JPH06141165A - Facsimile device for ISDN - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] When multiple terminals are connected to one line,
At the time of receiving a call, one terminal with good conditions responds and communicates. [Structure] When a call is received, when there is a specific device state, such as the remaining amount of recording paper or the free space in the image memory,
Respond after a certain delay time. [Effect] By responding with a delay time, it is possible to preferentially respond to another terminal with good conditions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is an IS used by connecting a plurality of units to one line of an ISDN user / network interface.
The present invention relates to a facsimile machine for DN.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the basic interface of ISDN user / network interface, a maximum of eight terminal devices can be connected to a signal bus of one line. The terminal devices to be connected may be the same type of terminal device.

Now, for example, it is assumed that a plurality of facsimile machines of the same standard are connected to one line and that line is called from the network. In this case, if the destination is a facsimile machine of the same type, a plurality of facsimile machines respectively execute the response operation.

In this case, the network only accepts the earliest response. As a result, the corresponding one facsimile machine
The call is connected to communicate with the partner device.

Here, for example, if the remaining amount of recording paper of the facsimile apparatus that started communication is small and the number of pages of the received image is large, the recording paper will be exhausted during the image reception.

In the facsimile machine, when the recording paper is used up, it is necessary to stop the image reception in the case of the apparatus which does not have the image memory. On the other hand, when the image memory is provided, the received image is stored in the image memory. However, in this case, when the free space of the image memory is small and the number of pages of the received image is large, it is necessary to stop the image reception due to lack of memory.

As described above, conventionally, there is a case in which the facsimile machine having a small amount of recording paper and a small free space of the image memory responds, and the transmitted image cannot be correctly received.

By the way, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-15676.
As can be seen in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3 (1994), it has been proposed to change the response time at the time of an incoming call for each terminal device and set the priority order to the communicating terminal device.

According to this proposal, communication can be executed by another terminal device by increasing the response time of the specific terminal device in which the free space of the recording paper or the image memory is reduced.

However, in this proposal, the operator fixedly sets the response time of each terminal device in advance.

For this reason, it has been impossible to select a device for communication in accordance with the state of the device which changes with the passage of time such as the remaining amount of recording paper of the facsimile device and the free space of the image memory.

[0012]

As described above, there has been a problem in the prior art that when receiving a call, one of the plurality of facsimile machines, which has good conditions, cannot preferentially communicate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide an ISDN facsimile apparatus capable of preferentially communicating with a single apparatus having a good condition among a plurality of incoming calls. .

[0014]

To this end, the present invention is characterized in that the response time to an incoming call is made longer than that of other devices when the device state becomes a preset constant state. There is.

[0015]

For example, when the free space of the recording paper or the image memory becomes small, the response time can be lengthened so that another facsimile apparatus can be made to respond first and the reception processing can be executed. In this way, by lengthening the response time in a constant apparatus state, it becomes possible to preferentially communicate with one facsimile machine with good conditions.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an ISDN according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a device configuration of the terminal equipment of FIG. In the figure, the facsimile machines 1a and 1b are both of the same type for communicating in the G4 mode, and are bus-connected to the signal bus 2. The signal bus 2 is connected to an NT (line terminator) 3, and the NT 3 is connected to an ISDN subscriber line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the facsimile machines 1a and 1b. In the figure, the scanner 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes a document image which is read by a plotter 102.
Is for recording an image on recording paper. The encoding / decoding unit 103 compresses the image information to be transmitted and restores the received data to the original image information. The image memory 104 temporarily stores image information.

The facsimile transmission control section 105 executes transmission control of a G4 facsimile for transmitting image information. The ISDN communication unit 106 is connected to the signal bus 2 and transmits / receives a predetermined signal to / from the network.

The operation display unit 107 is for displaying various information such as the operating state of the apparatus as the operator performs various operations. The system memory 108 stores the information registered in advance and the information received by the communication operation as needed. The system control unit 109 monitors / monitors each of the above units.
It is a controlling microcomputer. System bus 1
Reference numeral 10 denotes a signal line for exchanging data and control signals between the above-mentioned units.

In the case of using the terminal equipment of this embodiment with the above-mentioned configuration, the operator first uses each facsimile machine 1
Register operating conditions for a and 1b.

In this registration, as shown in FIG. 3, a delay condition is first designated by a predetermined operation. The delay condition means that when a call is received, the facsimile device is not made to respond immediately,
It is a condition that delays the response timing.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), there are four delay conditions: "unconditional", "remaining recording paper", "small memory space", and "originating address verification". "Unconditional" means
Indicates that the response should always be delayed. The "remaining recording paper" indicates that the recording paper is delayed when the remaining recording paper is small. "Memory free" means to delay when the free space of the image memory 104 is small. “Calling address matching” indicates that the calling address of the other party for delaying the response is registered in advance.

