JPH0626394B2 - Facsimile communication device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication device having a normal call function.

Background Art In a facsimile communication device having an automatic call reception function, if a calling party requests a facsimile communication, it can immediately receive the request and perform facsimile communication. The request could not be received.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, in a facsimile communication device having a call function, even if a caller side requests either a facsimile communication request or a call request, these are handled by an automatic receiving function. A device that can do this is desired. As a means for realizing such a device, for example, a method based on voice detection has been proposed. This is to detect the voice of the caller and switch the function of the device to the call function when the caller requests a call. However, in this method, a voice detection means must be additionally provided in the apparatus, which causes so-called high cost.

As another method, there may be considered a method in which a facsimile communication apparatus of the auto dial system detects a calling signal transmitted when making a facsimile communication request. According to this method, it is possible to identify whether the caller side is making a request for facsimile communication or a call request by detecting the presence or absence of the calling signal, but the above-mentioned manual dialing method that does not send the calling signal. It cannot deal with the facsimile communication device. That is, even if the caller side makes a facsimile communication request by the facsimile communication apparatus by the manual dial method, it cannot be identified and cannot respond to the facsimile communication request from the caller side.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to deal with both the call request and the facsimile communication request on the caller side, and the facsimile communication request from the manual dial type facsimile communication device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication device having an automatic incoming call function capable of coping with the above.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a first predetermined method after connecting a telephone line with a calling party.
During the period of time, detecting means for detecting a calling signal requesting facsimile communication from the calling party, and in response to the output from the detecting means, when the detecting means detects the calling signal, the facsimile communication procedure is started. If the detection means does not detect the call signal, the signal indicating the call is output until a predetermined second time elapses, and if there is no call start instruction during the second time. And a control means for outputting a signal for starting a facsimile communication procedure.

Operation According to the present invention, when a facsimile communication request is made from the caller side, a calling signal requesting facsimile communication from the caller is detected by the detection means of the device during the first predetermined time. To be done. As a result, in response to the output from the detecting means, the control means sends a signal for starting the facsimile communication procedure to the calling party side via the telephone line. Upon receiving this signal, the caller side sends image information related to facsimile communication to the device (callee), whereby facsimile communication is performed.

On the other hand, when the caller side requests a telephone call from the telephone or the like, the detecting means does not detect a calling signal requesting facsimile communication, and in response to this, the control means causes the second signal to be determined in advance. The signal indicating the call is output only during the time.

When the operator of the device (callee) gives a call start instruction, for example, by picking up a handset (handset), during the second time when the signal indicating the call is output, the call is issued. A call with the person is realized.

If the operator of the apparatus does not issue a call start instruction during the second time, the control means outputs a signal for starting the facsimile communication procedure after the second time has elapsed. This is for coping with a facsimile communication request from a facsimile communication device or the like using a so-called manual dial method.

That is, some facsimile communication devices using the so-called manual dial method do not output the calling signal for requesting the above-mentioned facsimile communication. In response to such a facsimile communication request, detection is made during the first time. The means cannot detect anything and cannot deal with this. Therefore, this can be dealt with by outputting a signal for starting the facsimile communication procedure after the second time has elapsed, and the versatility thereof is improved.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile communication device 1 is provided with a line network control unit 2 connected to a telephone line. The line network control unit 2 performs a line control operation between the external telephone line and the device 1 and responds to a dial call from the caller side, as will be described later. It has an automatic incoming call function to connect with the telephone line. The line network control unit 2 includes a handset 3 including a transmitter and a receiver.
A call unit 4 for making a call is connected via. Further, a control unit 6 for performing automatic switching control between a telephone function and a facsimile communication function of the device 1 is connected to the line network control unit 2 via a modulation / demodulation unit 7. The modulation / demodulation unit 7 modulates / demodulates a carrier signal transmitted / received by the device 1 via the telephone line. That is,
The image information related to the facsimile communication is modulated / demodulated via the modulator / demodulator 7.

A signal level detection is provided between the line network control unit 2 and the control unit 6 to identify the type of various control signals transmitted from the caller side through the telephone line by detecting the signal level. The section 8 is provided as a detecting means, and a signal sending section 9 for creating a control signal to be sent from the device 1 (callee) to the calling party in response to the output of the control section 6 is interposed. Further, the line network control unit 2 and the control unit 6 are connected via a line 11 in order to realize an automatic incoming call function described later.

