JPH06189008A - Facsimile equipment with remote control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate trouble for a user to always go to a place, where the facsimile is installed, and to improve the operability of the facsimile by performing remote operations concerning the fixed operations of the facsimile while using a cordless telephone set. CONSTITUTION:When a transmission key is operated, a signal processing part 1 at a cordless telephone set A performs control so as to radio output the code signal of a control command previously inputted by operating a ten-key or the like with the prescribed number of bits of serial signals from a wireless communication part 2. When the wireless signal of the control command outputted from the cordless telephone set A is received at a wireless communication part 6, a signal processing part 7 of a facsimile Fa decodes the contents of that signal and controls operations at the respective parts of the facsimile Fa so as to execute the operations according to those command contents. Therefore, the operations according to the contents of the control command are performed on the side of the facsimile Fa. Namely, the facsimile Fa is remotely controlled by operating the cordless telephone set A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine having a remote control function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as a facsimile apparatus, other than a normal facsimile communication function, for example, an attached telephone is used as an answering machine, or image data stored in an image memory is transferred to another terminal apparatus. There is a tendency to develop a multifunctional facsimile machine to which various functions are added. Thus, in any of the conventional facsimile apparatuses, a predetermined key switch is provided on the operation panel of the facsimile apparatus as a means for executing various additional functions other than the ordinary facsimile transmission operation. It was nothing more than a thing.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above conventional one,
When a predetermined key operation is performed to use the facsimile apparatus, the user must always go to the installation location of the facsimile apparatus, which makes the operation cumbersome and troublesome. In particular, in a facsimile machine to which a large number of additional functions are added, unlike a case where a desired document is set on a platen for facsimile transmission, the user does not necessarily have to go to the place where the facsimile machine is installed. Considering that there are many operations that can be performed only by depressing a key, it is more inefficient to go to the place where the facsimile device is installed just for the key operation.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above points, and eliminates the trouble of a user constantly going to the installation location of a facsimile device when using the facsimile device, and operating the facsimile device. Its purpose is to improve sex.

[0005]

In the present invention, many facsimile machines equipped with a telephone have been developed in recent years, while various telephones of the so-called cordless type have been developed as the telephone. Focusing on the point of use, this cordless type telephone is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems by also being used as a remote terminal for controlling the operation of a facsimile. That is, the present invention includes a cordless telephone that transmits and receives a predetermined wireless signal to and from a wireless communication means provided in a facsimile, and a predetermined control command is transmitted from the telephone to the wireless communication means by a wireless signal. Is a facsimile apparatus with a remote control function, which is configured so that the facsimile performs an operation according to the content of the control command when the facsimile is transmitted.

[0006]

In the facsimile apparatus with remote control function according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, when a predetermined control command is wirelessly output from the cordless telephone and transmitted to the wireless communication means on the facsimile side, control is performed on the facsimile side. The operation is performed according to the contents of the command. That is, the facsimile can be remotely operated by operating the cordless telephone. Therefore, when using the facsimile, it is not necessary for the user to always visit the installation location of the facsimile.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus F with a remote control function according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view thereof. The facsimile device F is composed of a facsimile device Fa in which the telephone master device B is incorporated, and a cordless telephone device A as a telephone slave device which is formed separately from the facsimile device Fa.

The cordless telephone A is provided with a signal processing unit 1 including a CPU and the like, a wireless communication unit 2 for transmitting / receiving a wireless signal to / from a facsimile Fa, a microphone MC and a speaker SP. Call circuit 1
5, a storage unit 3 functioning as a system memory, a key operation unit 4, a display unit 5 including a liquid crystal display, and the like are connected to each other. Of these, the key operation unit 4 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the ten key 4a used as a dial key is provided, but the ten key 4a is also configured to function as a key for inputting a code of an operation command to the facsimile Fa. The key operation unit 4 is also provided with a transmission key 4b that is operated when transmitting the operation command code-input with the numeric keypad 4a or the like to the facsimile Fa side.

The signal processing unit 1 of the cordless telephone A is
When the transmission key 4b is operated, the ten key 4a
The code signal of the control command input in advance by the operation such as is controlled so as to be wirelessly output from the wireless communication unit 2 as a serial signal having a predetermined number of bits. A DTMF (push tone signal) can be used as the control command signal, but other signal codes may be used. In addition, the signal processing unit 1 uses the facsimile F
When the wireless communication unit 2 receives a response signal to be described later from a, the wireless communication unit 2 also has a control function of decoding the content of the demodulated signal and displaying the content on the display unit 5. Further, if necessary, a predetermined buzzer sound is made to sound at the same time as the screen display on the display unit 5.

On the other hand, the facsimile machine Fa has the telephone master set B incorporated therein as described above. The wireless communication part 6 of the telephone master set B and the answering machine recorder 1 are provided.
3, the call circuit 14a and the like equipped with the handset 14b,
It is connected to a signal processing unit 7 for controlling each unit of the facsimile Fa. Since a general call can be executed by using the cordless telephone A, it is not always necessary to provide the handset 14b or the like on the facsimile Fa side. Further, the facsimile Fa is a circuit device for executing general facsimile communication, and the signal processing unit 7 is provided with respect to the facsimile communication control unit 8, the key operation unit 9, the image reading unit 10, the storage unit 11, and the print output unit 12. Etc. are also connected. Of the above, the facsimile communication control unit 8
Is a line control unit 8a for switching and connecting the call circuit 14a and the image data transmitting / receiving modem 8b to the line L.
And a protocol signal generation circuit 8 for executing a handshake prior to transmitting image data of facsimile communication.
c, and a protocol signal detection circuit 8d and the like.

When the wireless communication unit 6 receives the wireless signal of the above-mentioned control command output from the cordless telephone A, the signal processing unit 7 of the facsimile machine Fa decodes the content of the signal and then the command content. In order to execute the operation according to the above, the operation control of each part of the facsimile Fa is performed. After the operation is completed, the wireless communication unit 6 is configured to control the wireless communication unit 6 to send a response signal indicating that the operation is completed to the cordless telephone A. This response signal is
Preferably, the signals have different contents depending on whether the operation is completed properly or not.

In the facsimile apparatus F having the above structure, for example, when it is desired to reproduce the message already recorded in the answering machine recorder 13 and confirm the content,
First, a predetermined code for reproducing an answering message may be input by using the ten key 4a of the cordless telephone A. If a dedicated key switch for issuing an answering message playback command is provided, it is sufficient to operate the key switch. Next, when the send key 4b is operated after the above key operation, a control command for instructing the reproduction operation of the recorded message is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication unit 2 of the cordless telephone A to the wireless communication unit 6 of the facsimile Fa. . In the facsimile Fa that has received the control command, the signal processing unit 7 controls the answering machine 13 so as to shift to the reproduction mode, and the voice signal is modulated by the wireless communication unit 6 and then cordless in the form of a wireless signal. Phone A
Sent to. As a result, in cordless telephone A,
The voice of the recorded message is output from the speaker SP, and the user can easily confirm the content without visiting the installation location of the facsimile Fa.

When the reproduction of the above recorded message is properly completed, the wireless communication unit 6 of the facsimile machine Fa outputs a response signal indicating that the predetermined operation is properly completed. Then, when this response signal is received by the cordless telephone A side, the fact that the previously instructed operation has properly ended is displayed on the display unit 5 by characters or symbols. At that time, if necessary, a predetermined buzzer sound for notifying that the response signal has been received and that the facsimile Fa has performed the proper operation is also generated. Therefore, the user who hears such a buzzer sound can easily determine that the reproduction work of the recorded message has been completed. On the other hand, when it is impossible to reproduce the recorded message due to a failure of the recording machine 13 for answering machine, unlike the above, the fact that the message cannot be executed is displayed on the display unit 5. Also, in such a case, a buzzer sound can be generated. The buzzer sound may be the same as that when the operation of the facsimile machine Fa is properly executed, but preferably a different buzzer sound is generated. Therefore, the user can know the quality of the operating state of the facsimile Fa by checking the display unit 5 of the cordless telephone A and the predetermined buzzer sound.

From step 100 of the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numeral 103 denotes the above-described series of operation procedures on the cordless telephone A side. Step 20 of the flowchart of FIG.
Reference numerals 0 to 204 denote the series of operation procedures on the side of the facsimile Fa. In the facsimile device F, other operations can be appropriately performed by remote control by the same procedure as the above-described operation of reproducing the recorded message. That is, according to the present invention, for example, switching of the facsimile Fa to the facsimile receiving mode, or transfer of image data stored in the image memory to another terminal device or a database, etc., is only a proxy operation of various key operations of the facsimile Fa If the operation that can be executed by (that is, an operation that requires no operation other than the key operation such as the user setting a document) is performed, various operations can be performed by determining the control command for each operation. It can be executed by remote control from A. However, in the present invention, the type and number of specific operations of the facsimile Fa that can be remotely operated by the cordless telephone A are not limited, and these can be arbitrarily selected according to the user's request and the like.

Further, according to the present invention, when the predetermined operation of the facsimile machine Fa is completed, a response signal is returned to the cordless telephone A side, and the content is displayed on the cordless telephone A side or a buzzer sounds. Need not occur. As means for informing the user of the end of the operation, other than the above, for example, means for synthesizing and outputting voice on the facsimile Fa side may be adopted. According to such a means, it is not necessary to transmit the response signal from the facsimile Fa to the cordless telephone A side.

[0016]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the facsimile apparatus with a remote control function of the present invention, since a certain operation of the facsimile can be remotely controlled using a cordless telephone, it is possible to use the facsimile. There is no need for the user to go to the place where the facsimile is installed when carrying out, and the operability of the facsimile can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a facsimile device with a remote control function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a facsimile apparatus with a remote control function according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of a cordless telephone.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure of a facsimile.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 signal processing section (cordless telephone side) 2 wireless communication section (cordless telephone side) 4 key operation section (cordless telephone side) 5 display section (cordless telephone side) 6 wireless communication section (facsimile side) 7 signal processing Part (facsimile side) 8 Facsimile communication control part (facsimile side) 9 Key operation part (facsimile side) A Cordless telephone device Fa Facsimile F Facsimile device with remote control function

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cordless telephone for transmitting and receiving a predetermined wireless signal to and from a wireless communication means provided in a facsimile, and a predetermined control command from the telephone to the wireless communication means is a wireless signal. A facsimile apparatus with a remote control function, characterized in that, when transmitted, the facsimile is configured to perform an operation according to the contents of the control command.