JPH08125774A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] An object of the present invention is to detect an error and inform the user when a communication device that connects a communication line and a telephone is used by mistake. [Arrangement] Erroneous connection detecting means and notifying means for notifying the user of an error detected are provided. Further, as another means, a wiring switching means for switching the wiring connection when the connection error is detected by the erroneous connection detection means is provided. [Effect] When an incorrect connection is made, the user can know the fact, so that the user can take immediate action. In addition, when a wrong connection is detected, the wiring connection can be switched inside the communication device, so when connecting the modular connector, it is not necessary to care about the connection location, and the communication device can be easily installed. You can

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device for connecting and using a communication line and a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a communication device for transmitting and receiving data using a communication line such as an external modem device or a facsimile device connected to a personal computer or a word processor. In addition to a communication line, a telephone is also connected to these communication devices by a modular cable, and one line is commonly used by both the telephone and the communication device. Therefore, these communication devices are equipped with a network control unit that controls switching of the lines so that the communication lines are connected to either the telephone or the communication device according to the application. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile apparatus. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 205 is a facsimile control unit that controls the entire facsimile apparatus. 207 to 213 are input / output devices, as shown in the figure, 207 is a reading sensor for reading a transmission original, 208 is a thermal head for recording a received image, and 209 is a switch for a user to operate a facsimile device. Operation panel, 210 is an indicator, 2
11 is a speaker for generating a buzzer sound, 212 is a modem, 213
Is a network controller. The facsimile control unit 205 has an image data processing function of a document to be transmitted / received and an interface function with each of the above-mentioned input / output devices in the facsimile device.
The modem 212 performs a modulation process for transmitting the transmission document data image-processed by the facsimile control unit 205 via a public line and a demodulation process of the reception document data transmitted from the public line.
Further, the network control unit 213, as described above, uses the public line 202
Line switching control for connecting the telephone to either the telephone 203 or the facsimile apparatus 201. The facsimile device 201 is provided with modular connector terminals 214 and 215. These terminals are shown as LINE on the side connected to the public line 202 and TEL on the side connected to the telephone 203, as shown in the figure, and each terminal must be connected to the correct place. When properly connected, the fax machine 201 and the public line 2 are used when sending and receiving documents with the fax machine 201.
When 02 is connected and the facsimile apparatus 201 is not used, the network control unit 213 performs line switching control so that the telephone 203 and the public line 202 are connected. Conventionally, as a device for detecting the connection status of a communication line, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-2
There is one described in Japanese Patent No. 50964. This is to notify the user when the user forgets to connect the communication line in an information communication device such as a facsimile device.

[0004]

