CA2051234C - Facsimile system - Google Patents
Facsimile systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2051234C CA2051234C CA002051234A CA2051234A CA2051234C CA 2051234 C CA2051234 C CA 2051234C CA 002051234 A CA002051234 A CA 002051234A CA 2051234 A CA2051234 A CA 2051234A CA 2051234 C CA2051234 C CA 2051234C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- base station
- extension set
- image
- image signal
- wire
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
- H04N1/00347—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
- H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
- H04N1/32797—Systems adapted to communicate over more than one channel, e.g. via ISDN
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0081—Image reader
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0082—Image hardcopy reproducer
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0086—Image transceiver
Abstract
A facsimile system includes a base station con-nected to a wire network, and a plurality of extension sets connected to the base station through radio net-works. The base station includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) for receiving an image signal received through the wire network, a printer for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by the NCU, a control circuit for calling an extension set in response to a call signal received through the wire network, a switching circuit for connecting the wire network to the NCU in response to a response signal transmitted from the called extension set, and a trans-ceiver for receiving the image signal transmitted from the extension set and sending the image signal to the wire network. The extension set includes an image sen-sor for scanning a document and outputting an image signal corresponding to the document image, a trans-ceiver for transmitting the image signal output from the image sensor to the base station, an operation section for manually designating the start of facsimile recep-tion, and an extension set control circuit for sending out the response signal to the base station when the start of facsimile reception is instructed.
Description
20512~4 The present invention relates to a facsimile system.
A facsimile apparatus generally includes a receiver for receiving image signals, a printer for printing an image corresponding to the image signals received by the receiver on a paper sheet, a paper cassette for storing paper sheets, a paper feeder for feeding a paper sheet stored in the paper cassette to the printer, a document reader for reading a document, a document transfer for transferring the document, and a transmitter for trans-mitting the image signals read by the document reader.
Since this facsimile apparatus includes a number of units such as a document reader, a printer, etc., it is very expensive.
For this reason, one facsimile apparatus is usually shared by a number of persons. When a person wants to transmit a document, he or she must go to a place where the facsimile apparatus is installed, thus resulting in cumbersome and time-consuming operations. If facsimile reception is scheduled, a user must repeatedly go to the place where the facsimile apparatus is installed to check whether a scheduled document has been received, thus resulting in inconvenience. In order to eliminate this inconvenience, the number of facsimile apparatuses must be increased. Since the facsimile apparatus, how-ever, is expensive, as described above, an increase in the number of facsimile apparatuses costs a lot. In *
2Q~ 1234 addition, works and adjustment by specialists are required during installation of the facsimile apparatu-ses.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile system capable of providing a large number of portable sets at a relatively low cost and improving convenience during its use.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system comprising a base station and at least one extension set. The base sta-tion has a wire receiver such as a demodulator for receiving an image signal received through a wire net-work such as a telephone network, an output device such as a printer or display for outputting an image corre-sponding to the image signal received by the wirereceiver, a calling device for connecting the wire net-work which has received a call signal received through the wire network to the corresponding extension set through the wire or radio network in response to the call signal received through the wire network, and for calling this extension set, a switching section, includ-ing a switching circuit constituted by, e.g., a plura-lity of switches, for connecting the wire network which has received the call signal to the wire receiver in response to a signal for designating the start of fac-simile reception of information transmitted from the extension set called by the calling device, and - 2Q~123~
a receiver for receiving the image signal radio-transmitted from the extension set onto the wire net-work. The extension set has an image reader such as a scanner for producing an image signal corresponding to a document image, a transmitter for radio- or wire-transmitting the image signal generated by the reader, an input device for manually designating the start of facsimile reception, and a start designation signal sending circuit for sending a facsimile reception start signal for instructing a start of reception of the image signal to the base station.
According to another aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a facsimile system comprising a base station and at least one extension set. The base station has a wire receiver such as a demodulator for receiving an image signal received through a wire net-work, an output device such as a printer or display for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by the wire receiver, a reception acknowledg-ment circuit for acknowledging facsimile reception to anextension set corresponding to the wire network which has received the image signal upon reception of the image signal by the wire receiver, and a receiver for receiving the image signal received from the extension set and sending it to the wire network. The extension set has a reader such as a scanner for generating an image signal corresponding to an image of a document, 2~2~
a transceiver for transmitting the image signal generated by the reader to the base station, and a reception alarm unit, responsive to the acknowledgement of facsimile reception from the base station and having a display section and reception acknowledgement controller, for alarming the facsimile reception.
An apparatus associated with facsimile reception need not be arranged in each extension set in the fac-simile system of the present invention, thereby simpli-fying the arrangement of the extension set at low cost.
A large number of terminals (extension sets) can be installed at a relatively low cost.
This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. lA is a block diagram of a facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. lB is a block diagram of an extension set;
Figs. 2A and 2s are flow charts showing processing sequences of a base station controller and an extension set controller which are shown in Figs. lA and lB;
Fig. 3A is a block diagram showing a facsimile system according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3B is a block diagram of the extension set shown in Fig. 3A;
Figs. 4A and 4B are flow charts showing processing 2 Q ~ 4 sequences of a base station controller and an extension set controller which are shown in Figs. 3A and 3B;
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a facsimile system having an optional printer according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a facsimile system in which a base station is connected to extension sets through wire networks according to still another embodi-ment of the present invention.
In a facsimile system shown in Fig. lA, a base station 2 is connected to n telephone networks 1-1, 1-2,..., l-n serving as wire networks, and _ extension sets 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-m are connected to the base station 2 through wire networks. The number _ of telephone net-works and the number m of extension sets satisfy rela-tion n > m. Each of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m is permanently assigned with a corresponding one of the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n.
The base station 2 comprises an NCU (Network Control Unit) 20, a switching circuit 21 connected to the NCU
20, a demodulator 22 connected to the switching circuit 21, a decoder 23 connected to the output of the demodu-lator 22, an output device 24 constituted by a printer, display, or the like, a transceiver 25 connected to the NCU 20 through the switching circuit 21, an antenna 26 connected to the transceiver 25, and a controller (to be referred to as a base station controller hereinafter) - 6 - 20~12~4 27. The NCU 20 is connected to the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n and performs open/closed DC loop detection, call signal detection, and output of a dial signal. The switching circuit 21 is constituted by n (the same number as that of the telephone networks) switches 21-1, 21-2,..., 21-n. The switches 21-1 to 21-n are connected to the telephone networks 1-1 to 1-n, respectively. The connected telephone network is connected to either the demodulator 22 or the transceiver 25.
