JPH07135571A - Facsimile device secret communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The purpose of the present invention is to enable the confidential communication of a facsimile device to be executed not only between specific models but also in general. A secret communication and designation of destination information are performed via a DTMF signal, such information is extracted from a DTMF signal transmitted at the time of reception, and secret communication is performed based on the extracted information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication method for a facsimile device which communicates image information via a communication line, and more particularly to a confidential communication method for a facsimile device which communicates image information requiring confidentiality. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile machine equipped with an image memory for accumulating images to enable confidential communication with high confidentiality has been put into practical use. In such a facsimile device, when the confidential communication is designated, the received image is temporarily stored in the image memory and the designated destination name is displayed to notify the operator that the confidential communication has been performed. In this state, when the operator inputs a password such as a predetermined personal identification number, the received image accumulated is recorded and output.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional facsimile apparatus, since the confidential communication and the designation of the destination name from the transmitting side are performed by the non-standard protocol, no matter how much the operator requests the confidential communication. ,
There has also been a problem that confidential communication cannot be accepted depending on the facsimile machine on the other side. Also, when the operator is absent, no notification is sent that there was a confidential communication, so the image information is not recorded and output, the memory overflows, and thereafter, the importance is high, for example. Even if the reception was made, there was a problem that the reception could not be accepted. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems of the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of executing secret communication not only between specific models but also in general.

[0004]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In order to achieve the above object, in a facsimile apparatus including a personal identification information memory in which name information for recognizing a destination and a personal identification number are associated with each other, a DTMF transmitted via a communication line at the time of reception. The PIN code is extracted from the signal, and it is determined whether or not the extracted PIN code is registered in the PIN code memory.If it is determined that the PIN code is registered, the transmitted image information is sent together with the extracted PIN code. The name information corresponding to the personal identification number is stored in the memory and read out from the personal identification information memory for display. On the other hand, if it is determined that the personal identification number is not registered, a predetermined message is sent to the sending side facsimile device and received. When the personal identification number is input through the operation unit after the end, the image information corresponding to the input personal identification number is read from the memory and recorded and output. To do.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 extracts the identification information indicating the importance of the image information together with the personal identification number from the DTMF signal transmitted at the time of reception in the facsimile apparatus. Then, the extracted identification information is stored in the memory in association with the transmitted image information.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 3 detects the remaining amount of the memory at a constant timing when the image information is stored in the memory in the facsimile apparatus. If it is determined that the detected remaining amount is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the identification information having a value lower than the extracted identification information is searched from the memory, and the image information corresponding to the searched identification information is retrieved from the memory. It is characterized by erasing.

[0007]

In the invention having the above-mentioned structure, since the confidential communication and the designation of the destination information are performed through the DTMF signal which can be output by the existing facsimile machine, the confidential communication of the facsimile machine is specified. It can be performed without trouble not only between models, but also between any models.

Further, in the inventions according to claims 2 and 3 having the above structure, the importance of the image information is recognized based on the identification information transmitted via the DTMF signal, and the importance is recognized based on this recognition. Since the image information having a high priority is left in the memory, even if the image information is not recorded and output due to the absence of the operator, the reception with high importance can be preferentially left in the memory.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, specific examples will be described based on examples of the present invention. 1 to 8 are views showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a facsimile apparatus. The facsimile apparatus includes a system control unit 1,
An operation display unit 2, a scanner 3, a plotter 4, an image processing unit 5, a memory 6, and a line control unit 7 are provided. The system control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Re
It is composed of an ad only memory), a RAM (random access memory), etc., and controls the main body of the facsimile apparatus according to a program in the ROM.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the operation display unit 2 of the facsimile apparatus. The operation display section 2 is provided with various operation keys necessary for operating the facsimile machine such as the start button 11 and the stop button 12 or a numeric keypad, and function keys 13 to 16 for setting each mode, and various operation keys. A display unit 17 is provided for displaying a mode setting state, a message for operation guidance, and the like. Further, the start button 11 is of a shuttle type, and by rotating it left and right, the information displayed on the display can be scrolled up and down. Further, by pressing the "#" key, the input mode is switched, and it becomes possible to input English characters and Kana characters by the ten keys.

The scanner 3 reads image information of a document at a predetermined resolution. The plotter 4 records image information on recording paper at a predetermined resolution. The image processing unit 5 encodes and compresses the image signal read by the scanner 3, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into an original image signal. The memory 6 stores the image information of the original coded by the image processing unit 5 or the received image information. In addition, the memory 6 is internally provided with a personal identification number memory 6'for storing information such as a personal identification number. The line control unit 7 is composed of a communication control unit that executes a facsimile transmission procedure, and a network control unit that performs a call processing to a public line network, a line opening / closing process, an incoming call detection from the line network, and the like. is there.