In a communication device such as a facsimile device, the modular connector terminal for connecting a communication line and a telephone is shown to indicate which one should be connected, as described in the prior art. , LINE, TEL, etc. are specified. However, both modular connector terminals have the same shape, and if you do not check the terminals carefully, you will connect the phone to the terminal LINE that originally connects the communication line and the communication line to the terminal TEL that connects the phone. There is. If the wrong connection is made by mistake in this way, in many cases, although the telephone call can be made, the communication device does not operate normally and the user is confused. Further, the device for detecting the connection status of the communication line described in the above-mentioned prior art can detect that the line is not connected to the communication device, but regarding the detection when the telephone and the communication line are mistakenly connected in reverse. It did not correspond.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a communication device which detects an error in connection and informs the user of it, or which operates normally when connected to either one. It is a thing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an erroneous connection detecting means for detecting when a communication line and a telephone are erroneously and reversely connected in a communication device, An informing means is provided to inform the user of an error when it is detected. Further, as another means, a wiring switching means for switching the wiring connection is provided when the connection error is detected by the erroneous connection detection means.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the erroneous connection detecting means switches the output signal of the hook detecting section for detecting the hook state of the handset of the telephone and the line switching relay for switching the communication line between the telephone and the facsimile. The control signal causes the output signal level to change only when the communication line and the telephone are reversely connected. The notification means functions to output an alarm from an existing speaker or buzzer, display an error message on the display, or print out when an erroneous connection is detected. The wiring connection switching means operates to switch the relay when a wrong connection is detected from the detection result of the wrong connection detection means, and normally operates the communication device even when the wrong connection is made.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings by taking a facsimile apparatus as an example.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention and shows the configuration of the network control unit 213 in FIG. 1, the same parts as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 (a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the network control unit when the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are correctly connected to the facsimile apparatus 201. The public line 202 is connected to the LINE terminal 214 and the TE
The telephone 203 is connected to the L terminal 215. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a configuration in the case where the telephone line 203 is connected to the LINE terminal 214 and a public line 202 is connected to the TEL terminal 215. The network control unit 213 uses the telephone 203
Hook detection unit 101 for detecting hook-on and hook-off of the handset, line switching relay 102 and transformer unit 103 for switching public line 202 between modem 212 side and telephone 203 side, and public line 202 and telephone 203 An erroneous connection detection circuit 104 for detecting an erroneous connection is used. The hook detection unit 101 detects a current or a voltage between the public line 202 and the telephone 203, which changes depending on whether the hook is on or off. The switching of the line switching relay 102 is controlled by the facsimile control unit 205. When the fax machine is not transmitting or receiving, the fax controller
Reference numeral 205 switches the line switching relay 102 to the contact A side so that the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are connected. In the case of reception, when the handset of the telephone 203 is lifted and the telephone goes off-hook, the telephone 203 and the public line 202 form a DC closed loop, and a current flows through the hook detector 101. When the hook detection unit 101 detects that the hook is off-hook, the detection result is output to the facsimile control unit 205. In the case of a manual facsimile machine, when the calling side is a facsimile machine, the user operates the receiving switch or start switch from the operation panel 209 to start communication. When the switch is operated, the result is output to the facsimile control unit 205, and the facsimile control unit 205 switches the line switching relay 102 to the contact B side. Then, the public line 202 is connected to the facsimile apparatus 201, and the received data is input to the modem 212 via the transformer unit 103. At this time, since the DC closed loop is formed by the facsimile device and the public line 202, the hook detection unit 101 maintains the off-hook state. However, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), if the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are connected in reverse, when the facsimile control unit 205 switches the line switching relay 102 to the contact B, the facsimile machine operates as the telephone 203. The public line 202 is not connected. Therefore, no current flows through the hook detection unit 101, and the on-hook state is detected.

FIG. 3 shows the line switching relay 1 output from the hook detection unit 101 and the facsimile control unit 205.
02 Switching control signal waveform (A side when "Low", "High"
In the case of B side), an example (1) is a normal connection and an example (2) is an incorrect connection. As shown in FIG. 3, when the handset of the telephone 203 is lifted and the hook detection unit 101 detects off-hook, the signal level changes from “Low” to “High”, for example. When this is input to the facsimile control unit 205 and transmission / reception of the facsimile apparatus is started in this state, the facsimile control unit 205 changes the relay switching control signal from “Low” to “High” as illustrated, and the line switching relay 102 Is switched from the A side to the B side. If the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are properly connected, the hook detection signal is in an off-hook state (“High” level) even if the level of the relay switching control signal changes, as shown in FIG. 3 (1).
To maintain. However, in the case of incorrect connection, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (2), when the line switching relay 102 is switched, the hook detection signal is in the on-hook state (“Low” level). Therefore, erroneous connection can be detected by the state of the hook detection signal when the level of the relay switching control signal changes. That is, when the relay switching control signal is "High" and the hook detection signal is "High", it can be detected that the connection is normal, and when the hook detection signal is "Low", the connection is incorrect.

FIG. 4 is an erroneous connection detection circuit when the hook detection signal and the relay switching control signal change as shown in FIG.
The structural example of 104 is shown. The NOT gate 401 and the AND gate 402 are configured so that the output changes when the relay switching control signal is “High” and the hook detection signal is “Low”. With this configuration, the erroneous connection detection signal shown in FIG. 3 can be obtained. Alternatively, by monitoring the hook detection signal and relay switching control signal with software,
It is also possible to detect without providing the erroneous connection detection circuit as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart in the case of detecting an erroneous connection by software. This flowchart also exemplifies a case where the hook detection signal and the relay switching control signal change as shown in FIG. 501 is a routine for reading data from a line switching control register (not shown) in the facsimile control unit 205.
When this data is read, "0" is obtained when the line switching relay 102 is the contact A, and "1" is obtained when the line switching relay 102 is the contact B. 502 indicates whether the data read by 501 is “1”, that is, the line switching relay 102
Is a contact point B and is a routine for determining whether or not the facsimile apparatus 201 is connected to the public line 202. When the determination is “No”, the process returns to the reading routine of 501. If the determination is “Yes”, the routine of 503 is executed. 503 is a hook detection unit 101 to a facsimile control unit 205
Is a routine for reading the hook detection data sent to. Since the data sent from the hook detection unit 101 is held in the register in the facsimile control unit 205, it is read out. If the read data is "0", it indicates an on-hook state, and if it is "1", it indicates an off-hook state. Reference numeral 504 is a routine for determining whether the hook detection data is "1". Here, if the hook detection data is "1", it can be determined that the connection is normal, and if it is "0", it can be determined that the connection is incorrect. As described above, in the first embodiment, an erroneous connection can be detected by switching the line from the telephone 203 to the facsimile machine during data transmission / reception. When an incorrect connection is detected in this way, the LED indicating the incorrect connection is lit or blinked, a message such as "The line connection is incorrect" is displayed on the display 210, or an alarm is output from the speaker 211. To output an alarm sound or a voice message, or to print out a message using the thermal head 208.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of detecting an erroneous connection between the public line 202 and the telephone 203. In FIG. 6, FIG. 1 and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as. Reference numeral 601 is a power supply unit that supplies power to the telephone, 602 is a hook detection unit that detects a hook state depending on the presence or absence of current, and 603 is a switching relay. Normally, the relay 102 is connected to the A side and the relay 603 is connected to the D side. In this state, a call can be made regardless of which of the LINE terminal 214 and the TEL terminal 215 the public line 202 and the telephone set 203 are connected to. During a call, a current flows through the hook detection unit 602 to detect an off-hook state. Next, when the relay 102 is switched to the B side and the relay 603 is switched to the C side in order to send and receive a document, and if the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are properly connected, the telephone 203 has a power supply unit 601. From relay
Since power is supplied via the 603, the hook detection unit 602, and the TEL terminal 215, the hook detection unit 602 continues to be in the off-hook state. On the other hand, when the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are mistakenly connected in reverse, the power supply unit 601 is connected to the public line 202 via the relay 603, the hook detection unit 602, and the TEL terminal 215, and therefore the hook detection unit 602. A predetermined current does not flow into the device, and the device enters an on-hook state. That is, it is possible to detect an erroneous connection between the public line 202 and the telephone 203 based on the detection state of the hook detection unit 602 when the relays 102 and 603 are switched to perform transmission / reception following a call.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, when an erroneous connection between the public line 202 and the telephone 203 is detected by the means as described in the first and second embodiments, the wiring inside the network control unit 213 is switched according to the detection result. This is to enable normal use even in the case of incorrect connection. 7, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numerals 701 and 702 are wiring switching relays. Figure 7 (a)
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a network control unit when the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are normally connected, and FIG. 7B shows a case where the connection is reversed. When the erroneous connection detection circuit 104 or software detects that the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are erroneously connected, the facsimile control unit 205 switches the wiring switching relays 701 and 702.
Normally, set the relay 701 to the contact C side as shown in FIG.
Set the relay 702 to the contact E side. If the connection is correct, the modem 212 and the public line 202 are connected when the line switching relay 102 is switched to the contact B side during transmission / reception of document data, and normal communication is performed. When the connection is mistakenly reversed, if the line switching relay 102 is switched to the B side to perform transmission / reception of a facsimile, an erroneous connection is detected. Therefore, from the detection result, as shown in FIG. The control unit 205 switches the wiring switching relays 701 and 702 to the contacts D and F, respectively. By switching the wiring in this manner, the line switching relay 102 is connected to the contact A.
Even if the contact line is switched from the contact point B to the contact point B, the public line 202 and the modem 212 are connected and the facsimile communication can be performed as usual.

Next, a means for detecting an erroneous connection when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the relay 102 is switched to the contact B side in the initial state when the power is turned on, and the relay 701 is switched to the contact C or D. When the hook detection unit 101 detects the off-hook state,
The relay 102 is switched to the contact A side to bring it into a normal use state. Here, if the public line 202 is correctly connected to the LINE terminal 214, when the relay 701 is set to the contact C side, a current flows through the hook detection unit 101 to detect an off-hook state. If the public line 202 is erroneously connected to the TEL terminal 215, the hook detection unit 101 detects the off-hook state when the relay 701 is set to the contact D side.
Therefore, when the power is turned on, it is possible to detect whether the public line 202 is connected to the LINE terminal 214 or the TEL terminal 215 depending on the switching state of the relay 701. Further, when the off-hook state is detected when the power is turned on, the relays 701 and 702 are interlocked, and when the relay 701 is set to the contact C side, the relay 702 is also set to the contact E side, and when the relay 701 is set to the contact D side. The relay 702 is also switched to the contact F side. Then, when the off-hook is detected, the relay 102 is switched to the contact A side, and the relays 701, 70
If 2 is left as it was when off-hook was detected, facsimile communication can be performed normally even if the connection is wrongly reversed.