Image signals transmitted through the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n are input to the demodulator 22 through the NCU 20 and the switching circuit 21. Each image signal is received by the demodulator 22 and is decoded by the decoder 23. The resultant baseband image signal is input to the output device 24 and is printed out as an image on a paper sheet at the output device 24.
The transceiver 25 exchanges speech and control signals with the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m and receives image signals transmitted from the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m through the antenna 26.
The base station controller 27 controls all com-ponents constituting the base station 2. The base sta-tion controller 27 comprises, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control unit. More specifically, the base station controller 27 comprises a control circuit for control-ling various circuit elements constituting the base station 2 and a calling circuit 27a for calling 2Q~ 2~4 an extension set corresponding to the telephone network subjected to an incoming call.
As shown in Fig. ls, the extension set 3-1 compri-ses an antenna 30, a transceiver 31 connected to this antenna 30, a handset 33, a scanner 34, a coder 35 con-nected to the output of the scanner 34, a modulator 36 connected to the output of the coder 35, a switch 32 for switching between the handset 33 and the modulator 36, a controller (to be referred to as an extension set con-troller hereinafter) 37, an operation panel 38, and a sounder 39. Although the arrangements of the exten-sion sets 3-2 to 3-m are omitted, they are the same as that of the extension set 3-1.
The transceiver 31 exchanges speech and control signals with the base station 2 and transmits through the antenna 30 to the base station 2 the image signal obtained such that the baseband image signal obtained by reading the document by the scanner is coded and modu-lated by the coder 35 and the modulator 36.
The switch 32 connects the transceiver 31 to either the modulator 36 or the handset 33 constituted by a transmitter and a receiver.
The extension set controller 37 controls the exten-sion set 3-1 (3-2 to 3-m). The extension set controller 37 has, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control circuit.
The extension set controller 37 further includes a re-ception start signal sending circuit 37a for outputting - 8 - ~Q~12~4 a reception start signal for instructing the start of facsimile reception to the base station 2. The opera-tion panel 38 comprise an operation section 38a for causing an operator to input data to the extension set controller 37 and a display section 38b for displaying various pieces of information to the operator. The sounder 39 generates a call tone.
Operations of the facsimile system having the arrangement as described above will be described with reference to control sequences of the base station controller 27 and the extension set controller 37.
In steps la and lb, as shown in Fig. 2A, the base station controller 27 repeatedly monitors reception of a ringing signal and reception of an incoming call in a standby state. In steps 2a and 2b, as shown in Fig. 2B, the extension set controller 37 repeatedly monitors generation of an outgoing call and a call signal in the standby state.
An operation performed upon reception of an incom-ing call in the standby state will be described below.
When an incoming call is received through one ofthe telephone networks 1-1 to 1-n, and reception of the incoming call is acknowledged from the NCU 20 to the base station controller 27, the base station controller 27 sends a call signal through the antenna 26 to an extension set (the incoming call is received by the extension set 3-1 through the telephone network 1-1 in -- 205~234 g the following description) corresponding to the network subjected to the incoming call in step lc. The pro-cessing in step lc is performed by the calling circuit 27a.
When the call signal sent from the base station 2, as described above, through the antenna 30 and the transceiver 31, is received, the extension set control-ler 37 in the extension set 3-l determines the reception of the call signal, and the flow advances from step 2b to step 2c. In step 2c, the extension set controller 37 causes the sounder 39 to produce a call tone and waits for an off-hook operation.
When an operator hears the call tone and performs an off-hook operation upon depression of a predetermined button in the operation section 38a, the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2c to step 2d. In step 2d, the extension set controller 37 sends a response signal to the base station through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. Thereafter, in steps 2e and 2f, the extension set controller 37 waits for switching designation or an on-hook operation.
Meanwhile, the base station controller 27 sends out the call signal in step lc, as described above, and waits for reception of the response signal from the call signal destination in step ld. In this state, as described above, the response signal is sent out from the extension set controller 37 through the transceiver - lO 20512~4 31 and the antenna 30. This response signal is received by the antenna 26 and the transceiver 25 and is input to the base station controller 27, the flow of the base station controller 27 transits from step ld to step le since the controller 27 determines the reception of the response signal. In steps le and lf, the base station controller 27 waits for reception of the start or on-hook signal.
In this state, the switches 21-1 to 21-n of the switching circuit 21 are operated to enable the transceiver 25. The switch 32 in the extension set controller 37 is set to a position for selecting the handset 33. The handset 33 of the extension set 3-1 is kept connected to the telephone network 1-1 and is then connected to a mating terminal connected through the telephone network 1-1 and a public network (not shown).
For example, if the mating terminal is a facsimile ap-paratus and facsimile transmission is to be performed, the mating terminal sends back a CNG (Calling Tone) signal. The receiver in the handset 33 rings in re-sponse to the CNG signal. The operator recognizes fac-simile reception upon ringing and the start of facsimile reception is designated with a predetermined button arranged in the operation section 38a. The flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2e to step 2g upon designation of the start of facsimile re-ception. In step 2g, the extension set controller 37 20~2~
sends a start signal to the base station through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. Thereafter, in step 2h, the extension set controller 37 designates to dis-play a prompt "received" on the display section 38b, and the processing is ended. The display section 38b turns on an LED arranged for indicating the prompt "received", or causes an LCD to display characters and an image.
This indication or display can be canceled by, e.g., a reset operation on the operation section 38a.
The base station controller 27 waits for reception of the start signal or the on-hook signal in steps le and lf. When the start signal is sent from the exten-sion set 3-1, as described above, the flow advances from step le to step lg since reception of the start signal is determined. In step lg, the base station controller 27 causes the switch (21-1) corresponding to the tele-phone network (1-1) subjected to an incoming call to operate to a position corresponding to the demodulator 22. In step lh, reception processing is performed by the demodulator 22, the decoder 23, and the output device 24 in accordance with a known general sequence.
Upon completion of the reception processing, in step li, the base station controller 27 instructs network release to the NCU 20, thereby completing the processing.
when the operator performs an off-hook operation and the handset 33 is kept connected to the mating ter-minal i.e. extension set, and when a voice is reached - 12 - 2~51~3~
from the mating terminal, normal telephone communication is performed. In this case, the operator continuous speech communication. When speech communication is ended, and the operator performs an on-hook operation, the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2f to step 2i. In step 2i, the on-hook signal is transmitted to the base station 2 through the trans-ceiver 31 and the antenna 30, thereby completing the processing. In this case, the flow of the base station controller 27 advances from step lf to step li upon reception of the on-hook signal output from the exten-sion set 3-1. In step li, the network release is designated to the NCU 20, and the processing is ended.
An operation performed upon generation of an outgoing call in the standby state will be described below.