The control unit 6 stores a voice storage unit 10 for storing a call-in-progress message (voice) to be sent to the caller side.
Further, a timer unit 11 for measuring a first time limit T1 and a second time limit T2, which will be described later, and a speaker 12 for acoustically converting a ringing signal or a message being ringed, which will be described later, are connected to each other. . Further, a reading unit 13 for optically reading an image of a document loaded in the apparatus 1
A recording unit 14 for recording image information received via a telephone line, and an operation unit 15 including a dial key and the like.
And are connected in parallel to the control unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining a call procedure of the facsimile communication device 1. With reference to FIG. 1A, description will be made assuming that a calling side having a facsimile communication function of an auto dial system makes a facsimile communication request to the device 1 (called side).

At time t0, the calling side makes a dial call to the called side. On the called side, the line polarity is reversed by the automatic call receiving function of the line network control unit 2 in response to the dialing call from the calling side (time t1). As a result, the line connection between the calling side and the called side is realized. In the line network control unit 2, when the inversion of the line polarity is detected, a signal indicating this is immediately sent to the control unit 6 via the line l1.
As a result, the control unit 6 recognizes that the line connection with the calling side is completed, and starts counting the first time limit T1 (for example, 5 seconds) set in the time counting unit 11.

At the first time limit T1, the signal level detection unit 8 detects whether or not a facsimile communication request calling signal (hereinafter referred to as a CNG signal) is sent from the calling side. This CNG signal is a signal of a type sent when a facsimile communication request is made in an auto-dial type facsimile communication apparatus.
It is a signal in which a sounding state in which a calling tone of Hz is generated for 0.5 seconds and a silent state for 3 seconds are alternately repeated. In this case, since this CNG signal is transmitted from the calling side, the device 1 detects this and starts the communication procedure for performing facsimile communication with the calling party.

At the start of facsimile communication, a control signal as described below is sent from the called side to the calling side. That is, first, the called station identification signal (CED signal-Call
ed Station Identification-tonal) is sent to the calling party. As for this CED signal, the sound of 2100 Hz is 2.
The signal lasts for 6 seconds to 4 seconds, and the calling side can recognize that the facsimile communication with the called party is possible by receiving the CED signal. After the CED signal is transmitted from the called station, a non-standard device signal (NES signal-Non-Standard Facilities “0000
0100 "), called station identification signal (CSI signal-Called
Station Identification "0000 0010"),
Digital identification signal (DIS signal-Digital Identificati
on Signal "0000 0001") is sent to the calling side in this order, and thereafter the image information from the calling side is received.

The control signals are created in the signal sending unit 9.
That is, the CNG signal received by the network controller 2 is detected by the signal level detector 8 and a signal indicating this is output to the controller 6. As a result, the control unit 6 outputs to the signal transmission unit 9 a signal instructing the creation of each of the control signals. In response to this, the signal sending unit 9 creates each control signal and sends it from the line network control unit 2 to the calling side via the telephone line.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2 (2), description will be given on the assumption that the calling side makes a call request by a normal telephone.

At time t0, the calling side makes a dial call using a transmitter / receiver for making a call, and at time t1, when the reversal of the line polarity is detected on the called side, as described above, the first time limit T1 is reached. Is started, and the presence or absence of the CNG signal described above is detected. In this case, since the calling side is making a call request and not sending the CNG signal indicating a facsimile communication request, the signal level detection unit 8 does not operate during the first time limit T1. At CNG
No signal detected. As a result, the control unit 6 starts the end time t2 of the first time limit T1 and then sets the second time limit T2 preset in the time counting unit 11 (for example, 15 seconds).
And the call procedure described later is started.

That is, from the time t2 to the end time t3 of the second time limit T2, the call calling message stored in advance in the voice recording unit 10 is audible by the speaker 12, and a similar call calling message is transmitted over the telephone line. Continue to be sent to the calling party via. For example, a message such as "Call is requested" is used as the call calling message that is sounded by the speaker 12, and a message such as "Call is being requested" is sent to the calling side. May be used.

In this way, by audibly converting the call calling message, it is possible to make a call request to the called operator. The operator on the called side responds to the call request during the second time limit T2 and presses the call key of the operation unit 15 or lifts the handset 3 to cut off the hook switch (not shown). When a call start instruction is given by, for example, the control section 6 outputs a switching signal to the line network control section 2. As a result, the line network control unit 2 switches the telephone line to the side of the call unit 4 and puts the device 1 in the call-enabled state. This allows the called operator to talk with the calling operator.

On the other hand, on the calling side, when dialing is performed, the above-mentioned message is sent from the called side after the first time limit T1 has elapsed since the line was connected.
The calling operator can hear this message through the handset.

Therefore, the calling operator can confirm that the call request is made to the called operator,
You will be relieved of unnecessary anxiety caused by no response.

If the called operator does not give a call start instruction such as lifting the handset 3 during the second time limit T2, the device 1 starts the CED signal from the end time t3 of the second time limit T2. Is sent, and the facsimile communication procedure as described above is started. The reason why the facsimile communication procedure is started in this way is to cope with the case where the calling side makes a facsimile communication request with the facsimile communication apparatus of the manual dial method.

That is, in the facsimile communication apparatus using the manual dial method, the facsimile communication procedure is started by the operator pressing the transmission start key after confirming the reception of the CED signal from the called side by dialing. As described above, the CNG signal is not transmitted. Therefore, if the called party does not receive a call request during the second time limit T2, the facsimile communication procedure by the manual dial method can be dealt with by immediately starting the facsimile communication procedure.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation on the called side.

In step n1, when the line network control unit 2 detects that the line polarity has been reversed, the counting of the first time limit time T1 is started in step n2.

In step n3, it is judged whether or not the CNG signal is detected, and if this CNG signal is detected, step n1
In step 0, the CED signal is sent to the calling side, and the facsimile communication procedure is started. If the CNG signal is not detected in step n3, the process proceeds to step n4, it is determined whether or not the first time limit T1 has elapsed, and if the first time limit T1 has not elapsed, the process returns to step n3, and when the time elapses. Go to step n5.

In step n5, the timing of the second time limit T2 is started. At step n6, the call page message is sounded from the speaker 12, and at step n7.
In, a call call message is sent to the calling side through the telephone line.

In step n8, it is determined whether or not the second time limit T2 has elapsed, and if not, the process proceeds to step n9.

In step n9, it is determined whether the handset 3 is lifted and the hook switch is cut off. When the hook switch is cut off, that is, when the operator gives a call start instruction, the call with the caller is started. If no call start instruction is given, the process returns to step n6.

When the second time limit T2 ends in step n8, the process proceeds to step n10, the CED signal is sent to the calling side, and the facsimile communication procedure is started.

Thus, in the facsimile communication device 1 of the present invention,
Whether the caller requests a facsimile communication request or a call request, these can be handled by the automatic call receiving function. In addition, regardless of whether the calling side facsimile communication request is an automatic dial method or a manual dial method, these can be dealt with by the automatic call receiving function, and the versatility is improved.

Although the call calling message is transmitted in the call procedure in the present embodiment (see step n6 and step n7 in FIG. 3), an alarm sound or the like is transmitted instead of the call calling message. Good. In this case, it is desirable that the alarm sound be a different type of signal from the ringing sound before the line polarity is reversed. As a result, the distinction between the ringing sound before the line polarity reversal and the alarm sound becomes clear, and the operator on the calling side hears this alarm sound to confirm that the call request is made to the called side. can do.

Effect As described above, according to the present invention, an automatic call receiving function capable of responding to both a call request and a facsimile communication request on the caller side is realized. Further, even in the case of a communication device which does not output a calling signal detected by the detecting means prior to making a facsimile communication request, such as a facsimile communication device using a so-called manual dial method, the automatic incoming call function should handle this. And the versatility is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the operation, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation on the called side. 1 ... Facsimile communication device, 2 ... Line network control unit, 3
...... Handset, 4 …… Talking unit, 6 …… Control unit, 7 ...
... modulation / demodulation section, 8 ... signal level detection section, 9 ... signal transmission section, 10 ... sound storage section, 11 ... timekeeping section, 12 ... speaker

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Takashi Nakajiri 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Gennichi Hayashi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. Sharp Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-61-262350 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detecting means for detecting a calling signal for requesting facsimile communication from a calling party during a predetermined first time after a telephone line connection with the calling party, and an output from said detecting means. In response, when the detecting means detects the ringing signal, it outputs a signal for starting the facsimile communication procedure, and if the detecting means does not detect the ringing signal, it outputs a signal indicating a call ringing for a predetermined second time. And a control means for outputting a signal for starting a facsimile communication procedure if there is no call start instruction during the second time.