JP3689799B2 - Facsimile transmission / reception control method and facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile transmission / reception control method and a facsimile apparatus configured to have a function of transmitting a predetermined message from a called terminal to a calling terminal.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the facsimile apparatus, before transferring an image of a document to be transmitted, first, predetermined information exchange is performed between the calling terminal and the called terminal. This information exchange recognizes each other's functions and sets the optimal transmission / reception conditions. When such information exchange is completed, an image such as a document to be transmitted from the calling side terminal is transferred to the called side terminal. The called terminal prints out the image and the corresponding recipient receives the output.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, the conventional facsimile apparatus as described above has the following problems to be solved.
Facsimile transmission / reception generally proceeds automatically after a document to be transmitted / received is set in the calling terminal. That is, the document or the like is automatically read by the calling terminal, and the image is transmitted in a predetermined procedure regardless of whether or not there is a receiver at the called terminal. Even if the called terminal is a personal terminal or a joint terminal, a document or the like is received regardless of whether or not the receiver is present.
[0004]
However, even if there is no receiver on the side of the called terminal 21, the person who operates the calling terminal 20 believes that the document has reached the other party. In this case, for example, there is a problem that urgent communication items are not transmitted to the recipient himself / herself and the response may be delayed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above points.
<Configuration 1>
A facsimile transmission / reception control method for transmitting facsimile data by designating a recipient from a transmission-side facsimile apparatus and receiving the facsimile data by a reception-side facsimile apparatus that can be used by a plurality of recipients. The reception type information indicating whether or not each of the plurality of recipients is absent is set, and when the reception type information of the designated recipient indicates absence, an incoming call switching control signal is transmitted from the reception side facsimile apparatus. The transmission side facsimile apparatus is switched to the incoming call mode, and the absence message is transmitted from the reception side facsimile apparatus to the transmission side facsimile apparatus.
[0006]
<Configuration 2>
A facsimile apparatus that can receive facsimile data designating a recipient from a sending facsimile apparatus and that can be used by a plurality of recipients, and reception type information that indicates whether or not each of the plurality of recipients is present is input and set. A reception type setting unit, a memory unit storing an absence message indicating absence, and whether the reception type information of the reception type setting unit corresponding to the designated recipient indicates absence When the determination unit determines that the determination unit indicates absence, the mode switching control unit that sends an incoming call switching control signal for switching to the incoming call mode to the transmission side facsimile device, and the transmission side facsimile device switches to the incoming mode. And a message transmission unit that transmits the absence message of the memory unit to the transmission-side facsimile apparatus. Shimiri apparatus.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using specific examples.
<Concrete example>
FIG. 1 shows a facsimile transmission / reception control sequence according to the present invention.
This figure shows a control sequence executed when a facsimile is transmitted from the calling side terminal 20 to the called side terminal 21 and the facsimile cannot be received because the recipient of the called side terminal 21 is absent. Prior to specific description of this sequence, the configuration of the called terminal for carrying out the present invention will be described first.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the called terminal.
This terminal is configured by connecting a microprocessor 2, a main memory 3, a communication control unit 4, a printing unit 5, a reading unit 6, a display unit 7 and an operation unit 8 to the bus line 1. A portion including the microprocessor 2 and the main memory 3 in the figure is indicated as a control unit 10. The communication control unit 4 is connected to a communication line 9 such as a public network and controls transmission / reception of facsimile signals. The printing unit 5 is a part that prints out the received facsimile image.
[0012]
The operation unit 8 is provided with switches and keys (not shown). It is used for an operator to input various commands to the facsimile. The display unit 7 is composed of a display such as a liquid crystal, and displays operation guidance and the like. The reading unit 6 is a part that reads an image of a document or the like when transmitting a facsimile. The microprocessor 2 controls the entire apparatus. The main memory 3 stores a program for operating the microprocessor 2. This program is stored in the program storage area 11.
[0013]
In order to carry out the present invention, an incoming call capability determination unit 12, a transmission capability determination unit 13, a condition designation unit 14, a condition determination unit 15, a status notification editing unit 16, a status notification transmission unit 17, and the like are provided. These are also configured by a program for the microprocessor 2 to operate.
[0014]
The incoming call capability determination unit 12 has a function of determining general incoming capability such as the reception speed and image quality of the apparatus and transmitting it to the calling terminal. Further, in the present invention, the incoming call capability determination unit 12 has a function of determining that there is no incoming call capability when the receiver is absent and transmitting the fact to the calling party. The transmission capability determination unit 13 executes a capability determination process for transmitting a message to be transmitted to the calling side when exchanging predetermined information before receiving a facsimile. In the present invention, a notification of the absence of the recipient is sent to the calling party by this message.
[0015]
As will be described later with reference to FIG. 3, the condition designating unit 14 is a part that designates the operating conditions of the apparatus. The condition determining unit 15 is a part that determines the condition specified by the condition specifying unit 14 and selects a message or the like to be transmitted. The status notification editing unit 16 is a part that edits a message transmitted to the calling side as a facsimile image. The status notification transmission unit 17 is a part that controls transmission of the message edited by the status notification editing unit 16. The message storage unit 18 stores a message to be transmitted to the calling party.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of message contents.
