JPH04104648A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To confirm the setting state of the operating mode of a receiver side, to reduce the frequency of occurrence of a communication error and to improve the reliability by making a phone call externally so as to hear identification information stored in a facsimile equipment in voice. CONSTITUTION:Identification information to identify the operating mode of plural kinds is stored in an operating mode storage means 8. A voice signal synthesis means 16 synthesizes the voice signal representing the identification information to identify the operating mode based on the storage content of the operating mode storage means 8 and a voice data storage means 15 and a transmission means 3 sends the voice signal through a telephone line 2. Thus, a telephone call 9 is made to a facsimile equipment 1 to hear the identification information stored in the facsimile equipment 1 in voice. Thus, the operator at the sender side confirms the setting state of the operating mode of the receiver side facsimile equipment to reduce the frequency of occurrence of a communication error and the reliability is considerably improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a facsimile device.

A conventional facsimile machine has a plurality of types of parameters set therein, and each parameter value is stored in a built-in memory or the like. Parameters are numerical values that represent various operating modes and operating states in a facsimile machine, such as a parameter that represents the image data transmission level, a parameter that represents the image data reception level, and a parameter that represents the image quality mode. There are a standard mode, a fine mode, etc., and the fine mode is set when the original to be sent has fine characters when reading the original.

In general, facsimile machines display or print out the above-mentioned parameter values using an output device of the machine, such as a display device or a printing device. This allows the facsimile machine operator to know the parameter values set in the facsimile machine.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned facsimile apparatus, parameter values are only displayed on the apparatus itself, and are not equipped with a function for transmitting them to a communication partner. Furthermore, as a method of transmitting the parameter values to the partner station, a method of encoding the parameter values and transmitting the encoded data may be considered, but there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device that can convert information for identifying an operation mode, such as parameter values set in the facsimile device, into an audio signal and transmit the same.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides: operation mode storage means for storing information for identifying a plurality of types of operation modes in a facsimile machine; audio data storage means for storing predetermined audio data; and operation. an audio signal synthesizing means for synthesizing an audio signal representing information for identifying an operation mode based on the stored contents of the mode storage means and the audio data storage means; and transmitting the audio signal from the audio signal synthesizing means to a telephone line. A facsimile apparatus is characterized in that it includes a transmitting means.

According to the present invention, identification information for identifying a plurality of types of operation modes set in a facsimile machine is stored in the operation mode storage means. The operation mode refers to communication conditions such as the image data transmission level and transmission speed, and the operation mode. The audio signal synthesizing means synthesizes an audio signal representing identification information for identifying the operation mode based on the storage contents of the operation mode storage means and the audio data storage means, and the transmission means transmits this audio signal from the telephone line. Send.

- Therefore, it is possible to call the facsimile machine from the outside and hear the identification information stored in the facsimile machine by voice, thereby allowing, for example, an operator on the sending side of the facsimile machine to configure the operating mode of the receiving facsimile machine. You can check the status. Therefore, it is possible to take appropriate measures such as matching the operating mode of the sending facsimile machine to the operating mode of the receiving facsimile machine, which reduces the frequency of communication errors when transmitting and receiving image data, and greatly improves reliability. improves.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a facsimile machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the computer.

The facsimile machine 1 transmits/receives audio signals and image data via a telephone line 2. The telephone line 2 is connected to a transmission control section 3. The transmission control unit 3 has an NCU (
-Network control unit), modem, C
M L (Connect Home t.

It is configured to include a line) relay, a calling signal detection circuit, etc., and controls the connection/disconnection of the telephone port I12 with the communication partner station, and the transmission/reception of image data and audio signals.

The image data received by the transmission control unit 3 is provided to the decoding circuit 6 via the reception transmission buffer 5. The reception transmission buffer 5 is provided to adjust the reception speed of image data in the transmission control section 3 and the decoding processing speed in the decoding circuit 6. Decryption north 86 is
Generally, in facsimile communication, the image data is converted into a run-length code and transmitted/received, so the decoding circuit 6 decodes the image data I\ from the run-length code. Decryption is performed. The decoded image data is given to the recording device 7.

