Abstract:
In the existing facsimile apparatuses with telephone function, those having the function of storing the received acoustic signal when the subscriber is absent are known. Hitherto, modulation/demodulation and memory of image data and acoustic data have been executed in independent compositions, and the structure was large and complicated. Besides, various pieces of voice information sent out upon arrival of acoustic signals were also processed in independent compositions, and versatile use was difficult. In the invention, the acoustic data is processed by using image data processing apparatus, and acoustic data is stored in image memory. Moreover, when storing image data and acoustic data in image memory, each memory region is set dynamically. Further, the voice data sent out upon arrival is stored in part of the program memory controlled by the CPU. As a result, the structure is reduced in size and simplified, and complicated combined processing of voice signal being sent out may be realized.

Description:
“This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 07/568,408 filed on Aug. 16, 1990”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This present invention relates to a facsimile communication apparatus. 
     2. Prior Art 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a typical conventional facsimile communication apparatus (hereinafter called facsimile apparatus)  1 . Referring to FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus  1  comprises a circuit control member  3  responsible for operation relating to the connection and disconnection of a circuit with a telephone circuit network  2 , and a telephone set  4  connected to the circuit control member  3 . 
     The circuit control member  3  is connected, through a changeover switch  5 , to a modulation/demodulation circuit (hereinafter called modem)  6  for modulating and demodulating the image data, and a voice data processing circuit  7  for coding or decoding voice data, and the modem  6  is connected to a control circuit  8  for controlling the entire action of the facsimile apparatus  1 . The voice data processing circuit  7  is connected to a voice memory  9  composed of random access memory (RAM) for storing the voice data and other data as described below. 
     The control circuit  8  changes over the changeover switch  5  to the modem  6  when the facsimile apparatus  1  is transmitting image data through the telephone circuit network  2 , and sends or receives the image data. On the other hand, even though the facsimile apparatus  1  is connected with other facsimile apparatus through the telephone circuit, a predetermined voice output such as “Enter code number” may be effected from the facsimile apparatus  1 , or voice data may be received and stored. When carrying out a predetermined action in the facsimile apparatus  1  with respect to data from another facsimile apparatus, following to the establishment of a circuit connection with the so called side facsimile apparatus, the input of a predetermined code number is required or the function of the so-called answering service is known. The control circuit  8  of the facsimile apparatus  1  calls the predetermined voice output from the voice memory  9 , when the present state of action requires the input of a code number or the storage of voice data at the moment of confirmation of the establishment of circuit connection with other facsimile apparatus by the circuit control member  3 , and obtains the coded voice data from the voice data processing circuit  7 , and sends it through the circuit control member  3 . The received voice data is stored in the voice memory  9 . 
     In such conventional facsimile apparatus  1 , when storing the voice data as mentioned above, an exclusive voice memory  9  as shown in FIG. 1 is required, and the number of parts increases such as the analog/digital converter and digital/analog converter for voice data, and the overall system becomes larger in size. Further, the control by the control circuit  8  of the voice memory  9  is effected through the voice data processing circuit  7 , and when plural types of voice data are stored in the voice memory  9  and the system attempts to reproduce them continuously in a predetermined combination, the control becomes much too complicated. 
     Further, the voice memory  9  is by far smaller in its memory capacity as compared with the image data memory installed in the modem  6 , for example, and it cannot satisfy the need of storing a large quantity of acoustic data. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is hence a primary object of the invention to solve the above technical problems, and present a facsimile communication apparatus simplified in construction, reduced in size, and enhanced in its use. 
     The invention presents a facsimile communication apparatus comprising: 
     modulation/demodulation means for sending and receiving image data by using a telephone circuit, such means being composed of 
     signal converting means for converting an analog signal from the telephone circuit into a digital signal and 
     signal controlling means for coding or decoding a digital signal entering or leaving of the signal converting means, and 
     memory means for storing the acoustic data together with the image data being sent and received, wherein the memory content in the memory means is modulated or demodulated by the modulation/demodulation means, and sent to the telephone circuit or received in the telephone circuit. 
