JPH0251942A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a calling function.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in this type of device, for example, a facsimile machine having an auto-dial function using a one-touch key, the method of starting a call after specifying a destination is as follows. There are two types: one that automatically initiates a call because the operator has pressed a start key, and the other that initiates a call when the operator presses a key indicating the operator's intention to initiate the call.

Both types can support single or multiple destinations, and ■ has the advantage of simple key operations.
■ has the advantage of being more time-saving than ■ because it starts immediately by pressing the start key after specifying the destination. Generally speaking, considering the merits of each, it is now possible to start a call using either method. There is.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the case of method (■), the operator may end up making a call after a predetermined period of time has passed while he or she is confused about entering the destination, or may press the one-touch key by mistake and continue calling. Some people do not like this method because it has drawbacks such as leaving the device unattended and causing the device to call out.

Also, overseas, P T T (Po5t, Te1ph
In some countries, the one-touch dial operation is prohibited by the standard (one and Tel+4raph) (two-touch is fine), and the method described in (2) cannot satisfy this standard.

Conventionally, in order to deal with such exceptions, the control method had to be changed each time, which was extremely time-consuming.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] According to the present invention, a first means automatically starts calling a designated party if there is no designated input for a predetermined period of time;
To easily change the specifications of a calling function of a communication device by providing means for selectively enabling a second means for starting a call in response to a start command signal generated based on a manual input. I can do it.

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

In the following embodiments, a facsimile machine will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to facsimile machines, but can be widely applied to communication devices such as telephones and teletexes having a calling function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile machine according to this embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a control unit that controls the entire facsimile machine, and the control unit 1 stores a microcomputer and its control program.
It consists of microcomputer peripherals such as OM) and random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing data.

2 is a dial key for entering the dial number of the destination (other party), one-touch dial key, speed dial key, facsimile communication mode selection key, command to start dialing and facsimile communication (sending and receiving), copying, and recording paper feed cut. The operating section is composed of a plurality of keys such as a start key for manual input, a scanning circuit for scanning the key input, and a plurality of displays such as liquid crystal LEDs for displaying various information. The operator uses the operating section 2 to make a dial call (calling operation) and input operations for the device.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a reading unit that reads the original and outputs it as an image signal, and reads the original image using a reading circuit such as a CCD.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a recording section for recording an image on recording paper, and records the image of the image signal output from the control section 1 on the recording paper. The recording method of the recording section 4 is, for example, a thermal recording method, an inkjet recording method, or the like.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a communication unit for facsimile communication, which communicates image signals in accordance with, for example, the G3 or G4 standard recommended by CCITT. The communication section 5 also has an auto dialer for dialing (outgoing) calls to the line 7, and performs dialing in accordance with the dial number data output from the control section 1.

6 is a storage unit for storing various information. The storage unit 6 stores dial number data corresponding to each one-touch dial, dial number data corresponding to each speed dial, and when an operation for inputting the next destination is performed within a predetermined time after at least one destination is input during a call. Various types of information are stored, such as information on whether to prohibit a mode in which a call is automatically made when a call is not received (information on whether or not to prohibit a timeout call).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the appearance of the operating section 2. As shown in FIG.

In the figure, 11 is a liquid crystal display for displaying various information.

12 is a numeric keypad for inputting a dial number.

13 is a stop key for stopping the operation of the device.

14 is a start key for starting various operations such as transmission, reception, copying, and dialing.

15 is a one-touch dial key "01" to "3"
A dial number (telephone number) is registered in advance in each key of the 0P, and when the one-touch dial key is pressed, the dial number corresponding to the one-touch dial key is called.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a function key used for operations other than dialing, such as registering a dial number.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the control unit 1 when making a dial call in this embodiment.

First, step St, S2. S3. S4. In S5, it is determined whether or not the numeric keypad 12, speed dial key, one-touch dial key 15, start key 14, and stop key 13 are turned on (input is made). If no key is input, in step S7, a timer T (for example, 5
A timeout (U), which can be arbitrarily set by the operator such as seconds or 10 seconds, is detected, and if it has not timed out, the process returns to step St.

If it is determined in step S1 that the numeric keypad has been input, the process proceeds to step S8, and the inputted numeric keypad data is stored in the storage unit 6.
is stored in the dial buffer (area for storing data of dialed numbers to be called), and in step S9, timer T is reset and started. Then, in step S10, it is determined whether or not the "#" key of the numeric keypad has been pressed to complete the input of the dial number, and when the input of the dial number is completed, the destination confirmation flag in the storage unit 6 is set in step S1+. Then, the process returns to step s1.

If it is determined in step S2 that the input speed dial key is a one-touch dial key input in step S3, the process proceeds to step S12, where the dial number data corresponding to the input speed dial key or one-touch dial key is stored in the dial buffer, and the process proceeds to step S13. The timer T is reset in the same way as in S9. Then, in step S14, the destination confirmation flag is set as in step S11, and then the process returns to step S7.

If it is determined in step S4 that the start key has been input, the process proceeds to step 517, where it is determined whether or not the destination confirmation flag in the storage section 6 is set.If the destination confirmation flag is not set, the process proceeds to step S25, where another Processing (transmission, reception, copying, recording paper feed cut, etc.) is carried out, and if the destination confirmation flag is set in step N17, the process proceeds to step 318 and a call is made based on the dial number data stored in the dial buffer. Make a call (dial call). Then, step S19
It is determined whether the line is connected to the called party or not, and if the line is not connected to the other party, the process returns to step 318, and if the dialed number data of the next party is stored in the dial buffer. Make a call to that dialed number.

When the line is connected to the other party in step S19, the process advances to step S20 and facsimile communication is performed with the connected other party. Then, the Stellar 521 determines whether or not calling has been completed for all dialed numbers stored in the dial buffer, and if all calls have not been completed, the process returns to step S18 to make the call. .

If it is determined in step S5 that the stop key has been input, the process proceeds to step S6, and after clearing the dial number stored in the dial buffer, the process proceeds to step S7.

If the timeout of the timer T is detected in step S7, the process proceeds to step S15, where it is determined whether the destination confirmation flag is set. If the destination confirmation flag is not set in step S15, step S2
After clearing the dial buffer in step 4, the process returns to step S1. If the destination confirmation flag is set in step S15, the process advances to step S16, and it is determined whether data prohibiting timeout call (timeout call) is written in a predetermined area of storage unit 6.

If the prohibited data is not written in step S16, the process advances to step 318 and a timeout call is made.
If prohibited data has been written, the process advances to step S22, where a display is displayed on the display 11 to prompt the operator to press the start key (for example, a message such as "Dial number has been set. Please turn on the start key") is displayed. ). Then, in step S23, it is determined whether the start key has been turned on within a predetermined time, and if the start key has not been turned on within the predetermined time, the process proceeds to step S24 and the dial buffer is cleared. If the start key is turned on within a predetermined period of time, the process advances to step 318 and a call is made.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation when the control unit 1 executes a service information registration mode for writing data prohibiting timeout calls into the storage unit 6.

First, when a key input is detected in step Nl, it is determined whether the input key is the function key 16 or not in step N2. If the function key 16 is not present in step N2, the process moves to another process, and if the function key 16 is present, the next key input is performed in step N3.

Then, in step N4, the input key is “” on the numeric keypad.
If it is not the "1" key, the process moves to other processing, and if it is the "1" key, step N5.
At N6, it is determined whether the start key has been input. If it is determined in step N6 that the start key has been input, the process shifts to service information registration mode and proceeds to step N7. When the mode shifts to the service information registration mode, several digits of binary numbers (service information) and a cursor are displayed on the display 11 as shown in FIG. The flow of the control program can be changed depending on whether each digit is 0 or 1.Step N7.N
In Step 8, the service information is rewritten. Use the "*" key on the numeric keypad to move the cursor to the desired digit, and press the 1" and "0" keys on the numeric keypad to input it. For example, 5 from the right in Figure 5. If the digit is "l", "timeout call is prohibited", and if it is 0", "timeout call is also allowed", and the fifth digit "1" of this data is the above-mentioned prohibition data for timeout call. Become.

When the input of the start key is detected in step N9, it is determined that the registration of the service information is completed, and the registration mode is ended.

According to the embodiments described above, in countries where timeout calls are not allowed due to PTT standards or the like, timeout calls can be prohibited by the serviceman mode (service information registration mode).

In the embodiment described above, timeout calling is prohibited even when inputting a speed dial key. However, in the case of speed dialing, for example, the "*" key on the numeric keypad
Since the 0" key, °゛1" key, and 6> keys are pressed in the same way, it does not violate the standard that prohibits one-touch dialing.

Therefore, before step S22 in FIG. 2, a step is provided to determine whether or not the destination confirmation flag is due to speed dialing, and if it is due to speed dialing, step 31
You may proceed to step 8.

Although the above-described embodiments have been explained using a facsimile machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to facsimile machines, but can be applied to any communication device having an auto-dial function such as a telephone or teletex.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, the specifications of the calling function of the communication device can be easily changed, and even when the specifications of the calling function differ depending on the standards of each country, it can be easily handled.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile machine of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control when making a call in this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the service information registration mode. , FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation section, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of displaying service information. 1 is a control section, 2 is an operation section, 3 is a reading section, 4 is a recording section, 5
6 is a communication section, 6 is a storage section, and 7 is a line. pole position

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A calling device for making a call to communicate with a desired destination; a destination specifying device for specifying a destination to be called by the calling device; and a method for starting a calling operation. means for generating a start command signal based on a manual input; and specifying to the calling means when there is no designation input of a calling party within a predetermined time after at least one calling party is designated by the calling party specifying means. a first means for causing the calling means to place a call to the designated destination in response to the start command signal; 1. A communication device comprising means for selectively enabling the first means and the second means.