JPH0630215A - Facsimile communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a reception original from being neglected for a long term by confirming the feasibility/infeasibility of reception from a transmission side to a reception side prior to the execution of facsimile communication, and performing transmission only when the reception of the original is permitted by the reception side. CONSTITUTION:A message to output a scheduled tone corresponding to the feasibility/infeasibility of the reception is sent out of transmission side facsimile equipment 50 to a receiver telephone set 70 on the reception side. When the tone to permit the reception is returned from the telephone set 70 replying to the message, the transmission side facsimile equipment 50 returns the original to reception side facsimile equipment 60.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system, and more particularly to a facsimile communication system in which a sender side confirms whether or not a document can be received before transmitting a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in facsimile communication, a received document is sent out as a hard copy to a receiving plate of a facsimile machine and left for a long time in the form of being visible to the eyes. Therefore, when the content of the manuscript is a confidential document requiring confidentiality, the facsimile device cannot be used, and other means such as mailing must be used.

In recent years, in order to solve such problems,
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 1-320850 proposes a technique in which a facsimile machine on the receiving side calls a telephone of a recipient after receiving a document and outputs a message indicating that a received document exists.

Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 62-25570 proposes a technique in which a facsimile machine on the receiving side informs the recipient of an incoming call by displaying or voice.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional incoming call notification function, the sending side cannot judge whether or not a message indicating that there is an incoming call has been transmitted to the recipient. If the message is not transmitted to the recipient, the received document is left on the receiving plate of the facsimile device as it is.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and only before the original is transmitted, the sender confirms whether or not the original can be received, and only when the recipient permits the original to be received. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication system that prevents a received document from being left for a long time by performing transmission.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a facsimile communication system in which whether or not reception is possible is confirmed from a transmitting side to a receiving side prior to facsimile communication. It is characterized by taking various measures. (1) Sending a message from the sending facsimile machine to the recipient's phone of the receiving side to output a scheduled tone depending on whether it is possible to receive, and a tone sound that allows reception in response to the message. When is returned, the original is sent to the facsimile machine on the receiving side. (2) When the sending facsimile machine makes a call to the receiving party's telephone and detects off-hook, the original document is sent to the receiving facsimile machine. (3) Sending a message from the facsimile machine on the sending side to the recipient's phone on the receiving side to output a scheduled tone sound depending on whether reception is possible, and a tone sound permitting reception in response to the message. When the dial number of the receiving facsimile machine is returned, the transmitting facsimile machine makes a call to the dial number and transmits the original. (4) The facsimile machine on the sending side sends a message to the recipient's phone on the receiving side to specify the desired time to send, and in response to the message, a tone sound specifying the sending time is returned. Then, the transmitting side facsimile device transmits the original document to the receiving side facsimile device at the designated time. (5) When the sending facsimile machine makes a transmission request to the receiving facsimile machine, the receiving facsimile machine calls the recipient's phone and asks whether the reception is possible. Allowed to send to. (6) When the sending facsimile machine makes a transmission request to the receiving facsimile machine, the receiving facsimile machine calls the recipient's telephone and asks whether the reception is possible. I tried to receive the manuscript by polling. (7) If the receiving side does not permit the document reception, the transmitting side facsimile machine outputs the absence notification.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned configurations (1) to (6), the original is sent only when the recipient asks whether or not the recipient can receive it, and the original is sent. Thus, the manuscript is not sent and left unattended while the recipient is absent.

Further, according to the above configuration (7), if the receiving side does not permit the original document reception, the facsimile machine on the transmitting side outputs an absence notification, so that the original document is not delivered to the receiving side by the sender. You will definitely be able to know.

[0010]

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware structure of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The facsimile machine of the present invention has all the main components of the conventional facsimile machine, but here, only the components necessary for explaining the present invention are shown, and the other components are omitted.

In FIG. 1, a scanner 1 reads document information and converts it into image data of electric signals. The codec (CODEC) unit 2 encodes image data and decodes the encoded image data.
The image memory 4 stores encoded image data. The modem 5 modulates image data to be transmitted and demodulates received image data. The line control unit (NCU) 6 automatically dials and calls the partner station or determines whether there is an incoming call or the like when a transmission instruction is made by one-touch dialing or speed dialing.

The printer 7 prints the received image data on recording paper. The operation panel 8 has a numeric keypad, function keys, a display unit, and the like. System control unit (CPU) 9
Controls the operation of the entire facsimile. ROM10
Stores a control program for operating this system and various basic data. The RAM 11 provides a work area and stores data set by the user from the operation panel 8. The DTMF receiver 13 outputs numerical information in response to the received tone sound. The voice synthesizer 12 converts the message pattern read from the ROM 10 into a voice message and sends it out.

In the facsimile apparatus having such a configuration, the image information read by the scanner 1 is coded by the codec section 2 and temporarily stored in the image storage memory 3. Then, the image information is read from the image storage memory 3, modulated by the modem 5 and sent to the line control unit 6.

On the other hand, when the facsimile machine on the receiving side receives the image information from the line controller 6, it sends it to the modem 5 for demodulation. Next, the demodulated image information is temporarily stored in the image storage memory 3. Subsequently, this image information is sent to the codec unit 2, and the codec unit 2 decodes the image information. The decrypted image information is sent to the printer 7 and printed out on paper.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the transmitting operation of the transmitting side facsimile apparatus according to this embodiment. is there.

In the present embodiment, the facsimile machine 50 on the transmitting side makes a call to the recipient's telephone 70 on the receiving side, and the telephone 70
When the scheduled tone is returned from, the original is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 60 on the receiving side as the recipient has accepted the reception.

When an original is to be transmitted from a facsimile machine on the transmission side (hereinafter also referred to as a transmission station) 50 to a facsimile machine on the reception side (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a reception station) 60, transmission is performed. The person operates the operation panel 8 of the transmitting station 50 to specify the reception confirmation mode, input the telephone number of the recipient's telephone 70 and the facsimile number (telephone number) of the receiving station 60, and then transmit the operation panel 8. Press the button to instruct to start transmission. These input data are stored in the RAM 11.

When the transmission operation is started in this way,
In step S11, the transmitting station 50 determines whether or not the reception confirmation mode is designated. If the reception confirmation mode is designated as described above, the RAM is displayed in step S12.
Recipient telephone number is read from 11, and step S13
Then, the recipient's telephone 70 is called via the NCU 6. If the reception confirmation mode is not designated, a normal transmission process is executed in step S28.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the telephone set 70 is off-hook, and when it is confirmed that the telephone set is off-hook, that is, the telephone receiver of the telephone set 70 is picked up and the recipient is present, the ROM 10 is previously stored in step S15. For example, "This is a △△△ facsimile. Fax transmission will start from this, but if it is permitted, press the number ○ on the dial. The message pattern corresponding to the message
Is supplied to. In step S17, the voice synthesis unit 12 converts the message pattern into a voice message and outputs it.

In step S18, a tone sound (DTMF
Signal) is input, and it is determined in step S19.
Then, it is determined whether or not the input tone is the expected tone input from the telephone 70 in response to the message. Such a determination is made by the DTMF receiver 13 receiving the tone sound, outputting a digital signal in response to the tone sound to the CPU 9.

In step S20, it is determined whether or not the telephone 70 is on-hook, and if it is in the on-hook state, the line is disconnected in step S21. In step S22, the inputted facsimile number of the receiving station 60 is read from the RAM 11. Step S23
In step S24, the facsimile number is automatically called.
At, facsimile communication is started.

On the other hand, if no tone is detected in step S18, the telephone set 70 is detected in step S25.
Is determined to be in the on-hook state, and if the on-hook state is confirmed, the line is disconnected in step S27.

If the expected tone is not detected in step S19, it is determined in step S26 whether the telephone set 70 is in the on-hook state. If the on-hook state is confirmed, the line is disconnected in step S27. To be done.

According to the present embodiment, the original is sent only when the recipient asks whether or not the recipient can receive it before sending, and the original is sent only when the recipient permits the reception. It is never sent and left unattended.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the transmitting operation of the transmitting station 50 according to the present embodiment. Since the same processing is executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as the above, the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the transmitting station 50 makes a call to the recipient's telephone 70, and when the on-hook of the telephone 70 is detected, the original is transmitted assuming that the recipient is present. .

In this embodiment, as compared with the first embodiment,
The processing of steps S18, S19 and S25 to S27 is eliminated, and the voice message output in step S17 is, for example, "This is a △△△ facsimile.
Facsimile transmission will start after the handset is placed. ]
As such, it replaces those that do not require a tone.

According to the present embodiment, since the manuscript is transmitted only when the presence of the recipient is confirmed, the manuscript is transmitted without the recipient and left as it is as in the conventional case. There is no. Moreover, if the recipient picks up the receiver, it is determined that he / she is present, so that the telephone 70 of the recipient does not need to be provided with a tone generation function.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the transmitting operation of the transmitting station according to the present embodiment. Since the same processes are executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as the above, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the transmitting station 50 makes a call to the recipient's telephone 70, and makes a call to the facsimile telephone number returned as a DTFM signal from the telephone 70 to send the original.

In step S14, the recipient telephone 70
If the off-hook is detected, the RO is detected in step S15.
The message pattern is read from M10, and in step S17, for example, "This is a △△△ facsimile. Fax transmission will now start, but please dial the incoming fax telephone number. ] Voice message is sent.

When a tone sound corresponding to the facsimile telephone number is detected in step S18, step S31
Then, the input tone sound is converted into a numerical value (digital) by the DTMF receiver 13, and R is converted in step S32.
It is stored in AM11.

Further, in step S20, the telephone 7
When the on-hook of 0 is detected, the called facsimile telephone number is read from the RAM 11 in step S33, and the call is originated in step S23.

According to the present embodiment, it becomes possible to send to the facsimile apparatus designated by the recipient.
The recipient can quickly and reliably obtain the document by designating another facsimile machine even if the regular facsimile machine is out of order or busy.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the transmitting station according to the present embodiment. Since the same processes are executed in the configurations and steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

In this embodiment, the transmitting station 50 makes a call to the telephone 70 of the recipient prior to the transmission of the original, and when the recipient designates the time, the transmitting station 50 makes the receiving station 6 anew at the designated time.
The original is sent by calling 0.

The transmitting station 50 makes a call to the recipient's telephone 70 on the receiving side in the same manner as described above, and when off-hook is confirmed in step S14, a tone is generated in step S70 depending on whether reception is possible. Message, and a message to specify the desired transmission time if the time specification is necessary, are subsequently output.

In step S71, the recipient's telephone 70
The DTMF signal transmitted from the device is detected, and it is determined whether or not the facsimile transmission is permitted. If permitted, it is determined in step S72 whether the time is designated. If the time is specified, step S
At 73, the internal timer is set and then step S
At 74, the line is once disconnected.

After that, when the designated time comes in step S75, facsimile communication is performed in steps S22 to S24.

According to the present embodiment, the receiving station can specify the transmission time to the transmitting station. Therefore, even if the recipient cannot reach the receiving station immediately, the received document can be transmitted for a long time. Will not be left unattended.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
Reference numerals 1 to 13 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the transmitting station according to the present embodiment. Since the same processes are executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as those described above, the description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the facsimile machine 50 on the transmitting side calls the facsimile machine 60 on the receiving side to notify the telephone number of the recipient's telephone 70, and the facsimile machine 60 on the receiving side informs the notified telephone. The number is called, the recipient is asked whether to permit / deny the facsimile transmission, and the result is notified to the facsimile machine 50 on the transmitting side.
When the transmission is permitted, the facsimile machine 60 on the receiving side
I am trying to send the manuscript to.

When the designation of the reception confirmation mode is detected in step S11, the transmitting station 50 makes a call to the receiving station 60 in step S80, and in step S12 and S13, the telephone number of the recipient telephone 70 is sent to the receiving station 60. Notice.

When the receiving station 60 detects an incoming call from the transmitting station 50 in step S91, the receiving station 60 proceeds to step S92.
Then, the recipient telephone number is received from the receiving station 60. In step S93, the receiver telephone 70 is called while maintaining the line with the transmitting station 50.

Thereafter, the receiving station 60 confirms the presence / absence of the recipient by the same method as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 12) or the same as that of the second embodiment (FIG. 13).

When the presence of the recipient is confirmed, step S9
In 4, the transmission permission signal is transmitted to the transmission station 50, and then,
Facsimile communication is performed in steps S95 and S96.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the recipient is absent, a transmission refusal signal is sent to the transmitting station 50 in step S97.
After that, the line is disconnected in step S98.

Also in this embodiment, the same effect as described above can be achieved.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
Reference numerals 5 and 16 are flow charts for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and the same processes are executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as those described above, and therefore their explanations are omitted.

In the present embodiment, the facsimile machine 50 on the transmitting side calls the facsimile machine 60 on the receiving side to notify the telephone number of the recipient's telephone 70, and the facsimile machine 60 on the receiving side informs the telephone number. A call is made to the recipient to inquire whether the facsimile transmission is possible or not, and when the transmission is permitted, the facsimile apparatus 50 on the transmission side is polled.

When the transmission station 50 detects the designation of the reception confirmation mode in step S11, it makes a call to the reception station 60 in step S80, and if it is confirmed that the reception station 60 is in the off-hook state in step S14, S1
In 01, a signal for designating the reception confirmation mode is transmitted, and in step S102, the recipient telephone number is transmitted,
In step S103, the telephone number of its own station is transmitted.

On the other hand, the receiving station 60 which receives these signals
Then, in step S111, the recipient's telephone number notified is called, and if off-hook is confirmed in step S112, a message to the effect that a tone is generated according to permission / rejection of facsimile transmission is displayed in step S113. When a tone sound indicating that transmission is permitted is sent in response to this, a call is made to the transmitting station 50 in step S115, and polling reception is performed in step S116. The effect similar to the above is achieved also by this embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
8 to 21 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, respectively, and the same processing is executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as those described above, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, the transmitting station 50 outputs the absence notification 200 when the receiving side does not permit the document reception.

Similarly to the above, in steps S11 to S13, a call is made to the recipient's telephone 70 of the receiving side, and in step S
When the presence of the recipient is confirmed in 100, the line with the telephone 70 is disconnected in step S40, and step S4
The original is transmitted in 1 to S44.

Note that the presence / absence determination of the recipient executed in step S100 is the same as the determination method in the first to third embodiments, and is described in FIGS. 19 to 21, respectively.
It is as shown in the flowchart in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S100 that the recipient is absent, it is determined in step S51 whether or not the absence notification should be given. If the sender has designated the absence notification in advance, the absence is sent in step S52. The notification means is determined.

When printing on recording paper is selected as the absent notification means, the message pattern is read from the ROM 10 and output to the printer 7 in step S53. When the telephone is selected as the absence notification means, the telephone number of the sender registered in the ROM 10 in advance is read out in step S54, and the call is made in step S55. In step S56, the message pattern is read from the ROM 10, and steps S57-S
At 59, sent to sender.

According to this embodiment, the sender can surely know that the receiving station 60 refuses to receive the original.

FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a modified example of the seventh embodiment. Since the same processing is executed in the configurations and steps given the same reference numerals as the above, the description thereof will be omitted. To do.

In this modification, the absence notification 200 is output particularly when the transmission is rejected in the fourth to sixth embodiments. The effect similar to the above is achieved also by this modification.

[0062]

According to the inventions of claims 1 to 6, since the original is transmitted only when the receiver asks whether the reception is possible before the transmission and the recipient permits the reception, Thus, the manuscript is not sent and left unattended while the recipient is absent.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7, if the receiving side does not permit the document reception, the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side outputs the absence notification, so that the sender is sure that the original has not been delivered to the receiving side. You will be able to know.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of the facsimile communication system which is the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of a facsimile communication system which is a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of a facsimile communication system which is a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an operation of a facsimile communication system which is a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system which is the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system which is the sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram schematically showing the operation of the facsimile communication system which is the seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a modification of the seventh embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 50 ... Facsimile device on transmission side, 60 ... Facsimile device on reception side, 70 ... Recipient telephone set on reception side

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuhisa Suzuki 3-7-1, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Prefecture Iwatsuki Plant, Fuji Zerox Co., Ltd. (72) Gen Okabe 3--7, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture No. 1 at Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Plant

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. In a facsimile communication system in which the reception side confirms whether reception is possible from the transmission side to the reception side prior to the facsimile communication, the transmission side facsimile device responds to the reception side telephone of the reception side depending on whether reception is possible. A message for outputting a predetermined tone sound is transmitted, and when the tone sound permitting reception is returned from the telephone in response to the message, the original is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side. Characteristic facsimile communication system. 2. In a facsimile communication system in which the reception side confirms whether or not the reception is possible prior to the facsimile communication, when the transmission side facsimile device calls the receiver telephone of the reception side and detects off-hook. A facsimile communication system characterized in that a document is transmitted to a receiving side facsimile device. 3. A facsimile communication system in which a reception side confirms whether or not reception is possible from a transmission side to a reception side prior to facsimile communication. A message for outputting a scheduled tone sound, and when the tone sound permitting reception and the dial number of the receiving facsimile machine are returned from the telephone in response to the message, a call is made to the dial number. A facsimile communication system, characterized in that the original is transmitted. 4. The transmission side facsimile device sends a message for designating a desired time of transmission to the recipient's telephone of the receiving side, and in response to the message, the transmission time is designated from the telephone. The facsimile communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the tone is returned, the transmitting facsimile machine transmits the original document to the receiving facsimile machine at the designated time. . 5. In a facsimile communication system in which the reception side confirms whether or not reception is possible prior to facsimile communication, when a transmission request is made from the transmission side facsimile device to the reception side facsimile device, the reception side facsimile device A facsimile communication system characterized in that the device calls the recipient's telephone and asks whether the reception is possible, and when the reception is permitted, the transmission is permitted to the transmitting side facsimile device. 6. In a facsimile communication system in which the reception side confirms whether reception is possible from the transmission side to the reception side prior to the facsimile communication, when the transmission side facsimile device makes a transmission request to the reception side facsimile device, the reception side facsimile device. A facsimile communication system characterized in that the device calls the recipient's telephone and asks whether the reception is possible, and when the reception is permitted, the transmission side facsimile device is polled to receive the original. 7. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein if the receiving side does not permit the document reception, the transmitting side facsimile device outputs an absence notification.