     The invention also presents a facsimile communication apparatus comprising: 
     modulation/demodulation means for sending and receiving image data by using a telephone circuit, 
     memory means for storing the image data, being installed in the modulation/demodulation means, and 
     memory control means for varying the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region corresponding to the quantity of data being stored, when storing at least one of the corresponding image data and acoustic data by setting the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region in the memory means. 
     The invention further relates to a facsimile communication apparatus wherein a blank region is set in a range of memory means closer to the image data memory region of acoustic data memory region or image data memory region of acoustic data memory region. 
     The invention, moreover, presents a facsimile communication apparatus having modulation/demodulation means for sending and receiving image data by using a telephone circuit, and transmitting acoustic data by using the modulation/demodulation means, also comprising: 
     central control means, and 
     program memory means for storing the program for defining the control action of the central control means, wherein 
     an acoustic data memory region is set in the program memory means and acoustic data is stored, and 
     the central control means detects that the predetermined acoustic data generation condition is established, reads out the acoustic data from the program memory means, and transfers the acoustic data to the modulation/demodulation means for modulation and transmission. 
     In the facsimile communication apparatus according to the invention, the analog signal from the telephone circuit is converted into a digital signal by the signal converting means of the modulation/demodulation means whether image data or acoustic data, and is decoded by the signal control means and stored in the memory means. The image data and acoustic data stored in the memory means are, when being transmitted to the telephone circuit, coded by the signal control means of the modulation/demodulation means, and then converted into analog signals by the signal converting means to be sent out to the telephone circuit. 
     Thus, when sending or receiving acoustic data in the facsimile communication apparatus, digital/analog conversion or analog/digital conversion is effected by using the modulation/demodulation means for processing the acoustic data, and the acoustic data is coded or decoded by using the signal control means. As a result, memory means, coding/decoding means and signal converting means used exclusively for acoustic data are not necessary, and hence the structure may be reduced in size and simplified. 
     In the facsimile communication apparatus conforming to the invention, modulation/demodulation means for sending and receiving image data by using a telephone circuit is provided. This modulation/demodulation means is also equipped with memory means, and the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region are set by the memory control means, and the corresponding data are stored. At this time, the memory control means stores data by varying the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region depending on the quantity of each type of data. 
     Hence, when storing the acoustic data, the invention is effective in eliminating the necessity for installing a memory means for acoustic data which is separate from the memory means in which the image data is stored and which is disposed in the modulation/demodulation means, and therefore the structure may be means, and therefore the structure may be reduced in size and simplified. Meanwhile, the memory means of the invention is the means in which image data is stored, and such memory means is selected to have a far greater capacity than the memory means in which acoustic data is stored. By using such memory means, a huge quantity of acoustic data can be stored. Incidentally, in the memory means, the image data memory region and the acoustic data memory region can be dynamically assigned, and the memory processing depends on the state of use of the facsimile apparatus which can be realized. 
     In the facsimile communication apparatus according to the invention, the central control means detects that the predetermined acoustic data generation condition has been established. By this detection, the acoustic data is called out from the acoustic data memory region which is set in the program memory means, and is transferred to the modulation/demodulation means to be modulated and transmitted. Hence, an exclusive structure for storing the acoustic data is not needed, and the number of parts is reduced and the structure is downsized. The acoustic data is stored in the program memory means in which the program for defining the control action of the central control means is stored. Thus, control by the central control means in the acoustic data memory region is very easy, and complicated control, required for the such as continuous reproduction of. plural types of acoustic data may be done relatively easily. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more explicit from the following detailed description taken with reference to the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical conventional facsimile apparatus  1 ; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a facsimile apparatus  11  in an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the entire constitution of the facsimile apparatus  11 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the memory state of image memory  29 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the above embodiment; 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a facsimile apparatus in an other embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now referring to the drawing, preferred embodiments of the invention are described below. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a portion of a facsimile apparatus  11  of an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the entire structure of the facsimile apparatus  11 . Referring to these drawings, the facsimile apparatus  11  comprises a circuit control part  20  for connecting the circuit with a telephone circuit network  16 , for sending/receiving data, and for performing operations related with connection and disconnection of the circuit, and a telephone set  21  connected thereto. 
     A modem  22  is connected to the circuit control part  20 . The modem  22  has an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit  23 , and also comprises a converter  24  including, among others, an analog/digital converter for converting an analog signal from the circuit control part  20  into a digital signal and a digital/analog converter for converting a digital signal into an analog signal in the modem  22  and delivering the analog signal to the analog signal the circuit control part  20 . The automatic gain control circuit  23  and converter  24  are connected to a digital signal processor (DSP)  25 . 
     The DSP  25  is connected to a program memory  27  composed of, for example, a read-only memory (ROM) and other memory for storing a program for defining the action of the DSP  25 . The above circuit control part  20 , telephone set  21  and modem  22  are contained in a communication control part  17 . A main control part  19  to which the communication control part  17  is connected contains, for example, a central control means  28  composed of microprocessor, an image memory  29  of a relatively large capacity composed of RAM and other memory for storing at least one of image data and voice data as mentioned below, and a voice memory  30  composed of ROM and other memory for storing, for example, plural types of voice data for use when sending voice data from the facsimile apparatus  11  as described later. 
     To the main control part  19 , an operation panel  18  for feeding various control data and other dasta is connected, and also connected are a reading control part  13  containing reading means  12  composed of, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD) for optically reading the document to be transmitted, and a recording control part  15  containing a thermal head  14  for thermally recording the received image data. 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining the record state of the image memory  29 , and FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. Referring also to these drawings, the operation of the embodiment is described below. At step al of FIG. 5, the facsimile apparatus  11  detects that a signal has arrived from the telephone circuit network  16 . At step a 2 , it is judged if this signal is a facsimile receive request signal (CNG signal) or not. If affirmative, the processing advances to step a 3 , and the image data is received. At step a 4 , it is judged whether the present action mode of the facsimile apparatus  11  is the so-called memory receive mode or not. This memory receive mode, when set, is the action mode for storing the received image data, in the image memory  29 , without having the image data printed out by the record control part  16 . 
     If the judgement is negative at step a 4 , an ordinary reception for obtaining the print output using the thermal head  14  of the record control part  15  is executed. If affirmative at step a 4 , the operation advances to step a 5 , and it is judged if the memory region for recording the image data is preserved or not in the image memory  29  shown in FIG.  4 . That is, in the image memory  29 , for example, as shown in FIG. 4 ( 1 ), an image data memory region A 2  and a voice data memory region A 3  are set in the entire memory space A 1  of the image memory  29 . In the image data memory region A 2 , image data is stored from the minimum address up to the image data region Ad, and if not enough for the memory capacity of the image data memory region A 2 , a blank region Ae 1  is left over. On the other hand, a blank region Ae 2  is set from the minimum address of the voice data memory region A 3 , and after that the voice data is stored in the voice data region Aa. 
     When storing new voice data in the voice data memory region A 3 , the address in the voice data region Aa that is presently stored is decreased, and the voice data region Aa moves to the blank region Ae 2 . In the region vacated after moving of the voice data region Aa, new voice data is stored. Here, if the image data region Ad of the image data memory region A 2  is relatively small, for example as shown in FIG. 4 ( 2 ), and the quantity of voice data to be newly stored is large, the boundary B of the image data memory region A 2  and voice data memory region A 3  is varied to contract the image data memory region A 2  and expand the voice data memory region A 3 . To the contrary, when the voice data region Aa is relatively small and the quantity of image data to be stored is relatively large, a reverse processing is done. 
     In this way, the image data memory region A 2  and voice data memory region A 3  in the image memory  29  are dynamically changed in size, and the memory is controlled depending on the state of use of the facsimile apparatus  11 . 
     When the memory regions are set in the image memory  29  in this procedure, it is judged affirmatively at step a 5  to receive data. 
