JP3027010B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of transmitting and receiving image information.
The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile device , and more particularly to a device that changes a registration position of a display screen according to a malfunction of a one-touch program key and a frequency of use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many conventional communication apparatuses , for example, facsimile apparatuses, having a one-touch program function have been widely used. There is a method in which a one-touch program key is assigned to a touch sensor to be pressed and contacted, and an operation function of each one-touch program key is assigned to a registration position on a plurality of screens and registered. In the display range of this screen, 20 to 30 one-touch program keys are displayed, and by switching the display screen, 100 or more destination telephone numbers can be registered.

The operability of the facsimile apparatus is improved by simplifying a transmission operation procedure of a frequently transmitted destination by using the one-touch program function. Further, the contents of the program transmission and the destination telephone number which are assigned and registered to the one-touch program keys can be changed by a predetermined registration operation in the operation unit.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional communication device , the frequency of use differs depending on the destination telephone number registered in the one-touch program key. Program keys are also more likely to fail. Further, when a failure occurs in the one-touch program key for a different reason, there is a problem that the destination telephone number assigned to the failed one-touch program key cannot be specified. In order to change the registered contents, a series of registration procedures had to be repeated, and the operation was complicated and burdened the operator.

[0005]

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A plurality of one-touch program keys for designating destination registration and various program transmissions are displayed on the display panel. In the communication device provided with an operation unit for switching and displaying, when the one-touch program key is operated, operation state detection means for detecting an operation failure of each one-touch program key based on an output from each one-touch program key, Allocating means for assigning an operation function of the one-touch program key detected as malfunctioning by the operating state detecting means to a spare one-touch program key, and detecting the malfunction of the one-touch program key and detecting the malfunction of the one-touch program key. Preset key operation functions Assigning a one-touch program key, it is characterized in varying puff Rukoto the display of the one-touch program key on the display panel.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the one-touch program key is operated, an operation state detecting means for detecting an operation failure of each one-touch program key based on an output from each one-touch program key; Assigning means for allocating the operation function of the one-touch program key detected as malfunction by the detection means to a spare one-touch program key is provided, and the malfunction of the one-touch program key is detected, and the operation function of the malfunctioning one-touch program key is determined. It is assigned to a spare one-touch program key, and the display of the one-touch program key on the display panel is changed. Therefore, the operation function of the malfunctioning one-touch program key can be immediately switched to the spare one-touch program key.

[0008]

[0009]

Next, a specific description will be given based on an embodiment.
FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the communication apparatus according to the present invention, and show an example in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus 1 (communication apparatus).
I / O control unit 3, buffer memory 4, central control unit 5, hard disk 6, floppy disk 7, operation port 8,
It includes communication control units 9 to 12, a power supply unit 13, and the like. The main parts of the above parts are connected by a bus 14.

A digital copier 15 as an external device is connected to I / 0 IF2.
A reading unit for reading the image information of the document at high speed and a recording unit for recording and outputting the image information on the recording paper at high speed are provided.
The image information of the original read by the reading means of the digital copying machine 15 is input to the facsimile machine 1 via the I / 0 IF2, and the image information output to the digital copying machine 15 via the I / 0 IF2 is Is recorded and output on recording paper by the recording means of the digital copying machine 15.

The I / O control unit 3 includes an encoding / decoding unit, controls input / output of image information to / from the digital copying machine 15 through the I / O IF 2, and encodes image information. And decryption processing. That is, the I / O control unit 3
2, the output of image information to the digital copying machine 15 is controlled to control the recording operation of the digital copying machine 15, and the input of image information from the digital copying machine 15 is controlled. The reading operation of the device 15 is controlled.

A central control unit (operating state detecting means, allocating means, ordering means, registered position changing means) 5 includes a CPU (CeCe).
ntral Processing Unit ), ROM (Read Only M-emor)
y) and RAM (Random Access Memory).
The OM stores a basic program as the facsimile machine 1, a one-touch program key assignment processing program of the present invention, a registration position change processing program, and the like. The RAM stores various data necessary for controlling the facsimile machine 1, data related to image information read by the digital copying machine 15 and information related to recorded image information, and the like. Central control unit 5
Controls the various parts of the facsimile machine 1 based on the program in the ROM and the data in the RAM, executes the sequence as the facsimile machine 1, and executes the one-touch program key assignment process and the registration position change process of the present invention. I do.

The hard disk 6 and the floppy disk 7 are mainly used as an image memory, and store received image information and image information read by the digital copying machine 15. The image information in the hard disk 6 and the floppy disk 7 is stored as a file for each message, and each file is managed by the central control unit 5. The operation port 8 includes a CPU 16, a memory 17, a dictionary ROM 18, a clock 19, an LCD controller 20, an LCD controller 20, as shown in FIG.
(Liquid Crystal Display) 21, video RAM 22, touch panel controller 23, touch panel 24, etc. Each main part is connected to system bus 25. The operation port 8 is connected to the central control unit 5.

The CPU 16 controls each unit in accordance with the program stored in the memory 17 and performs bitmap data development processing for displaying on the LCD 21 the contents input from the touch panel 24 and various information transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 to the operator. A screen display switching process is executed. Also, C
The PU 16 executes a process of allocating a display position of a one-touch program key to be displayed on the LCD 21 and a process of changing a registered position in accordance with an instruction from the central control unit 5.

The memory 17 stores a program for the CPU 16 to execute a program for executing a bitmap data developing process and a screen display switching process. The dictionary ROM 18 stores dictionary data for displaying Japanese on the LCD 21. The clock 19 is a clock for displaying the time on the LCD 21 or the like.

The LCD controller 20 controls the LCD 21 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 16 to display various information. Various information is displayed on the LCD 21 as shown in FIG. 3, and the screen configuration includes a message area 21a, an icon area 21b, and a one-touch program key area 21c. In the one-touch program key area 21c of FIG. 3, 25 destinations (5 × 5) can be registered on one side, and eight cards are prepared in a card format. Switching of the card is executed by operating a card key 21d above the one-touch program key area 21c.

Therefore, 200 destinations can be registered in the one-touch program key area 21c. However, in this embodiment, the user cannot register the eighth card area as a spare key so that the user can register the destination. Is 175
Places. The video RAM 22 stores various data to be displayed on the LCD 21, for example, bit map data for developing registration position data of one-touch program keys on the operation port 8 or destination data of each one-touch program key.

The touch panel controller 23 transfers the input contents operated on the touch panel 24 to the CPU 16. The touch panel 24 is formed of a transmissive resistive film,
The contact area of the resistive film is formed in accordance with the screen configuration of D21, and the touch panel 24 is set to be superimposed on the LCD 21 display screen. Therefore, the operator operates while watching the screen of the LCD 21 through the touch panel 24.

Returning to FIG. 1, different communication lines, for example, ISDN, DDX-C, D
DX-P, PSTN, etc. are connected, and each of the communication control units 9 to 12 performs calling / incoming processing for each connected line, communication control processing, and modulation / demodulation processing of communication data. The facsimile communication procedure is performed by executing a facsimile communication procedure with the partner facsimile apparatus.

The power supply unit 13 converts an external AC power supply into a DC voltage and a voltage, and supplies power to each unit of the facsimile machine 1. The facsimile machine 1 has an RS-
A personal computer 26 is connected via an interface of 232C, and the personal computer 26 can process received image information and image information for transmission.

Next, the operation will be described. The present invention performs an operation test of each one-touch program key in the one-touch program key area 21c displayed on the LCD 21 of the operation port 8, and assigns the malfunctioning one-touch program key to the one-touch program key of the spare card and performs each one-touch operation. The feature is that the frequency of use of the one-touch program keys is ordered based on the number of times of selection of the program keys, and a registration position change process for changing the registration position of the one-touch program keys is performed according to the order.

First, one-touch program key assignment processing will be described with reference to FIG. Now, the destination is selected by the operator operating the one-touch program key of the operation port 8, but if a certain one-touch program key breaks down, the one-touch program key operation to the destination cannot be performed. In this case, in the present embodiment, FIG.
When a key test is instructed by selecting the system icon in the icon area 21b shown in (1) by the operator, the key test is started and the one-touch program key area 21 is started.
The test is started from the one-touch program key displayed as No. 1 of the first card in c (step S1).

At this time, a message for notifying the start of the key test may be displayed in the message area 21a to urge the operator to perform a key operation. Next, a timer for waiting for the output of the ON signal by operating the one-touch program key is started (step S2), and the ON signal output of the one-touch program key is checked to determine whether the key operation state is normal (step S2).
3). When the ON signal is output, it is determined that the one-touch program key of the key number is normal, and the process proceeds to the next key number, and the test is repeatedly executed up to the last key number (steps S4 and S5).

If the ON signal is not output in step S3, it is checked whether or not a test cancel instruction has been issued (step S6). If the cancel instruction has been issued, the test processing is interrupted and terminated, and the cancellation is terminated. Is not instructed, it is checked whether the timer has expired (step S7). If the ON signal is output before the time is over, it is determined that the one-touch program key of that key number is normal, and the process proceeds to the next key number, and the test is repeatedly executed until the last key number (step S4, S5). If the ON signal is not output even after the time has elapsed, the message area 21a indicates that the one-touch program key is faulty and assigns the registered destination to the eighth spare one-touch program key area 21c. To inform the operator (step S8).

Next, it is checked whether or not "OK" has been input by the operator with respect to the message (step S9). If "OK" has not been input, the process proceeds to the next key number and the last key number is processed. The test is repeatedly executed up to the number (steps S4 and S5). If "OK" is input, the registered destination of the operation function of the one-touch program key determined to have failed is assigned to the one-touch program key in the eighth spare one-touch program key area 21c, and a predetermined spare key number is assigned. (Step S10). Then, this spare key number is (+
1) is added, and the process proceeds to the process of the next key number, the test is repeatedly executed until the last key number, and the process is completed (steps S4 and S5).

Next, the one-touch program key registration position change processing will be described with reference to the display screen of the LCD 21 in FIG. Now, when the operator searches for a desired destination from the one-touch program key area 21c displayed on the LCD 21, it is performed by operating a telephone directory icon in the icon area 21b. When the operator searches for the destination one-touch program key, presses the desired one-touch program key, and outputs an ON signal, the ON signal is recognized by the CPU 16 of the operation port 8 and transmitted to the central control unit 5 as key information. Is done.

The central control unit 5 develops the destination telephone number based on the transmitted key information, and transmits the developed destination telephone number to the communication control units 9 to 12, and the communication control units 9 to 12
At step 12, a call is made to the destination facsimile terminal. At this time, the number of times of use of the selected destination is counted by the central control unit 5, and the number of times of use of the currently selected destination is added (+1). Compared to the count. As a result of the comparison of the number of times of use, ordering is performed in the order of frequency of use from the destination with the highest number of times of use.
One-touch program key area 21 displayed on D21
The registration position of the one-touch program key c is sequentially changed from the frequently used one to the display position of the first card.

Therefore, in the facsimile apparatus 1, when a failure is detected by a touch key in a corresponding area of the touch panel 24 for each one-touch program key, the destination is automatically assigned to a spare one-touch program key. It is possible to continue using the touch panel 24 without replacing the entire touch panel 24 due to the failure of the touch key, and to extend the service life of the touch panel 24.

Further, since the registration position of the one-touch program key is automatically changed in the order of the destinations which are frequently used,
The operation when searching for many registered addresses becomes easier,
The operation burden on the operator can be reduced. As a result, the operability and convenience of the facsimile apparatus can be improved.

[0030]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the malfunction of the one-touch program key is detected, and the operation function of the malfunctioning one-touch program key is assigned to the spare one-touch program key, and the one-touch operation on the display panel is performed. Since the display of the program key is changed, the operation function of the one-touch program key that has become defective can be immediately switched to the spare one-touch program key.

[0031]

As a result, the operability and convenience of the communication device can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an operation port in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an LCD in the operation port of FIG. 2 according to the present invention;
The figure which shows the example of a display of.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a program of an allocation process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile apparatus (communication apparatus) 2 I / 0 IF 3 I / O control part 4 Buffer memory 5 Central control part 6, 7 Hard disk 8 Operation port 9-12 Communication control part 13 Power supply part 14 Bus 15 Digital copier 16 CPU 17 Memory 18 Dictionary ROM 19 Clock 20 LCD controller 21 LCD 21a Message area 21b Icon area 21c One-touch program key area 21d Card key 22 Video RAM 23 Touch panel controller 24 Touch panel 25 System bus

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of one-touch program keys for designating destination registration and transmission of various programs are displayed on a display panel, and an operation function of each of the one-touch program keys is provided.
In a communication device including an operation unit that switches and displays an instruction message or the like prompting a registration position and an operation procedure by operating a display screen of the display panel, when the one-touch program key is operated, Operating state detecting means for detecting an operation failure of each one-touch program key based on the output, and allocating means for assigning an operation function of the one-touch program key detected as an operation failure by the operation state detection means to a spare one-touch program key. Detecting a malfunction of the one-touch program key, assigning an operation function of the malfunctioning one-touch program key to a spare one-touch program key, and changing the display of the one-touch program key on the display panel. Communication device.