The system control unit 1, the operation display unit 2, the scanner 3, the plotter 4, the image processing unit 5, the memory 6, and the line control unit 7 exchange data via the bus line 8.

The operation of setting the personal identification number of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When the function key 13 on the operation display unit 2 is pressed to set the secret mode when the facsimile apparatus is in the waiting state,
The system control unit 1 detects this and displays a mode selection request via the display. When the operator selects the personal identification number setting mode via the function key 14 (step 1), the system control unit 1 further selects the personal identification number registration or the personal identification number deletion via the display unit 17. The request is displayed, and the device is ready for input (step 2). When the operator selects the personal identification number registration, the process proceeds to step 3. When the operator inputs name information (address information) such as a name through the ten-key pad of the operation display unit 2 (step 3) and further inputs a personal identification number of a predetermined digit (step 4), the system control unit 1 , It is determined whether or not the input personal identification number is already registered in the personal identification number memory 6 '(step 5).
If the entered PIN is unregistered,
This personal identification number is registered in the personal identification number memory 6'in association with the name information input in step 3 (step 6). After that, the system control unit 1 displays the fact that the registration is completed via the display unit 17 of the operation display unit 2, and terminates the PIN registration processing.

When it is determined in step 5 that the input personal identification number has already been registered, the indicator 1 on the operation display unit 2 is used to avoid registration of duplicate personal identification numbers.
The operator is prompted again to input the personal identification number via 7, and the apparatus enters the state of waiting for the personal identification number.

In step 2, if the operator has selected to delete the personal identification number, the process proceeds to step 7. When the operator inputs name information such as a name through the ten keys on the operation display unit 2 (step 7), the system control unit 1
Detects whether or not the inputted name information is already registered in the personal identification number memory (step 8). Here, if it is detected that it is registered, the operator is asked to confirm the deletion, and then the designated name information and the personal identification number corresponding to this name information are stored in the personal identification number memory 6 '. Delete and end the process of deleting the security code. On the other hand, if it is detected in step 8 that the entered name information is not registered in the PIN code memory 6 ', a message indicating that is displayed, for example, "The entered name is not registered. Is displayed on the display unit 17, and the process of deleting the personal identification number is completed.

The receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. When an incoming call from the line network is detected by the line control unit 7 while the facsimile apparatus is in the waiting state, the system control unit 1 determines whether the apparatus is in the secret mode (step 11). ). In the setting of the secret mode state, the system control unit 1 recognizes this when the operator presses the function key 13 on the operation display unit 2, and the secret mode flag in the memory 6 is set to ON. Done by something. If the function key 13 is pressed again while the secret mode flag is set to ON,
The system control unit 1 resets the secret mode flag to off and cancels the secret mode.

If it is determined in step 11 that the secret mode is in effect, a message such as "Please enter your PIN" is sent and a timer for counting a predetermined time is turned on (step 12). ),afterwards,
The DTMF signal sent from the transmitting side is detected (step 13). The detection of the DTMF signal here is performed by the system control unit 1 interrupting the line control unit 7 every several ms. When the DTMF signal is detected, the system control unit 1 extracts a personal identification number from the detected DTMF signal (step 14). still,
DTMF sent from the sending facsimile machine
The signal consists of a personal identification number and identification information indicating the importance of the transmitted document.

In step 16, it is judged whether or not the personal identification number corresponding to the extracted personal identification number is registered in the personal identification number memory 6 '. If it is determined in step 16 that the personal identification number sent from the sending facsimile machine matches the personal identification number registered in the personal identification number memory, the process proceeds to step 17. In step 17, a predetermined message, for example, "Facsimile communication is ready, please press the start button." Is sent to the facsimile machine on the transmitting side through the line controller 7.
After that, the system control unit 1 sends a CNG (Calling To
ne) signal is transmitted to execute a predetermined protocol. When the protocol ends, the image information sent from the sending facsimile machine is received (step 23). The image information sent from the sending facsimile machine is accumulated in the memory 6 via the line control unit 7.

While the image information is being received, the system controller 1 checks the remaining amount of the memory 6 at a predetermined timing (step 24). In step 25, it is judged whether or not the reception of the image information is completed. When the reception of the image information is completed without the remaining amount of the memory 6 being less than or equal to the predetermined value during the reception of the image information, the system control unit 1 displays the name information and the reception result via the display 18 on the operation display unit 2. , The reception time is displayed (step 26). The name information is information obtained by reading the name information corresponding to the personal identification number extracted in step 15 from the personal identification number memory 6'in the memory 6. Further, the system control unit 1 accumulates in the memory 6 the personal identification number and the identification information indicating the degree of importance of image information received from the facsimile machine on the transmission side via the DTMF signal, and ends the receiving operation in the secret mode.

When it is detected in the check in step 24 that the remaining amount of the memory 6 has become equal to or less than the predetermined value while receiving the image information, the process proceeds to step 27. In step 27, the identification information indicating the importance of the transmitted document is extracted from the DTMF signal received in step 13, and the identification information having a value lower than the value of the extracted identification information is stored in the memory 6. Search whether or not.

When the identification information having a value lower than the value of the identification signal received via the DTMF signal is retrieved by the retrieval in step 27, the image information corresponding to this identification information is erased from the memory 6 (step 28). In this way, the free space of the memory 6 is increased and the receiving operation is continued for the image information of high importance. On the other hand, when the identification information having a value lower than the value of the extracted identification information is not found by the determination in step 27, the system control unit 1 suspends the reception via the line control unit 7 (step 29). . When the reception is interrupted, the corresponding name information from the received personal identification number is read from the personal identification number memory, and the reception result indicating that the reception is interrupted together with the name information is displayed via the display 18 on the operation display unit 2. indicate.

When all the reception of the image information sent from the transmitting side is completed, the identification information indicating the degree of importance of the received image information is stored in the memory 6 in association with the image information. Further, corresponding name information is extracted from the received personal identification number from the personal identification number memory, and the extracted name information and the total number of pages of the received image information are displayed on the display of the operation display unit to end the receiving operation. (Step 26).

The output operation of the received image information in the secret mode of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator requests the output of the received image information via the function key 15 while the facsimile apparatus is in the secret mode (step 3)
1), the device is in a standby state for inputting a personal identification number. When the operator inputs a personal identification number via the ten keys on the operation display unit 2 (step 32), the system control unit 1 checks whether the personal identification number that matches the input personal identification number is registered in the personal identification number memory 6 '. It is determined whether or not (step 33).

If it is determined in step 33 that the personal identification number corresponding to the input personal identification number is registered in the personal identification number memory 6 ', then the received image information corresponding to this personal identification number is stored in the memory. It is confirmed whether or not the data is accumulated in No. 6 (step 34). When the accumulation of the image information corresponding to the personal identification number is confirmed, the process proceeds to step 35, where the system control unit 1 reads the confirmed image information from the memory 6,
After that, it is recorded and output on a recording sheet through the plotter 4. When the recording output is completed, the image information for which the recording output is completed, and the name information stored in association with this image information,
All information such as identification information indicating the degree of importance of image information is erased from the memory 6 (step 35). At this time, if there is other image information corresponding to the input personal identification number, the recording and outputting are sequentially repeated. In this way, when the recording and outputting of the corresponding image information are all finished, the output operation of the received image information in the secret mode is finished.

The transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. When the function key 16 is pressed and the transmission mode is selected by the operator while the facsimile apparatus is in the standby state, the system control unit 1 determines whether the apparatus is set to the secret mode based on the state of the secret mode flag. Determine whether or not (step 4)
1). When it is determined in step 41 that the device is not set to the secret mode, the operator enters the telephone number input standby state (step 49) and the operator inputs the telephone number via the ten keys on the operation display unit 2. Then, the system control unit 1 makes a call to the facsimile apparatus of the transmission destination via the line control unit 7 based on the input telephone number (step 50). When the connection of the line is confirmed and the exchange of the protocol is completed, the system control unit 1 reads the image information of the document set through the scanner 3 and sends the read image information to the facsimile machine of the other party (step 51). ) When the transmission of the image information of the set document is completed (step 52), the transmission operation is completed.

At step 41, when it is judged that the device is set to the secret mode and the operator inputs the telephone number through the ten keys on the operation display section 2 (step 42), the system control section 1 It is confirmed whether or not the inputted telephone number is registered in the memory 6 (step 43). If it is confirmed in step 43 that the entered telephone number is not registered, the display 17
A message prompting the operator to input a personal identification number and identification information indicating the degree of importance of image information to be transmitted is displayed. When the operator inputs a personal identification number of a predetermined digit through the ten-key pad on the operation display unit 2 (step 44) and finishes inputting identification information (step 45), the transmission original is set on the scanner 3. Is confirmed (step 46), and then a call is made based on the input telephone number (step 47).

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step 43 that the input telephone number is registered, it means that there is a communication history in the past, so the system control unit 1 associates it with this telephone number. Read out the registered PIN.

When the line connection with the facsimile machine of the other party is confirmed after the call is made, the system control section 1 sets the facsimile machine of the other party to the secret mode via the line control section 7. Sends a DTMF signal.
Then, after a predetermined time, the input or read secret code number is transmitted as a DTMF signal (step 5).
3) Go to step 54. At this time, the system control unit 1 turns on a speaker (not shown) so that the operator can hear the message from the line. After that, the system control unit 1 resets the counter and the timer for counting the number of times the DTMF signal is transmitted (step 54). When the reset of the counter and the timer is completed, the timer is started (step 55).