The recording device 7 includes a thermal head and a platen roller. The recording operation involves pressing recording paper such as thermal paper against the outer circumferential surface of the platen roller using a thermal head.
The decoding circuit 6 and the recording device 7 selectively heat a plurality of heating resistors provided in the thermal head based on the provided image data, and the decoding circuit 6 and the recording device 7 are operated by a main control unit 11 realized by a microcomputer or the like. It is synchronously controlled based on a control signal such as a clock signal that can be used. When receiving image data, the decoding circuit 6
The audio signal received by the transmission control section 3 may be provided to the telephone 9 via the main control section 11 and may be stored in the memory 8 via the main control section 11. It will be done. The filling machine 9 is provided with a handset 10 equipped with a speaker and a microphone for making calls, and the received audio signal is output from the speaker of the handset 10. The audio signal from the microphone of handset 10 is transmitted to telephone I
19 and the main control section 11 to the transmission control section 3, and is transmitted from the transmission control section 3 to the other party's station via the telephone line 2. Therefore, in addition to transmitting/receiving image data, the facsimile device 1 can also perform telephone calls.

The main control unit 11 controls the reading device 12 and the encoding circuit 13 to read the original image of the original to be transmitted and encode the image data.The reading device 12 has a light source and a CCD.
(charge-coupled device), irradiates the document surface with light from a light source, reads reflected light from the document surface with a CCD, converts it into an electrical signal, that is, image data, and supplies it to the encoding circuit 13. The encoding circuit 13 converts the image data into a run-length code and provides it to the transmission control unit 3 via the transmission buffer 14 for transmission. The transmission buffer 14 for transmission is provided to adjust the encoding processing speed in the encoding circuit 13 and the transmission speed of image data in the transmission control section 3. The reading device 12 and the encoding circuit 13 are connected to the main control unit 1
It is synchronously controlled based on a control signal such as a clock signal given from 1.

The main controller 11 also controls the audio data storage unit 15 and the audio synthesis circuit 16 to create an audio signal and transmits it from the transmission controller 3. The audio data storage unit 15 stores audio data corresponding to predetermined sounds, such as audio data corresponding to sentences such as "Soushin Reberha" and "Soushin Sokudoha," and audio data corresponding to numbers "0" to "9."
Zero” ~ “Q” and even the alphabet “A” ~
Audio data such as "nee" to "f" corresponding to "F" are stored. The speech synthesis circuit 16 synthesizes an audio signal based on the data representing each parameter value stored in the memory 8 and the audio data stored in the audio data storage section 15.

Furthermore, the main control section 11 includes an operation section 17 and a display control section 1.
A display unit 19 is connected via 8.

The operation unit 17 is operated when sending and receiving facsimiles, copying originals, making phone calls, registering speed dials, setting operating modes, and the like.

The display unit 19 displays the operation mode of the facsimile machine 1,
The input telephone number, each parameter value set in the facsimile machine 1, etc. are displayed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the stored contents of the parameter storage area 8R set in the memory 8.

The parameter storage area 8R contains addresses ADI to ADn.
are set, and parameter values P1 to Pn representing the operating state of the facsimile machine 1 are stored corresponding to each address.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the basic operation of the facsimile machine 1. As shown in FIG. The facsimile machine 1 is connected to an exchange 21 via a telephone line 2.

Further, a telephone 22 and a facsimile machine 23 are connected to the exchange 21 via the telephone line 2. A telephone number is set in each of the facsimile machine 1, the telephone 22, and the facsimile machine 23, and when the calling party gives the telephone number of the called party to the exchange 21, the exchange 21 can communicate between the calling party and the called party. Connect.

If you want to know the operating status of the facsimile machine 1, that is, the set parameter values, call the facsimile machine 1 from telephone 1!22. Outputs an audio signal representing the This allows phone 2
The operator 2 can know the operating status of the facsimile machine 1 by listening to the audio signal.