When the outgoing call is designated upon operation of a predetermined button in the operation unit 38a in the extension set (3-1), the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2a to step 2j. In step 2j, a ringing signal is sent to the base station 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. In step 2k, the extension set controller 37 waits for reception of a telephone number of a call destination from the operation section 38a. If the telephone number is re-ceived, the flow advances to step 2~. In step 2~, the extension set controller 37 sends dial information % Q !~ 4 ~, corresponding to the telephone number input in step 2k to the base station 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30.
When the base station 2 receives the ringing signal send from the extension set 3-1, the flow of the base station controller 27 advances from step la to step lj.
In step lj, the base station controller 27 sequentially receives the ringing signal and the dial information sent from the extension set 3-1 through the antenna 27 and the transceiver 25. In step lk, the received dial information is sent to the NCU 20. The NCU 20 sends a dial signal corresponding to the dial information to the telephone network 1-1 corresponding to the extension set 3-1 as a call source terminal. Calling to the mating terminal is performed through a public network. If the mating terminal responds to this call, the mating ter-minal is connected to the handset 33 through the base station.
When the mating extension set, i.e., the destina-tion extension set, responds to the call and is con-nected to the call source extension set, if the operator wants to perform normal telephone communication, he per-forms telephone communication. However, when facsimile transmission is to be performed, the operator depresses a predetermined button in the operation section 38a, thereby instructing the start of facsimile transmission.
In this state, in steps 2m and 2n, the extension - 14 - ~Q~
set controller 37 waits for instruction of the start of facsimile transmission or an on-hook operation. When the start of facsimile transmission is instructed, as described above, the flow advances from step 2m to step 2O. In step 2O, the switch 32 is set to the modulator 36 side. Thereafter, in step 2p, the extension set controller 37 causes the scanner 34, the coder 35, and the modulator 36 to perform transmission processing in accordance with a known general sequence. When this transmission processing is completed, the extension set controller 37 sends the on-hook signal to the base sta-tion 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30.
When the operator is to perform not facsimile transmission but normal telephone communication, the operator performs the on-hook operation upon completion of the telephone communication. The flow of the exten-sion set controller 37 advances from step 2n to step 2i.
In step 2i, the on-hook signal is sent to the base sta-tion 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30, thereby completing the processing.
In step lk, the base station controller 27 instructs the output of a dial signal to the NCU 20. In step 1~, the base station controller 27 waits until the on-hook signal is received. When the base station con-troller 27 receives the on-hook signal from the exten-sion set 3-1, the flow advances to step li. In step li, the network release is instructed to the NCU 20, thereby 2~ ~ 12~ 4 -completing the processing.
In this embodiment, the facsimile system comprises the base station 2 connected to the _ telephone circuits 1-1, 1-2,..., 1-n as wire networks, and the _ extension sets 3-1, 3-2,... , 3-m connected to the base station 2 through radio networks. Constituting components for facsimile reception (i.e., the demodulator 22, the decoder 23, and the output device 24), and the NCU 20 are arranged in the base station 2. Constituting ele-ments for facsimile transmission, i.e., the scanner 34, the decoder 35, and the modulator 36 are arranged in each of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m. Therefore, the facsimile extension sets 3-1 to 3-m are very simple at low cost. Even if a plurality of extension sets are arranged in a facsimile system, the facsimile system can be arranged at a relatively low cost. By arranging a plurality of extension sets, each extension set can be shared by several persons or used by each individual person. The extension sets can be installed near the users, thus improving convenience. Each user need not move to a remote location, as opposed to the conven-tional case, in order to perform facsimile transmission, thereby reducing the cumbersome and time-consuming operations.
When facsimile transmission cannot be performed in the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m, a user must go to the installation position of the base station 2 to get - 16 - 20512~4 a document received in facsimile reception. In this case, when facsimile reception is detected, a corresponding one of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m is called. Since facsimile reception at the base station 2 can be started with designation by the operator, the operator need not repeatedly go to the installation position of the base station 2 to check the facsimile reception. The opera-tor can known detection of facsimile reception in his place. If facsimile reception is performed, its prompt is displayed on the display section 38b. Even if a relatively long period of time has elapsed upon designation of the start of facsimile reception, fac-simile reception can be more appropriately known to the operator.
Since the base station 2 is connected to the exten-sion sets 3-1 to 3-m through radio networks, any addi-tional installation work is not required to increase the number of extension sets 3-l to 3-m, thereby improving extensibility.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Fig. 3A is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a facsimile system of this embodiment. The same reference numerals as in the first embodiment of Fig. lA
denote the same parts in the second embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
This facsimile system comprises a base station 4 20~2:3~
connected to _ telephone networks 1-1, 1-2,..., l-n serving as wire networks, and m extension sets 5-1, 5-2,..., 5-m connected through the base station 4 through radio networks. The base station 4 and the ex-tension sets 5-1 to 5-m have substantially the same arrangements as those of the base station 2 and the ex-tension sets 3-1 to 3-m in the facsimile system of the first embodiment, except for the following points. That is, the base station 4 comprises a controller (to be referred to as a base station controller hereinafter) 40 in place of the base station controller 27 of the first embodiment. As in the base station controller 27 in the first embodiment, the base station controller 40 con-trols all the circuit elements constituting the base station 4. However, the base station controller 40 has a reception acknowledging circuit 40a for acknowledging facsimile reception to any one of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m and have other control sequences. Each of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m has a controller (to be refer-red to as an extension set controller hereinafter) 50(shown in Fig. 3B) in place of the extension set con-troller 37 of the first embodiment. As in the extension set controller 37 of the first embodiment, the extension set controller 50 comprises, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control circuit and controls all the circuit ele-ments constituting each of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m. The extension set controller 50 comprises 20512~4 a reception alarming control circuit 50a for alarming to the user facsimile reception detected when generation of facsimile reception is acknowledged from the base sta-tion 4. Other control sequences of the extension set controller 50 are also different from the extension set controller 37.
Operations of the facsimile system having the above arrangement will be described with reference to control sequences of the base station and extension set control-lers 40 and 50 in conjunction with Figs. 4A and 4B.
The base station controller 40 repeatedly monitors reception of a ringing signal and generation of an incoming call in the standby state in steps 3a and 3b of Fig. 4A. The extension set controller 50 repeatedly monitors reception of a reception acknowledgement signal and generation of an outgoing call in the standby state in steps 4a and 4b of Fig. 4B.
