FR2653290A3 - DEVICE FOR CALLING TELEPHONE CALLS TO A FAX OR TO A TELEPHONE SET. - Google Patents

Abstract

A modem (5) takes signals from line (1) representative of the signals transported by this line (1), without disturbing them. A microcontroller (6) controls a switch (2) in response to the signals taken so that, in the absence of a call, the line (1) is connected to the fax machine (4). If a call is followed by protocol signals from a remote fax machine, the microcontroller leaves the line (1) connected to the fax machine (4). Otherwise, it controls a ring generator (7) of the telephone set (3) and connects the line (1) to it in the event of an off-hook. The invention allows a subscriber to use the same telephone line for faxes and conversations, without having to perform any switches.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for

  routing calls over a telephone line, including

  connecting means for connecting said line to either at least a first apparatus for receiving calls from a person, or to at least a second apparatus for receiving calls from a facsimile apparatus, and means for controlling said connecting means,

  sensitive to the nature of the calls on said line.

  Such a device makes it possible to use a single telephone line

  to receive conventional telephone communications, that is to say in which the exchange is done by voice, and telephone communications relating to the transmission of documents or faxes, without having to manually connect the line to one or

  the other device, depending on the nature of the call received.

  Devices of the type defined above are already known, based on the fact that certain fax machines are provided

  to issue, before any exchange during a communication

  in which they are calling, salvOE a signal at 1100 Hz. Thus, when a call from such a fax machine ends on a conventional telephone, the person who picks up knows that she has

  deal with a fax machine and not another person.

  The existing referral devices take advantage of this

  signal at 1100 Hz to recognize the nature of the

  cation and refer to the correct device accordingly.

  Thus, these known devices, ringing from

  line, take the communication and attempt to recon-

  for a few seconds, a burst of 1100 Hz emitted by the calling fax machine. Then they generate a ringing tone to the receiving fax machine and pass him the line as soon as he picks up. If no 1100 Hz is recognized, they generate a ringtone to the extension

  phone and he pass the line as soon as he picks up.

  The signal detection at 1100 Hz is usually done

using a filter.

  However, these known devices are not very reliable because the 1100 Hz signal is not emitted by all calling fax machines, and because a calling human

  can emit a sound with energy around 1100 Hz.

  The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages.

  For this purpose, it relates to a device of the type defined above, characterized in that it comprises non-disruptive sampling means for taking on said line signals representative of the signals carried by said line, recognition means to recognize, from the signals taken,

  representative of the protocol signals emitted by an eventual

  a remote apparatus, of the fax type, in response to protocol signals transmitted by said second apparatus

  as soon as it receives a call, and that

  in the absence of an appeal and in the presence of a

  of recognition of said signals representative of

  protocol codes, the connection of said line to said second apparatus, and in the presence of a call not followed by recognition of said signals representative of the signals

  protocol, the connection of the said line to the first

first device.

  In the device of the invention, all the incoming calls end up on the fax machine, since, in the absence of a call, the line is systematically connected to it. If an incoming call comes from a remote fax machine, the exchange protocol between the remote fax machine and the local fax machine is immediately started, as it would be if the line was dedicated exclusively to the local fax machine. Then, thanks to the espionage of the signals on the line that the means of sampling and the

  means of recognition, the protocol signals

  The characteristics of the calling remote fax machine can be detected, which is formal proof that the calling party is a fax machine. In this case, the control means

  leave the line connected to the fax machine so that the

  fax type continues. If, on the other hand, the call

  coming from a person, the tele-

  copy can not commit, despite the protocol signals,

  in this case an identification signal, issued at several

  resumed by the local fax machine. In this case

  line will be connected to the conventional telephone.

  The device of the invention is therefore particularly reliable, and moreover, it is completely transparent for

  facsimile exchanges, since the line is normal-

connected to the fax machine.

  In the preferred embodiment, there are provided ringing means for ringing said first apparatus, and stall detecting means for detecting the stall of said first apparatus, and

  presence of a call not followed by recognition of the said

  signals representative of the protocol signals, said control means make said first device ring, and connect said line to said first device in response

  detecting the stall of said first device.