The operator arbitrarily designates one or more of the above four conditions (process 201). The facsimile apparatus stores the set four conditions, for example, by assigning them to the lower 4 bits of 1 byte as shown in FIG.

Next, when the operator specifies "remaining recording paper" in the above operation (Y in process 202), the operator inputs the limit value of the remaining recording paper. This limit value delays the response when the recording paper in the plotter 102 becomes below the limit value. This limit value is input, for example, 10% of the maximum number of recording sheets that can be mounted on the plotter 102 (process 203). When the above condition is not specified (N in process 202), it is not necessary to set the above limit value.

Next, when the "small memory capacity" is designated in the above operation (Y in process 204), the limit value of the free space is input. This limit value also has the same meaning as above, and is input, for example, 10% of the total capacity of the image memory 104 (process 205). If this condition is not specified (N in process 204), this input is unnecessary.

Next, when the "calling address collation" is designated in the above operation (Y in process 206), the calling address is input. The calling address is the call setting message “SET
It is the ISDN number of the other party received by "UP". The operator arbitrarily inputs one or a plurality of calling addresses of the other party whom he / she does not want to respond to with the facsimile apparatus he is currently operating (process 207). If this condition is not specified (N in process 206), the input of the calling address is not necessary.

Next, a delay time for delaying the response at the time of an incoming call is arbitrarily input, for example, in seconds (process 208).

By the above operation, various operating conditions as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are registered in the facsimile machines 1a and 1b.

On the other hand, the facsimile apparatus 1a of this embodiment,
1b has an accumulation mode and a normal mode as operation modes. In the accumulation mode, the received image is stored in the image memory 10
4 is an operation mode for accumulating, and the normal mode is a mode in which the received image is immediately recorded and output by the plotter 102. The operator sets a desired operation mode for the facsimile machines 1a and 1b.

Next, the incoming operation of the facsimile machines 1a and 1b will be described.

6 and 7 show this incoming operation. That is, the facsimile machines 1a and 1b monitor the incoming call, that is, the reception of the call setting message "SETUP" (N loop of process 301).

When the call is received from the network and the call setup message "SETUP" is received (Y in process 301), it is determined whether the registered delay condition is "unconditional" (process 302). If the delay condition is not "unconditional" (N of processing 302), then it is determined whether "remaining recording paper" is designated (processing 303). If the "remaining recording paper" is not designated (N in process 303), it is further determined whether or not "low memory" is designated (process 304). If the "memory shortage" is not specified (N in process 304), then "source address verification"
It is determined whether or not is specified (process 305). When this “calling source address matching” is not specified (process 3
(N of 05), the response message “CONN” is sent to the network (process 306). Then, the call control message returned from the network is monitored (process 307).

When the transmitted response message "CONN" is accepted by the network, the response confirmation message "CONN"
ACK ”is returned.

Now, the response confirmation message "CON A
If "CK" is returned (Y in step 307), the call connection procedure on the D channel is ended, and the predetermined facsimile reception procedure is executed on the B-channel with the destination device connected to the call. An image is received (process 308).

Then, the set operation mode is discriminated (process 309), and in the normal mode (process 309).
Y), the received image is recorded and output (process 310). In the accumulation mode (N in process 311), the received image is accumulated in the image memory 104 (process 311).

On the other hand, when "unconditional" is specified as the delay condition (Y in process 302), the response message "CO" is waited for only the registered delay time (process 312).
NN ”is sent (to step 306).

When "remaining recording paper" is designated (Y in step 303), the actual remaining amount of recording paper in the plotter 102 is compared with the registered limit value of the remaining recording paper. (Process 313). And the actual remaining amount of recording paper is
If the limit value is exceeded (N in process 313), the same operation as described above is performed (to process 304), while if it is less than the limit value (Y in process 313), wait for the above delay time ( Processing 312), the response message “CONN” is transmitted (to processing 306).

If "low memory" is specified as the delay condition (Y in process 304), the image memory 1
The actual free space 04 is compared with the limit value of the registered free memory space (process 314). When the actual free space exceeds the limit value (process 31
4 N), while operating similarly to the above (process 305
To), if it is less than or equal to the limit value (Y of processing 314),
After a lapse of the delay time (process 312), the response message "CONN" is transmitted (to process 306).

Further, if "call source address verification" is specified (Y in step 305), the call source address of the call setup message "SETUP" just received is checked against the registered call source address (step 315). ). Then, if the calling address that has just been received is not registered (process 31)
5 N), immediately response message "CONN"
While sending the message (to process 306), if the calling address that has just been received is registered (Y in process 315), waits for the above delay time (process 312), and returns the response message "C".
"ONN" is transmitted (to process 306).

Now, for example, in the facsimile apparatus 1a, no delay condition such as "unconditional" or "originating address collation" is specified as the delay condition, and the remaining amount of recording paper of the plotter 102 is also stored in the image memory. It is also assumed that the free capacity of 104 also exceeds the corresponding limit value. On the other hand, the facsimile apparatus 1b is set to the normal mode, and "remaining recording paper" is specified as the delay condition, and at this time, the actual remaining recording paper of the plotter 102 decreases below its limit value. Suppose that

If an incoming call is made in such a state, FIG.
As shown in, the facsimile device 1a immediately sends the response message "CONN", while the facsimile device 1b sends the response message "CONN" with a delay of the registered delay time T. In this case, the net is
The response message "CONN" sent from the facsimile apparatus 1a first is accepted, and the response confirmation message "C" is received.
ONN ACK "is returned. As a result, the facsimile apparatus 1a makes a call connection with the other party and executes facsimile communication. On the other hand, the network is the facsimile machine 1b.
The response message "CONN" is not accepted and the disconnection message "DISC" is returned. In this case, the facsimile apparatus 1b sends the release message "REL", and the network returns the release completion message "REL COMP" to disconnect the call.

In this case, when the facsimile apparatus 1b receives an image, there is a high possibility that the received image cannot be recorded on all pages because the remaining amount of recording paper is small. In this case, since the facsimile apparatus 1a having sufficient remaining amount of recording paper and free memory space executes the receiving operation, it is possible to almost certainly receive the received image on all pages.

When one of the facsimile machines 1a and 1b is set to the storage mode, the image memory 1
Even when the remaining memory capacity of 04 is low, similar to the above,
The other facsimile machine having a sufficient remaining memory can execute the receiving operation and can surely receive the received image.

By the way, there is a case where an image received from a specific destination is desired to be received by a specific one of the two facsimile machines 1a and 1b. Now, assuming that the facsimile machine 1a receives it, the facsimile machine 1b
First, the destination address is registered as the calling address. As a result, when the facsimile device 1b receives a call from the specific destination, the response is delayed, so that the facsimile device 1a can always respond quickly to receive an image.

Further, for example, one of the facsimile machines is often used for transmission processing, and when that machine executes a reception operation, it cannot be used for transmission processing during the operation.
It may be inconvenient. Now, for example, assume that the facsimile machine 1a is used for transmission processing. In this case, the "unconditional" delay condition is registered in the facsimile apparatus 1a. As a result, the facsimile machine 1a
, The response is delayed when receiving a call, so that the facsimile apparatus 1b always executes the receiving operation.

Further, in the above description, when the facsimile device that responds early when receiving a call is already communicating, the facsimile device that responds late executes the receiving operation, so that the image cannot be received.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the device state becomes a preset constant state, the response time to an incoming call is set to be longer than that of the other devices, so that the facsimile under good conditions can be obtained. Allows the device to preferentially respond and communicate.

In the above embodiment, whether the received image is recorded by the plotter 102 or stored in the image memory 104 is fixedly set in advance.
When the recording is started in step 1 and the recording paper runs out, the subsequent image may be stored in the image memory 104. On the other hand, on the contrary, the image memory 104 starts accumulation,
When the free space is used up, the subsequent image may be recorded by the plotter 102.

Although the case where two facsimile machines are installed has been described as an example, when the number of facsimile machines is three or more, the priority order can be set for each machine by changing the delay time for each machine.

Further, the facsimile apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention can be similarly applied to various ISDN terminal apparatuses.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the device state becomes a preset constant state, the response time to an incoming call is made longer than that of other devices. A good facsimile machine can respond to and communicate with priority.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a device configuration diagram of ISDN terminal equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a facsimile device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation condition registration process for the facsimile device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of delay conditions to be registered.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another operating condition to be registered.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart showing a part of an incoming call operation of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart showing another part of the incoming call operation of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a call control procedure between the network and each facsimile apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b Facsimile device 2 Signal bus 3 NT 101 Scanner 102 Plotter 103 Encoding / decoding unit 104 Image memory 105 Facsimile transmission control unit 106 ISDN communication unit 107 Operation display unit 108 System memory 109 System control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile for ISDN, which is connected to a signal bus of one line and, when an incoming call comes in from a network and a plurality of responds, one of the fastest responding calls connects to perform facsimile communication. An ISDN facsimile apparatus, characterized in that the apparatus is provided with a response time adjusting means for making the response time to the incoming call longer than that of other apparatuses when the apparatus state becomes a preset constant state. 2. The I according to claim 1, wherein the response time adjusting means is means for lengthening the response time when the remaining amount of recording paper for recording and outputting the received image is small.
Facsimile machine for SDN. 3. The ISDN facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said response time adjusting means is means for lengthening said response time when there is little free space in an image memory for accumulating received images. 4. The ISDN facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said response time adjusting means is means for lengthening said response time when an incoming call is received from a previously registered destination.