JPH09163062A - Facsimile equipment with terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the instruction of a destination facsimile number, etc., and to shorten rise time by providing a facsimile equipment with a terminal communication control part controlling the communication with an exclusive terminal equipment and a facsimile communication control part. SOLUTION: The terminal communication control part 2 of a facsimile equipment main body controls the data transmission and reception to be performed between an exclusive terminal equipment 1 and the facsimile equipment main body in cooperation with the terminal communication control part 2a within the exclusive terminal equipment 1. The facsimile equipment main body is provided with a facsimile communication control part 17 performing the facsimile transmission and reception in accordance with a G 3 transmission procedure. Before an operation, a destination facsimile numbers, etc., are registered by a destination registration part 3 in this exclusive terminal equipment 1. The numbers, etc., are used for also other use purpose. By using the destination facsimile numbers registered in the destination registration part 3 of the exclusive terminal equipment 1, the destination facsimile numbers, etc., are instructed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine capable of indicating a destination telephone number or the like from a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of personal computers and the like, there has been provided a system in which a personal computer sends a facsimile and a personal computer receives a facsimile. FIG.
Is one form of such a system, and includes a scanner 14a for inputting an image, a plotter 15a for outputting an image,
A facsimile adapter 7 having an information exchange unit 21 for converting code information into image information, a facsimile communication unit 22 for performing facsimile transmission / reception, and the like is provided. For example, when transmitting a text document created by the personal computer 8, the personal computer 8 sends a facsimile. Instruction information necessary for transmission such as a destination telephone number and the above text document are transferred to the adapter 7, the text document is converted into image information by the information conversion unit 21, and the image information is transferred to the designated destination by the facsimile communication unit 22. I am sending. When the personal computer 8 transmits the image information input from the scanner 14a, the destination facsimile number or the like is transferred from the personal computer 8 to the facsimile adapter 7, and the facsimile communication unit 22 transfers the image information to the destination facsimile number. Send to destination.

[0003]

However, in the case of the above prior art, when the image information input from the scanner is simply transmitted regardless of the business program (application program) being executed by the personal computer, the address is transmitted from the personal computer. When you try to specify a fax number, etc., start a program for that,
It takes a long time to display the destination number list. Further, as is generally done, it is troublesome to input a destination facsimile number from a keyboard or the like of a facsimile device, and it is also troublesome to register a large number of destination facsimile numbers in a storage unit in the facsimile device. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to easily specify a destination facsimile number or the like during facsimile transmission, and to shorten the start-up time until the destination facsimile number or the like can be specified. Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device with a terminal device, which facilitates registration of a facsimile number and the like performed in advance.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the facsimile device with a terminal device according to the present invention is a facsimile device with a terminal device for transmitting image information to a designated destination. , A control unit for controlling and managing the entire facsimile apparatus, a destination registration unit in which at least a destination facsimile number group is registered, and at least the destination acquired from the destination registration unit when the control unit is in an instruction input waiting state. A dedicated terminal device that transfers a facsimile number to the control unit, a terminal communication control unit that controls communication with the dedicated terminal device, a destination facsimile number acquired from the dedicated terminal device through the terminal communication control unit, and the like. A facsimile communication control unit for transmitting the facsimile image information to the destination based on the above configuration. The invention according to claim 2 of the facsimile apparatus with a terminal device according to the present invention is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the communication history or various setting information is output to the dedicated terminal device, and the various setting information is output from the dedicated terminal device. It is configured to have a terminal input / output unit for inputting. The invention according to claim 3 of the facsimile device with a terminal device according to the present invention is the invention according to claim 1, wherein various setting information is transferred to another facsimile device, and various setting information from the other facsimile device is transferred. The configuration is provided with an inter-terminal transmitting / receiving unit that performs acquisition.

[0005]

With the above construction, the invention according to claim 1 uses the destination facsimile number or the like registered in the destination registration unit of the dedicated terminal device, which is also used for other purposes, to determine the destination facsimile number or the like. I can give instructions. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the communication history of the facsimile device and various setting information can be referred to by the dedicated terminal device. Further, when the facsimile device is renewed, various setting information of the old facsimile device can be transferred to the dedicated terminal device and transferred from the dedicated terminal device to the new facsimile device. According to the third aspect of the invention, various setting information of the facsimile device can be transferred from an arbitrary facsimile device to another facsimile device.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile device with a terminal device (hereinafter simply referred to as a facsimile device) showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Dedicated terminal device 1 on the device body
Is added. Note that the dedicated terminal device 1 is a terminal device that executes only a specific program, unlike a general-purpose terminal device such as a terminal device that uses a personal computer. For example, by pressing one specific key. This is a device in which a list of destination facsimile numbers and the like is displayed instantly, and when one of the list of destination facsimile numbers is further designated, the designated facsimile number or the like is immediately transferred to the main body of the facsimile apparatus. The dedicated terminal device 1 can also be used alone,
For example, embedded programs such as telephone number registration / search, schedule management, and electronic memo can be executed. In the figure, the terminal communication control unit 2 controls data transmission / reception performed between the dedicated terminal device 1 and the facsimile apparatus main body in cooperation with the terminal communication control unit 2a in the dedicated terminal device 1. Connection between the dedicated terminal device 1 and the facsimile device body,
That is, the connection between the two terminal communication control units 2 may be realized by a wired transmission path, but is realized by infrared communication or wireless (radio wave) communication in order to make the dedicated terminal device portable.

Further, the facsimile apparatus main body has a control section 11 for managing and controlling the entire apparatus according to a built-in program, a keyboard for an operator to give instructions to the facsimile apparatus, and a facsimile apparatus for giving a message to the operator. Operation display unit 12 including a display means for displaying the image information, an encoding / decoding unit (DCR) 18 for encoding and decoding the image information read by the scanner 14, and the DCR 18
RAM for temporarily storing the image information data encoded by and the received encoded image information data or the image information obtained by decoding the encoded information data by the DCR 18.
13, the received image information decoded by the DCR 18 to R
A plotter 15 for outputting via the AM 13, a network control unit (NCU) 16 for setting up a call with a remote facsimile device via a public telephone network, and a facsimile communication control unit 1 for performing facsimile transmission / reception according to a G3 transmission procedure.
7, a modem 19 including a low-speed modem and a high-speed modem, an image memory 20 for storing image information, and the like.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of the above-mentioned first embodiment. The operation of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. However, prior to the operation of FIG.
It is assumed that the destination registration unit 3 has registered the destination facsimile number and the like as shown in FIG. 3 in the dedicated terminal device 1. The registration information is referred to not only in facsimile communication but also in making a call. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, two mode parameters can be set, which are the linear density used for facsimile communication, the maximum paper size of the plotter, the presence / absence of a cover sheet, the availability of the G4 transmission procedure, and the like. After registering as above,
At the time of facsimile transmission, first, a document is set in the facsimile apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 (S1). Then,
A document presence / absence sensor (not shown) notifies the control section 11 of the fact, and the control section 11 displays a message requesting input of a destination facsimile number on the operation display section 12 of the facsimile apparatus main body (S2). . At this time, the message can be output to the display unit of the dedicated terminal device. The user can input the destination facsimile number and the like from the operation display unit 12 by looking at the message, but in the example of FIG. 2, the input is from the dedicated terminal device 1. That is, a dedicated key (not shown) of the dedicated terminal device 1 is pressed to display a registered destination facsimile number (abbreviated as FAX number) and the like (S3) (see FIG. 3). By pressing the dedicated key one after another, the succeeding FAX number and the like are displayed. Alternatively, a plurality of records starting with the corresponding record can be displayed by designating the destination name with a few letters from the beginning.

Next, the user inputs the registration number and the FA
When an instruction such as an X number is given (S4), the dedicated terminal device 1 sends a destination name, a department name, an FA name via the terminal communication control unit 2a.
The X number, the mode parameter 1, the mode parameter 2 and the like are transferred to the facsimile apparatus main body (S5). Then, the control unit 11 of the facsimile apparatus main body acquires the transferred information. Then, the control unit 11 acquires the FA
The X number is passed to the facsimile communication control unit 17 to start facsimile communication (S6). When the cover sheet addition is designated as the mode parameter, the control unit 11 creates a cover sheet based on the acquired destination name and department name and passes it to the facsimile communication control unit 17 as the first transmission page. Subsequently, the control unit 11 controls the scanner 14 to start reading the document that has already been set (S7). At this time, the linear density is specified as the mode parameter, and if the linear density is different from the read linear density, the control unit 11 executes the density conversion. Further, the maximum paper size of the plotter of the other party is designated as the mode parameter, and when this is smaller than the paper size of the read original, the image reduction by the control unit 11 is performed according to the maximum paper size. When the density conversion is also executed, the image reduction and the density conversion can be performed at the same time.

As described above, the read image information is image-processed as necessary, further encoded by the DCR 18,
It is passed to the facsimile communication control unit 17 and transmitted to the destination via the NCU 16. When the last page has been transmitted, the transmission is completed (S8). In the above flow, when the control unit 11 acquires and checks instruction information at the time of transmission (see FIG. 3) such as the destination facsimile number transferred from the dedicated terminal device 1 and if there is an error, the operation is performed at that time. An error message is output to the display unit 12 or the like. At that time, the user can correct the error portion on the operation display unit 12 according to the error message. Further, since the control unit 11 acquires the instruction information as if it was given from the operation display unit 12, the one-touch destination key of the operation display unit 12 is the destination facsimile number acquired in the same way as when the operation display unit 12 is instructed. You can register to or speed dial. As described above, according to the first embodiment, during facsimile transmission, the user can input the necessary instruction information very easily by instructing the destination facsimile number registered in the dedicated terminal device. You can Moreover, since the dedicated terminal device in which only the limited specific program is incorporated is used, the startup is fast, and it is possible to give an instruction without waiting as if the operation display unit 12 of the facsimile body is instructing. Further, since the registration information of the dedicated terminal device which is also used for other purposes is used, registration does not occur only for instructing the destination facsimile number at the time of facsimile transmission.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the essential parts of a facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment includes a terminal input / output unit 4 including a control unit 11 and a terminal communication control unit 2, and the terminal input / output unit 4 allows the dedicated terminal device 1 to operate.
The communication history and various setting information are output to, and the various setting information is input from the dedicated terminal device 1. FIG. 5 shows an example of the communication history. Each piece of information shown in the figure is acquired by the control unit 11 when transmission / reception occurs, and is written in a predetermined area such as the RAM 13. For example, the communication date and time is obtained from the clock circuit in the control unit 11 when the control unit 11 instructs the facsimile communication control unit 17 to send the communication date and time. The information instructed from the terminal device 1 (or the operation display unit 12) is acquired.

The various setting information includes, for example, one-touch destination key registration information, speed dial registration information, a user password or ID (identification code), a facsimile number of the own facsimile device, and the like. The communication history is output by, for example, pressing a dedicated key of the dedicated terminal device 1, or instructing a menu,
That is, it is performed by displaying the menu and selecting the output of communication history. In this way, when the communication history output instruction is given from the dedicated terminal device 1 to the terminal input / output unit 4 in the main body of the facsimile apparatus, the terminal input / output unit 4 acquires the communication history information from the RAM 13 or the like, and as shown in FIG. A communication history report in various formats. Record to output
(Corresponding to each row in FIG. 5) is the latest predetermined number of records. Next, the terminal input / output unit 4 transfers the communication history report to the dedicated terminal device 1 via the terminal communication control unit 2, and when the dedicated terminal device 1 receives the report, it displays it on the display unit.

If necessary, the dedicated terminal device 1 can output a predetermined number of records immediately before the output record by pressing a predetermined key. In other words, by pressing the above specified key,
A previous record output instruction is given to the terminal input / output unit 4 in the main body of the facsimile apparatus, whereby the terminal input / output unit 4 similarly outputs a predetermined number of previous records. For outputting various setting information, for example, a menu is displayed on the dedicated terminal device 1 and the setting information to be output is instructed. For example,
When the output of the one-touch key registration information is instructed, the fact is notified to the terminal input / output unit 4, whereby the terminal input / output unit 4 acquires the registered one-touch key registration information from a predetermined area such as the RAM 13. . Then, a one-touch key registration information list having a format as shown in FIG. 6 is created and output to the dedicated terminal device 1.

Various kinds of setting information transferred from the main body of the facsimile machine are stored in a memory in the dedicated terminal device 1,
It is also possible to transfer it again to the main body of the facsimile device. In this case, the setting information transfer request is first issued to the facsimile apparatus main body by the dedicated key of the dedicated terminal device 1 or the menu instruction. This request is accepted by the terminal input / output unit 4 when the facsimile apparatus is in an input waiting state, and a transfer enable signal is sent from the terminal input / output unit 4 to the dedicated terminal device 1. The dedicated terminal device 1 thereby transfers the stored various setting information to the terminal input / output unit 4. In the above, regarding various setting information, whether from the facsimile device to the dedicated terminal device or in the opposite direction,
It is possible to perform a batch transfer in which all setting information is transferred by one operation. Thus, according to the second embodiment, the dedicated terminal device 1 can refer to the communication history of the facsimile device and various setting information. Also,
When a new facsimile device is renewed, various setting information in the old facsimile device is collectively transferred to and stored in the dedicated terminal device 1, and the setting information is collectively transferred to the new facsimile device. Setting information can be set to the device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of two main parts A and B of the facsimile apparatus showing the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an inter-terminal transmission / reception unit 5 is provided instead of the terminal input / output unit 4 of the second embodiment, but this has a configuration similar to the terminal input / output unit 4 and is different only in the transfer destination.
In the second embodiment, the other party is only the facsimile apparatus main body to which the own terminal belongs when viewed from the dedicated terminal apparatus 1, and the dedicated terminal apparatus 1 which belongs to the own terminal when viewed from the facsimile apparatus main body. Source information was also unnecessary. However, in the third embodiment, a plurality of other facsimile devices or the dedicated terminal device 1 belonging to itself are used as the transmission destination.
As shown in FIG. 8, a message (signal) transmitted and received between the terminal communication control units 2a has a destination address and a source address added to the head portion thereof, as shown in FIG. It Therefore, at the time of transmission, the inter-terminal transmission / reception unit 5 is given the destination address and transfer information shown in FIG. 8 to the terminal communication control unit 2a, and the terminal communication control unit 2a is given by the inter-terminal transmission / reception unit 5 as described above. A message having a format as shown in FIG. 8 is created based on the destination address, the transfer information, and the source address (own address) given by the control unit 11 in advance, and the message is transmitted. In the above, the transmission destination address is given from the user to the control unit 11 by the operation display unit 12, the transfer information is, for example, various setting information, and based on the instruction from the operation display unit 12, the inter-terminal transmission / reception is performed as described above. Part 5 creates. The terminal communication control unit 2a includes a wireless (radio wave) transmitting / receiving unit, and wirelessly communicates between the facsimile devices and with the own dedicated terminal device 1. In this way, according to the third embodiment, since various setting information and the like can be transferred between the facsimile devices, various setting information can be set in one facsimile device and the various setting information can be set in another facsimile device. Since it is sufficient to transfer the data and make corrections in the destination facsimile machine as necessary, various setting information can be set very easily.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
First, since the destination facsimile number or the like, which is also used for other purposes, can be designated by using the destination facsimile number registered in the destination registration unit of the dedicated terminal device, the operation at the time of transmission becomes easy and the facsimile transmission can be performed. For this reason, it is not necessary to register the destination facsimile number and the like, and it is not necessary to wait for the start-up of the terminal device for the operation at the time of transmission. Secondly, since the communication history and various setting information of the facsimile device can be referred to by the dedicated terminal device, it is possible to know the communication history and various setting information while staying at the desk. It also has the effect of being easy to see. In addition, when setting up a new facsimile machine, various setting information of the old facsimile machine can be transferred to the dedicated terminal device and transferred from the dedicated terminal device to the new facsimile machine, so setting of various setting information is easy. become. Thirdly, since various setting information of the facsimile apparatus can be transferred from an arbitrary facsimile apparatus to another facsimile apparatus, setting of various setting information in another facsimile apparatus becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flow chart of the facsimile apparatus with the terminal device showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a data configuration diagram of data set in a dedicated terminal device of a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a main part of a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a report created by a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a list created by a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another configuration block diagram of a main part of a facsimile device with a terminal device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a data configuration diagram of a message of a facsimile device with a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a facsimile system showing an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Dedicated terminal device, 2 ... Terminal communication control unit, 3.
..Destination registration unit, 4 ... Terminal input / output unit, 5 ... Inter-terminal transmission / reception unit, 11 ... Control unit, 17 ... Facsimile communication control unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile device with a terminal device for transmitting image information to a designated destination, a control unit for controlling and managing the entire facsimile device, and a destination registration unit in which at least a destination facsimile number group is registered, A dedicated terminal device that transfers at least the destination facsimile number acquired from the destination registration unit to the control unit when the control unit is in the instruction input waiting state; and a terminal communication control unit that controls communication with the dedicated terminal device, A facsimile apparatus with a terminal device, comprising: a facsimile communication control unit for transmitting facsimile image information to a destination based on a destination facsimile number acquired from the dedicated terminal device via the terminal communication control unit. 2. The facsimile device with a terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a terminal input / output unit for outputting communication history or various setting information to the dedicated terminal device and for inputting the various setting information from the dedicated terminal device. A facsimile device with a terminal device, which is characterized by being provided. 3. The facsimile apparatus with a terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising: an inter-terminal transmission / reception unit that transfers various setting information to another facsimile apparatus and acquires the various setting information from another facsimile apparatus. A facsimile machine with a terminal device characterized in that