JPS63100857A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control by a equipment having common connection and operation of terminal equipment of connecting to a line by allowing the equipment having a line connection control function of the terminal equipment to apply line control and operation control of other terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:Two telephone lines 2a, 2b are connected to a line control equipment 12. The line controller 12 are incorporated with a facsimile equipment (may be other non-voice terminal equipment). That is, the line control equipment 12 is the line control section of a facsimile equipment and plays a role of control function of telephone sets 4, 6, 8. The entire operations of a telephone set 4, that is, originating function to an external line, abbreviated dial function, an on-hook dial function, a hand-free talking, talking between extensions, or known talking and accessory function such as transfer function are controlled by the control section of a facsimile equipment side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device that connects a plurality of terminal devices to a communication line.

[Prior Art] As a communication system as described above, a system is known in which a plurality of telephones and non-voice communication devices such as facsimile machines are connected to a plurality of telephone lines as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numerals 2a and 2b indicate two telephone lines (office lines) connected to the main device 2. In FIG. This one set includes three bush dial telephones 4.6.
8 and facsimile device ff1lO can be connected to two telephone lines 2a, 2b as desired.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The illustrated telephone is not a device that connects to the line independently, but has a circuit that controls the line such as making and receiving a call, a communication path,
A power supply unit and the like are included in the main device 2. The main device 2 automatically controls the transmission and reception of each telephone.

On the other hand, in many cases, the facsimile device 10 can be connected to the line independently, and when connected to the line together with the telephone system consisting of the above-mentioned telephone 4.6. Lines were manually assigned to different uses using tools such as . Therefore, the signal line 10a connecting the facsimile equipment 10 and the main device 2 is a pair of communication lines only, and the signal lines 4a, 6a, 8a connecting each telephone and the main device 2 are communication lines and power supply lines. and two pairs of control lines.

In such conventional systems, the functionality is limited to simply connecting a facsimile device to the main unit of the telephone as described above, and making calls using the facsimile communication line when the facsimile device is not in use. do not have. Further, the facsimile machine can be used by itself by being directly connected to a central office line, and since it has the same line controller as the main unit 2, it cannot be said to be an economical communication system.

It can be said that there is no functional connection between the telephone system and the facsimile machine, and it has been impossible to control the facsimile machine from the telephone side. Therefore, when performing facsimile communication, the operator must move from his or her desk where the telephone is installed to the facsimile machine.

The above problems are common even when the communication device connected to the telephone line is a data communication device other than a facsimile device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a communication device that connects a plurality of terminal devices to a communication line.
A configuration is adopted in which a predetermined device among the terminal devices having a line connection control function controls the lines and operations of other terminal devices.

[Function] According to the above configuration, since the line connection and operation of each terminal device that can be connected to the =m line is controlled by a common device, the conventionally duplicated devices can be omitted, and
It also becomes possible to control the other terminal device from one terminal device.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings. However, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding members as in the conventional example, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a communication system employing the present invention.As shown in the figure, two telephone lines 2a and 2b are connected to a line control device 12.The line control device 12 according to the present embodiment In this case, it is integrated with the facsimile device (which may be another non-voice terminal device). That is, the line control device 12 is a line control section of a facsimile machine, and also has telephones 4, 6, .
The receiver has 8 control functions, and the entire operation of the telephone 1! 4, including calling functions to outside lines, speed dialing functions, on-footer dialing functions, hands-free calls, common-law calls, transfer functions, etc. In this embodiment, the additional machine operations are controlled by a control section on the facsimile machine side.

In this way, by controlling the line of the packing machine and the facsimile machine by a common line control unit, the functions of the facsimile machine and each telephone are organically combined as described below.
For example, it becomes possible to display information obtained through facsimile communication on a display device of a telephone, and to control the operation of a facsimile machine from the telephone.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of FIG. 1 in more detail.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20a is a telephone line, and a line switching device 20 comprising an analog switch or the like is connected to this line.

The line switching device 20 has a telephone 4.6.8 as a voice terminal.
are connected via signal lines 4a, 6a, and 8a. As a non-voice terminal, a facsimile communication system after the hybrid circuit 28 is connected via a signal line 20b.

The control unit 54 controls the switching operation of the line switching device 20 via the signal line 54a. Data "0" to "3" are sent to the line switching device 2o, and the line 20a is connected to the hybrid circuit 28, telephone a+4, .
Connect to either 6 or 8.

The control unit 54 controls the entire operation of the facsimile machine and the telephone, and performs the control according to a program, which will be described later, stored in the ROM 54r.

The facsimile machine after the hybrid 2 circuit is constructed as follows.