In the present invention, when there is no receiver on the receiving side, the apparatus automatically transmits a message to that effect to the calling side. FIG. 3A illustrates message types according to the operation mode of such an apparatus. The mode (1) shown in the figure is a mode in which the apparatus always sends a message having a certain content to the calling party. In this mode, it returns certain absent messages stored on the device. In addition, the modes (2) and (3) indicate modes when received by designating a recipient as in confidential reception.
[0017]
(2) shows a mode in which a standard message common to the recipient is transmitted to the calling side. The mode (3) indicates a mode in which a message prepared in advance for each individual recipient is read and transmitted. The mode (4) is a mode for receiving a facsimile as usual.
[0018]
FIG. 3B shows an example of a message. Message M1 figure, the contents such as "because I'm home's absence can not be a facsimile of the reception.". If the facsimile apparatus is set so that such a standard message can be transmitted, the caller can be notified of the absence. The message M2 has a content such as “Facsimile cannot be received from XX month to XX month because of a business trip abroad”. This is realized by the receiver creating a predetermined message each time and storing it in the facsimile apparatus. In this way, an arbitrary message can be stored in the facsimile apparatus and an absence notice can be sent to the calling party.
[0019]
The message M3 has a content such as “Today, I will go to the facsimile tomorrow because I am out today”. This message is for notifying the calling party that a facsimile is received but cannot be immediately seen. Compared with the case where the messages M1 and M2 are controlled so as not to receive the facsimile, the message M3 is transmitted in such a manner that the notification is made to the sender after receiving the facsimile.
[0020]
As described above, a feature of the present invention is that a predetermined message is sent to the calling side when the facsimile cannot be received due to the circumstances of the receiving side, or when the contents of the facsimile cannot be viewed immediately. In order to realize such processing, a sequence as shown in FIG. 1 is executed.
[0021]
The control according to the present invention is mainly performed in the called terminal. In the terminal on the called side, operating conditions are set using the operation unit 8 shown in FIG. With this setting, one of the modes shown in FIG. 3A is selected, and the corresponding message is transmitted to the calling party.
[0022]
Referring again to FIG. 1, a specific transmission / reception control sequence of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described.
First, the calling terminal 20 transmits a ring RI (calling signal) to the called terminal 21. The called terminal 21 captures the line and transmits a CED signal representing a facsimile terminal to the calling terminal 20. Here, in the callee terminal 21, the content specified by the condition specifying unit 14 by the condition determining unit 15 shown in FIG.
[0023]
Operation in which a predetermined message is transmitted to the calling side without receiving all facsimiles when the mode of transmitting a certain message is set for the entire apparatus of (1) shown in FIG. Will do. Therefore, the NSF and DIS shown in FIG. 1 notify that the apparatus has no reception capability and has the capability to transmit a message to the calling terminal 20. When the calling side terminal 20 analyzes the NSF and DIS and recognizes the meaning thereof, it transmits a DTC to the called side terminal 21. As a result, the fact that it is ready to receive data from the called terminal 21 is transmitted.
[0024]
The called terminal 21 analyzes the contents of the DTC and informs the calling party that a message for status notification is to be transmitted by DCS. Thereafter, the standardized facsimile procedure, T.P. As specified in 30, a status notification message is notified. That is, the training check is performed by the TCF, and when the reception preparation of the calling side terminal 20 is completed by the CFR, the status message is subsequently transmitted from the called side terminal 21 to the calling side terminal 20. When the end of the procedure is notified by EOP, the calling side terminal 20 confirms the message by the MCF. Finally, a command DCN for disconnecting the line is transmitted from the called terminal 21, and the procedure is terminated.
[0025]
As a result, when a predetermined facsimile image is to be transmitted from the calling side terminal 20, if there is no receiver on the called side, a message indicating that it cannot be received is sent to the calling side, and the facsimile is received. Transmission is stopped. Therefore, on the calling side, there is no possibility of misunderstanding that the contents are transmitted to the other party by transmitting the facsimile.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows an operation sequence at the time of individual reception.
For example, when a facsimile device is provided with a memory for reception and the facsimile is individually transmitted to a memory box such as a post office box, the above setting is made for each of a plurality of recipients using the called facsimile device. Is possible. Here, the procedure in that case will be described.
[0027]
First, the calling terminal 20 and send the ring RI to the called terminal 21, CED indicating that the facsimile reception is notified to the calling side from the callee terminal 21. Further, as in the example of FIG. 1, the NSF and DIS notify that the corresponding individual box cannot receive a facsimile. Note that this transmission / reception is not standardized, but uses a function provided as an option in a facsimile machine manufactured by a specific manufacturer.
[0028]
Therefore, NSF, DIS, NSC, and NSS notify that the facsimile is transmitted to a specific box, and informs the calling side that the recipient of the box is absent and cannot be received. The procedure proceeds. After completion of this information exchange, the training check is performed by the TCF, the reception preparation is confirmed by the CFR, and then the status communication message is transmitted from the callee side in the same manner as the example shown in FIG. This message has a predetermined content designated for each box. Subsequent processing is the same as in the example of FIG. 1, confirming the end of the procedure by EOP, confirming the message by MCF, and disconnecting by DCN.