FIG. 8 shows another configuration example in which the wiring is switched at the time of incorrect connection. FIG. 8A is a configuration diagram when the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are normally connected, and FIG. 8B is a configuration diagram when the connection is reversed. In FIG. 8, FIG. 1 and FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as. Wiring switching relays 801 and 802 are controlled by the facsimile control unit 205 based on the detection result of the erroneous connection detection means. Normally, when the facsimile apparatus is not used, the wiring switching relay 801 is set to the contact A side and the wiring 802 is set to the contact D side so that the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are connected. Next, when transmitting / receiving the manuscript data, first, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the relay 801 is connected to the B side, and at this time, the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are correctly connected and an erroneous connection is detected. If not, transmission / reception is performed in this state. If the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are connected in reverse, an incorrect connection will be detected when the relay 801 is connected to the B side. Immediately after that, as shown in FIG. 801 to A side, relay 802
Is connected to the C side for transmission and reception. Therefore, the public line
If 202 and telephone 203 are correctly connected and no incorrect connection is detected, leave relay 802 on the D side after that,
When the public line 202 and the telephone 203 are connected in reverse and an incorrect connection is detected, the relay 801 is set to the A side thereafter.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to an external telephone type facsimile apparatus as an example, a data communication modem apparatus for connecting to a telephone built-in type facsimile apparatus, a computer or the like to transmit / receive data, a video telephone, or the like. It goes without saying that it can be applied to a communication device. Further, in the above description, the communication line may be other than the public line.

Note that it is not always necessary to connect a telephone (in this case, a so-called extension telephone) to the TEL terminal of the communication device with a built-in telephone, and simply connect the communication line to TEL.
The present invention is effective when the terminals are erroneously connected.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When connecting a communication line and a modular connector from a telephone to a communication device such as a facsimile device by mistake, the user can know that fact and can take immediate action. Also, by switching the wiring connection inside the communication device when an erroneous connection is detected, normal communication operation can be performed, so when connecting the modular connector, there is no need to worry about its position. The communication device can be easily installed even in the case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network control unit showing a first embodiment of erroneous connection detection.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart of each unit in the network control unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an erroneous connection detection circuit.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart when software detects an erroneous connection.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a network control unit showing a second embodiment of erroneous connection detection.

FIG. 7 is a first configuration diagram of a network control unit that switches wiring when an erroneous connection is detected.

FIG. 8 is a second configuration diagram of a network control unit that switches wiring when an erroneous connection is detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 602 ... Hook detection means, 102, 603 ... Line switching relay, 103 ... Transformer section, 104 ... Misconnection detection circuit, 201 ... Facsimile apparatus, 202 ... Public line, 203 ... Telephone, 205 ... Facsimile control section, 210 ... Display unit, 211 ... Speaker, 212 ... Modem, 213 ... Network control unit, 601 ... Power supply unit, 701, 702, 801, 802 ... Wiring switching relay.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication device having a line connection terminal for connecting a line and a telephone connection terminal for connecting a telephone, and an erroneous connection detecting means for detecting an error in connection of the line or an error in connection between the line and the telephone. A communication device, characterized in that a notifying means for notifying a detection result is provided, and when the misconnection detecting means detects a connection error between the line and the telephone, the notifying means notifies the user of the misconnection. 2. A communication device having a line connecting terminal for connecting a line and a telephone connecting terminal for connecting a telephone, and an erroneous connection detecting means for detecting an error in connecting the line or an error in connecting the line and the telephone. Switching means is provided for switching the connection route from the line connection terminal and the telephone connection terminal to the internal circuit, and the switching is performed when the erroneous connection detection means detects an error in the connection between the line or the line and the telephone. A communication device, wherein a connection path from the line connection terminal and the telephone connection terminal to an internal circuit is switched by means. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the incorrect connection is detected by the incorrect connection detection means at the start of communication of the communication device. 4. The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the incorrect connection is detected by the incorrect connection detection means when the power is turned on.