In this standby state, when an outgoing call is made, the flow of the base station controller 40 is advances from step 3b to step 3c. In step 3c, the base station controller 40 causes a switch (e.g., 21-1) cor-responding to a telephone network (e.g.~ 1-1) subjected to the incoming call to operate to a position corre-sponding to a demodulator 22. The base station control-ler 40 causes the demodulator 22, a decoder 23, and an output device 24 to perform reception processing in ac-cordance with a known general sequence. Upon completion 2~12~
of reception processing, the base station controller 40 performs reception acknowledgement to the extension set (e.g., 5-1) corresponding to the telephone network (e.g.~ 1-1) subjected to the incoming call in step 3e, and the processing is ended. Note that the process in step 3e is performed by the reception acknowledging cir-cuit 40a.
When reception acknowledgement is performed from the base station 4 to the extension set 5-1, the flow of the extension set controller 50 advances from step 4a to step 4c. In step 4c, the extension set controller 50 instructs to display a prompt "received" on a display section 38b, and the processing is ended. The display section 38b turns on an LED for indicating the prompt "received" or causes an LCD to display characters or an image. This indication or display can be canceled by a reset operation on an operation section 38a. Note that the process in step 4c is performed by the reception alarming control circuit 50a.
On the other hand, when the base station and exten-sion set controllers 40 and 50 are kept in the standby state, and an outgoing call is made, the base station and extension set controllers 40 and 50 perform the same operations as in the first embodiment in steps 3g to 3f and steps 4d to 4k.
In this embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, facsimile - 20 - 20~2~4 reception can be automatically performed by the base station 4 without being through an operation of the operator, thereby further reducing the load on the operator.
In the above embodiment, a printer i.e., the output device 24 is arranged in the extension set 2. A base station 2 may be connected to a plurality of optional printers 41-1 and 41-2, as shown in Fig. 5. When call signals are generated through some of a plurality of telephone networks 1-1 to l-n, these calls are transmit-ted to the base station controller 40 through a trans-ceiver 25 under the control of an NCU 20. At this time, the switches in switching circuits 21 which correspond to the call signals are switched to a demodulator 22 by the base station controller 40. A plurality of image signals are input to and demodulated by the demodulator 22. The plurality of demodulated signals are decoded by a decoders 23, and are supplied to the printer 24 and the optional printers 41-1 and 41-2. These signals are temporarily stored in memories arranged in these prin-ters and are then output. At this time, the base sta-tion controller 40 acknowledges facsimile reception to extension sets corresponding to extension sets 5-1 to 5-m.
In the above embodiment, the base station 2 is con-nected to the plurality of extension sets 5-1 to 5-m through radio networks. As shown in Fig. 6, these may - 21 - 20~1234 be connected through wire networks. As shown in Fig. 6, when a base station 2 receives the call signal from one telephone network 1 connected to a base station 2, a base station controller 27 may perform multi-access of all the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m or a predetermined group of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m, e.g., the exten-sion sets 5-1 to 5-5. In addition, when the accessed extension set is set in an automatic answering mode, the base station controller 27 may call other extension sets.
A facsimile apparatus generally includes a receiver for receiving image signals, a printer for printing an image corresponding to the image signals received by the receiver on a paper sheet, a paper cassette for storing paper sheets, a paper feeder for feeding a paper sheet stored in the paper cassette to the printer, a document reader for reading a document, a document transfer for transferring the document, and a transmitter for trans-mitting the image signals read by the document reader.
Since this facsimile apparatus includes a number of units such as a document reader, a printer, etc., it is very expensive.
For this reason, one facsimile apparatus is usually shared by a number of persons. When a person wants to transmit a document, he or she must go to a place where the facsimile apparatus is installed, thus resulting in cumbersome and time-consuming operations. If facsimile reception is scheduled, a user must repeatedly go to the place where the facsimile apparatus is installed to check whether a scheduled document has been received, thus resulting in inconvenience. In order to eliminate this inconvenience, the number of facsimile apparatuses must be increased. Since the facsimile apparatus, how-ever, is expensive, as described above, an increase in the number of facsimile apparatuses costs a lot. In *
2Q~ 1234 addition, works and adjustment by specialists are required during installation of the facsimile apparatu-ses.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile system capable of providing a large number of portable sets at a relatively low cost and improving convenience during its use.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system comprising a base station and at least one extension set. The base sta-tion has a wire receiver such as a demodulator for receiving an image signal received through a wire net-work such as a telephone network, an output device such as a printer or display for outputting an image corre-sponding to the image signal received by the wirereceiver, a calling device for connecting the wire net-work which has received a call signal received through the wire network to the corresponding extension set through the wire or radio network in response to the call signal received through the wire network, and for calling this extension set, a switching section, includ-ing a switching circuit constituted by, e.g., a plura-lity of switches, for connecting the wire network which has received the call signal to the wire receiver in response to a signal for designating the start of fac-simile reception of information transmitted from the extension set called by the calling device, and - 2Q~123~
a receiver for receiving the image signal radio-transmitted from the extension set onto the wire net-work. The extension set has an image reader such as a scanner for producing an image signal corresponding to a document image, a transmitter for radio- or wire-transmitting the image signal generated by the reader, an input device for manually designating the start of facsimile reception, and a start designation signal sending circuit for sending a facsimile reception start signal for instructing a start of reception of the image signal to the base station.
According to another aspect of the present inven-tion, there is provided a facsimile system comprising a base station and at least one extension set. The base station has a wire receiver such as a demodulator for receiving an image signal received through a wire net-work, an output device such as a printer or display for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by the wire receiver, a reception acknowledg-ment circuit for acknowledging facsimile reception to anextension set corresponding to the wire network which has received the image signal upon reception of the image signal by the wire receiver, and a receiver for receiving the image signal received from the extension set and sending it to the wire network. The extension set has a reader such as a scanner for generating an image signal corresponding to an image of a document, 2~2~
a transceiver for transmitting the image signal generated by the reader to the base station, and a reception alarm unit, responsive to the acknowledgement of facsimile reception from the base station and having a display section and reception acknowledgement controller, for alarming the facsimile reception.
An apparatus associated with facsimile reception need not be arranged in each extension set in the fac-simile system of the present invention, thereby simpli-fying the arrangement of the extension set at low cost.
A large number of terminals (extension sets) can be installed at a relatively low cost.
This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in con-junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. lA is a block diagram of a facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. lB is a block diagram of an extension set;
Figs. 2A and 2s are flow charts showing processing sequences of a base station controller and an extension set controller which are shown in Figs. lA and lB;
Fig. 3A is a block diagram showing a facsimile system according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3B is a block diagram of the extension set shown in Fig. 3A;
Figs. 4A and 4B are flow charts showing processing 2 Q ~ 4 sequences of a base station controller and an extension set controller which are shown in Figs. 3A and 3B;
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a facsimile system having an optional printer according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a facsimile system in which a base station is connected to extension sets through wire networks according to still another embodi-ment of the present invention.