After the transmission of the DTMF signal, if the coincidence of the transmitted personal identification numbers is confirmed, a message indicating that the preparation for reception is completed is transmitted from the facsimile machine of the other party (step 56). In step 57, the CNG signal is transmitted. Is a step of detecting whether or not the fax has been sent from the facsimile machine of the other party. In step 57, C is transmitted via the line control unit 7.
When the NG signal is detected, the system control unit 1 turns off the speaker (not shown), reads the image information of the transmission original document set through the scanner 3, and transmits the image information to the facsimile machine of the other party (step 60). ). Step 6
Step 1 is a step of determining whether or not the transmission of the image information of the set transmission original has been completed. If it is determined in step 61 that all the transmissions have been completed, the system control unit 1 associates the telephone number input in step 42 with the personal identification number input in step 44 and stores them in the memory 6. Register (step 62).

When the registration of the telephone number and the personal identification number is completed, the transmission result information such as the number of originals to be transmitted and the transmission time is displayed on the display unit 17, and the transmission operation in the secret mode is completed.

When the CNG signal is not detected in step 57, the process proceeds to step 58, and it is checked whether or not there is an instruction to re-input the personal identification number from the operator.
If there is an instruction to re-input the personal identification number, then the process returns to step 53 in order to send a new personal identification number input via the ten keys on the operation display unit 2 as a DTMF signal.

Step 59 is a step of judging whether or not the timer started in step 55 has timed out. If the time has not expired, the process returns to step 56 and the CNG signal is detected again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 59 that the time is over, the process proceeds to step 64 and 1 is added to the counter. Step 66 is a step of determining whether or not the value of the added counter is greater than 3.

When it is determined in step 66 that the value of the counter is 3 or less, the process returns to step 53, and the DTMF signal is sent again to the facsimile machine of the other party. If it is determined in step 66 that the value of the counter is greater than 3, the system controller 1 determines the line controller 7
The communication line with the destination facsimile machine is disconnected via the. At this time, a message indicating that the transmission has failed may be issued to the operator.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the confidential communication and the secret code are designated by the DTMF signal which can be output by the existing facsimile apparatus, only between the specific models. Instead, secret communication is possible between any of the facsimile devices. In the above embodiment, the priority to be retained in the memory is determined based only on the identification information indicating the importance of the image information. However, other than this, the reception time may be taken into consideration. . When the information is erased from the memory without being recorded and output, the name information corresponding to the image information to be erased,
Only the information such as the number of received sheets and the reception result may be left in the memory, and when the personal identification number is input, such information may be output by the plotter. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when transmitting in the secret mode state, the DTM
Although the F signal is transmitted up to three times, this value may be changed and set by the operator.

[0034]

As described above, according to the configuration of the first aspect, the secret communication and the designation of the destination information are performed via the DTMF signal which can be output by the existing facsimile apparatus. The confidential communication can be executed not only between specific models but also between any models in general. According to the second and third aspects, the importance of the image information is recognized based on the identification information transmitted via the DTMF signal, and the importance is high according to the recognition result. Since the objects are controlled to remain in the memory, even if the image information is not recorded and output due to the absence of the operator, the reception of high importance can be preferentially received and left in the memory.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an operation display unit of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting a personal identification number of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the receiving operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, continuing from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording output operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart following FIG. 7, showing the transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the transmission operation of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, continued from FIGS. 7 and 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... System control part, 2 ... Operation display part, 3 ... Scanner, 4 ... Plotter 5 ... Image processing part, 6 ... Memory, 6 '... PIN code memory, 7 ... Line control part 8 ... Bus line

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location H04M 3/42 B H04N 1/32 G 7232-5C

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus comprising a secret code information memory in which name information for recognizing a destination and a secret code number are associated with each other, and the secret code is used from a DTMF signal transmitted through a communication line at the time of reception. The number is extracted, and it is determined whether the extracted PIN is registered in the PIN information memory. If it is determined that it is registered, the transmitted image information is stored in the memory together with the extracted PIN. Then, while the name information corresponding to the personal identification number is read from the personal identification information memory and displayed, when it is determined that the personal identification number is not registered, a predetermined message is sent to the facsimile device on the transmitting side, and after reception is completed, When the personal identification number is input through the operation unit, the image information corresponding to the input personal identification number is read from the memory and recorded and output. Confidential communication method of a millimeter equipment. 2. Upon reception, identification information indicating the importance of image information is extracted from a transmitted DTMF signal together with a personal identification number, and the extracted identification information is stored in a memory in association with the transmitted image information. The secret communication method for a facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 3. When the image information is being stored in the memory, the remaining amount of the memory is detected at a fixed timing, and when it is determined that the detected remaining amount is less than or equal to a predetermined value, extraction is performed. 3. The secret communication method for a facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification information having a value lower than the identification information is retrieved from the memory, and the image information corresponding to the retrieved identification information is erased from the memory.