JPH0797804B2 - Facsimile delivery control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information receiving system in a facsimile, and more particularly to a distribution control device suitable for application to a system that collectively operates a plurality of facsimiles.

[Conventional technology]

With the spread of facsimiles in recent years, there is an increasing need to operate a plurality of facsimiles at once. However, conventionally, even in this case, each of the facsimiles is only independently connected to the public communication line for use, and the fact is that the facsimiles do not have a special relationship with each other.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional facsimile operation system, there is a high possibility that transmission to a facsimile with a high operation rate among a plurality of facsimiles will be busy (occupying the line), and the line should be connected to this facsimile for transmission. Becomes difficult.

Further, there is a large difference in the operating rates of a plurality of facsimiles, and one facsimile may have an operating rate of approximately 100%, while other facsimiles may not reach 30%. In addition to the line occupation of the facsimile, the operation of the facsimile becomes inefficient.

[Means for solving problems]

The facsimile delivery control apparatus of the present invention is intended to make the operating rates of the respective facsimiles uniform and improve the operating efficiency when a plurality of facsimiles are collectively operated.

The facsimile delivery control device of the present invention is installed between a plurality of facsimiles and a public communication line network, and a line switching means capable of switching the connection between each of the facsimiles and the line network, and transmission from the facsimile or from the line network. An incoming / outgoing call detecting means for detecting an incoming call, a means for detecting and monitoring the states of a facsimile and a line in use, and a first storing means for storing a destination facsimile for one facsimile in advance based on a priority order. Means for transferring to the transfer destination according to the priority stored in the first storage means when the destination facsimile is in use, and second storage for storing the transfer destination when the transfer is carried out Means and the facsimile of the destination of the incoming call after the transfer is made available to the facsimile based on the contents stored in the second storage means. And means for notifying first.

〔Example〕

 Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the facsimile distribution control device of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the distant facsimiles 1 and 2 are now connected to the public communication line switching network 3, and on the other side, four facsimiles 5, 6, 7, Assume 8 is connected. This public communication line switching network 3
A facsimile distribution control device 4 is interposed between the facsimile distribution control device 4 and each of the facsimiles 5 to 8, and the facsimile distribution control device 4 and the facsimiles 5 to 8 are controlled to be switched.

The facsimile delivery control device 4, as shown in FIG.
A line switching unit 11 for switching the connection between the public communication line switching network 3 and each of the facsimiles 5-8, and a facsimile 5
.. to 8 or an incoming / outgoing call monitoring unit 12 for detecting an incoming call from the circuit switching network 3, and a line status monitoring unit for detecting and monitoring the status of the facsimile in use in the facsimiles 5 to 8 and the line at that time. 13 and each facsimile 5
Memory unit for storing the priority of data reception in No. 8 and other mutual relationships among the facsimile machines 5-8
14, a transfer storage memory unit 15 for storing the result of the actual transfer between the facsimiles 5 to 8, the line switching unit 11, the outgoing / incoming call monitoring unit 12, the line status monitoring unit 13, and the transfer destination memory. A CPU (central processing unit) 16 for controlling the unit 14 and the transfer storage memory unit 15 is provided. A keyboard 17 and a display 18 are attached to the CPU 16 as needed.

Here, the line switching unit 11, the outgoing / incoming call monitoring unit 12, and the line status monitoring unit 13 cooperate with the CPU 16 to configure a line switching unit, an outgoing / incoming call detecting unit, and a line monitoring unit, respectively. Further, the transfer destination memory unit 14 and the transfer storage memory unit 15 cooperate with the CPU 16, the keyboard 17 and the display 18 to form transfer means and transfer destination notifying means.

According to this configuration, when a transmission is made from the external facsimile machine 1 to the facsimile machine 6, an incoming call is detected by the outgoing / incoming call monitoring unit 12 in the facsimile distribution control device 4 and the CPU 1
Notify 6. The CPU 16 checks the state of use of the destination facsimile 6 via the line state monitor unit 13, confirms that the facsimile 6 is not in use, then sends a control signal to the line switching unit 11 to connect the incoming line to the facsimile 6. To do.
This allows the facsimile 1 and the facsimile 6 to execute communication.

In this communication state, when another transmission is made from the facsimile 2 to the facsimile 6, an incoming call is detected by the outgoing / incoming call monitoring unit 12 and the CPU 16 is notified in the same manner as described above, but this time, the line state monitoring unit 13 is notified. Informs the CPU 16 that the facsimile 6 is currently in use. Therefore, the CPU 16 selects the facsimile 6 from the transfer destination memory unit 14.
The transfer information such as the priority order is fetched, the states of the other facsimiles 5, 7, and 8 are checked according to this priority order, and the incoming line is transferred to the highest priority one among the not-used facsimile machines. For example, if the priority of the transfer information of the facsimile 6 is set in the order of the facsimile 8 and the facsimile 5, first check the usage state of the facsimile 8, and if this is in use, then check the usage state of the facsimile 5. become. If the facsimile 5 is not used at this time, the CPU 16 causes the line switching unit 1
Control 1 to connect the incoming call from the facsimile 2 to the facsimile 5.

At the same time, the CPU 16 transfers the transfer destination to the transfer storage memory unit 15,
The facsimile 6 stores a message that stores the time and the like, detects when the original destination facsimile 6 is available, and notifies the facsimile 5 that the transfer has been performed.
Send to. In the facsimile 6, the message is printed out and taken out so that the user recognizes it. The user may recognize this and send the incoming call information to the facsimile 5.

Even when the facsimile 6 is making a call, an incoming call addressed to the facsimile 6 can be transferred to another facsimile in the same manner.

Therefore, even if one facsimile is in use, the information sent to this facsimile can be received by another facsimile, and even if the operating rate of one facsimile is high, the sending and receiving of information can be promptly performed. Can be executed. As a result, it is possible to improve the operating rates of other facsimiles having low operating rates, correct the difference in operating rates among a plurality of facsimiles, and realize efficient operation.

Here, if the priority order of the transfer destinations is set based on the arrangement distance between the facsimiles or the like, the user can easily go to get the information. In addition, this priority order is set in the transfer destination memory unit 14
It is also possible to provide a non-volatile read / write memory in which the keyboard 17 and the display 18 can be used for interactive writing and setting.

Further, the transfer information may be stored for a certain period (period) after being sent as a message so that the transfer information can be referred to at any time. Further, even when one of a plurality of facsimile machines fails, the information for this facsimile machine can be transferred to another facsimile machine in the same manner as when it is in use, and it can be used as a countermeasure against the failure. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the facsimile distribution control device is provided with the line switching means, the incoming / outgoing call detecting means, the line status monitoring means, the transfer destination priority storage means, the transfer execution destination storage means, the transfer means and the transfer destination notifying means. Since it consists of
It is possible to automatically transfer an incoming call for a facsimile in use to a free fax, eliminate the difference in the operating rates of multiple fax machines, and reliably receive an incoming call even if a fax machine fails. It is possible to improve the operational efficiency of the facsimile.

Also, by setting the priority of the transfer destinations based on the distance between the facsimiles, it becomes easier for the user to get the information after the transfer, and by notifying the transfer destination after the transfer, the user can promptly obtain the information. There is also an effect that can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a facsimile distribution control device. 1,2 …… External facsimile, 3 …… Public communication network, 4
...... Facsimile distribution control device, 5 to 8 ...... Facsimile, 11 ...... Line switching unit, 12 ...... Line status monitoring unit, 13 ...
… Call monitoring unit, 14 …… Transfer destination memory unit, 15 …… Transfer storage memory unit, 16 …… CPU, 17 …… Keyboard, 18 …… Display.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A line switching means installed between a plurality of facsimiles and a public communication line network to switch connection between each of the facsimiles and the line network, and a call originating from the facsimile or an incoming call from the line network. An incoming / outgoing call detecting means, a means for detecting and monitoring the status of a facsimile and a line being used, a first storing means for storing a transfer destination facsimile for one facsimile in advance based on a priority, and an incoming destination facsimile Means for transferring to the transfer destination in accordance with the priority order stored in the first storage means when the transfer is being used, second storage means for storing the transfer destination when the transfer is performed, and transfer And a means for notifying the facsimile of the transfer destination based on the stored contents of the second storage means when the facsimile of the incoming destination becomes available later. Facsimile delivery control apparatus according to claim Rukoto.