First, a hybrid circuit 28 connected to the line switching device 2° via a signal line 20b is used to separate transmitted and received signals. The transmitted signal is inputted from the signal line 38a, and the received signal is outputted via the signal Ma28a. The transmission system includes an adder circuit 38, a modulator 36, and codes 30.32.3
It is composed of an image transmitting section indicated by 4.

The adding circuit 38 is for adding procedural signals or image signals inputted from the modulator 36 and the modulator 34 via the signal lines 34a and 36a.

The modulator 36 modulates the transmission procedure signal input from the control unit 54 via the signal line 54d using a modulation method that conforms to CCITT recommendation V21.

The reading circuit 30 is composed of a CCD sensor, etc., and sends the read image signal to the encoding circuit 3 via a signal line 30a.
Send to 2. The encoding circuit 32 is a circuit for redundancy suppression, and compresses the image signal using a known encoding method such as the MH (Modified Huffman) method, and the compressed image signal is sent to the modulator 34 via a signal line 32a. send to

The modulator 34 is CCITT recommendation v27ter or v
The image signal is modulated using a modulation method that conforms to the standard No. 29.

On the other hand, a demodulator 40 connected to the signal line 28a demodulates the received procedure signal using a demodulation method corresponding to the modulator 36. is input.

The received image signal is demodulated, decoded, and recorded by an image signal receiving unit indicated by reference numerals 42, 44, and 46.

A demodulator 42 demodulates the image signal using a demodulation method corresponding to the modulation method of the modulator 34.

The demodulated signal is input to the decoding circuit 44 via the signal line 42a. This decoding circuit decodes the image signal using a decoding method compatible with the encoding circuit 32, and the decoded signal is outputted to the recording circuit 46 from the signal line 44a. The recording circuit 46 is configured using a thermal printer or the like.

Facsimile circuit and telephone set shown above 4.6.8
Line control is controlled by the control circuit 54 by each block shown in the left half of the figure.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a circuit that detects an incoming call by detecting a predetermined signal such as a calling signal, and is connected to the line 20a, and the detection of R@ by this circuit is notified to the control circuit 54 via the signal line 22a.

Reference numeral 24 generates a hold tone audio signal to be sent to the other party via the line 20a during line switching. code 2
6 sends a dial signal of a predetermined method such as a dial tone or dial pulse to the line 20a when calling the other party.
This is a circuit for sending data to. The operations of the hold tone generation circuit 24 and the dial signal transmission circuit 26 are controlled by the control section 54 via signal lines 54b and 54c, respectively.

In FIG. 2, signal lines 4a, 6a, and 8a are different from the previous example in that they are lines for transmitting and receiving voice signals for telephone calls.In this embodiment, power is supplied to telephones 4, 6, and 8. This is done by the power supply circuit 48.

Further, data transmission for combining control of the telephone 4.6.8 and the facsimile device is controlled by a data transmission control device 52 composed of elements such as PPI. Data input/output between the data transmission control attachment 52 and the control device 54 is performed via the signal line 52b. On the other hand, phone 4.6
．． Data transmission and power supply between data transmission device 8 and data transmission device 52 are performed via signal lines 52a (plurality). The data transmission control circuit 52 and the control circuit 54 operate in synchronization with a clock generated by a timing generation circuit 50 composed of a clock generator or the like.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of telephones 4.6 to 8.

Signal vi4 a connected to line switching circuit 20 in FIG.
, 6a to 8a are connected to a line control circuit 70.

Signal lines 4a, 6a, 8a are signal lines 70b, 76a
and 70c, it is connected to a telephone circuit 72, a signal tone generating circuit 76 that generates a ringing tone, or a speaker circuit 78 used for hands-free calling.

The telephone circuit 72 is composed of a sound protection circuit, a speech network circuit, etc., and is connected to the handset 74 via a signal line 72a.
connected to.

On the other hand, the signal line 52 for data transmission and power supply
a is a power supply circuit 80 that supplies power to each circuit of the telephone;
and is connected to the data transmission control circuit 88. The data transmission control circuit 88 is composed of elements such as PPI, similar to the one described above.

A control unit 92 of the telephone, which is composed of a microcomputer or the like, controls the operation of the entire telephone. Data transmission between the data transmission control circuit 88 and the control section 92 is carried out by a signal line 90.
This is done via e.

In the control unit 92, a keyboard 84 including a numeric keypad and the like is connected to the signal line 9 for inputting a telephone number when making a call.
Connected via 2. The keyboard 84 is provided with start and stop keys used for remote control of the facsimile machine.

In addition, the input telephone number or the signal line 52a can be displayed.
A display unit 82 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like to display data transferred from the facsimile device side via the
is connected to the control unit 92 via the signal line 92b.
Display section 82 is also used to monitor the operation of the facsimile machine. For example, a 0 display section 82 that can input the telephone number, abbreviation, etc. of the other party obtained during facsimile communication through the signal line 52a and display it on the display section 38 displays information related to the operation of the telephone and the operation of the facsimile machine. It is used to display both of the related information, and in order to display these pieces of information, display control such as dividing the display area of the display section 82 into two or alternately switching the display can be considered.

Further, in order to monitor the operation of the telephone or the facsimile machine, a lamp circuit 86 composed of a light emitting element such as an LED is also connected via a signal line 92d.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of the control procedure of the control section 54 shown in FIG. The procedure shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the ROM 54r of the control unit 54.

In addition to the communication operations of the facsimile device, the control section 54 comprehensively controls the operations of the telephone 4.6.8, and also transmits data between the facsimile device and the telephone as necessary to adjust the functions of the telephone and the facsimile device. combine the functions of

At step 5102 in FIG. 4, control unit 54 checks whether a signal indicating that a button on keyboard 84 has been operated has arrived from telephone 4.6.8 via data transmission control circuit 52. 'When there is an input from the keyboard 84, the control unit 92 of the telephone transfers the input data via the data transmission control circuit 88 and the signal line 52a if the input requires control such as making a call.

Next, in step 5104, the telephone is controlled according to the input operation in step 5102, in this case, call control is performed using the dial signal sending circuit 26, or if an incoming call is detected, an operation input to the line is performed. Operations such as connecting the existing telephone are performed.

In step 5106, it is determined whether it is necessary to control the facsimile machine in response to the operation input in step 5102. For example, if a command to start or stop the facsimile machine is input from the keyboard 84 of the telephone, corresponding control is performed in step 3108.

On the other hand, if step 5102 is negative, the process moves to step 5110 and it is determined whether a facsimile operation such as sending, receiving, polling, or document copying has been selected. This determination is made by checking input signals from an operation panel of a facsimile machine (not shown) or the like.

If there is no operation input, the process returns to step 5102, but if there is an operation input, then in step 3112, each part of the facsimile machine is controlled in response to the operation to perform transmission, reception, and other operations. The received information is sent to the telephone via the signal line 52a as necessary, and displayed on the display section 82 of the telephone, or controlled to interrupt or continue the communication operation via the telephone's keyboard 84. In step 5114, it is determined whether control of telephone 4.6.8 is necessary in connection with facsimile communication. For example, it is determined whether it is necessary to call an operator due to a call reservation or the like during facsimile communication.

If such a need arises, the process moves to step 5116 and the telephone 4.6.8 is controlled via the signal line 52a. For example, in the case of a call reservation, the signal tone generating circuit (FIG. 3) 76 is operated to call an operator and have him make a call. In this case as well, the telephone is controlled by the signal line 52a.
This is done by sending and receiving commands via.

As described above, the line control functions of a telephone and a facsimile machine, which have conventionally been provided redundantly, can be configured by a common circuit, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced. Also,
The functions of facsimile machines and telephones, which were previously independent, are now interconnected. For example, information can be exchanged and displayed from a telephone to a facsimile machine or vice versa, and information can be exchanged based on operation input. One can control the device. This allows the operator to monitor and control the operation of the facsimile machine without moving near the facsimile machine.

In the above, a facsimile device is connected as a non-voice terminal device along with a telephone, and the telephone is controlled by the line control unit of the facsimile device. The same technique as above can be implemented even when connecting to a line.

[Effect] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in a communication device that connects a plurality of terminal bags 2 to a communication line, a predetermined device having a line connection mj control function among the terminal devices is connected to another terminal. Since a configuration is adopted that performs line control and operation control of devices, the line connection and operation of each terminal device that can be connected to the line is controlled by a common device, which eliminates the need for duplicative devices in the past. In addition, by combining the functions of a plurality of terminal devices, one terminal device can control the other terminal device, which is an excellent effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication device adopting the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 1 in more detail, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the telephone set of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the control unit shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional communication device. 2a, 2b, 20 a-...Telephone line 20...Line switching device 22...Incoming call detection circuit 24
... Hold tone generation circuit 26 ... Dial signal sending circuit 52.88 ... Data transmission control circuit 54.92 ... Control section 74 ... Handset 82 ...
・Display section 84...keyboard
R's Pro-N 70 Figure 5 ``A1 also has 1 call now) ゛Lotsoff O 1st box

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A communication device that connects a plurality of terminal devices to a communication line, wherein a predetermined device having a line connection control function among the terminal devices performs line control and operation control of other terminal devices.