In a facsimile system shown in Fig. lA, a base station 2 is connected to n telephone networks 1-1, 1-2,..., l-n serving as wire networks, and _ extension sets 3-1, 3-2,..., 3-m are connected to the base station 2 through wire networks. The number _ of telephone net-works and the number m of extension sets satisfy rela-tion n > m. Each of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m is permanently assigned with a corresponding one of the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n.
The base station 2 comprises an NCU (Network Control Unit) 20, a switching circuit 21 connected to the NCU
20, a demodulator 22 connected to the switching circuit 21, a decoder 23 connected to the output of the demodu-lator 22, an output device 24 constituted by a printer, display, or the like, a transceiver 25 connected to the NCU 20 through the switching circuit 21, an antenna 26 connected to the transceiver 25, and a controller (to be referred to as a base station controller hereinafter) - 6 - 20~12~4 27. The NCU 20 is connected to the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n and performs open/closed DC loop detection, call signal detection, and output of a dial signal. The switching circuit 21 is constituted by n (the same number as that of the telephone networks) switches 21-1, 21-2,..., 21-n. The switches 21-1 to 21-n are connected to the telephone networks 1-1 to 1-n, respectively. The connected telephone network is connected to either the demodulator 22 or the transceiver 25.
Image signals transmitted through the telephone networks 1-1 to l-n are input to the demodulator 22 through the NCU 20 and the switching circuit 21. Each image signal is received by the demodulator 22 and is decoded by the decoder 23. The resultant baseband image signal is input to the output device 24 and is printed out as an image on a paper sheet at the output device 24.
The transceiver 25 exchanges speech and control signals with the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m and receives image signals transmitted from the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m through the antenna 26.
The base station controller 27 controls all com-ponents constituting the base station 2. The base sta-tion controller 27 comprises, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control unit. More specifically, the base station controller 27 comprises a control circuit for control-ling various circuit elements constituting the base station 2 and a calling circuit 27a for calling 2Q~ 2~4 an extension set corresponding to the telephone network subjected to an incoming call.
As shown in Fig. ls, the extension set 3-1 compri-ses an antenna 30, a transceiver 31 connected to this antenna 30, a handset 33, a scanner 34, a coder 35 con-nected to the output of the scanner 34, a modulator 36 connected to the output of the coder 35, a switch 32 for switching between the handset 33 and the modulator 36, a controller (to be referred to as an extension set con-troller hereinafter) 37, an operation panel 38, and a sounder 39. Although the arrangements of the exten-sion sets 3-2 to 3-m are omitted, they are the same as that of the extension set 3-1.
The transceiver 31 exchanges speech and control signals with the base station 2 and transmits through the antenna 30 to the base station 2 the image signal obtained such that the baseband image signal obtained by reading the document by the scanner is coded and modu-lated by the coder 35 and the modulator 36.
The switch 32 connects the transceiver 31 to either the modulator 36 or the handset 33 constituted by a transmitter and a receiver.
The extension set controller 37 controls the exten-sion set 3-1 (3-2 to 3-m). The extension set controller 37 has, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control circuit.
The extension set controller 37 further includes a re-ception start signal sending circuit 37a for outputting - 8 - ~Q~12~4 a reception start signal for instructing the start of facsimile reception to the base station 2. The opera-tion panel 38 comprise an operation section 38a for causing an operator to input data to the extension set controller 37 and a display section 38b for displaying various pieces of information to the operator. The sounder 39 generates a call tone.
Operations of the facsimile system having the arrangement as described above will be described with reference to control sequences of the base station controller 27 and the extension set controller 37.
In steps la and lb, as shown in Fig. 2A, the base station controller 27 repeatedly monitors reception of a ringing signal and reception of an incoming call in a standby state. In steps 2a and 2b, as shown in Fig. 2B, the extension set controller 37 repeatedly monitors generation of an outgoing call and a call signal in the standby state.
An operation performed upon reception of an incom-ing call in the standby state will be described below.
When an incoming call is received through one ofthe telephone networks 1-1 to 1-n, and reception of the incoming call is acknowledged from the NCU 20 to the base station controller 27, the base station controller 27 sends a call signal through the antenna 26 to an extension set (the incoming call is received by the extension set 3-1 through the telephone network 1-1 in -- 205~234 g the following description) corresponding to the network subjected to the incoming call in step lc. The pro-cessing in step lc is performed by the calling circuit 27a.
When the call signal sent from the base station 2, as described above, through the antenna 30 and the transceiver 31, is received, the extension set control-ler 37 in the extension set 3-l determines the reception of the call signal, and the flow advances from step 2b to step 2c. In step 2c, the extension set controller 37 causes the sounder 39 to produce a call tone and waits for an off-hook operation.
When an operator hears the call tone and performs an off-hook operation upon depression of a predetermined button in the operation section 38a, the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2c to step 2d. In step 2d, the extension set controller 37 sends a response signal to the base station through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. Thereafter, in steps 2e and 2f, the extension set controller 37 waits for switching designation or an on-hook operation.
Meanwhile, the base station controller 27 sends out the call signal in step lc, as described above, and waits for reception of the response signal from the call signal destination in step ld. In this state, as described above, the response signal is sent out from the extension set controller 37 through the transceiver - lO 20512~4 31 and the antenna 30. This response signal is received by the antenna 26 and the transceiver 25 and is input to the base station controller 27, the flow of the base station controller 27 transits from step ld to step le since the controller 27 determines the reception of the response signal. In steps le and lf, the base station controller 27 waits for reception of the start or on-hook signal.
In this state, the switches 21-1 to 21-n of the switching circuit 21 are operated to enable the transceiver 25. The switch 32 in the extension set controller 37 is set to a position for selecting the handset 33. The handset 33 of the extension set 3-1 is kept connected to the telephone network 1-1 and is then connected to a mating terminal connected through the telephone network 1-1 and a public network (not shown).
For example, if the mating terminal is a facsimile ap-paratus and facsimile transmission is to be performed, the mating terminal sends back a CNG (Calling Tone) signal. The receiver in the handset 33 rings in re-sponse to the CNG signal. The operator recognizes fac-simile reception upon ringing and the start of facsimile reception is designated with a predetermined button arranged in the operation section 38a. The flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2e to step 2g upon designation of the start of facsimile re-ception. In step 2g, the extension set controller 37 20~2~
sends a start signal to the base station through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. Thereafter, in step 2h, the extension set controller 37 designates to dis-play a prompt "received" on the display section 38b, and the processing is ended. The display section 38b turns on an LED arranged for indicating the prompt "received", or causes an LCD to display characters and an image.
This indication or display can be canceled by, e.g., a reset operation on the operation section 38a.