Further, even when a facsimile device 23 with a built-in telephone is used, the operating state of the facsimile device 1, that is, the parameter value, can be checked by listening to the audio signal as in the case of the above-mentioned telephone 22. This allows the operator of the facsimile machine 23 to read the facsimile machine!
For example, if the facsimile reception mode set on facsimile machine 1 and the facsimile transmission mode set on facsimile machine 23 do not match, when you want to send a document to facsimile machine 23, This makes it possible to take appropriate measures in facsimile communication, such as starting to send a document after adjusting the mode to the reception mode of facsimile device 1, and thereby preventing the occurrence of communication errors.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the receiving operation in the facsimile machine 1. In step a1,
The transmission control unit 3 determines whether or not a calling signal has been received, and when the calling signal is received, step a
At step 2, it is determined whether a CNG signal is detected. If the CNG signal is not detected, the other station is requesting a call, so in step a3 the main control unit 11
responds to the other station. Here, for example, a message saying "Please enter your PIN number" is sent to the other party.

In step a4, it is determined whether the password has been detected. When the password is detected, the parameter values P1 to Pn are sequentially read out from the parameter storage area 8R in the memory 8 in step a5, and the voice synthesis circuit 16 synthesizes voice signals representing each parameter value P1 to Pn in step a6. do. For example, "Parameter Beeichi Hazerefdess Parameterpinihaehefdess...
” is synthesized.

In step a7, the synthesized voice signal is transmitted from the transmission control section 3 to the calling station via the telephone line 2. When the transmission of the audio signal is completed, the telephone line 2 is connected in step a8.
disconnect.

If the PIN number is not detected in step a4,
In step a9, the ringing bell of the telephone set 9 is activated to call the operator of the facsimile machine 1. Thereafter, when the operator responds to the call by picking up the handset 15, a telephone conversation is made.

If a CNG signal is detected in step a2, the other station is requesting facsimile communication, so the process advances to step alo and image data is received. step a
In step 11, it is determined whether or not the reception of the image data has been completed. When the reception of the image data is completed, the process proceeds to step a8, and the telephone line 2 is disconnected.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the parameter values P1 to Pn set in the facsimile device 1 are converted into audio signals and transmitted to the telephone line 2.

As a result, the operational status of the facsimile device 1 can be checked even from a remote location, and the operator on the sending side of the facsimile can check whether the desired operation mode is set before transmitting the facsimile, for example. Appropriate aspects such as matching the operating mode of the sending facsimile machine to the operating mode of the receiving facsimile machine are possible. This makes it possible to prevent communication errors from occurring during facsimile communication, and the reliability of the facsimile device 1 is greatly improved.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to hear the identification information stored in the facsimile machine by voice by calling a facsimile machine from outside. This allows, for example, an operator on the transmitting side of the facsimile machine to confirm the setting state of the operation mode of the receiving side facsimile machine.

Therefore, it is possible to take appropriate measures such as matching the operating mode of the sending facsimile machine to the operating mode of the receiving facsimile machine, reducing the frequency of communication errors when sending and receiving image data, and greatly improving reliability. improves.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic configuration of a facsimile machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the stored contents of a parameter storage area 8R set in the memory 8, and FIG. This figure is a diagram for explaining the basic operation of the facsimile machine 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the receiving operation in the facsimile machine W1. 1...Facsimile machine, 2...Telephone line, 3...
・Transmission control unit, 8...Memory, 8R...Parameter storage area, 9...Telephone, 10...Handset,
11... Main control unit, 15... Audio data storage unit, 1
6...Speech synthesis circuit agent Patent attorney Keiichi Kazuzu

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Operation mode storage means storing information for identifying a plurality of types of operation modes in a facsimile machine; audio data storage means storing predetermined audio data; operation mode storage means and audio. It includes an audio signal synthesizing means for synthesizing an audio signal representing information for identifying an operation mode based on the stored content of the data storage means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the audio signal from the audio signal synthesizing means to a telephone line. A facsimile device characterized by: