JPH0244852A - Alarm device for reception failure in on-vehicle facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve a picture quality in an on-vehicle FAX equipment by immediately informing the user of the on-vehicle FAX equipment of the reception failure of a picture signal when it does. CONSTITUTION:The state of a land mobile radio telephone line is inferior due to fading and the like, the reception error of a reception signal frequently occurs and the level of the reception signal in the on-vehicle FAX equipment does not come to reach a prescribed level equivalent to reception-satisfactory while a vehicle 2 travels. Thus, a judgement means judges reception failure and a control means operates an alarm device for reception failure 4 for giving information of reception failure. Thus, information on the reception failure of the picture signal is given to the user of the on-vehicle FAX equipment. Thus, the picture quality is prevented from deteriorating and a facsimile from becoming difficult to read.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an in-vehicle facsimile device that receives an image signal transmitted through a car telephone line and re-records an original image signal in accordance with the received signal. In particular, the present invention relates to a device that warns of poor reception of the image signal.

[Prior Art] Facsimile (hereinafter referred to as rFAXJ) devices have conventionally been generally known as communication devices that have automatic transmission and automatic reception functions and can simultaneously realize visibility and recordability. Focusing on the superiority of these FAX machines,
An in-vehicle FAX device that can exchange information with a general external FAX device using a car telephone line is attracting attention.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when the in-vehicle FAX device is actually used, since the in-vehicle FAX device is a mobile type, problems that are different from those of general fixed-type FAX devices may occur.

In other words, when the car phone line is in good condition and there are few reception errors in the received signal, the quality of the received image (hereinafter referred to as "image quality")
There is no problem in that respect.

However, if the condition of the car telephone line is poor due to fading or the like while the vehicle is running, and reception errors in reception signals occur frequently, the image quality may deteriorate and become difficult to read. If there is a risk that the image quality may deteriorate in this way, it is necessary to take measures such as stopping the vehicle in order to improve the condition of the car telephone line and reduce reception errors. However, it is almost impossible for the user of the in-vehicle FAX device to constantly monitor reception error conditions while the vehicle is running.

This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a poor reception warning device for an on-vehicle fax machine that can immediately notify the user of the on-vehicle fax machine when there is a poor reception of an image signal. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and receives an image signal transmitted via a car telephone line, and generates an original image signal based on the received signal. In an in-vehicle facsimile device that reproduces and records image signals, a determining means inputs a reception signal level of the in-vehicle facsimile device and determines whether the signal level has reached a predetermined level corresponding to good image signal reception, and the determination device. When the means determines that there is poor reception, the apparatus includes one stage of a controller that activates an alarm for notifying the poor reception.

[Function] Therefore, while the vehicle is running, the condition of the car telephone line is poor due to fading, etc., and reception errors in reception signals frequently occur, and the reception signal level of the in-vehicle FAX device does not reach a predetermined level that corresponds to good reception. As a result, the determining means determines that the reception is poor, and the control means activates an alarm to notify that the reception is poor. As a result, the user of the in-vehicle FAX device is informed that the reception of the image signal is poor.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle FAX device W1 is mounted on the vehicle 2, receives both signals sent from another general external FAXvtff3 via the car telephone line, and reproduces the original image signal based on the received signals. This is a device that records images and sends image signals to an external FAX device W3 via a car telephone line. Note that the external FAX device W3 is a device capable of transmitting and receiving image signals to and from other FAX devices, regardless of whether the external FAX device is connected to a car telephone line or a general telephone line.

The vehicle 2 is provided with a poor reception warning device 4 that is separate from the in-vehicle FAX device 1 . This reception failure alarm bag W4 indicates the reception signal level of the in-vehicle FAX device l, that is, in this embodiment,
Based on the phase distortion level and signal strength of the received signal, the in-vehicle FA
This device monitors the reception status of the X device 1 and, if the reception is poor, activates the CRT display device 5 as an alarm to display a defective message. The poor reception alarm device 4 receives from the vehicle-mounted FAX device 11 a signal instructing the start and end of image signal reception and the ever-changing received signal level. In this embodiment, the poor reception alarm device 4 also receives, as another signal corresponding to the received signal level, a signal instructing the original image signal reproduction level of the in-vehicle FAX device M1, which changes in accordance with the received signal level.

In this embodiment, the signal instructing the original picture signal reproduction level is a signal indicating a scanning line error during scanning reproduction of the original picture signal. Also, a CRT display device 5
is a device used as part of a vehicle navigation system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the poor reception alarm bag N4 is equipped with a CPU 1 that constitutes judgment means and control means. C.P.
The UII exchanges signals with a ROM 12 that stores the control program and predetermined comparison data, a RAM 13 as a working memory, and a timer 14 for measuring time.

Further, the CPU II exchanges signals with the input circuit 16 and the output circuit 17 via the serial communication circuit 15.

The input circuit 16 converts a signal input from the in-vehicle FAX device 1 into a signal standard for the serial communication circuit 15, and outputs the signal to the CPU 1l via the serial communication circuit 15. Further, the output circuit 17 converts the signal output from the CPU II via the serial communication circuit 15 into a signal standard for the CRT display device 5, and outputs the signal to the CRT display device 5.

Next, the control operation of the CPUI 1 will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG.

Now, while the vehicle 2 is running, first in step 31 it is determined whether the in-vehicle FAX device 1 is receiving an image signal from the external FAX device 3 or not.