The base station controller 27 waits for reception of the start signal or the on-hook signal in steps le and lf. When the start signal is sent from the exten-sion set 3-1, as described above, the flow advances from step le to step lg since reception of the start signal is determined. In step lg, the base station controller 27 causes the switch (21-1) corresponding to the tele-phone network (1-1) subjected to an incoming call to operate to a position corresponding to the demodulator 22. In step lh, reception processing is performed by the demodulator 22, the decoder 23, and the output device 24 in accordance with a known general sequence.
Upon completion of the reception processing, in step li, the base station controller 27 instructs network release to the NCU 20, thereby completing the processing.
when the operator performs an off-hook operation and the handset 33 is kept connected to the mating ter-minal i.e. extension set, and when a voice is reached - 12 - 2~51~3~
from the mating terminal, normal telephone communication is performed. In this case, the operator continuous speech communication. When speech communication is ended, and the operator performs an on-hook operation, the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2f to step 2i. In step 2i, the on-hook signal is transmitted to the base station 2 through the trans-ceiver 31 and the antenna 30, thereby completing the processing. In this case, the flow of the base station controller 27 advances from step lf to step li upon reception of the on-hook signal output from the exten-sion set 3-1. In step li, the network release is designated to the NCU 20, and the processing is ended.
An operation performed upon generation of an outgoing call in the standby state will be described below.
When the outgoing call is designated upon operation of a predetermined button in the operation unit 38a in the extension set (3-1), the flow of the extension set controller 37 advances from step 2a to step 2j. In step 2j, a ringing signal is sent to the base station 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30. In step 2k, the extension set controller 37 waits for reception of a telephone number of a call destination from the operation section 38a. If the telephone number is re-ceived, the flow advances to step 2~. In step 2~, the extension set controller 37 sends dial information % Q !~ 4 ~, corresponding to the telephone number input in step 2k to the base station 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30.
When the base station 2 receives the ringing signal send from the extension set 3-1, the flow of the base station controller 27 advances from step la to step lj.
In step lj, the base station controller 27 sequentially receives the ringing signal and the dial information sent from the extension set 3-1 through the antenna 27 and the transceiver 25. In step lk, the received dial information is sent to the NCU 20. The NCU 20 sends a dial signal corresponding to the dial information to the telephone network 1-1 corresponding to the extension set 3-1 as a call source terminal. Calling to the mating terminal is performed through a public network. If the mating terminal responds to this call, the mating ter-minal is connected to the handset 33 through the base station.
When the mating extension set, i.e., the destina-tion extension set, responds to the call and is con-nected to the call source extension set, if the operator wants to perform normal telephone communication, he per-forms telephone communication. However, when facsimile transmission is to be performed, the operator depresses a predetermined button in the operation section 38a, thereby instructing the start of facsimile transmission.
In this state, in steps 2m and 2n, the extension - 14 - ~Q~
set controller 37 waits for instruction of the start of facsimile transmission or an on-hook operation. When the start of facsimile transmission is instructed, as described above, the flow advances from step 2m to step 2O. In step 2O, the switch 32 is set to the modulator 36 side. Thereafter, in step 2p, the extension set controller 37 causes the scanner 34, the coder 35, and the modulator 36 to perform transmission processing in accordance with a known general sequence. When this transmission processing is completed, the extension set controller 37 sends the on-hook signal to the base sta-tion 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30.
When the operator is to perform not facsimile transmission but normal telephone communication, the operator performs the on-hook operation upon completion of the telephone communication. The flow of the exten-sion set controller 37 advances from step 2n to step 2i.
In step 2i, the on-hook signal is sent to the base sta-tion 2 through the transceiver 31 and the antenna 30, thereby completing the processing.
In step lk, the base station controller 27 instructs the output of a dial signal to the NCU 20. In step 1~, the base station controller 27 waits until the on-hook signal is received. When the base station con-troller 27 receives the on-hook signal from the exten-sion set 3-1, the flow advances to step li. In step li, the network release is instructed to the NCU 20, thereby 2~ ~ 12~ 4 -completing the processing.
In this embodiment, the facsimile system comprises the base station 2 connected to the _ telephone circuits 1-1, 1-2,..., 1-n as wire networks, and the _ extension sets 3-1, 3-2,... , 3-m connected to the base station 2 through radio networks. Constituting components for facsimile reception (i.e., the demodulator 22, the decoder 23, and the output device 24), and the NCU 20 are arranged in the base station 2. Constituting ele-ments for facsimile transmission, i.e., the scanner 34, the decoder 35, and the modulator 36 are arranged in each of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m. Therefore, the facsimile extension sets 3-1 to 3-m are very simple at low cost. Even if a plurality of extension sets are arranged in a facsimile system, the facsimile system can be arranged at a relatively low cost. By arranging a plurality of extension sets, each extension set can be shared by several persons or used by each individual person. The extension sets can be installed near the users, thus improving convenience. Each user need not move to a remote location, as opposed to the conven-tional case, in order to perform facsimile transmission, thereby reducing the cumbersome and time-consuming operations.
When facsimile transmission cannot be performed in the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m, a user must go to the installation position of the base station 2 to get - 16 - 20512~4 a document received in facsimile reception. In this case, when facsimile reception is detected, a corresponding one of the extension sets 3-1 to 3-m is called. Since facsimile reception at the base station 2 can be started with designation by the operator, the operator need not repeatedly go to the installation position of the base station 2 to check the facsimile reception. The opera-tor can known detection of facsimile reception in his place. If facsimile reception is performed, its prompt is displayed on the display section 38b. Even if a relatively long period of time has elapsed upon designation of the start of facsimile reception, fac-simile reception can be more appropriately known to the operator.
Since the base station 2 is connected to the exten-sion sets 3-1 to 3-m through radio networks, any addi-tional installation work is not required to increase the number of extension sets 3-l to 3-m, thereby improving extensibility.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below.
Fig. 3A is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a facsimile system of this embodiment. The same reference numerals as in the first embodiment of Fig. lA
denote the same parts in the second embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
This facsimile system comprises a base station 4 20~2:3~
connected to _ telephone networks 1-1, 1-2,..., l-n serving as wire networks, and m extension sets 5-1, 5-2,..., 5-m connected through the base station 4 through radio networks. The base station 4 and the ex-tension sets 5-1 to 5-m have substantially the same arrangements as those of the base station 2 and the ex-tension sets 3-1 to 3-m in the facsimile system of the first embodiment, except for the following points. That is, the base station 4 comprises a controller (to be referred to as a base station controller hereinafter) 40 in place of the base station controller 27 of the first embodiment. As in the base station controller 27 in the first embodiment, the base station controller 40 con-trols all the circuit elements constituting the base station 4. However, the base station controller 40 has a reception acknowledging circuit 40a for acknowledging facsimile reception to any one of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m and have other control sequences. Each of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m has a controller (to be refer-red to as an extension set controller hereinafter) 50(shown in Fig. 3B) in place of the extension set con-troller 37 of the first embodiment. As in the extension set controller 37 of the first embodiment, the extension set controller 50 comprises, e.g., a microcomputer as a main control circuit and controls all the circuit ele-ments constituting each of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m. The extension set controller 50 comprises 20512~4 a reception alarming control circuit 50a for alarming to the user facsimile reception detected when generation of facsimile reception is acknowledged from the base sta-tion 4. Other control sequences of the extension set controller 50 are also different from the extension set controller 37.
