JPH0420168A - Facsimile communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operating rate and to reduce the investment of installation by providing a control means which detects an idle state of a facsimile equipment and a storage means, controls a changeover means switchingly based on the result of detection and controls access to the storage means. CONSTITUTION:When data is sent, a control means 21a in a facsimile control circuit 20 controls a changeover means 21b to select facsimile equipments 40-1 to 40-m not in use and a selected facsimile equipment of the equipments 40-1 to 40-m is connected to communication lines 10-1 to 10-n to receive the data. Moreover, when all of the facsimile equipment 40-1 to 40-m are busy, the sent data is stored in a storage means 22, after the communication lines 10-1 to 10-n are interrupted, the changeover means 21b is controlled to send the data stored in the storage means 22 to the facsimile equipment 40-1 to 40-m being idle. Thus, the sent data is received even during the busy facsimile equipment. Thus, the operating rate is improved and the installation investment is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a facsimile communication device, particularly a data receiving device.
This rule relates to a facsimile reception system that allows data to be received even when the facsimile is in use.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, facsimile communication devices perform mutual facsimile communication by connecting a sending facsimile device and a receiving facsimile device through a communication line. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the sending facsimile machine or the receiving facsimile machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional general facsimile machine.

This facsimile machine consists of a reading section 1 composed of a semiconductor image sensor, etc., for extracting information written on an input document in chronological order, and a recording section 2, such as a heat-sensitive recording method, for printing image data on recording paper. are connected to the image processing section 3. The image processing unit 3 has a function of encoding and compressing image data, as well as decoding the compressed image data, and is connected to a communication line 5 via a modem (modulation/demodulation device). This facsimile machine also has a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CP) that controls the entire machine.
It has a control section 6 consisting of a
An operation panel 7 composed of a keyboard or the like for inputting data is connected to the .

In this type of facsimile machine, an input document is scanned by a reading section 1, read as a -dimensional time series signal, and sent to an image processing section 3. The image processing unit 3 performs -dimensional or two-dimensional data compression to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted, and sends the data to the communication line via the modem 4. Furthermore, the transmission data received through the modem 4 is decoded by the image processing section 3 and sent to the recording section 2, and the recording section 2 prints it as an image on recording paper.

A reception method of a conventional facsimile communication device, which is configured by using such a facsimile device and connecting a sending side and a receiving side with a communication line 5, will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a receiving method using a conventional facsimile communication device. This flowchart shows a communication procedure when data is received by a facsimile machine.

When receiving data, the receiving facsimile machine:
In step S1, the telephone receives the data transmission tone transmitted from the sending facsimile machine. Then, in step S2, it is determined whether the receiving facsimile machine is in use. If the determination result is that the facsimile machine is in use, a busy tone is transmitted to the sending facsimile machine in step S3. If the sending facsimile machine calls again, the process returns to step S1 again.

If the result of the determination in step S2 is that the facsimile machine is not in use, then in step S4, a receiving standby state confirmation tone is transmitted to the sending facsimile machine. In the next step S5, the data transmitted from the sending facsimile device is received by the modem 4 of the receiving facsimile device, decoded by the image processing section 3, and then outputted as an image onto recording paper by the recording section 2. Then, in step S6, a reception end confirmation sound is transmitted, and in step S7, the communication line 5 is disconnected, and the facsimile communication is ended.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the facsimile communication device with the above configuration,
The following issues were encountered.

(a) With conventional facsimile communication devices, if the receiving facsimile device corresponding to the communication line that made the call is in use, the receiving facsimile device must wait until the receiving facsimile device is no longer in use; As a result, the sending facsimile machine is also in use and unable to receive calls.

(b) If facsimile machines are frequently used and multiple facsimile machines are installed, each facsimile machine is connected to its own communication line. In this case, there is a problem in that the sending facsimile machine must dial another dial number in order to call another receiving facsimile machine.

(C) When multiple facsimile machines are installed, equipment costs, installation space, and maintenance are complicated and expensive. Furthermore, there was a problem that only certain communication lines were used frequently and some communication lines had low operating rates, making it impossible to utilize the equipment effectively.

The present invention solves the problems that the prior art had, such as the need to call again or call another facsimile machine when the facsimile machine is in use, and the problem that it is necessary to call another facsimile machine when the facsimile machine is in use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile communication device that solves the problem that it cannot be used effectively.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a facsimile communication device in which a sending facsimile device and a receiving facsimile device are connected via communication lines. The facsimile control apparatus includes a plurality of facsimile apparatuses for performing facsimile communication, and a facsimile control apparatus connected between the communication line and the facsimile apparatuses, and the facsimile control apparatus is configured as follows.

That is, the facsimile device includes a storage device for storing data received from the communication line, a switching device for switching and supplying the received data to the facsimile device and the storage device, and detects an empty state of the facsimile device and the storage device. and control means for controlling switching of the switching means and controlling access to the storage means based on the detection result.

(Function) According to the present invention, since the facsimile communication device is configured as described above, when facsimile data is transmitted from the sending side, the control means in the facsimile control device controls the facsimile device that is not in use. detecting the idle status of the facsimile machine, and controlling the switching means to select the idle status of the facsimile machine based on the detection result;
A communication line is connected and data is received by the facsimile machine in an idle state.

Further, if all of the plurality of facsimile machines are in use at the time of data reception, the control means controls switching of the switching means, controls access to the storage means, stores the received data in the storage means, and receives the data. When the process is completed, the communication line is disconnected. Thereafter, the control means detects the facsimile machine that has finished being used, controls the switching means to select the facsimile machine, transmits the data stored in the storage means to the facsimile machine, and records the data by the facsimile machine. Output it as an image on paper.

This reduces the number of times the receiving facsimile machine is in use, improves the operating rate of the facsimile machine, and reduces capital investment for the facsimile machine.

Therefore, the above problem can be solved.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a facsimile communication device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

This facsimile communication device has a plurality of communication lines 10-
1 to 10-n are connected to a facsimile control device 20. This facsimile control device 20 is connected to a facsimile device 40 via a plurality of extension lines 30-1 to 30-m.
-1 to 40-m are connected to each other. Extension 30-
The number of communication lines 1 to 30-m is, for example, communication lines 10-1 to 10-m.
- less than n.

The facsimile control device 20 has communication lines 10-1 to 10.
This is a device that selectively connects facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-m connected to extensions 30-1 to 30-m, and the distributor 21 and communication lines 20-1 to 20-2.
It is composed of a storage means 22 such as a semiconductor memory for storing the received data from 0-n.

The distributor 21 detects the empty state (non-use state) of the facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m and the storage means 22, and controls line switching based on the detection results, and also controls access to the storage means 22. It is composed of means 21a and switching means 21b for switching and supplying received data to facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-m and storage means 22 based on a control signal from control means 21a. The control means 21a is composed of CPtJ, etc., and further includes a switching means 21b.
consists of switches, etc.

The facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m are constructed of, for example, substantially the same circuit as the conventional circuit shown in FIG.

A facsimile receiving method using the facsimile communication device as described above will be explained below with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are flowcharts showing the procedure of a facsimile receiving method using the facsimile communication apparatus of FIG. In this flowchart, in response to a data transmission request, the receiving facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-
This figure shows the procedure for the receiving facsimile machine to receive and output the data sent by the sending facsimile machine in response to the request from m.

First, in step Sll of FIG. 4A, the facsimile control device 20 receives the data transmission sound transmitted from the sending facsimile device. In step S12, the distributor 21 in the facsimile control device 20 sets a counter k provided in the control means 21a to 1, and controls the switching means 21a to connect to the No. 1 receiving facsimile device 401. Then, in step 813, the No.
The control means 21a determines the usage status of the receiving facsimile machine 40-1.

If the determination result is that the receiving facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-
Compare the number of connected devices m with the number of devices whose usage status was determined,
It is determined whether or not there are uninvestigated receiving facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m.

If the determination result in step S14 is that the facsimile device is an uninvestigated facsimile machine, the switching means 2
In step S15, 1b increments the value of the counter by +1, connects to the facsimile machine 40-2 of No. 2, and returns to step 813.

Based on the determination result of step 813, the facsimile device 40-1
If the facsimile device 40-1 is not in use, the control means 21a transmits a reception confirmation sound in step S26, and in step S27, the facsimile device 40-1 receives the transmitted data and outputs the received data onto recording paper.

The facsimile machine 40-1 transmits a reception end confirmation sound in step S28, and the facsimile machine 40-1 transmits a reception end confirmation sound to the communication line 10-1 in step S829.
disconnects and ends the reception operation.

No in step 31B, No. 2 facsimile machine 40-
2 is in use, the control means 21a determines in step 14 that if the number m of connected facsimile machines is, for example, two,
In step S16, it is determined whether the storage means 22 is in use. If the determination result is that the device is in use, the control means 21a transmits a busy tone in step S17, and returns to step Sll. If the judgment result in step S16 is that the storage means is not used, the control means 21a transmits a reception confirmation sound in step S18, and temporarily stores the transmitted data in the storage means 22 in step S19. Furthermore, in step S20, the control means 21a transmits a reception end confirmation sound, and in step S
21, the communication lines 10-1 to 10-n are disconnected.

Next, in order to transmit and output the transmission data stored in the storage means 22 to the receiving side facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-m, the control means 21a controls the switching means 21b, and in step S22, the built-in The counter value 1 is set to 1, and the facsimile machine 40-1 of No. 1 is connected, and in step 323, the usage status of the facsimile machine 40-1 of No. 1 is determined. If the result of the judgment in step 823 is that the control means 21a is in use, the control means 21a performs step S
24, the number m of facsimile machines connected is compared with the number 1 of facsimile machines whose usage status has been determined, and it is determined whether there is any facsimile machine that has not been investigated yet.

If the determination result in step S24 is that there is an uninvestigated facsimile device, the control means 21a, in step S25,
The counter value () is incremented by 1, and the facsimile machine 40-2 of No. 2 is connected, and the process returns to step S23.

If the result of the determination in step S24 is that there is no uninvestigated facsimile device, the process returns to step S22.

If there is an unused facsimile machine, for example 40-m, as a result of the determination in step 31B, the fourth
The process moves to step S30 in Figure (B).

The control means 21a transmits a data transmission sound in step S30, and the receiving facsimile device 40-m transmits a data transmission sound in step S31.
The data transmission sound is received, a reception confirmation signal is transmitted in step S32, and the facsimile machine 40 is transmitted in step S833.
-m data is received and output on recording paper. and,
In step S34, a reception completion confirmation sound is transmitted, and in step S
35, disconnect the communication lines 10-1 to 10-n, and connect the connector ■
The process moves to FIG. 4(A) via , and the receiving operation is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, a called communication line, for example 10-1, is connected to an unused facsimile machine, for example 40-2. Furthermore, when all the facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m are in use, the storage means 22
temporarily stores the received data in the receiving facsimile device, and as soon as the receiving facsimile device finishes using it, transmits the data in the storage means 22 to the facsimile device that has finished using it, for example, 40-1,
Output.

In this way, even if the facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m are in use, the transmitted data can be received, and the facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m, which have a small number of
can be utilized as effectively as possible. Moreover, by improving the operating rate of the facsimile machines 40-1 to 40m, the capital investment for multiple facsimile machines 40-1 to 40-m can be minimized, thereby reducing the space required for facsimile installation and maintenance and inspection. can be reduced and costs can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, other functional blocks may be added to the facsimile control device 20 of FIG. 1, or facsimile devices 40-1 to 40-
Various modifications are possible, such as configuring m with a circuit other than the circuit configuration shown in FIG.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, since the facsimile communication device is configured as described above, when facsimile data is transmitted, the control means in the facsimile control device is used by controlling the switching means. The selected facsimile device is connected to a communication line and is caused to receive data. Further, if all facsimile machines connected to the facsimile control device are in use, the control means in the facsimile control device stores the transmitted data in the storage means and disconnects the communication line after receiving the data. Thereafter, the control means controls the switching means to select a facsimile machine that has been used or is no longer in use, and transmits the data stored in the storage means to the selected facsimile machine.

Therefore, even if the facsimile machine is in use, transmitted data can be received, and a small number of facsimile machines can be utilized to the maximum extent possible. Furthermore, since the operating rate of the facsimile machine is improved, the capital investment for multiple facsimile machines can be minimized, and the effects of reducing installation space, maintenance and inspection, and cost can also be expected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the configuration of a facsimile communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of a conventional facsimile device, FIG. Diagram (A>, (B)
2 is a flowchart showing the facsimile receiving method of FIG. 1. FIG. 10-1 to 10-n... Communication line, 20...
...Facsimile side leg device, 21...Distributor, 21a...Control means, 21b...Switching means, 22...Storage means, 30-1 ~30-m
・-・Extension, 40-1 to 40-m ・・・Facsimile machine.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A plurality of facsimile devices that perform facsimile communication over a plurality of communication lines, and a facsimile control device connected between the communication lines and the facsimile devices, the facsimile control device comprising: a storage means for storing received data from a communication line; a switching means for switching and supplying the received data to the facsimile device and the storage means; detecting an empty state of the facsimile device and the storage means and switching the switching based on the detection result. 1. A facsimile communication apparatus comprising: control means for controlling switching of the means and controlling access to the storage means.