If the in-vehicle FAX device 1 is receiving an image signal, the process moves to step 32, and it is determined whether the poor reception alarm device 4 is in operation. That is, it is determined whether the poor reception alarm device 4 is currently receiving a signal from the in-vehicle FAX device 1 or not.

If the poor reception alarm device 4 is in operation, the process moves to step 33, and it is determined whether the in-vehicle FAX device 1 has finished receiving the image signal.

If the in-vehicle FAX device 1 does not finish receiving the image signal but continues to receive it, the process moves to step 34 to analyze the reception error level.

That is, a signal indicative of the received signal level is inputted from the in-vehicle FAX device 1 via the input circuit 16 and the serial communication circuit 15, and a signal indicative of a scanning line error is input manually. At the same time, a clock signal is manually generated from the timer 14. Then, m duration and cumulative time of a signal whose level is lower than a predetermined level corresponding to good reception among the received signal levels are calculated. Further, the cumulative number of errors in the scanning line per unit time is calculated. The results of these calculations are then set as the reception error level.

Next, the process moves to step 35, and it is determined whether the reception error level is larger than each predetermined threshold value.

That is, the first calculation result regarding the duration and cumulative time of a signal whose received signal level is lower than a predetermined level is compared with the first threshold value, and the cumulative number of scanning line errors per unit time is calculated. The second calculation result is compared with a second threshold.

When the first and second calculation results are smaller than the first and second threshold values, respectively, it is determined that the image signal reception is good and the process jumps to step 32.

Further, when the first and second calculation results are larger than the first and second threshold values, respectively, it is determined that the image signal reception is defective, and the process moves to step 35. Then, a signal indicating a poor reception message is transferred to the CRT display device 5 via the serial communication circuit] 5 and the output circuit 17. As a result, the CRT display device 5 is activated and displays a defective message (for example, "rFAX reception failure"). That is, the user of the in-vehicle FAX device 1 is alerted to the fact that the reception of the image signal is poor.

Therefore, by viewing the poor reception message, the user of the in-vehicle FAX device 1 can early know that there is a possibility that a reception error will occur and the image quality will deteriorate. In order to prevent the image quality from deteriorating, the vehicle 2
Measures such as stopping the vehicle 2 or moving the vehicle 2 to a position where good reception can be obtained can be taken immediately.

Generally, the reception condition of a car telephone line can be better when the vehicle is stopped than when the vehicle is moving. Therefore, by stopping the vehicle 2, the receiving condition of the in-vehicle FAX device 1 can be improved to a good one, and good image quality can be obtained.

As a result, the in-vehicle FAX device 1 can effectively exhibit its automatic transmission/reception functions, visibility, recordability, and other functions.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
The present invention can be implemented as follows by changing a part of the structure as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

(1) In the above embodiment, the poor reception alarm device 4 is installed on the vehicle FA.
Although it is provided separately from the X device 1 or the CRT display device 5, the poor reception alarm device 4 may be integrated into the in-vehicle FAX device 1 or the CRT display device 5. good.

(2) In the embodiment described above, the CRT display device 5 is used as an alarm for notifying that the image signal is poorly received.
However, it is also possible to install an indicator light such as an LED to light up to notify poor reception, provide a buzzer to sound to notify poor reception, or install a sound generator to improve reception. Generate a defect message to notify the defect, or use the CRT display device 5, indicator light,
A buzzer and a sound generator may be provided in any combination.

(3) In the above embodiment, in order to judge the magnitude of the reception error level, a signal indicating the reception signal level is input, and a signal indicating the reception signal level is smaller than a predetermined level corresponding to good reception. By inputting the duration and cumulative time and a signal indicating scanning line errors as the original signal reproduction level, calculate the cumulative number of scanning line errors per unit time separately, and apply each calculation result to each threshold. Although the configuration is configured to compare the received signal level and the signal indicating the error of the scanning line, the signals are inputted, processed based on a predetermined formula, and compared with a predetermined threshold value. It may be configured to do so. Alternatively, the reception error level may be determined based only on either the reception signal level or a signal indicating an error in the scanning line.

Furthermore, a signal other than a signal indicating a scanning line error may be used as the signal instructing the original image signal reproduction level. In short, in order to determine the magnitude of the reception error level, various signals can be used as long as the reception signal level itself or a signal that changes in response to the reception signal level itself.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, when there is a poor reception of the image signal, it is possible to immediately notify the user of the in-vehicle FAX device, and the image signal in the in-vehicle FAX device can be immediately notified. It has the excellent effect of improving quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a poor reception alarm device and related equipment, and Fig. 3 explains the operation of the poor reception alarm device. It is a flowchart. In the figure, 1 is an in-vehicle FAX device, 2 is a vehicle, 5 is a CRT display device as an alarm, and 11 is a CPU constituting judgment means and control means.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An in-vehicle facsimile device that is mounted on a vehicle and receives an image signal transmitted through a car telephone line, and reproduces and records an original image signal based on the received signal, comprising: determining means for inputting a signal level and determining whether or not the signal level has reached a predetermined level corresponding to good reception of the image signal; and when the determining means determines that reception is poor; What is claimed is: 1. A reception failure warning device for a vehicle-mounted facsimile machine, comprising: control means for activating an alarm for notifying reception failure.