JP2001285335A - Equipment for facsimile circulation and system of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a facsimile equipment and a facsimile system capable of circulating of a circular notice without any burden of operation for a user. SOLUTION: In this equipment, at receiving a SUB signal having the same ID as a group ID stored in a RAM 170 from a line L, a circular notice from the line L is stored in an image information memory 120. When the telephone number of the facsimile equipment of a circulation master is not stored in the RAM 170, the circular notice stored in the memory 120 is circulated to the circular destinations stored in the RAM 170.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile circulation device and system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus is one of apparatuses for transmitting image information to a partner.

Normally, when image information is transmitted using the facsimile apparatus, when the transmitting side performs an image information reading operation and a user's dial input operation, the image information is transmitted to the receiving side.

On the other hand, the image information receiving side receives the image information in response to the call from the line, and prints out the received image information with a printer or stores it in a memory.

[0005] Using such a facsimile apparatus, it has been considered that circularly printed matter (circulation board) normally circulated manually is sequentially transferred using the facsimile apparatus. By doing so, especially in towns and villages where the distance between heavy snowfall areas and private houses is large (for example,
It can be expected to improve the transmission speed of entertainment information such as festivals).

[0006]

However, when the conventional facsimile apparatus is used to circulate the circulation boards in the order of the first to sixth facsimile apparatuses as shown in FIG. 7, the circulation boards are received. The user of the apparatus resets the received circular board every time the data is received, and then sets the next destination FA.
A call operation must be performed by inputting the X number, which causes a problem that it takes much time and effort.

[0007] In addition, when the receiving user is away from home for a long time, there is a problem that the circular notice is not transmitted to the next destination.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve such a problem, and realizes a facsimile circulation device capable of circulating information without imposing a burden on a user for operation.

A facsimile circulation device according to claim 1 is
Transmission / reception means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving a call signal, various facsimile control signals, and image information, and information for storing a group ID and a circulation destination number indicating a group including a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which the image information is circulated. When transmitting image information, the transmission / reception means calls a circulation destination number stored in the information storage means, and transmits the group ID included in the facsimile control signal. And transmitting and receiving the image information to the circulation destination.

The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2 is
Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving a call signal, various facsimile control signals, and image information, connected to a line, an image information memory for storing the image information received by the transmitting / receiving means, and a plurality of facsimile apparatuses for circulating the image information Information storage means for storing a group ID indicating a group composed of a group, a circulation destination number, and information indicating whether or not the apparatus is a circulation transmission source apparatus, and detects the group ID from the facsimile control signal. Function and the group ID
Is included in the facsimile control signal, and a function is provided for determining whether or not the detected group ID is stored in the information storage means. When the group ID control means determines that the same group ID stored in the information storage means exists in the facsimile control signal received by the means, the image information received by the transmission / reception means is converted to the image information. When the information is stored in the information storage unit and the information indicating that the own device is not the circulation transmission source device is stored in the information storage unit, the transmission / reception unit performs the processing based on the circulation destination number stored in the information storage unit. The image information stored in the image information memory together with the group ID stored in the information storage means. And transmitting to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile circulation device.
3. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile circulation device has a notifying unit for notifying the end of the circulation, and after the image information memory stores the received image information,
When it is determined that the information storage means stores the information indicating that the apparatus is the circulation transmission source apparatus, the end of the circulation is reported by the reporting means.

In the facsimile circulation system according to the fourth aspect, a group for circulating image information is constituted by one circulation source device and a plurality of distribution member devices, and each device has a group ID indicating the group to circulate. The group ID and the image information are transmitted from the circulation source device to the distribution member device, and the group ID and the image information are transmitted to the distribution member device in which the group ID stored in each device matches the group ID transmitted from the circulation source device. Only the image information is transmitted in order, and finally the image information is transmitted to the circulation source device.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a circulation system to which the present invention is applied, in FIG. 7, a circulation plate sent from a first FAX device (hereinafter referred to as a circulation source device) is transmitted to second to sixth FAX devices (distribution members). Are transmitted automatically in this order, and finally transmitted to the first fax machine.

[0014] In addition, the circulation plate and the group ID are transmitted from the first FAX device so that the circulation plate can be circulated only to a predetermined distribution member.

The group ID is an identification number of a group composed of a circulation source and a distribution member, and is a group ID stored in advance in the facsimile apparatus of the distribution member.
If D and the group ID transmitted from the transmission side do not match, the circulation plate is not circulated to the next FAX device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus applied to each facsimile apparatus of the above-described system. A modem 100 modulates and demodulates various signals (image information and the like) used for facsimile communication transmitted and received via a line L. I do. The modem 100 has a built-in dialer 101 for transmitting a dial signal to the line L.

The encoding / decoding unit 110 encodes and decodes image information.

The image information memory 120 is, for example, a DRAM
And stores image information data.

The printing unit 130 includes, for example, heat transfer,
It consists of an electrophotographic or inkjet printer,
Prints image information and the like.

The display section 140 is composed of, for example, a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or a display such as a CRT.
The current communication status, the fax number of the destination at the time of dial input, and the like are displayed.

The operation unit 150 includes a numeric keypad and various function keys, and is used for inputting a fax number of a destination and for giving an operation instruction such as printing of image information stored in the image information memory 120.

ROM (Read Only Memory)
y) 160 stores various programs (control programs) for operating the facsimile machine.

RAM (Random Access M)
The memory 170 stores various types of data necessary for a facsimile operation.

FIG. 2 shows a storage form of various data stored in the RAM 170. The RAM 170 has an area for storing the telephone number of the circulation source, an area for storing the group ID, an area for storing the telephone number of the next circulation destination of the received circulation board, and a circulation reception included in a TSI signal described later. It has five areas: an area for storing the sender's telephone number at the time, and an area for storing the sender's telephone number received by the number display function described below. The circulation source telephone number, the group ID, and the circulation destination telephone are provided. The number is stored in advance by the user.

In this embodiment, the RAM 1 of the circulation source device is used.
The circulation source telephone number is not stored in the circulation source telephone number storage area 70, and the RA of the circulation member device excluding the circulation source is not stored.
In the circulation source telephone number area of M170, the telephone number of the circulation source (corresponding to the first FAX in FIG. 7) is stored.

The telephone directory memory 180 is composed of, for example, an SRAM or a non-volatile flash memory, and stores at least the telephone number and name of the circulation member in pairs.

The control section 190 controls the above circuits based on program data (control program) stored in the ROM 160, and detects an incoming call from the line L and various facsimile signals.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts showing the control of the control unit 190 based on the program data in the ROM 160. The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described below in accordance with this flow.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 3, control unit 190 proceeds to step S2 when detecting an operation on operation unit 150, and proceeds to step S8 (FIG. 4) when no operation is detected.

In step S2, control unit 190 determines whether or not operation of operation unit 150 instructs image information transmission processing. If so, control proceeds to step S3. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S3, the control unit 190 determines whether or not the operation signal of the operation unit 150 is a circulation board transmission instruction. If so, the control unit 190 proceeds to step S4.
On the other hand, if not, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S4, the control unit 190
If it is determined that the circulation source telephone number is not stored in 170 (the own device is the circulation source device), the process proceeds to step S5, while if the number is stored (the own device is not the circulation source device). If it is determined, the process returns to step S1.

In step S5, the control unit 190 performs a circulation transmission process to the next circulation destination.

Specifically, the circular transmission process is performed in the following procedure.

First, the control unit 190 causes the dialer 101 to transmit the circulation destination telephone number stored in the circulation destination telephone number area (FIG. 2) of the RAM 170 to the line L, and when the line L is closed, facsimile transmission. Frequency 11 indicating advance notice
A CNG signal consisting of a single-tone signal of
Then, a CED signal having a frequency of 2100 Hz indicating that the circulation destination device is a facsimile device and a DIS signal indicating the transmission / reception capability of the circulation destination device are transmitted from the line L to the line L.
, A DCS signal indicating its own transmission capability (for example, modem speed, etc.), a SUB signal to which a group ID stored in the RAM 170 is added, and a TSI signal to which its own telephone number is added are transmitted to the line L. I do. Here, the SUB signal is a signal transmitted from the transmission-side facsimile apparatus when the DIS signal transmitted from the circulation destination facsimile apparatus includes information indicating that the SUB signal can be received.

After that, the control section 190 modulates the image information stored in advance in the image information memory 120 or the image information of the original read by the reading means (not shown) as a circulation board by the modem 100 and then transmits the modulated information to the line L. , And returns the process to step S1.

In step S7, the control unit 190 determines whether S1
A process corresponding to the operation instruction detected in the step (for example, registration of a telephone directory or printout of image information in the image information memory 120) is performed, and the process returns to the step S1.

In step S8 of FIG.
Determines whether there is an information terminal activation signal (hereinafter referred to as an activation signal) received from the line L.

The start signal is a signal used by a number display service currently provided by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) and first sent from the exchange to the telephone.

Specifically, the control unit 190 controls the modem 10
If the presence or absence of the activation signal at 0 is detected, the process proceeds to step S9 if detected, and if not, the process proceeds to step S10.

In step S9, the control unit 190 controls the modem 100 to close the line L, detects the transmitting side telephone number transmitted together with the start signal from the line L, and stores the detected number in the RAM 170 The data is stored in the telephone number area on the display, and then the line L is connected to the modem 100.
Release.

In the following S10 step, the control unit 190
Detects the presence or absence of a call signal having a frequency of 16 Hz from the line L, and if detected, proceeds to step S11, and if not detected, returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S11, the control unit 190 closes the line by controlling the modem 100, and
Processing proceeds to two steps.

In step S12, the control unit 190
The presence / absence of a CNG signal composed of a single tone signal having a frequency of 1100 Hz indicating an AX transmission notice is detected, and if this signal is detected, the process proceeds to step S14, while if not detected, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the control unit 190 performs other processing such as, for example, processing for talking with the calling side, and returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In step S14, the control unit 190 controls the modem 100 to transmit the CED signal and the DIS signal to the line L, and proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, when detecting a DCS signal from line L, control unit 190 proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, control section 190 determines whether or not the TSI signal is being transmitted from the transmitting facsimile, and if it is determined that the TSI signal is being transmitted, proceeds to step S17. In case S18
Proceed to step.

In step S17, the control unit 190 reads the transmitting telephone number contained in the TSI signal and
It is stored in the TSI telephone number area of M170, and the process proceeds to step S18.

In step S18, control unit 190 detects the presence or absence of a SUB signal from the transmitting side, and if this signal is detected, proceeds to step S19, while if not detected, proceeds to step S20.

In step S19, control section 190 proceeds to step S21 (FIG. 5) when a group ID is detected from the SUB signal, and otherwise proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, control unit 190 performs a normal facsimile reception process.

More specifically, the control unit 190 controls the modem 10
0 is stored in the image information memory 120, or the demodulated image information is stored in the encoding / decoding unit 110.
After the decryption, the printing is performed by the printing unit 130, and the process returns to step S1 (FIG. 3).

In the step S21 of FIG.
Indicates that the group ID detected in step S19 is R
It is determined whether or not the ID matches the group ID stored in the AM 170. If it is determined that the ID matches, the process proceeds to step S22. If it is determined that the ID does not match, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S22, the control unit 190 determines whether R
It is determined whether or not the telephone number stored in the number display telephone number area of the AM 170 is stored in the telephone directory memory 180. If it is determined that the telephone numbers match, the process proceeds to step S24. If not, the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the control unit 190
It is determined whether or not the telephone number stored in the TSI telephone number entry area of AM 170 is stored in telephone directory memory 180, and if it is determined that they match, the process proceeds to step S24, and If not, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S24, control unit 190 stores the image information demodulated by modem 100 in image information memory 120, and proceeds to step S26 (FIG. 6).

In step S25, the control unit 190 disconnects the line L by controlling the modem 100, and
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

As described above, in steps S21 to S24,
When the transmitting telephone number in the number display or the TSI signal matches the telephone number of the circulation member device stored in the telephone directory memory 180 in advance, memory reception is performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a third party other than the circulation member from operating the group ID to circulate the unwanted circulation to the circulation member.

In step S26 (FIG. 5), the control unit 19
0 causes the modem 100 to disconnect the line, and proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, the control unit 190 determines whether or not the own device is a circulation source device.

More specifically, the control unit 190
A search is performed to determine whether or not the circulation source telephone number is stored in the circulation source telephone number area of 0, and if it is determined that the circulation telephone number is not stored, the process proceeds to step 28, while if it is determined that the circulation telephone number is stored. To step S30.

In step S 28, the control unit 190 controls the image information memory 120 to
Is deleted, and the process proceeds to step S29.

In step S29, the control section 190 controls the display section 140 to display, for example, "end of circulation" indicating that the transmitted circulation has returned.
The process returns to one step (FIG. 3).

In step S30, the control unit 190 controls the display unit 140 to display a display indicating that the circulation has been received, for example, "circulation board present", and proceeds to step S31.

The user can confirm that the circular notice has been received by viewing such a circular sign reception display.
By performing a predetermined operation on the control unit 190, the control unit 190
The circulation board received in the memory in 24 steps can be printed by the printing unit 130.

In step S31, the control unit 190 performs a circulation transmission process to the next circulation destination.

Specifically, the control unit 190
The dialer 101 controls the dialer 101 to make a dial call to the line L, and then the modem 10
From 0, a CNG signal is transmitted to the line L.

In the following S32 step, the control unit 190
Transmits a SUB signal to which a group ID has been added, a TSI signal including its own telephone number, and a DCS signal when detecting the CED and DIS signals from the receiving terminal, and proceeds to step S33. If not, the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S 33, the control unit 190 transmits the circular notice stored in the image information memory 120 to the modem 10.
After being modulated by 0, it is transmitted to the line L.

In the following S34 step, the control unit 190
After transmitting the circulation contents stored in the memory 120, if it is determined that transmission is completed normally by confirming transmission / reception of a facsimile control signal (for example, EOP, MCF signal, etc.), the process proceeds to step S35. If it is not determined that the processing has ended normally, the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S35, the control unit 190 disconnects the line L by controlling the modem 100, and
The process returns to step (FIG. 3). In step S36, the control unit 190 reads the circulation source telephone number from the circulation source telephone number area of the RAM 170, makes the dialer 101 dial the line L, and notifies the circulation source device that a transmission error has occurred (for example, Transmission of image data, audio data, code data, etc., indicating a communication error), and S1
The process returns to step (FIG. 3).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the member terminal receives the circular notice, the group ID is detected from the received SUB signal, and the received group ID is stored in the RAM 170.
In the case where the information is stored in the memory, the information is received in the memory, and the received circulation board is transmitted to a predetermined circulation destination. Also, if the circulation board transmission fails, the circulation source device is automatically notified that a transmission error has occurred.

For this reason, a problem that arises when configuring a circulation system using a conventional facsimile machine is that the user transmits and sets the received circulation board and dials the next circulation destination. Does not occur.
Also, it will not be circulated from other facsimile machines forever,
The problem that the circulation board does not return to the circulation source device can be avoided.

In this embodiment, the first FA in FIG.
One group is formed by a total of six apparatuses from the X apparatus to the sixth FAX apparatus. However, the number of FAX apparatuses is not limited to three as long as the number is three or more.

In this embodiment, in steps S21 to S25, the received group ID is stored in the RAM 170, and the transmitting telephone number received by the number display function or the transmitting telephone number in the TSI signal is stored in the telephone directory. If it is not determined that the data is stored in the memory 180, no memory reception is performed.
If D is stored in the RAM 170, memory reception may be performed.
The telephone number of the transmission side stored in the telephone number memory 70 and received by the number display function is stored in the telephone directory memory 180.
In the case where the telephone number stored in the telephone directory memory 180 is stored in the telephone directory memory 180, the memory reception may be performed.

[0077]

The facsimile circulation device and system of the present invention can circulate the circulation plate without imposing a burden on the user for operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the form of data stored in a RAM 170.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a circulation system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 modem 101 dialer 110 encoding / decoding unit 120 image information memory 130 printing unit 140 display unit 150 operation unit 160 ROM 170 RAM 180 telephone directory memory 190 control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/32 H04L 11/18 (72) Inventor Atsumi Kakimoto 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Sanyo Tottori Inside Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirosaki Ozaki 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. LD09 9A001 JJ13 JJ16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transmission / reception unit connected to a line for transmitting and receiving a call signal, various facsimile control signals, and image information, a group ID indicating a group including a plurality of facsimile apparatuses through which image information is circulated, and a circulation destination. Information transmitting means for storing a number, and when transmitting image information, the transmitting / receiving means calls a circulation destination number stored in the information storing means and controls the group ID by the facsimile control. A facsimile circulation device, wherein the facsimile circulation device transmits the image information to a circulation destination after transmitting the image information to the circulation destination in a signal. 2. A transmitting and receiving means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving a call signal, various facsimile control signals, and image information, an image information memory for storing image information received by the transmitting and receiving means, and circulating the image information. Information storage means for storing a group ID indicating a group including a plurality of facsimile apparatuses, a circulation destination number, and information indicating whether or not the apparatus itself is a circulation transmission source apparatus; A function of detecting from a control signal, a function of including the group ID in the facsimile control signal, and a function of determining whether the detected group ID is stored in the information storage unit.
And a group ID control unit having a group ID that is identical to the group ID stored in the information storage unit in a facsimile control signal received by the transmission / reception unit.
When the D control means determines, the image information received by the transmitting and receiving means is stored in the image information memory, and then, when the information storage means stores information indicating that the apparatus itself is not a circulation transmission source apparatus, The transmission / reception unit makes a call based on the circulation destination number stored in the information storage unit, and stores the image information stored in the image information memory together with the group ID stored in the information storage unit. A facsimile circulation device for transmitting to the circulation destination. 3. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile circulation device has a notifying unit for notifying the end of the circulation, and the information storage after the image information memory stores the received image information. A facsimile circulation device, wherein when the means determines that information indicating that the own device is a circulation transmission source device is stored, the notification unit notifies the end of circulation. 4. A group for circulating image information is composed of one circulation source device and a plurality of distribution member devices, and each of the devices has a group ID indicating a group to circulate.
Is stored, and the group ID and image information are transmitted from the circulation source device to the distribution member device, and the distribution member device in which the group ID stored in each device matches the group ID transmitted from the circulation source device A facsimile circulation system wherein the image information is transmitted to the circulation source device only in the order in which the image information is transmitted.