JPH0774860A - Fax machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a facsimile device that can be effectively used as a centralized information source. [Structure] An information storage means 8 for storing various character information such as a telephone number, an address and a name in advance is provided. The storage of the information is performed using the operation unit 9 and the display unit 10. When there is a dial from an external information communication device having a facsimile reception function, the dial signal is received signal decoding means 1
2 analyzes, the stored information search means 11 searches the information storage means 8 based on the analyzed character information, converts the character information searched by the stored information encoding means 13 into image information, and transmits it to an external information communication device. Send.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine for transmitting and receiving image signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been used for converting image information into a signal and transmitting the signal to the other party through a telephone line. In recent years, in response to the diversification of information,
A facsimile machine stores various information such as a telephone number as well as an address and name, and simultaneously transmits information when transmitting by facsimile, or transmits information by a simple transmission function. Utilization has begun to take place.

[0003]

However, in the conventional apparatus, the stored information is used only as a method for adding the stored information to the caller printout or the callee history information print during facsimile transmission. In other words, it cannot be said that the accumulated information is being used sufficiently effectively.

In particular, the information required by users on the go is diversified, and various information communication devices must be carried with them in order to cope with the information, and the information is complicated. There was also.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus that can be effectively utilized as a centralized information source.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile apparatus according to the present invention has an interface means with a telephone line for automatically closing a telephone line in response to an input of a bell signal, and an input from the telephone line through the interface means. Signal receiving means for receiving a signal, a signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the telephone line through the interface means, an information storing means for storing various information in advance, and a signal for analyzing a signal input from the telephone line. Received signal decoding means for identifying as character information, stored information searching means for searching the information storing means based on the identified character information,
The stored information retrieved by the retrieval means is converted into image information by character font information as character information, and the accumulated information encoding means for transmitting to the telephone line by the signal transmitting means is provided.

[0007]

[Function] A signal sent from an external information communication device having a facsimile receiving function via a telephone line is detected and analyzed as character information, and stored information is searched based on the analyzed character information to obtain a character font. The information is converted into image information, and the image information is transmitted to the external information communication device that is the caller.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment. In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone line,
Reference numeral 2 is an interface circuit, 3 is a signal transmitting circuit, 4 is a signal receiving circuit, 5 is a control means composed of a microcomputer, 6 is a dial signal generating circuit, 7 is a received data printing circuit, 8 is a telephone number, address or name in advance. Information storage means for storing various character information, 9 is an operation unit, 10 is an LC
It is a display unit made of D. Reference numeral 11 is an accumulated information retrieval means for retrieving accumulated information in the information accumulating means 8, 12 is a received signal decoding means, 13 is accumulated information encoding means for encoding character information retrieved from the accumulated information and converting it into image information, 14 Is information input means, and these means 11 to 1
Reference numeral 4 constitutes a part of the control means 5. Reference numeral 15 is a dial signal detection circuit.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be described below.

Using the operation unit 9 and the display unit 10, various information such as a telephone number, an address and a name that have been input are stored in the information storage unit 8 in advance via the information input unit 14.

First, a facsimile device is called from an information communication device having a facsimile reception function at a destination. That is, the dial signal detection circuit on the calling side, which is an information communication device, sends a dial signal through the interface circuit, and the called side, which is the facsimile machine, responds to the bell signal input by the dial circuit on the interface circuit 2. The telephone line 1 is automatically closed and the telephone line 1 is connected (step S1). Here, when a dial signal for activating the information transmission function is transmitted from the dial signal generating circuit on the calling side through the interface circuit (step S2), the dial signal input from the telephone line 1 is received on the signal receiving circuit on the called side. It is input to the received signal decoding means 12 through 4. The input signal is identified by the received signal decoding means 12, and the input signal is decoded into the corresponding dial information. The control means 5 identifies whether or not it is a signal for instructing activation of the information transmission function based on the decoded dial information (step S3).

When it is judged that the identified dial signal is the instruction of the information transmission function, the control means 5 instructs the stored information retrieval means 11 to retrieve the stored information and retrieves the recognized dial signal. As a processing search condition, a table that manages the conditions of accumulated information is collated, and the accumulation location of the relevant information is extracted. Various information is stored in the information storage means 8 in advance. The relevant information (for example, telephone number, name, etc.) is extracted from the extracted storage location. Then, the extracted information is the control means 5
Is sent to the accumulated information encoding means 13 and collated with the font information held by the control means 5 to convert the character information into image information (step S4).

Thereafter, the called side (hereinafter referred to as the transmitting side) is controlled by the control means 5 to call the calling tone signal (C
The NG signal) is transmitted to the calling side (hereinafter referred to as the receiving side) through the signal transmitting circuit 3 (step S5). When the receiving side receives the CNG signal from the transmitting side through the interface circuit from the signal receiving circuit, the CNG is sent from the control means.
A command for transmitting a digital identification signal (DIS signal) corresponding to the signal is generated, and the DIS signal is transmitted from the signal transmitting circuit on the receiving side to the transmitting side through the interface circuit (step S6).

Here, when the transmitting side receives the DIS signal (step S7), it transmits a digital command signal (DCS signal). The DCS signal is transmitted to the control means 5 on the transmission side.
Is generated by the signal transmission command of 1) and is transmitted from the signal transmission circuit 3 to the reception side through the interface circuit 2. The transmitting side sends a training signal (TCF signal) after the DCS signal from the signal transmitting circuit 3 to the receiving side through the interface circuit 2 (step S8).

When the receiving side receives the DCS signal and the TCF signal from the signal transmitting circuit through the interface circuit (step S9), the control means performs an operation of adjusting the transmission speed to the transmitting side, and after the operation is completed, the signal transmitting circuit Reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR
The signal) is sent to the transmitting side (step S10).

When the transmitting side receives the CFR signal from the signal receiving circuit 4 through the interface circuit 2 (step S11), the control means 5 sends the above-mentioned search-coded image information from the signal transmitting circuit 3 through the interface circuit 2. , TCF signal, and then sends it to the receiving side (step S12).

When the receiving side receives the image data following the TCF signal from the signal receiving circuit through the interface circuit, the control means issues a print command to the received data printing circuit to start printing (step S13).

When the transmission side detects the end of the transmission data, the signal transmission circuit 3 sends a procedure end signal (EOP signal) to the reception side through the interface circuit 2 (step S14).

The receiving side receives the EOP signal from the signal receiving circuit through the interface circuit (step S1).
5), through the interface circuit from the signal transmission circuit,
A message confirmation signal (MCF signal) is sent to the transmitting side (step S16).

When the transmitting side receives the MCF signal from the signal receiving circuit 4 through the interface circuit 2 (step S17), it sends a disconnection command signal (DCN signal) from the signal transmitting circuit 3 through the interface circuit 2 to the receiving side (step S17). In step S18, the facsimile device and the telephone line 1 are disconnected (step S19).

Upon receiving the DCN signal (step S20), the receiving side opens the telephone line (step S2).
1).

As described above, the information stored in the facsimile device is retrieved from the information communication device at the destination and is transmitted to the information communication device at the destination as an image signal of the facsimile so that the facsimile device stores the information. It can be effectively used as a device. The user can use the facsimile apparatus as an information source when needed without constantly carrying necessary information, and can realize the unification of information.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the character information stored in the facsimile apparatus is searched from an external information communication device having a facsimile receiving function, and the searched character information is used as image information. It is possible to transmit from the facsimile device to an external information communication device. That is, the facsimile device can be effectively used as a unified information source, and its practical value is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

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

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the external information communication device in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the external information communication device in the example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Telephone line 2 ... Interface circuit 3 ... Signal transmission circuit 4 ... Signal reception circuit 5 ... Control means 6 ... Dial signal generation circuit 7 ... Received data printing circuit 8 ... Information storage means 9 ... Operation unit 10 ... Display unit 11 ... Stored information retrieval unit 12 ... Received signal decoding unit 13 ... Stored information encoding unit 14 ... Information input unit 15 ... Dial signal detection circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An interface means for automatically closing a telephone line in response to an input of a bell signal, an interface means for a telephone line, a signal receiving means for receiving a signal input from the telephone line through the interface means, and the interface. A signal transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the telephone line through the means, an information storing means for storing various information in advance, a received signal decoding means for analyzing the signal inputted from the telephone line and identifying the signal as character information, Stored information searching means for searching the information storing means based on the identified character information, and stored information searched by the searching means is converted into image information by character font information as character information and the signal transmitting means makes a telephone call. A facsimile apparatus comprising: stored information encoding means for transmitting to a line.