) The master unit # 0 is connected to the slave units # 1 to # 8.
Is always recognized, and when there is a switching request from the child telephones # 1 to # 5, the highest priority of the communicable child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 is immediately determined. Then, a call can be immediately made to the child facsimile machines # 6 to # 8. For this reason,
Compared to the first embodiment, the child facsimile machine # 6
The time to wait for a response from # 8 is reduced.

The present invention can be embodied with the following modifications. (1) As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
In # 5, a CNG signal detection circuit 102 for detecting a CNG signal transmitted from the calling side is provided. Then, when a CNG signal is detected by the CNG signal detection circuit 102 after an incoming call is made at the child telephones # 1 to # 5, a line switching request is automatically made to the base unit # 0. . In this alternative, the CPU 29, the RO
Switching request means is constituted by the M30, the RAM 31, and the CNG signal detection circuit 102.

In this manner, a line switching request to master unit # 0 can be automatically and simply made without using key operations. (2) In the above embodiment, the parent machine # 0 and the child facsimile devices # 6 to # 8 use "deemed voice" to perform facsimile communication over a wireless line, and the data transmission speed is 4800 bps. It is about. However, by transmitting facsimile data directly to the wireless line without using "deemed voice" for the wireless line, the data transmission speed can be increased to about 14400 bps and the data can be transmitted with higher quality. For this purpose, the facsimile codecs 57 of the child facsimile apparatuses # 6 to # 8 are directly connected to the channel codec 44, and the FAX codec 4 is connected between the channel codec 4 of the parent machine # 0 and the NCU 1.
An AX modem may be provided.

(3) Instead of the PSTN line which is an analog line network, an ISDN line as a digital line network is used as the wired line, and the channel codec 4 of the base unit # 0 is connected to the ISDN line via the ISDN interface. Connect. Thereby, a data transmission speed of 32 kbps can be realized.

(4) Use of a personal computer having a communication function, for example, in addition to a facsimile device as a communication terminal device. The technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.

(1) The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein said switching request means includes an operation key for making a line switching request. With this configuration, when a call is received by the slave phone, the user can easily perform a switching request from the slave phone to the master unit by operating the operation key when the call is recognized as a facsimile machine. Can be.

(2) The switching request means includes CNG signal detecting means for detecting a CNG signal, and when the CNG signal is detected by the switching request means, issues a line switching request to the master unit. 2. The wireless communication system according to 1. This makes it possible to automatically and easily make a line switching request to the master unit # 0 without using key operations.

[0036]

As described above in detail, the present invention has the following excellent effects. According to the first aspect of the invention, when an incoming call is received by a child telephone, the line can be easily switched from the child telephone to the child communication terminal even if the calling side is a communication terminal such as a facsimile machine. In addition, it is possible to immediately determine the highest priority among the child communication terminals with which communication is possible, and immediately call the child communication terminal. For this reason,
The time to wait for a response from the slave communication terminal is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a master unit.

FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of a slave phone.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of the child facsimile machine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing operation in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another processing operation in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols] # 0: master unit, # 1 to # 5: slave phone,
# 6 to # 8: child facsimile machine, 9: CPU constituting calling means, 10: ROM constituting calling means, 11 ...
RAM constituting a calling means and a storage means, 29 CPU constituting a switching request means and a reporting means, 30 ROM constituting a switching request means and a reporting means, 31 RAM constituting a switching request means and a reporting means, 32a ... Transfer key constituting switch request means, 54 ... CP constituting report means
U, 55: ROM constituting reporting means, 56: RAM constituting reporting means, 102: C constituting switching request means
NG signal detection circuit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A wireless communication system comprising a master unit connected to a wired telephone line and a plurality of slave units including a slave telephone unit and a slave communication terminal unit such as a facsimile connected to the master unit by a wireless line. There are multiple child communication terminals.
They report their recording paper request status and jam status to the parent machine
The sub telephone has switching request means for making a request to the parent device to switch the line to the child communication terminal after receiving an incoming call, and the parent device calls the child communication terminal in response to the request. Call on request by means and child phone
A storage means is provided for storing the priority order of power communication terminals.
For example, the calling means of the base unit
The status of each communication terminal reported and the priority in the storage means
Based on the order, the most
A wireless communication system that calls a higher priority one .