JPH1013604A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a facsimile apparatus capable of automatically receiving desired facsimile information from a facsimile information BOX service without a user directly attending communication. SOLUTION: A key input unit 4 for inputting a facsimile number of a facsimile information BOX service and an information BOX number to be obtained, a memory 2 for storing the input facsimile number and information BOX number, and a stored facsimile. Automatically dial numbers in phone mode,
When a line is connected to the other party's facsimile machine, the stored information BOX number is input in the tone dial mode, and when it is detected that a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency sent from the other party's facsimile machine has been sent out, the facsimile is sent. It is provided with a CPU 6 for switching to the reception mode and receiving facsimile data transmitted from the other party facsimile machine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus having a function of automatically receiving facsimile information from a facsimile information box service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile information BOX service that allows a user to freely extract desired information by using a facsimile has been widely used.

As a general procedure when using the facsimile information BOX service, the following example is given.

A user dials a facsimile number provided with a facsimile information box service, and when a line is connected to a facsimile apparatus provided with a facsimile information box service, the facsimile information box is connected.
An information box number of desired information is input in a tone dial mode in accordance with voice guidance transmitted by a facsimile apparatus having a service.

After the input is completed, the apparatus waits for a dial tone transmitted by the facsimile apparatus having the facsimile information BOX service. When the dial tone is transmitted, the user presses the reception start button to start the reception from the facsimile apparatus having the facsimile information BOX service. Receive the facsimile data to be transmitted. As a result, the user has extracted the desired information.

Further, regarding the facsimile information BOX service, recently, a company which provides the facsimile information BOX service has specified the facsimile number of the facsimile information BOX service in an in-house advertisement published in a newspaper or a magazine. In many cases, information box numbers are also described. Therefore, the user wants to know which information BOX
It is possible to know in advance whether a number should be input.

[0007]

Incidentally, when the user uses the facsimile information BOX service, it is necessary to manually perform the operation as in the above example.

For this reason, even if a user owns a facsimile apparatus having an automatic transmission / reception function and knows his or her desired information BOX number in advance, a facsimile apparatus provided with a facsimile information BOX service sends the information. It is necessary to stand by for communication until a beep tone is transmitted and the user presses the reception start button.

Also, when using a popular, ie, frequently used, facsimile information BOX service, the other party is often in a call even after dialing, and each time the user must dial again. It is very inconvenient.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which can automatically receive desired facsimile information from a facsimile information BOX service without a user directly attending communication.

[0011]

A facsimile apparatus of the present invention stores a facsimile information box service facsimile number and a means for inputting an information box number to be obtained, and stores the input facsimile number and information box number. Means for automatically dialing the stored facsimile number in the telephone mode, and when the line to the partner facsimile apparatus is connected, the stored information B
When the OX number is input in the tone dial mode and it is detected that a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus has been transmitted, the mode is switched to the facsimile reception mode, and the facsimile data transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus is received. It has control means.

[0012]

A facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention stores a means for inputting a facsimile number of a facsimile information box service and an information box number to be obtained, and stores the input facsimile number and information box number. Means for automatically dialing the stored facsimile number in the telephone mode, and when the line to the partner facsimile apparatus is connected, the stored information B
When an OX number is input in the tone dial mode and it is detected that a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus has been transmitted, the mode is switched to the facsimile reception mode and facsimile data transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus is received. Since the control means is provided, the user can automatically receive desired facsimile information from the facsimile information BOX service without standing by for communication.

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment includes a modem for performing facsimile communication and an N
A CU 1, a memory 2 for recording image data and data necessary for facsimile communication, a ROM 3 storing a program for controlling operations, a key input unit 4, a print output unit 5, and executing programs in the ROM 3. And a CPU 6 as control means for controlling the entire apparatus. It is assumed that the modem and the NCU 1 have a function of detecting a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency in addition to the call tone CNG recommended in the facsimile communication procedure. Reference numeral 7 denotes a telephone unit which enables voice communication, and reference numeral 8 denotes a telephone line.

Hereinafter, a procedure for automatically receiving facsimile information from the facsimile information BOX service will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, when a user who knows an information box number relating to facsimile information to be obtained desires automatic reception of facsimile information from the facsimile information box service, the user operates the key input section 4 to operate the desired facsimile information box service. Facsimile number and information BOX number. At this time, the facsimile apparatus is in the telephone mode.

At this time, the CPU 6 stores the facsimile number entered by the user and the information BOX number in the memory 2.
(Step S1).

When the input of the facsimile number and the information box number is completed and the user supports the transmission, the CPU 6
The facsimile number stored in the memory 2 is taken out, and automatic dialing is performed in the telephone mode using the modem and the NCU 1 (step S2).

After the dialing, it is determined whether or not the other party's facsimile apparatus has answered (step S3).
Hang up the line, wait for redial for a certain time (step S
4) Automatic dialing is performed again (step S2).

If the other party's facsimile machine responds,
The information box number stored in the memory 2 is taken out,
The number is sent out on the line. At this time, if the dial mode is the tone dial mode, the mode is left as it is, and if the dial mode is the pulse dial mode, the mode is switched to the tone dial mode, and the information BOX number is transmitted over the line (step S5).

Next, the CPU 6 controls the modem and the NCU 1 to measure a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency transmitted from the facsimile machine to the line (step S6).

Then, it is determined whether or not the modem and the NCU 1 have detected a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency (step S7). If not, the measurement is performed again (step S6).

When the modem and the NCU 1 detect a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency, the mode is switched from the telephone mode to the facsimile mode, the facsimile data transmitted from the other facsimile apparatus is automatically received, and the received facsimile data is printed out. 5 to print on the recording paper or store it in the memory 2 (step S8).

In the above description, the facsimile apparatus automatically receives facsimile information from the facsimile information BOX service ignoring the voice guidance transmitted by the other party facsimile apparatus. By providing the information box, an information box number and the like can be input in an interactive response to the voice guidance transmitted by the other party's facsimile machine.

This makes it possible to cope with a system in which, for example, the partner facsimile apparatus prompts the input of a specific code indicating the end of the input of the information BOX number by voice guidance, and the automatic reception of the facsimile information is performed more reliably. be able to.

As described above, according to the present invention, a user can automatically receive desired facsimile information from the facsimile information BOX service without standing by for communication.

[0027]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus for inputting a facsimile number of a facsimile information box service and an information box number to be obtained, a means for storing the input facsimile number and information box number, The stored facsimile number is automatically dialed in the telephone mode, and when a line with the other party's facsimile apparatus is connected, the stored information BOX number is input in the tone dial mode, and any information transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus is sent. When it is detected that a continuous tone of the frequency of the facsimile has been transmitted, the apparatus is provided with control means for switching to the facsimile reception mode and receiving facsimile data transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus. Enter information box number After that, it will be possible to automatically receive from the facsimile information BOX service afterwards, thereby freeing the user from being restricted from standing by for communication and redialing when the other party is on a call, The desired facsimile information can be automatically obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of automatically receiving facsimile information from an information BOX service by the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Modem and NCU 2 Memory 3 ROM 4 Key input unit 5 Print output unit 6 CPU

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile apparatus having an automatic switching between a telephone mode and a facsimile mode, an automatic transmission and an automatic reception function, and means for inputting a facsimile number of a facsimile information box service and an information box number to be obtained. Means for storing the inputted facsimile number and information BOX number, and automatically storing the stored facsimile number in accordance with the support of the call, and storing the information when a line with the partner facsimile apparatus is connected. Information B
OX number is transmitted, and when it is detected that a continuous tone of an arbitrary frequency transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus has been transmitted, a control means for switching to the facsimile reception mode and receiving facsimile data transmitted from the other party's facsimile apparatus is provided. Facsimile machine.