JPH02186768A - Picture communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily discriminate a registered remote party station or a group consisting of this remote party station by providing a means to store a desired name to discriminate the group consisting of plural remote party stations associated with abbreviated dialing operation. CONSTITUTION:In a CPU 1, it is decided whether group, dial registration is given previously to a pushed down one easy step key 27 or not. When it is denied, processing similar to ordinary one-touch call origination is performed. When it is acknowledged, information showing that the group dial registration is given previously is displayed on an LCD panel 7. Next, after displaying the name on the group registered in the key 27, the processing shifts to call originating processing. If the name to express best plural multiple-address remote party stations is registered as the name of the group at the time of the group dial registration, the group of the multiple-address remote party stations selected by the panel 7 at the time of group transmission can be easily known.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application in Business A] The present invention relates to an image communication device, and particularly to an image communication device that broadcasts image data to a plurality of partner stations in response to a predetermined speed dial operation.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in image communication devices such as facsimile machines, a broadcast function for transmitting the same image information to a plurality of partner stations has been known.

In addition, the telephone number of the desired destination station is stored in correspondence with each of multiple one-touch keys, and calls are made to the destination station using the telephone number registered in the memory in response to speed dial key operation or one-touch dial key operation. Facsimile machines that perform calls and image communications are known, and a so-called group dialing system has been considered in which the one-touch keys are used to control broadcast transmission.

In the group dialing method, one of the one-touch keys is
By registering the numbers of a plurality of one-touch keys that have already been registered, simultaneous broadcasting to a plurality of stations can be performed by pressing a single key in the same way as when pressing a plurality of one-touch keys.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, conventionally, when group dialing is registered to one of the one-touch keys, when the key is pressed during broadcasting, only the number of the key used as the group dialing key is displayed. Therefore, it is not possible to know which partner stations are registered to that key, and in order to know which broadcast partner stations are registered to that key, a tedious data reference operation must be performed. There was a problem.

This problem is common to devices that control broadcast communication not only by one-touch keys but also by predetermined speed dial operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an image communication device that can easily identify a partner station or a group of partner stations registered in association with a predetermined speed dial operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image communication device that broadcasts the same image data of a plurality of partner S stations in response to a predetermined speed dial operation. In connection with the predetermined speed dial operation, means for storing a desired name for identifying a group consisting of a plurality of partner stations associated with the dial operation is provided, and the name stored in the storage means is read at a predetermined timing. We adopted a configuration that outputs.

[Function] According to the above configuration, a name for identifying a partner station group associated with a speed dial operation can be output at a predetermined timing.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a facsimile machine as an example of a communication device employing the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU comprised of a microprocessor, etc., and this CPU controls the operation of the entire apparatus according to a program to be described later stored in a ROM 2. ,
The following components are connected to the system bus B, which is composed of an address bus, a data bus, etc. of the CPU 1.

First, reference numeral 2 is a ROM that permanently stores data such as programs to be described later and various control parameters that do not need to be changed during operation. Code 3 is RAM, dynamic R
It is composed of an AM element and the like, and is used as a work area for control of the CPU 1.

In addition, in this embodiment, E is used as yet another memory.
EPROM28 is provided, and this EEPROM2
8, telephone number data corresponding to the operation of the one-touch key 27 (described later) is registered. As the operation procedure at the time of registration, a known procedure using the keys 6 of the operation panel and the LCD panel 7 can be used.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a readable/writable image memory composed of a RAM or a magnetic disk drive, and is used as a buffer area for image data to be transmitted and received.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation panel control unit composed of a known keyboard control IC, keys 6 consisting of a numeric keypad, function keys, etc. of the operation panel, an LCD panel 7 used as a display, and used as various indicators. The input/output of data to and from the lamp 8 is controlled.

Further, a one-touch key 27 is provided on the operation panel. The one-touch key 27 is composed of a plurality of keys, and the telephone number of the other party is stored in the EEFROM 28 corresponding to each key. Furthermore, one-touch key 27
Among these keys, keys in which the telephone number of the other party is not registered are
Used as a group dial key for broadcasting.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an image scanner composed of a CCD line sensor or the like, which is used to read image data to be transmitted or recorded in a recording section, which will be described later, during a copying operation. The image scanner 10 has two images corresponding to a predetermined resolution.
Output digitized image data. This binarized data is buffered in the image memory 4, but in this case it is encoded by the primary row encoding circuit 11 in order to save the capacity of the image memory 4. As this encoding method, various known encoding methods can be used.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a recording head composed of a thermal head or the like, which performs recording on the recording paper 12 made of thermal paper or the like. The image data to be recorded by the recording head 13 is stored in the image memory 4 in a state encoded by the encoding method corresponding to the encoding method of the primary row encoding circuit 11. When recording data stored in the recording head 1, the data is decoded by the primary encoding circuit 14 and then input to the recording head 13.

The decoding method of the primary encoding circuit 14 is the primary encoding circuit 11.
It is assumed that the encoding method is supported.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a motor controller that controls a driving motor including a pulse motor that controls the conveyance of the original 9 and the recording paper 12 during reading or recording, and is constructed using a known driver IC or the like.