  In this case, it is not necessary for the facsimile machine to have its own alert scrnrepour the subscriber of an incoming call, since, if this call is intended for him, the telephone starts to ring. In addition, and most importantly, the subscriber does not have to monitor the fax machine to see who this incoming call is actually intended for, which is the case if the line is immediately connected to the extension.

  conventional telephone system when the

school are not recognized.

  Advantageously, said control means stop the

  said ringing means and release said line after a determined duration of ringing not followed by detection of the

stalling said first device.

  Thus, the calling party does not risk too long waiting in the ignorance of what happens to

his call.

  Advantageously, it is provided means for

  transmit on said line signals to inform an eventual

  corresponding that said first apparatus is in process

to ring.

  These signals are, for example, the known ring return signals or synthetic voice signals.

giving information in the clear.

  In order to make the device transparent for outgoing calls, that is calls made by the subscriber at which the switching device is installed, stall detection means are provided for detecting the stall of said first device, there are provided means for recognizing an exchange between two facsimile-type apparatus, and said control means connect said line to said first apparatus in response to stall detection, unless an exchange between two facsimile apparatuses

takes place.

  Advantageously still, means are provided for sending a ring signal to said second apparatus, and

  said control means, in response to an order of use.

  the user of said first device, command the sending of a ring signal to said second device, and the connection of said line to said second device to allow, after a voice exchange, a type exchange

  fax during the same telephone call.

  In one embodiment, there are provided a plurality of first devices, and said control means, in

  response to user orders, control the

  cording of said line to one or other of said

first devices.

  The present invention will be better understood thanks to the

  following description of the preferred embodiment, and one of its variants, of the switching device of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the device of referral of the invention, and - Figure 2 shows a variant of the device of the

figure 1.

  3o As shown in Figure 1, the switching device of the invention is intended to be inserted between a telephone line 1 and here two devices 3 and 4, to switch

  calls on line 1 to one or the other of the

  3 and 4, depending on the nature of these calls.

  The apparatus 3 is here a telephone, or, where appropriate, an answering machine. In general, it is a device designed to receive calls

from a person.

  The device 4 is here a fax machine, but it could be a derivative device. In general, this is a device designed to receive calls in

  from another fax machine.

  A three-position controllable switch 2 makes it possible to connect the line i either to the telephone set 3 or to the fax machine 4 or to the transmission access of a modulator-demodulator.

  or modem, 5. Switch 2 is provided with a control input

  a connection control CR signal.

  The modem 5, in addition to the transmission access connected to the switch 2, is provided with a reception access connected to the line 1, a data output delivering a signal S and a data input.

  receiving a signal E. The modem 5 is of the known type V21.

  The signal S represents the demodulated data relating to a possible modulated signal received by the modem 5 on its reception access, and, in response to the data signal E, the modem 5 transmits a modulated signal on its transmission access. It should be noted that the modem 5 is arranged so that its reception access has in line 1 a high impedance not to disturb the normal operation of the line 1, and that when this line 1 is connected to one of the devices 3 or

  4, the modem 5 allows the sampling of signals representing

  of those transported by Line 1, in

  one way or the other, without disrupting the functioning

  line 1 and the apparatus to which it is connected.

  roped. We can say that the modem 5 is spying on line 1.

  A microcontroller 6 is provided with a data input

  receiving the signal S, two binary inputs receiving re-

  respectively a stall detecting signalDD and a second stall detecting signal DD ', a data output delivering the signal E, and three binary output signals.

  res respectively delivering the control signal CR of

  cord, a ringing signal CS signal, and a ringing switch control CAS signal. A circuit 7 of

  generating a ring signal and decoding detection

  chage is provided with a binary input receiving the signal CS ringing, a binary output delivering the first signal DD stall detection, and bidirectional access. The circuit 7 is the known type of circuit which usually performs the function of generating a ring signal and detecting stall in the telephone exchanges. A stall detection circuit 7 ', delivering the second stall detection signal DD'

  is connected to the input of the device 4.

  A controllable switch 8, with three positions, makes it possible to connect the bidirectional access of the circuit 7 either to the telephone set 3 or to the fax machine 4, or to leave this bidirectional access isolated. The switch 8 is provided with a

  control input receiving the signal command CAS command-

ringing sound.

  The device that has just been described operates as follows.

  With the modem 5, to which it is connected, the microcontroller 6 knows the signals on the line 1. In the absence of signals

  on this line 1, the microcontroller 6 controls the switching

  2 to connect the line to the fax machine 4.

  Thus, all incoming calls are always

to the fax machine 4.

  The latter is arranged, like all the fax machines, to transmit, when it receives a call, a protocol signal comprising in particular, in this case, a digital identification signal DIS ("Digital Identification Signal") as defined in FIG. Recommendation T. 30 of the International Telegraph Advisory Committee and

the Telephone, or C.C.I.T.T.

  Thus, any incoming call on line 1 is followed by the transmission of a digital identification signal DIS

  on this line. If the call comes from a fax machine

  the latter must respond in particular to the signal DIS by a corresponding protocol signal, in this case one of the following protocol signals, defined by the CCITT Recommendation T. 30: - signal for the establishment of non-standard facilities NSS ( "Non Standard Facilities Set-up"), - Transmitter Subscriber Identification (TSI) signal, - Digital Command Signal (DCS), - Facility control signal not NSC ("Non Standard Facilities Command") standards, - Calling Suscriber Identification (CIG) subscriber identification signal, and, - DTC digital transmission control signal

("Digital Transmitt Command").

  The microcontroller 6 is arranged to recognize, among the signals taken on line 1, the previous protocol signals transmitted by the remote fax machine in response to the digital identification signal DIS. If the call is followed by a recognition of these protocol signals, it is because the call is from a fax machine and the

  microcontroller 6 leaves line 1 connected to the tele-

copier 4.

  If the call is not followed by an acknowledgment of protocol signals from a remote fax machine, while the facsimile machine 4 has repeated the digital identification signal DIS three times, then the microcontroller 6

  connect line 1 to the telephone 3.

  To do this, the microcontroller 6 controls, through the

  signal CS, the circuit 7 to generate a ringing signal, and, through the CAS signal, the switching of this ringing signal to the telephone 3. The telephone 3 rings and if the subscriber is present, he picks up the handset. The stall is detected by the circuit 7, and the microcontroller 6, notified by the signal DD, then controls the switch 2

  to connect line 1 to station 3.

  While station 3 rings, the microcontroller controls, through the signal

  CR, the connection of line 1 to the modem 5 transmission port.

  it is not high impedance, but with normal impedance, for example

  600Jl, and maintains the loop of the direct current of line. The microcon

  the driver controls, by the signal E, the transmission of a disconnected carrier

  nude simulating a ringback tone. Alternatively, a synthesizer

  can issue an explanatory voice message.

  If the subscriber is absent, there is no detection of

  chage, the microcontroller 6 commands the stop of the ringing

  after a fixed period, and releases line 1.

  For the subscriber to call a correspondent for help

  telephone set 3 without having to manually connect

  At this station 3, the line 1 normally connected to the fax machine 4, the microcontroller 6 is arranged to connect the line 1 to the station 3 as soon as the signal DD indicates a stall of the station 3 not consecutive to a ring of this station 3. However, as it is possible that a fax exchange is then in progress between the fax machine 4 and a remote fax machine, the microcontroller 6, which can recognize such an exchange on the lignel thanks to the stall detector 7 ', does not connect the line i at station 3 in the absence of such an exchange, so as not to interrupt

the transmission of a fax.

  Here, the microcontroller 6 is also arranged to receive

  see, in the course of a call between the subscriber and a correspondent through station 3, an order of

  subscriber intended to obtain, without interrupting the

  telephone connection, the connection of line 1 to fax machine 4 for a facsimile exchange

to voice exchange.

  The order is given for example by the subscriber by dialing, on the DTMF DTMF (Dual Tone Modulation Frequency) dial, a given digit, for example the 7, which corresponds to the transmission of a signal composed of two determined frequencies. The microcontroller 6 detects this order via the modem 5, provided for this purpose with adequate filters, and then controls, via the signal CS, the generation of a ringing signal by the circuit 7, as well as, through the CAS signal, the routing of this ringing signal to the fax machine 4. Everything then happens as if the fax machine 4 was called. He hung up

  therefore, what is detected in circuit 7, and the micro-

  Controller 6 then commands, in response to signal DD, the connection of line 1 to the facsimile machine. Naturally, the correspondent of the subscriber, with whom he has agreed, does the same on his side to connect his fax machine to line 1. This remote fax machine receives the protocol signal from the fax machine 4, and everything

  therefore passes as if the remote fax machine was

  calling copier. There is exchange of protocol signals,

followed by fax exchange.

  In Figure 2 is shown a variant of the switching device of Figure 1 for which it is possible to connect two telephone sets 3 and 3 'instead of one. A two-position switch, 2t, replaces the switch 2, and a switch 8 ', with three active positions and two rest positions, replaces the

switch 8.

  The modem 5 and the circuit 7 are unchanged, while the microcontroller 6 'is arranged, to perform on the one hand the functions of the microcontroller 6, and on the other hand to control the connection of the line 1 to the station 3 or post 31 in response to commands from the user of the 3 'station or the station 3, respectively. As has already been described, these commands can be formed by dialing a number on the keypad of the corresponding station, so as to let the microcontroller know that it is desired to pass

on the other post.

  Naturally, it would be possible to provide the connection

  more than two telephone sets 3 and 3 ', as well as standby possibilities, line 1, and so on. Such variants are naturally

  within the reach of the person skilled in the art, just as the program

  the microcontroller 6 from the functions it

  must realize and have just been described.

  If, in the device which has been described, the circuits 7 and 8 provide definite advantages, they are not necessarily absolutely mandatory and one could consider, in a very simplified version, the implementation of

the invention without these circuits.

Claims (7)

claims   Device for directing calls on a telephone line (1), comprising connection means (2) for connecting said line (1) to at least a first device (3) intended to receive calls from a telephone line person, either to at least a second device (4) provided to receive calls from   facsimile apparatus, and means of communication   mand (6) of said connecting means (2), responsive to the nature of the calls on said line (1), characterized in that it comprises non-disruptive sampling means (5) for taking out said   line (1) of the signals representative of the transpor-   by said line (1), recognition means (6) for recognizing, among the signals sampled,   representative of the protocol signals emitted by an eventual   a remote device, of the fax type, in response to protocol signals transmitted by said second device (4) as soon as it receives a call, andthe controlmeans (6) control, in the absence of a call and in the presence of a call followed by the recognition of said signals representative of the protocol signals, the connection of said line (1) to said second apparatus (4), and in the presence of a call not followed by recognition of said signals representative of the protocol signals, the connection of said line 1) said first device (3).   2. Device according to claim 1, wherein there is provided ringing means (7, 8) for ringing said first apparatus (3), and means for detecting   stall (7, 8) to detect the stalling of said first   first apparatus (3), and, in the presence of non-tracking call of said signals representative of the protocol signals, said control means (6) ring said first apparatus (3), and connect said line (1) to said first apparatus (3) in response to a detection   stalling said first apparatus (3).   3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said control means (6) stop said means for   ring and release said line (1) after a period of time   completed ringing not followed by stall detection said first apparatus (3).   4. Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, in   which means (5, 6) are provided for transmitting on said line (1) signals to inform a possible correspondent that said first apparatus (3) is in the process of to ring.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, in   which stall detecting means (7, 8) are provided for detecting the stalling of said first apparatus (3), means (6, 7 ') are provided for recognizing an exchange between two facsimile apparatuses, and said means (6) connect said line (1) to said first apparatus (3) in response to stall detection unless an exchange between two   Fax-type devices take place.   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in   which means (7, 8) are provided for sending a ringing signal to said second apparatus (4), and said   control means (6), in response to a command from the user   said first apparatus (3), control the sending of a ringing signal to said second apparatus (4), as well as the connection of said line (1) to said second apparatus (4) so as to allow, after a voice exchange, an exchange   fax type during the same tele- sound.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, in   several first devices (3, 3 ') are provided, and said control means (6'), in response to commands from the users, control the connection of said line (1) to one (3) or the other (3 ') of those first devices (3, 3 ').