JP2001285554A - Device and system for facsimile circulation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize facsimile machine and a system which circulate a circular bulletin, without operational load on users and enable a user of a circulation source device to find the occurrence of transmission errors. SOLUTION: When a SUB signal, having the same ID as a group ID stored in a RAM 170 from a line L, the circular bulletin from the line L, is stored into an image information memory 120, and the circular bulletin stored in the image information memory 120 is circulated to a circulation destination stored in the RAM 170, if the telephone number of facsimile machine as the circulation source is not 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]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and a feature of the present invention is that image information is sequentially transmitted by facsimile by one circulation source device and a plurality of distribution member devices. A circulation group is formed, and a group ID indicating the circulation group is stored in each device, and a telephone number of the circulation source device is stored in the distribution member device, and a group ID is set starting from the circulation source device. And a facsimile circulation system in which image information is sequentially transferred to each of the distribution member devices, and when a transmission error occurs when transferring image information from the distribution member device to another distribution member device, the transmission side Is to make a call to the telephone number of the circulation source device and to notify the circulation source device that a transmission error has occurred.

[0008]

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.

[0009] Further, in order that the circulation board can be circulated only to a predetermined distribution member, the circulation board and the group ID are transmitted from the first FAX apparatus.

The group ID is an identification number of a group composed of a circulation source and a distribution member, and is a group I 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-mentioned 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, heat-sensing,
It consists of an electrophotographic or inkjet printer,
Prints image information and the like.

The display unit 140 is, 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 operating instructions 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. Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described according to this flow.

In step S1 shown in FIG. 3, control unit 190 proceeds to step S2 when detecting operation of 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 plate 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.

Thereafter, the control unit 190 modulates the image information stored in the image information memory 120 in advance 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
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 in 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 transmitted 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 controls the modem 100 to close the line,
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, a call process 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 included 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 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
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 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 S28, 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 unit 190 controls the display unit 140 to display, for example, "circulation end" to indicate 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 message indicating that the circulation has been received, for example, "Circulation board present", and proceeds to step S31.

The user can confirm that the circular board has been received by viewing such a circular board 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.

More 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 subsequent 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 subsequent 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,
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 sets the received circulation board to be transmitted and performs the dialing operation to 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.

[0072]

According to the facsimile circulation device and system of the present invention, it is possible to circulate the circulation plate without imposing a burden on the user, and it is possible for the user of the circulation source device to know that a transmission error has occurred. it can.

[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

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04L 11/20 101C 9A001 H04N 1/32 (72) Inventor Atsumi Kakimoto 3-Chome Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture 201 Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideyuki Arimoto 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Otagaki 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirosaki Ozaki 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Tottori Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) CF01 DD03 5K030 GA17 HB04 HC02 JT05 LD03 LD09 5K036 AA15 BB01 DD11 DD25 JJ03 JJ05 5K101 KK01 LL01 NN03 NN18 NN21 PP03 QQ08 9A001 BB04 CC02 DD11 JJ13 JJ28 KK56 LL05

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A circulation group configured to sequentially transfer image information by facsimile by one circulation source device and a plurality of distribution member devices, wherein each of the devices stores a group ID indicating the circulation group and the distribution. A facsimile circulation system in which a telephone number of a circulation source device is stored in the member device, and a group ID and image information are sequentially transferred to each of the distribution member devices starting from the circulation source device. When a transmission error occurs when transferring image information from the device to another distribution member device, the transmission member device on the transfer side makes a call to the telephone number of the circulation source device and confirms that the transmission error has occurred. A facsimile circulation system for notifying a circulation source device. 2. A group indicating a group including a transmission / reception means connected to a line for transmitting and receiving a call and transmitting and receiving various facsimile control signals and image information, and a plurality of distribution member facsimile apparatuses to which the image information is sequentially transferred. A storage means for storing an ID and a circulation destination number; when transmitting image information, the transmission / reception means makes a call to the circulation destination number stored in the storage means and controls the group ID by the facsimile control; A facsimile circulating device for transmitting the image information to the circulating destination, wherein the transmitting and receiving means transmits the image information to the circulating destination; and the storing unit of the distribution member facsimile device stores the telephone number of the circulating source device. When a transmission error occurs during the transmission of the image information, the transmission / reception unit calls the circulation source number and informs that the transmission error has occurred. Facsimile circulation device, characterized in that the knowledge. 3. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the notification is to transmit image data indicating a communication error. 4. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the notification is to transmit voice data indicating a communication error. 5. The facsimile circulation device according to claim 2, wherein the notification is to transmit code data indicating a communication error.