Reference numeral 16 is a primary code decoding circuit, and reference numeral 17 is a secondary code decoding circuit. The encoding method used for the primary code or decoding is M used in facsimile communication.
If the H or MR system is not used, such a conversion circuit is required to ensure data compatibility.

Here, the secondary code or decoding corresponds to the above-mentioned encoding method used in facsimile communication. For example, the primary code decoding circuit 16 stores MH or MR encoded image data obtained from the line into an image memory. 1 if stored in 4
Next used to form encoded data.

In addition, when transmitting image data in image memory 4, 1
The next code decoding circuit 16 performs encoding corresponding to the primary encoding method, and the secondary code decoding circuit 17 performs encoding corresponding to the primary encoding method.
The data is converted into encoded data compatible with the H or MR format.

In the case of the above encoding conversion, the encoding method is converted in units of a predetermined amount, for example, the amount of data corresponding to one line or one page, and at this time, the RAM 18 is used as a buffer for the data to be converted.

A known modem 19 converts image data or procedure signals expressed by digital data into analog data that can be output to the telephone line 21, or vice versa. The code 20 is an NCU (network control unit),
It is used to control line connections, maintain loops, detect ringing signals from lines, send dialing signals, etc.

Here modem 19. Although a configuration of the NCU 20 that can be used for a telephone line is shown, when the device is used by connecting to a digital line, the line interface portion may be changed to a configuration suitable for the digital line. A facsimile machine 22 of the other party is connected to the telephone line 21 . Here, illustrations of exchanges and the like are omitted.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

First, normal image transmission/reception operations will be explained.

When transmitting an image, the original 9 is set in the reading section, and when the start key or one-touch key 27 indicating a transmission instruction among the keys 6 on the operation panel is pressed, a predetermined number is assigned to the transmission process, and a number is assigned to the transmission process. Phone number entered from numeric keypad or one-touch key 2 pressed
7, the telephone number stored in the EEFROM 2B is registered in the destination management record area in the RAMB. Control regarding pressing of this one-touch key 27 will be described in detail later.

Subsequently, the original f11%9 is read by the image scanner 10, primary encoded by the primary encoding circuit 11, and stored in the image memory 4.

Next, cpu i connects R to the dialing circuit in NCU20.
The telephone number data in the destination management record in AM3 is entered manually and the other station is made to make a call. As a result, the other party's facsimile and this device are connected via the telephone line 21.

After the line is connected, a known pre-facsimile communication procedure corresponding to the G3 facsimile procedure is performed, and various image transmission conditions are set.

Next, in the image transmission phase, the primary encoded image data in the image memory 4 is read out and input to the primary code decoding circuit 16, and a predetermined amount of data, such as in line units or page units, is read out. is converted into the encoding method set in the pre-communication procedure, that is, MH or MR code, and manually inputted to the modem 19 via bus B. The modem 19 modulates the input data into a format that can be transmitted over a telephone line, and sends it to the NCU 2.
0 to the telephone line 21. After that, a post-communication procedure is performed, and the line is disconnected according to a predetermined procedure using the NCU 20. If an error occurs during transmission, a flag indicating that an error has occurred is placed in the destination management record area in RAM 3. Set.

At the time of reception, reception is determined according to a call signal detected via the NCU 20 or a predetermined symbol on the operation panel in manual procedures, and the reception for this communication is 0 communication in which a number is set. The procedure is the same as in the case of transmission, and the received MH or MR encoded data is decoded by the secondary encoding/decoding circuit 17, and is further decoded by the primary encoding/decoding circuit 16 via the RAM 18.
Next, it is encoded and buffered in the image memory 4. After the line is disconnected, the primary encoded image data in the image memory 4 is 1
The next set is input to the recording head 13 via the encoding circuit 14,
It is recorded on the recording paper 12.

Next, control regarding group dial processing will be explained.

As mentioned above, the unregistered keys of the one-touch key 27 are
Can be used as a group dial key. Registration of a group dial key is performed by performing a predetermined key operation to command group dial key registration, and then sequentially pressing the registered one-touch keys themselves, or manually inputting the number using a numeric keypad or the like.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when registering a group dial key, the operator is requested to input the group name of the telephone number to be registered in the group dial before or after registering the series of one-touch keys. The group name is edited while being displayed on the LCD panel 7 using input characters from the key 6.

On the other hand, if one of the one-touch keys 27 is to be used as a group dial key, the one-touch key 27 to which the group dial key has been registered is pressed in the same way as in the past.

The control procedure of the CPU 1 at this time is shown in FIG.

It is assumed that the procedure shown in FIG. 2 is stored in the ROM 2 shown in FIG. 1 as a CPU program.

In step S1 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether the pressed one-touch key 27 has been registered as a group dial.