Operations of the facsimile system having the above arrangement will be described with reference to control sequences of the base station and extension set control-lers 40 and 50 in conjunction with Figs. 4A and 4B.
The base station controller 40 repeatedly monitors reception of a ringing signal and generation of an incoming call in the standby state in steps 3a and 3b of Fig. 4A. The extension set controller 50 repeatedly monitors reception of a reception acknowledgement signal and generation of an outgoing call in the standby state in steps 4a and 4b of Fig. 4B.
In this standby state, when an outgoing call is made, the flow of the base station controller 40 is advances from step 3b to step 3c. In step 3c, the base station controller 40 causes a switch (e.g., 21-1) cor-responding to a telephone network (e.g.~ 1-1) subjected to the incoming call to operate to a position corre-sponding to a demodulator 22. The base station control-ler 40 causes the demodulator 22, a decoder 23, and an output device 24 to perform reception processing in ac-cordance with a known general sequence. Upon completion 2~12~
of reception processing, the base station controller 40 performs reception acknowledgement to the extension set (e.g., 5-1) corresponding to the telephone network (e.g.~ 1-1) subjected to the incoming call in step 3e, and the processing is ended. Note that the process in step 3e is performed by the reception acknowledging cir-cuit 40a.
When reception acknowledgement is performed from the base station 4 to the extension set 5-1, the flow of the extension set controller 50 advances from step 4a to step 4c. In step 4c, the extension set controller 50 instructs to display a prompt "received" on a display section 38b, and the processing is ended. The display section 38b turns on an LED for indicating the prompt "received" or causes an LCD to display characters or an image. This indication or display can be canceled by a reset operation on an operation section 38a. Note that the process in step 4c is performed by the reception alarming control circuit 50a.
On the other hand, when the base station and exten-sion set controllers 40 and 50 are kept in the standby state, and an outgoing call is made, the base station and extension set controllers 40 and 50 perform the same operations as in the first embodiment in steps 3g to 3f and steps 4d to 4k.
In this embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, facsimile - 20 - 20~2~4 reception can be automatically performed by the base station 4 without being through an operation of the operator, thereby further reducing the load on the operator.
In the above embodiment, a printer i.e., the output device 24 is arranged in the extension set 2. A base station 2 may be connected to a plurality of optional printers 41-1 and 41-2, as shown in Fig. 5. When call signals are generated through some of a plurality of telephone networks 1-1 to l-n, these calls are transmit-ted to the base station controller 40 through a trans-ceiver 25 under the control of an NCU 20. At this time, the switches in switching circuits 21 which correspond to the call signals are switched to a demodulator 22 by the base station controller 40. A plurality of image signals are input to and demodulated by the demodulator 22. The plurality of demodulated signals are decoded by a decoders 23, and are supplied to the printer 24 and the optional printers 41-1 and 41-2. These signals are temporarily stored in memories arranged in these prin-ters and are then output. At this time, the base sta-tion controller 40 acknowledges facsimile reception to extension sets corresponding to extension sets 5-1 to 5-m.
In the above embodiment, the base station 2 is con-nected to the plurality of extension sets 5-1 to 5-m through radio networks. As shown in Fig. 6, these may - 21 - 20~1234 be connected through wire networks. As shown in Fig. 6, when a base station 2 receives the call signal from one telephone network 1 connected to a base station 2, a base station controller 27 may perform multi-access of all the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m or a predetermined group of the extension sets 5-1 to 5-m, e.g., the exten-sion sets 5-1 to 5-5. In addition, when the accessed extension set is set in an automatic answering mode, the base station controller 27 may call other extension sets.
Claims (17)
1. A facsimile system comprising:
a base station connected to at least one wire net-work; and at least one extension set connected to said base station, said base station comprising:
first receiving means for receiving an image signal received through said wire network, image output means for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by said first receiving means, calling means for calling said extension set in response to the call signal received thought said wire network, switching means for connecting said wire net-work to said first receiving means in response to a response signal sent back from said extension set called by said calling means, and second receiving means for receiving the image signal transmitted from said extension set and sending the image signal to said wire network, and said extension set comprising:
reading means for generating an image signal corresponding to a document image, transmitting means for transmitting the image signal generated by said reading means to said base station, instruction means for manually instructing a start of facsimile reception, and response signal sending means for sending a response signal to said base station when the start of facsimile reception is instructed by said instruction means.
a base station connected to at least one wire net-work; and at least one extension set connected to said base station, said base station comprising:
first receiving means for receiving an image signal received through said wire network, image output means for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by said first receiving means, calling means for calling said extension set in response to the call signal received thought said wire network, switching means for connecting said wire net-work to said first receiving means in response to a response signal sent back from said extension set called by said calling means, and second receiving means for receiving the image signal transmitted from said extension set and sending the image signal to said wire network, and said extension set comprising:
reading means for generating an image signal corresponding to a document image, transmitting means for transmitting the image signal generated by said reading means to said base station, instruction means for manually instructing a start of facsimile reception, and response signal sending means for sending a response signal to said base station when the start of facsimile reception is instructed by said instruction means.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said reading means arranged in said extension set comprises an optical scanner for optically scanning a document to read the original image.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second receiving means of said base station and said transmitting means of said extension set comprise means for connecting said base station and said extension set through a radio network.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of extension sets through radio networks, and said calling means of said extension set comprises means for calling said plurality of extension sets.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said calling means of said base station comprises means for calling said plurality of extension sets in units of groups.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said image output means arranged in said mater unit comprises a printer for printing the image signal on a paper sheet.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire net-works, and said output means comprises a plurality of printers for printing out a plurality of image signals transmitted through said plurality of wire networks, respectively.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base station and said extension set are connected through a wire network.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire net-works and a plurality of extension sets corresponding to said plurality of wire networks, and said calling means comprises means for calling one of said plurality of extension sets in response to a call signal received through each of said plurality of wire networks.
