JPH05292222A - Facsimile equipment containing voice mail function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit a desired voice message with high efficiency by coding and storing the input voice data and then transmitting these stored voice data added with a data identification code together with the image data. CONSTITUTION:A voice CODEC 9 converts the voice data inputted from a microphone 7 into a digital code in order to store it in a RAM 6b of a storage part 6. Then the digital voice data are decoded and outputted through a speaker 8. In a facsimile transmission state, a signal processing part 2 adds a data identification code different from that of the image data to the voice data read out of the part 6. Then the part 2 transmits the voice data to the opposite party together with the image data. Meanwhile the processor 2 adds a voice/ image data identification code and an ID code to the voice and image data received from the opposite side in a facsimile reception state. Then both voice and image data are controlled to be stored in the RAM 6b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function, which is capable of simultaneously transmitting desired voice data during facsimile communication of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various facsimile machines have been developed. However, any of the facsimile machines can only send and receive image data, and if a message is to be transmitted by voice, a separate telephone is used. It had been. That is, conventionally, when it is desired to verbally supplement the description of the content of a manuscript sent by facsimile, a telephone call is made to the other party by using the attached telephone,
Or, it was necessary to make a call with the other party by using an additional function such as telephone reservation.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, when it is desired to verbally convey a message to a facsimile communication partner, in any case, before or after the facsimile communication is started, or at an appropriate time. This was troublesome because it was necessary to make a telephone call in anticipation. In particular, when the other party of the facsimile communication is absent, it is more inconvenient because the message cannot be properly transmitted by telephone.

The present invention has been invented in view of the above points, and it is possible to appropriately and efficiently transmit a desired voice message at the time of facsimile communication without requiring troublesome work such as telephone call. , Its purpose is.

[0005]

According to the present invention, instead of causing a telephone to transmit a desired voice message, the data of the voice message is transmitted to the other party at the time of facsimile communication in the same manner as image data, and at the receiving side. The above object is achieved by properly reproducing and confirming this. That is, the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with means for digitally encoding desired voice data input from the microphone and storing it in the storage unit, and when performing facsimile transmission, the voice data read from the storage unit is imaged. A facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function, which is configured to attach a data identification code different from data and to send the voice data to the other party along with the image data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when voice data digitally encoded along with image data is transmitted from the other party of the facsimile communication, the voice data is distinguished from the image data and the storage section is provided. And a means for decoding the voice data stored in the storage unit by the means and outputting a voice from a speaker.

[0007]

In the facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function according to claim 1, the voice data input from the microphone and stored in the storage unit is combined with the image data at the time of facsimile transmission to obtain an image. The data can be transmitted to the other party of the facsimile communication with a data identification code different from the data attached. On the other hand, in the facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function according to claim 2, the voice data transmitted with the image data as described above is stored in the storage unit separately from the image data, and the voice data is stored. After that, it can be decoded at an appropriate time, reproduced and output as a voice message from the speaker, and the content of the voice message can be confirmed. Therefore, it is not necessary to make a telephone call separately from the image data transmission to make a telephone call.

The desired voice data input from the microphone in claim 1 and the voice data received from the other party in claim 2 are both digitally encoded and stored in the storage unit. As the storage unit, it is not necessary to use storage means such as a tape recorder for recording voice, and a simple and compact memory such as RAM can be used.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a facsimile device F with a voice mail function according to the present invention. It should be noted that the present embodiment will be described by taking as an example a facsimile apparatus having a voice mail receiving function corresponding to claim 2 as well as a voice mail transmitting function corresponding to claim 1. The facsimile apparatus F shown in FIG. 1 includes a facsimile communication control unit 1, a signal processing unit 2 including a CPU, and the like. Here, the facsimile communication control unit 1 is composed of a line control unit 1a, a protocol signal detection circuit 1b, a protocol signal generation circuit 1c, a modem 1d for transmitting and receiving image data, and the like.

In addition to the key operation unit 3, the image reading unit 4, the print output unit 5, and the storage unit 6 including the ROM 6a, the RAM 6b, etc., which are provided in a general facsimile apparatus, the signal processing unit 2 includes a microphone 7 as well. , A speaker 8, a voice codec 9 and other means for processing audio data are also connected. Here, the voice codec 9 stores the voice data input from the microphone 7 in the RAM 6 b of the storage unit 6.
And a decoding function of decoding the audio data that has been digitally encoded and stored in the RAM 6b and outputs the audio from the microphone 7. ..

RA of the storage unit 6 constituting the system memory
M6b is applied to store the digitally encoded audio data as described above, but is also applied to the storage of encoded image data. Each of these data may be addressed and stored in a different memory area, but in the present invention, a RAM for exclusively storing only audio data and image data may be provided separately. The key operation unit 3 is provided with a recording switch (not shown) in addition to the ten keys and other general operation keys.
The recording switch is operated when inputting desired voice data to the RAM 6b via the microphone 7. Further, as another operation switch, the RAM 6 is used.
A switch (not shown) for executing the process of outputting the audio data stored in b from the speaker 8 is also provided.

When executing the facsimile transmission, the signal processing unit 2 stores a bit indicating that the voice data is to be transmitted during the handshake with the facsimile machine of the other party when the voice data to be transmitted is stored in the RAM 6b. Protocol signal generation circuit 1 having NSS signal
It is controlled so as to be sent from c. Further, at the end of the handshake, the signal processing unit 2 reads the voice data from the RAM 6b and controls the voice data to be transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other party before starting the transmission of the image data. However, as a result of judging the NSF signal detected by the protocol signal detection circuit 1b during the handshake of the facsimile communication, if the facsimile machine of the other party does not have a predetermined voice mail receiving function, the voice data is stored in the RAM 6b. Even in this case, the voice data is not transmitted.

On the other hand, the signal processing unit 2 receives the voice data and the image data from the calling party facsimile machine in the case of executing the facsimile reception, and determines whether these data are voice data or image data. Add an identification code and ID code to identify
It is controlled to be stored in the AM 6b. This I
The D code is numbered with a code indicating the communication date and time for each communication, and each voice data and image data can be specified even if a plurality of communication is performed. When voice data is received, the print output unit 5 is operated after the facsimile reception is finished, and a message character of a predetermined form for notifying the user that the facsimile reception with voice mail is performed is printed on the recording paper. It is configured to control to output.

A so-called ECM (error correction mode) communication system is adopted as an example of the facsimile communication system of the facsimile apparatus F. This EC
In the M communication method, for example, until a block of image data composed of 256 frames can be completely transmitted / received without an error, a retransmission request is made in frame units from the receiving side to the transmitting side, and 1 block of image data is correctly transmitted. When transmission / reception is possible, the process moves to communication of the next block of image data. In the present embodiment, this communication method is applied not only to image data but also to audio data transmission.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure when such an ECM communication system is adopted. In the figure, for example, a data identification code of 60 is attached to the image data, but a data identification code of, for example, 70 different from that is attached to the audio data, so that both data can be clearly identified. ..

Next, the operation of the facsimile apparatus F having the above structure will be described. First, a document is set on the image reading unit 4, and before operating the transmission start key of the key operation unit 3, a predetermined recording switch of the key operation unit 3 is operated,
Input a desired voice message from the microphone 7. As a result, the voice message data is digitally encoded by the voice codec 9 and stored in the RAM 6b.
When the voice data is stored in the RAM 6b, the voicemail communication flag is set.

Next, by making a dial call,
When an incoming call arrives at the facsimile machine of the other party, the NSF signal is transmitted from the other party during the subsequent handshake. By decoding the NSF signal, it is possible to determine whether or not the other party has a voice mail receiving function. If the other party facsimile machine does not have such a function, the voice data transmission described later is not executed. On the other hand, when the facsimile machine of the other party has the voice mail receiving function, the facsimile machine F sends the NSS signal including the bit indicating that the voice mail is transmitted to the other party.

Then, when the necessary handshake is finished, the signal processing unit 2 reads the voice data from the RAM 6b and sends it from the modem 1d to the other party.
On the other hand, the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side can receive the voice data without being confused with the image data because the voice data has the data identification code described in FIG. RAM 6b in FIG.
Equivalent to) can be stored. Facsimile device F
The transmission of the image data from is started at the time when the transmission of the voice data is completed, and the communication of this image data is performed in the same procedure as a general facsimile communication procedure.
Steps 100 to 118 of the flowchart of FIG. 4 show the above-mentioned facsimile transmission procedure with voice mail. On the other hand, step 1 of the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numerals 19 to 127 show the procedure for executing facsimile transmission without voice mail.

When the above-mentioned series of facsimile communication is completed and the telephone line is cut off, at the time, the receiving side facsimile device side, as shown in FIG. 3, displays a message character indicating that the facsimile reception with voice mail has been performed. Is automatically printed on the recording paper K. In such a case, the ID code, the date of facsimile reception, the number of originals, the transmission name, etc. may be printed out together with the predetermined message characters. By looking at the message on the recording sheet K, the person who receives the facsimile transmission can surely know that the voice mail is received. If you want to check the contents of the voice mail, you can operate the specified switch of the key operation unit and specify the ID code.
The voice data stored in (corresponding to the RAM 6b in FIG. 1) is read and decoded by the voice codec (corresponding to the voice codec 9 in FIG. 1), and the voice is output from the speaker (corresponding to the speaker 8 in FIG. 1). A message is output.
Steps 200 to 211 of the flowchart of FIG. 6 show a series of procedures for executing facsimile reception with voice mail.

In the above series of facsimile communication,
The sender can send the message contents that he wants to convey verbally at the same time as the image data transmission, and the receiver can reproduce the message in the form of voice. Therefore, there is no need for the sender or receiver of the facsimile communication to call the other party by telephone thereafter.

In the above embodiment, the audio data is transmitted prior to the image data transmission, but the present invention is not limited to this. The audio data may be continuously transmitted after the transmission of the image data is completed. Further, the timing of erasing the voice message may be after confirming the contents with the speaker, after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the call, or according to an operator's instruction. If the unspecified number of people do not want to hear the voice message, the passcode input may be requested and the voice message may be output only when the correct input is made. Furthermore, if the advanced transmission / reception function is used, it is possible to transmit voice data and image data to a specific partner.

Further, the facsimile apparatus F shown in FIG.
Has both a voicemail sending function and a voicemail receiving function, and thus has the advantage of being highly practical. However, the facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function according to the present invention does not need to have both a voice mail transmitting function and a voice mail receiving function.

[0023]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus with the voice mail function according to the present invention, the voice data is imaged to the facsimile communication partner who transmits the image data. According to the facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function according to the present invention, the voice data can be properly received and reproduced as voice, and the voice message can be transmitted properly. You can check the contents of. As a result, unlike the conventional case, the trouble of making a call by calling the telephone after the end of the facsimile communication is not required, and the special effect that the verbal transmission of the voice message can be performed appropriately and efficiently is obtained. .. Moreover, in the present invention according to claims 1 and 2, since the audio data is stored in the storage unit in a digitally encoded state, it is not necessary to use a large-scale recording device such as a tape recorder. As an example of the storage unit, a RAM or the like can be easily used, and the size and cost of the facsimile device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of an ECM communication system.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message printed out by the receiving side facsimile device after the end of the facsimile communication with voice mail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure on the transmission side of facsimile communication with voice mail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure on the transmitting side when the facsimile communication with voice mail is not executed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure on the receiving side of facsimile communication with voice mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile communication control unit 2 Signal processing unit 3 Key operation unit 6 Storage unit 6b RAM 7 Microphone 8 Speaker 9 Voice codec

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A unit for digitally encoding desired voice data input from a microphone and storing the same in a storage unit, and when facsimile transmission is performed, the voice data read from the storage unit is identified as data different from image data. A facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function, characterized in that it is configured to add a code and transmit the voice data to the other party along with the image data. 2. A means for storing digitally encoded voice data, which is transmitted along with image data from the other party of the facsimile communication, in a storage unit separately from the image data.
A facsimile apparatus with a voice mail function, comprising: means for decoding the voice data stored in the storage unit by the means and outputting the voice from a speaker.