If step S1 is negative, steps S2, S
In step 3, the same process as a normal one-touch call is performed. That is, in step S2, the telephone number of the partner station registered in the EEPROM 28 in relation to the pressed one-touch key 27 is displayed on the LCD spring or lure. In step S3, after displaying the name of the partner station registered in relation to the one-touch key 27, the process moves to retrieving the telephone number from the EEFROM 2B and making a call.

On the other hand, if step S1 is affirmative, that is, if group dial key registration has been performed for the pressed one-touch key 27, first, in step S4, information indicating that group dial registration has been performed is sent to the LC.
After displaying the group name on the D panel 7, and then displaying the group name registered in the above-described manner on the one-touch key 27 in step S5, the process proceeds to call processing.

At this time, the group name (rKLMNJ in this case) is displayed on the LCD panel 7, for example, as shown by reference numeral 22 in FIG.
to be displayed. The displayed character string 21 in FIG. 3 is a character string indicating that the group dial key displayed in step S4 above has been pressed.

Note that the broadcast communication process is performed using the EEP
This is done by sequentially fetching the telephone numbers of the other parties from the ROM 28 and transmitting the image data in the image memory 4.

According to the above configuration, when registering group dialing, the name that best represents the multiple broadcast partner stations is used as the group name (for example, in the case of broadcast transmission to each branch office in a certain region, "Tohoku Regional Branch Office '', etc.), the group of the selected multicast partner station can be easily known from the LCD panel 7 during group transmission, and there is no need to perform the troublesome data reference process as in the past.

Although the configuration has been described above in which when the one-touch key 27 registered as a group dial key is pressed, the group name registered to that key is displayed, the method of using the group name is not limited to this.

For example, the group name is set by the thermal head 13 at the fourth
A method of recording and outputting in a format as shown in FIGS.

The example shown in FIG. 4 is for recording and outputting a list of telephone numbers registered in a one-touch key. This list output is performed according to the contents stored in the EEPROM 28 by selecting a predetermined menu in the one-touch key registration mode or the like.

In the format shown in Fig. 4, the number (01, 02...) 43 of the one-touch key 27, the telephone number 44 of the partner station registered to that key, the name 45 of the partner station, and the information unique to that station are shown in a table format. Information such as communication mode 46 and communication speed 47 is recorded and output. Here, the one-touch key 27 numbered 01 and 02 has the telephone number of the other station registered as a normal one-touch key, but the one-touch key 27 numbered 03 is registered as a group dial, and the telephone number field is registered. The character string ``Group'' is recorded in . Then, the same group name rKLMNJ as in the case of FIG. 3 is recorded and output in the field of partner station abbreviation.

The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example of recording and outputting a list of telephone numbers registered for group dialing. This list may also be output by selecting a predetermined menu in the one-touch key registration mode, etc., as in the case of FIG. 4.

In the case of FIG. 5, the number 55 of the one-touch key 27, which is also registered as a group dial in table format (without ruled lines),
The other party's phone number 5 registered in the one-touch key 27
6 and the partner station name 57 are output, but at the beginning is the number 5 of the one-touch key 27 registered as a group key.
3 (03) and the group name 54 are recorded and output.

By outputting a one-touch key phone number registration list or a group dial registration list as shown in Figures 4 and 5 in response to a predetermined operation, you can see what kind of partner stations are registered in relation to the group name. You can easily know what is being done.

Further, the group name may be recorded and output in a broadcast communication report that is recorded and output when the broadcast transmission ends.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in an image communication device that broadcasts the same image data of a plurality of partner stations in response to a predetermined speed dial operation, the predetermined speed dial operation In connection with this, means is provided for storing a desired name for identifying a group consisting of a plurality of partner stations associated with the dial operation, and the name stored in the storage means is output at a predetermined timing. Therefore, it is possible to output at a predetermined timing a name that identifies the partner station group associated with a speed dial operation, and to output the name that identifies the partner station group associated with the speed dial operation. It has the advantage of being easily identifiable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine that adopts the present invention, Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of the device shown in Fig. 1 during standby, and Fig. 3 shows the display state on the LCD panel. The explanatory diagrams shown, Figures 4 and 5, are
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the format of a registered data list recorded and output by the device shown in the figure. 1...CPU 2...ROM3.18
...RAM 4...Image memory 5...Operation panel control section 6...Key 7...LCD panel
8...Lamp 10...Image scanner 11...Primary line encoding circuit 12...Recording paper 3...
Recording head 14...Primary group encoding circuit 5...Motor control unit 6...Primary line code decoding circuit 7...Secondary line code decoding circuit 9...Modem 20... NCUl...Telephone line 27...One-touch key 8-E E
P ROM Gu, the flow of the 1st note with the 1st and the 1st note is now set view 2nd
Figure e < f% down snoring, /) Silver e eye Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In an image communication device that broadcasts the same image data to a plurality of partner stations in response to a predetermined speed dial operation, a plurality of partner stations associated with the dial operation are transmitted in response to the predetermined speed dial operation. 1. An image communication device comprising means for storing a desired name for identifying a group consisting of groups, and outputting the name stored in the storage means at a predetermined timing.