10. A facsimile system comprising:
a base station connected to at least one wire net-work; and at least one extension set connected to said base station, said base station comprising:
first receiving means for receiving an image signal received through said wire network, image output means for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by said first receiving means, reception acknowledging means for acknowledg-ing facsimile reception to said extension set corre-sponding to the wire network having received the image signal when said first receiving means receives the image signal, and second receiving means for receiving the image signal sent out from said extension set and sending the image signal to said wire network, and said extension set comprising:
reading means for generating the image signal corresponding to a document image, transmitting means for radio-transmitting the image signal generated by said reading means to said base station, and reception alarming means for alarming the fac-simile reception in response to the acknowledgement of the facsimile reception from said base station.
a base station connected to at least one wire net-work; and at least one extension set connected to said base station, said base station comprising:
first receiving means for receiving an image signal received through said wire network, image output means for outputting an image corresponding to the image signal received by said first receiving means, reception acknowledging means for acknowledg-ing facsimile reception to said extension set corre-sponding to the wire network having received the image signal when said first receiving means receives the image signal, and second receiving means for receiving the image signal sent out from said extension set and sending the image signal to said wire network, and said extension set comprising:
reading means for generating the image signal corresponding to a document image, transmitting means for radio-transmitting the image signal generated by said reading means to said base station, and reception alarming means for alarming the fac-simile reception in response to the acknowledgement of the facsimile reception from said base station.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said reading means arranged in said extension set comprises an optical scanner for optically scanning a document and reading the document image.
12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire networks and to a plurality of extension sets through radio networks, and said calling means of said base sta-tion comprises calling means for calling said plurality of extension sets, respectively, in correspondence with said plurality of wire networks.
13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire net-works and to a plurality of extension sets through radio networks, and said calling means of said base station comprises means for calling said plurality of extension sets in units of groups.
14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said image output means arranged in said base station compri-ses a printer for printing the image signal on a paper sheet.
15. The system according to claim 10, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire net-works, and said output means comprises a plurality of printers for printing out a plurality of image signals received through said plurality of wire networks, respectively.
16. The system according to claim 10, wherein said base station and said extension set are connected through a wire network.
17. The system according to claim 10, wherein said base station is connected to a plurality of wire net-works and a plurality of extension sets corresponding to said wire networks, and said calling means comprises means for calling one of said plurality of extension sets in response to a call signal received through each of said plurality of wire networks.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP24547390 | 1990-09-14 | ||
| JP2-245473 | 1990-09-14 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2051234A1 CA2051234A1 (en) | 1992-03-15 |
| CA2051234C true CA2051234C (en) | 1996-08-20 |
Family
ID=17134185
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002051234A Expired - Fee Related CA2051234C (en) | 1990-09-14 | 1991-09-12 | Facsimile system |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5426511A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR960000273B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2051234C (en) |
Families Citing this family (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR19990015428A (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1999-03-05 | 윤종용 | Facsimile Call Screen Method with Wireless Handheld Device |
| EP0594078B1 (en) * | 1992-10-21 | 1999-02-03 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Cordless subunit facsimile system |
| FR2718911B1 (en) * | 1994-04-14 | 1996-06-14 | Sagem | Wireless communication fax system. |
| JPH0870366A (en) * | 1994-08-26 | 1996-03-12 | Hitachi Ltd | Method for recording and reproducing voice message and communication equipment |
| JP2605635B2 (en) * | 1994-09-13 | 1997-04-30 | 日本電気株式会社 | Mobile communication system and control method therefor |
| TW344923B (en) * | 1996-11-26 | 1998-11-11 | Murada Kikai Kk | Radio communication terminal equipment system |
| US5917542A (en) * | 1997-02-18 | 1999-06-29 | Eastman Kodak Company | System and method for digital image capture and transmission |
| KR100238677B1 (en) | 1997-06-18 | 2000-01-15 | 윤종용 | Method for reserving call by wireless potable device in facsimile |
| KR100238143B1 (en) * | 1997-06-19 | 2000-01-15 | 윤종용 | Method for storing telephone conversation in a fax |
| KR19990015424A (en) | 1997-08-06 | 1999-03-05 | 윤종용 | How to check the wireless handset settings on a fax with a wireless handset |
| KR100256611B1 (en) | 1997-08-08 | 2000-05-15 | 윤종용 | Apparatus for automatic answering in a facsimile apparatus with base set connected to pstn and in communication with the pstn by radio transmission with the base set and control method employed therein |
| EP1010317B1 (en) * | 1997-08-29 | 2005-02-02 | QUALCOMM Incorporated | Apparatus and method for supporting analog fax calls in a tandem configuration |
| FR2774249B1 (en) * | 1998-01-23 | 2000-02-25 | Sagem | LOCAL WIRELESS TELEPHONY NETWORK AND BASE AND MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL FOR SUCH A NETWORK |
| JP3062145B2 (en) * | 1998-01-28 | 2000-07-10 | 静岡日本電気株式会社 | Cordless hand scanner and data transfer method in facsimile communication system |
| US6353748B1 (en) * | 1999-05-18 | 2002-03-05 | Semax Wireless, Inc. | Digital wireless local loop fax/data interface |
| US7151949B2 (en) * | 2003-07-09 | 2006-12-19 | Lexmark International, Inc. | Wireless facsimile adapter and system for printer and all-in-one devices and methods using the same |
| US10373125B2 (en) | 2016-12-29 | 2019-08-06 | Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, Llc | Printer acting as host for device printers/scanners |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3513443A (en) * | 1967-02-27 | 1970-05-19 | Amp Inc | Selective signalling system with receiver generator |
| US4106060A (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1978-08-08 | Rca Corporation | Electronic mail box |
| US4558369A (en) * | 1982-12-28 | 1985-12-10 | Iwasaki Tsushinki Kabushiki Kaisha | Facsimile connection system |
| JPS6064564A (en) * | 1983-09-17 | 1985-04-13 | Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> | Facsimile telephone changeover system |
| US5051839A (en) * | 1988-09-12 | 1991-09-24 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Digital copier |
| US5283665A (en) * | 1989-07-20 | 1994-02-01 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Facsimile apparatus |
| US5091790A (en) * | 1989-12-29 | 1992-02-25 | Morton Silverberg | Multipurpose computer accessory for facilitating facsimile communication |
| US5127047A (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1992-06-30 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Facsimile machine having user notification capability |
-
1991
- 1991-09-11 US US07/757,809 patent/US5426511A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-09-11 KR KR1019910015826A patent/KR960000273B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-09-12 CA CA002051234A patent/CA2051234C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2051234A1 (en) | 1992-03-15 |
| KR960000273B1 (en) | 1996-01-04 |
| KR920007425A (en) | 1992-04-28 |
| US5426511A (en) | 1995-06-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |