JP2001345978A - Communication terminal device with bar code recording function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal device with a bar code recording function which can simplify the structure and maintenance of a communication terminal device such as a facsimile equipment when the communication terminal device is installed in a store, etc., having point-of-sale information management system. SOLUTION: This communication terminal device with the bar code recording function converts object information to be charged into a bar code B after document transmission processing is performed through a line connection part 6, a document read part 9, an image recording part 10, and the mentioned line and prints and records it on recording paper by the mentioned image recording part 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine, which prints out billing information such as the number of transmissions and the time of use of a line on a recording sheet in barcode format after transmitting a document. The present invention relates to a communication terminal device having a barcode recording function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, facsimile machines have been widely spread to ordinary households, but have not yet spread to most homes. In addition, even when a facsimile machine is provided at home, it may be necessary to perform facsimile transmission from an outside location or the like. Therefore, conventionally, a facsimile machine has been installed in a store such as a convenience store and used for visitors.

[0003]

By the way, as a billing method when a facsimile machine is installed in a convenience store or the like, a method of inserting coins (coins) and using the machine is generally used. However, in this case, it is necessary to incorporate a coin management device for counting coins and the like in the facsimile device, which complicates the structure of the facsimile device, increases the cost, and periodically performs maintenance such as coin collection. Had the problem that it was necessary.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended for use in installing a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine in a store or the like having a point-of-sale information management system. A technical object is to provide a communication terminal device with a barcode recording function that can simplify the structure and maintenance of the device. Therefore, the communication terminal device with a bar code recording function according to the first aspect converts the billing target information into a bar code after transmitting the document via the line connection unit, the document reading unit, the image recording unit, and the line. The image recording section prints and records on recording paper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device with a bar code recording function according to the first aspect, information to be printed and recorded by the image recording section includes transmission date and time data of the original. It is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device with a bar code recording function according to the first or second aspect, the chargeable information includes the number of originals to be transmitted and the line usage time. It is.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The facsimile apparatus F as a communication terminal apparatus with a barcode recording function according to the present embodiment is a point-of-sale information management system (hereinafter referred to as a POS (Point
of Sales) system) is installed in a store such as a convenience store. Where PO
As is well known, the S system displays information such as a product name and a price on each product using a barcode, and reads the information with an optical reading device in a register (cash dispenser) in the store. This is a system that performs sales management, inventory management, purchase management, and the like by grasping information such as the type of sold product at the time of sale and charging.

The facsimile apparatus F includes a main control unit 1 including a CPU (central processing unit) and the like. The main control unit 1 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2 and a RAM (Rando
m Access Memory) 3, image memory 4, modem 5, NCU (Network Control Unit) 6 as a line connection unit, display unit 7, operation unit 8, reading unit 9 (document reading unit), and recording unit 10.
(Image recording units) are connected to each other.

The ROM 2 stores a program for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus F and, after a facsimile transmission by a customer, charging information (facsimile apparatus usage fee) and the like based on transmission time, line usage time, and the like using a bar code. A program for recording on a recording paper is stored in advance. On the other hand, the RAM 3 temporarily stores various data required for control by the main control unit 1, for example, data such as a data rate set by the modem 5.

The image memory 4 temporarily stores image data of a document read by the reading unit 9. The modem 5 modulates and demodulates the transmission and reception data, specifically, modulates the transmission data into a voice band signal and sends it to the public telephone network L via the NCU 6, while transmitting the voice received from the public telephone network L via the NCU 6. This is a device for demodulating a band signal into a digital signal. In addition, NCU 6
It has a function of controlling connection between the public line network L and the facsimile apparatus F, a function of transmitting a dial pulse corresponding to the facsimile number of the other party, and a function of detecting an incoming call.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 7 is composed of a liquid crystal display device or the like, and has such a size that characters including a number such as a facsimile number can be displayed in, for example, upper and lower two lines. The operation unit 8 includes, at least, a numeric keypad A (number input key) for inputting a number such as a facsimile number, a start key B for instructing the start of transmission, and the like, and moves the cursor K up, down, left, and right in the display unit 7. And a cross shift key C which can be operated.

The reading section 9 for reading an original or the like for facsimile transmission includes, for example, a line sensor (not shown). The recording unit 10 that records the content received from the other party includes a printing device such as an electrophotographic system or an inkjet system. When the facsimile machine F has a copying function, the image of the document read by the reading unit 9 can be printed by the recording unit 10 as it is.

Further, in a store such as the above convenience store, a register 12 in which a POS system is introduced is installed. This register 12 contains the optical reader 1
3 is connected, and the bar code displayed on each product (not shown) is read by the optical reader 13, so that information such as the product name and price is input to the register 12.

Hereinafter, a control procedure by the main control unit 1 in the case where transmission is performed using the facsimile machine F in the above-mentioned store will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
When it is detected that the customer has input the facsimile number of the transmission destination using the numeric key A (step S in FIG. 3).
1) Subsequently, the main controller 1 determines whether or not the start key B has been pressed (S2).
Returning to S1, the detection of the number input is continued.

If the start key B is depressed in S2, it means that the input of the facsimile number is completed and the transmission start is instructed. In this case, subsequently, it is determined whether or not the original is set on an original mounting portion (not shown) (S3). If the original is not set, a message saying "Please set the original" is displayed on the display. 7 is displayed (S4), and the process returns to S2. On the other hand, if the original is set, dialing of the facsimile number of the communication partner input by the customer is started (S5).

Next, it is determined whether or not a connection has been established with the facsimile machine of the communication partner (S6). If they are not connected, it is subsequently determined whether a timeout has occurred (S7). If not, the process returns to S6 and the same determination is repeated. If a timeout has occurred in S7, a redial is attempted after a predetermined time has elapsed. Note that the processing procedure at the time of redialing is also the same as the processing procedure of S6 and subsequent steps, and a duplicate description will be omitted.

In S6, if the communication is established with the facsimile machine of the communication partner, the time at that time is set to R as the communication start time.
It is stored in AM3 (S8). Then, the original is transmitted to the destination (S9). Thereafter, when the transmission is completed and the line is opened (S10), the time at that time is stored in the RAM 3 as the communication end time (S11). In addition,
The number of documents is counted while the document is being read or transmitted, and is stored in the RAM 3.

When the facsimile transmission is completed,
The usage status of the facsimile machine F by the customer is developed into a barcode (S12), and the barcode list 14 is printed on the recording paper by the recording unit 10. The barcode list 14 has, for example, the contents illustrated in FIG. 5. The heading portion 14 a includes a name of a store such as a convenience store in which the facsimile device F is installed, and a use order of the facsimile device F within a predetermined period. The serial number, the date of use, and the like are printed.

The center main display section 14b records the date of use, the start and end times of line use, the line use time, the number of originals to be transmitted, and the like. In addition, the destination area name, facsimile number, and the like may be recorded. Further, the bar code recording unit 14c converts the fee for facsimile transmission, billing information (telephone line usage fee and facsimile device F usage fee) into a bar code B and records it.

Here, the usage fee of the telephone line is calculated mainly based on the address of the transmission destination and the usage time of the line, and the usage fee of the facsimile apparatus F is calculated mainly based on the number of transmissions. As described above, programs for calculating various charges are recorded in the ROM 2 in advance.

When the customer who has completed the facsimile transmission brings the bar code list 14 to the register 12 in the store, the attendant reads the bar code list 14 with the optical reading device 13 and is charged in the same manner as a normal product. Therefore, there is no need to incorporate a coin management device in the facsimile machine F, and the structure and maintenance can be simplified.

The bar code list 14 is printed by the recording unit 10 originally attached to the facsimile apparatus F on the same recording paper as that for recording the image received from the facsimile apparatus of the other party. Device F
Can be used in accordance with the method of the present embodiment without any particular change in hardware, and can be basically handled only by adding a program necessary for printing the barcode list 14 or the like.

After the charge is collected by the register 12, the barcode list 14 can be brought back by the customer since the transmission record and the billing information are taken into the POS system. It will also remain, which is convenient. Further, the use status of the facsimile machine F can be easily grasped and managed by the POS system.

For a customer who frequently transmits a facsimile in a store or the like, information on the customer's address, name, and the like is registered in advance in the POS system together with a customer identification number and the like. The customer information is input to the facsimile machine F with an identification number or the like and then transmitted, so that the customer information is included in the barcode B of the barcode list 14. It is also possible to provide

In the above embodiment, the billing information is printed as a barcode list 14 after facsimile transmission and read by the optical reader 13. Instead, the facsimile apparatus F is stored in the register 1 of the POS system.
The charging information may be directly transmitted from the facsimile machine F to the register 2 by connecting the charging information to the register 2 online.

In this case, the reading unit 9 of the facsimile machine F reads the original in advance and stores the image information in the image memory 4, and the register 12 sets the price according to the destination area and the number of sheets to be transmitted. After the collection is completed, actual facsimile transmission may be started, thereby preventing unauthorized use such as non-payment of fees. In addition,
Furthermore, the encoded data amount of the document image may be calculated, and a fee may be collected based on the result of the calculation.

[0027]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The communication terminal device with a bar code recording function includes: a line connection unit, a document reading unit, an image recording unit, and after transmitting a document via the line, the chargeable information is converted into a bar code and the image recording is performed. When the communication terminal device is installed in a convenience store or other store, the billing target information printed in barcode on the recording paper is sent to the point of sale information management. Reading by the image reading unit of the system allows billing. Thereby, since it is not necessary to install a coin management device for charging in the communication terminal device, the communication terminal device can be configured with a simple structure at a low cost,
In addition, maintenance such as coin collection and change replenishment is not required.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device having the barcode recording function, the information printed and recorded by the image recording section includes the transmission date and time data of the original. By referring to the data, there is an advantage that not only the presence or absence of transmission but also the transmission date and time can be confirmed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal apparatus having a barcode recording function according to the first or second aspect, wherein the chargeable information includes the number of originals transmitted and the time of use of the line. There is an advantage that charging can be appropriately performed according to the line usage time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a display unit and an operation unit in the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control procedure when a document is transmitted by the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure subsequent to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a barcode list printed after facsimile transmission.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 NCU (line connection unit) 9 reading unit (document reading unit) 10 recording unit (image recording unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A line connection unit, a document reading unit, an image recording unit, and after transmitting a document via the line, chargeable information is converted into a barcode and printed on recording paper by the image recording unit. A communication terminal device with a bar code recording function, characterized in that the communication terminal device records the data. 2. The communication terminal device with a barcode recording function according to claim 1, wherein the information to be printed and recorded by the image recording unit includes transmission date data of the document. 3. The communication terminal device with a barcode recording function according to claim 1, wherein the charge target information includes the number of originals to be transmitted and a line use time.