[0029]
FIG. 5 shows an operation sequence during normal reception.
Here, a conventional procedure when the above mode is canceled is shown. In the procedure described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the receiving side terminal 21 rejects facsimile reception and transmits a message indicating the reason to the calling side terminal 20. However, it is also possible to send a message to the calling party that the called party has received the facsimile and that the contents will be confirmed at a later date because the recipient is absent. In this case, the procedure of DTC, DCS, TCF, CFR, etc. shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 is executed at the portion X shown in FIG. Then, after the status notification information is transmitted to the calling terminal 20 in this part, the reception process of the facsimile to be received is executed.
In this way, contents such as the message M3 in FIG. 3B are transmitted to the calling party.
[0030]
FIG. 6 shows a flowchart summarizing the above operations.
In step S1 in the figure, the called party transmits a CED after receiving an incoming call. Further, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the status notification mode is set for reasons such as the absence of a recipient. If it is not set, the process proceeds to step S3, and normal DIS and NSF are created. In this case, facsimile reception is executed according to the sequence of FIG.
[0031]
On the other hand, if the entire apparatus is set to a mode in which facsimile reception is not performed, the process proceeds to step S4, where the DIS is set to the content of having no transmission capability and having transmission capability. Further, when a facsimile is received in an individual box, if a mode for sending a predetermined message is set for each box, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, DIS is set to have reception capability and transmission capability, and in step S6, the reception capability of the corresponding box of NSF is set to none. In other words, the calling side is notified that there is no reception capability for a specific box. Thus, NSF and DIS are transmitted in step S7, and the called terminal enters a signal reception waiting state in step S8.
[0032]
In step S9, the content of the received signal is determined. If the content is DCS, the process proceeds to step S10, and the normal reception process shown in FIG. 5 is performed. If the content is NSC, the process proceeds to step S11, and it is determined whether or not the NSC is issued by its own terminal. If it is issued by the terminal of the company, the process proceeds to step S12 and NSS is transmitted. If the received signal is DTC and if the NSC is not from its own device, the process proceeds to step S13, and DCS is transmitted. Thus, in the case of step S12, in the case of step S13, in any case, the process proceeds to step S14, the TCF is transmitted, and the reception of CFR is waited for in step S15.
[0033]
In step S16, the CFR is received, and in step S17, the status notification message is edited and transmitted. Thus, the process proceeds to the communication end procedure in step S18, and the communication is ended.
Note that the co and send a message to the calling party, in the case of normal reception, follow a route that proceeds from step S17 to step S10.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
The facsimile transmission / reception control method and facsimile apparatus of the present invention described above prepares a predetermined message and makes a call when a facsimile cannot be received or when it is desired to notify the caller in advance of the absence of the recipient. Since it is configured to automatically notify the side and notify a predetermined message, it is possible to automatically notify the calling side of the state of the called terminal. As a result, it is possible to avoid sending a meaningless document on the calling side which has been unilaterally transmitting a facsimile until now. Furthermore, when reception of a facsimile is unnecessary, a notification that reception is not possible is performed on the called side, so that unnecessary expenses such as telephone charges, recording paper costs, and toner costs can be reduced.
[0035]
In addition, if the called-side terminal is configured as described above, the calling-side terminal can be sufficiently implemented by an existing device. That is, when the calling terminal sees NSF / DIS sent from the receiving side and supports the transmission / reception inversion function, the present invention can be implemented as it is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a facsimile transmission / reception control sequence according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a called terminal.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of message contents.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation sequence at the time of individual reception.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation sequence during normal reception.
FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Calling side terminal 21 Calling side terminal

Claims (2)

A facsimile transmission / reception control method for transmitting facsimile data by designating a recipient from a transmission-side facsimile apparatus and receiving the facsimile data by a reception-side facsimile apparatus that can be used by a plurality of recipients,
In the receiving facsimile apparatus, set reception type information indicating whether or not each of the plurality of recipients is present,
When the reception type information of the designated recipient indicates absence, an incoming call switching control signal is sent from the receiving facsimile apparatus to switch the transmitting facsimile apparatus to an incoming mode,
Sending an absence message from the receiving facsimile machine to the sending facsimile machine;
And a facsimile transmission / reception control method. A facsimile machine that can be used by a plurality of recipients to receive facsimile data designating a recipient from a sending facsimile machine,
A reception type setting unit in which reception type information indicating whether or not each of the plurality of recipients is absent is set;
A memory unit that stores an absence message indicating absence;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the reception type information of the reception type setting unit corresponding to the specified recipient indicates absence;
When determining that the determination unit indicates absence, a mode switching control unit that sends an incoming call switching control signal for switching to the incoming call mode to the transmitting facsimile machine;
A message transmission unit for transmitting an absence message in the memory unit to the transmission side facsimile device when the transmission side facsimile device is switched to the incoming mode;
A facsimile apparatus comprising:

Images