     If judged negatively at step a 2 , meanwhile, the operation skips to step a 6 , in which it is judged if the operating state of the facsimile apparatus  11  is in answering service mode or not. If judged negatively, the operation returns to step a 3 , and the processing as stated above is executed. If affirmatively judged at step a 6 , advancing to step a 7 , it is judged if there is any residual memory area in the voice data memory region A 3  in the image memory  29 . If judged negatively, returning to step a 3 , the same processing including moving of the boundary B in the image memory  29  is effected. 
     If judged affirmatively at step a 7 , advancing to step aS, the voice response mode is set. At step a 9 , the voice data entering from the telephone circuit network  16  is decoded by the modem  22 , and is recorded in the image memory  29 . At step a 10 , the voice coding mode for coding the voice data is set. At step all, the voice data such as “Enter code number” is read out from the voice memory  30 , and is transferred to the random access memory (RAM) built in the modem  22  to be sent out to the telephone circuit network  16 . 
     At step a 12 , it is judged if a predetermined specific time has passed or not after transmitting the voice response “Enter code number.” If the time has passed, the communication circuit is cut off, and if the code number is received before the specific time has passed, the operation advances to step a 13 , and it is judged whether the code number matches with the identification code of the facsimile apparatus of the sender preliminarily stored in the facsimile apparatus  11 . If not matched, the operation returns to step a 9 , and the same processing is repeated. If judged affirmatively at step a 13 , the operation returns to step a 3  to repeat the same processing. 
     Thus, according to the embodiment, the voice data is stored in the image memory  29  in which the image data is stored and which is controlled by the CPU  28 . As a result, as explained in relation to the prior art, a memory means used exclusively for voice data, and the related automatic gain control circuit, analog/digital converter, digital/analog converter, and coding processing circuit are not required, and the structure is much reduced in size and simplified. Besides, since the voice data is stored by using the image memory  29  with a relatively large capacity, if the voice is continuous for a relatively long time, it can be recorded and reproduced. 
     Moreover, even if either the image data or voice data is too much depending on the state of use of the facsimile apparatus  11 , the image memory  29  may be utilized effectively, corresponding to such state of use. Besides, since the image memory  29  is controlled by the CPU  28 , even if the data is recorded in plural cases, the reproduction may be executed in a desired sequence, and hence the ease of use is very much improved. 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a facsimile communication apparatus  11   a  in an other embodiment of the invention. 
     A facsimile apparatus  11   a  comprises a circuit control part  20  for connecting the circuit with a telephone circuit network  16 , sending/receiving data, and performing operations related with connection and disconnection of the circuit, and a telephone set  21  connected thereto. 
     A modem  22  is connected to the circuit control part  20 . The modem  22  has an automatic gain control circuit  23 , and also comprises a converter  24  including, among others, an analog/digital converter for converting the analog signal from the circuit control part  20  into a digital signal and a digital/analog converter for converting the digital signal into an analog signal in the modem  22  and delivering it to the circuit control part  20 . The automatic gain control circuit  23  and converter  24  are connected to a digital signal processor (DSP)  25 . 
     The DSP  25  includes a write register (not shown) for storing the logic state of a write flag WR to be used as stated below is set. To the DSP  25  is connected a program memory  27  composed of, for example, RAM and other memory for storing the program for defining the action of the DSP. The above circuit control part  20 , telephone set  21  and modem  22  are included in a communication control part  17 . 
     A main control part  19  to which the communication control part  17  is connected includes a central control means (CPU)  28  comprising, for example, a microprocessor, and a program memory  33  used as a program memory means composed of, for example, read only memory (ROM) for storing the program for defining the action of the central control means  28 . 
     The program memory  33  includes a program region  32  for storing the program for defining the action of the central control means  28 , and plural voice data regions  31   a ,  31   b , . . .  31   c  for storing plural types of predetermined voice data such as “Enter code number.” 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the main control part  19  is combined with an operation panel  18  for feeding various control data, and also comprises a reading control part  13  including reading means  12  composed of, for example, charge coupled device (CCD) for reading the document to be transmitted optically, a recording control part  14  including a thermal head  14  for thermally recording the received image data, and an image memory  29  (FIG. 6) for recording the image data related to transmission or reception. 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. Referring also to FIG. 7, the operation of the embodiment is described below. At step b 1  in FIG. 7, the facsimile apparatus  11   a  detects that a signal has arrived from other facsimile apparatus. At next step b 2 , the facsimile apparatus  11   a  judges, when receiving from an other facsimile apparatus, if it is in the operating state for start action, such as for automatic data reception for the first time after waiting for the input of a predetermined code number from the other facsimile apparatus after the circuit connection is established (this operating state is called the select mode hereinafter) or not. 
     If judged affirmatively, the operation moves to step b 3 , and the facsimile apparatus  11   a  of the reception side sets in the operating state for returning the voice data to the other facsimile apparatus. At step b 4 , the central control means  28  waits for the state of a writing flag WR to become “1” in the write register of the DSP  25 . If this judgement is affirmative, the processing moves to step b 5 , and the central control means  28  specifies sequentially one or a plural pieces of plural voice data regions  31  in the program memory  33 , and transfers the voice data to the modem  22 . 
     At step b 6 , it is judged whether the voice data region  31  to be read out in this operating state has been terminated or not, and if not terminated the processing returns to step b 4 . That is, in this embodiment, depending on the operating procedure of the facsimile apparatus  11   a , the plural voice data regions  31  may be read out in a corresponding sequence, and voice data having plural sentences may be transmitted to the other facsimile apparatus. In this embodiment, for example, the voice data “Please enter code number” is transmitted. 
     When judged affirmatively at step b 6 , the processing moves to step b 7 , and the facsimile apparatus  11   a  at the receiving side is set in the code number reception mode. At step b 8 , the presence or absence of a response from the facsimile apparatus at the transmission side is judged. If replied, moving to step b 9 , it is judged if the code number preliminarily stored in the facsimile apparatus  11   a  at the receiving side and the transmitted code number are matched. If matched, the facsimile apparatus  11   a  at the receiving side can receive data from the facsimile apparatus of the transmission side, and at step b 10  the operation is set in the mode of using the modem  22  for image communication. At step b 11 , using the modem  22 , the image data is received. 
     If judged negatively at step b 8 , advancing to step b 12 , it is judged if the predetermined waiting time has elapsed or not. If not elapsed, the processing returns to step b 8 , and if elapsed, the circuit with the facsimile apparatus at the transmission side is cut off. If judged negatively at step b 9 , too, the circuit is cut off. 
     If judged negatively at step  62 , the processing moves to step b 13 , and it is judged if the operating state of the facsimile apparatus  11   a  at the receiving side is in the so-called automatic reception action state. If judged affirmatively, the processing moves to step b 10 , and the same processing is done, and the image data from the facsimile apparatus of the transmission side is received. If judged negatively at step b 13 , the operating state of the facsimile apparatus  11   a  is in manual reception state, and the processing moves to step b 14 , and a buzzer (not shown) or the like provided in the facsimile apparatus  11   a  sounds, thereby requesting an operator to change over manually from the telephone function to the facsimile function. 
     Thus, according to the embodiment, when generating voice data in the facsimile apparatus  11   a , the memory means for storing the voice data is set in the program memory  33  for storing the program for defining the action of the central control means  28 . Hence, it is not necessary to install memory means exclusively for voice data, and the number of parts is reduced, and the structure may be significantly reduced in size. Moreover, plural types of voice data may be stored in the program memory  33 , and the individual voice data regions  31  may be controlled at high speed by the central control means  28 , so that voice data for a relatively long sentence may be easily reproduced as mentioned above. 
     Conforming to the invention, when sending or receiving acoustic data by a facsimile communication apparatus, digital/analog conversion or analog/digital conversion may be effected by employing the modulation/demodulation means for processing the image data, and the data are coded or decoded by using the signal control means. As a result, memory means exclusively required for acoustic data and coding/decoding means and signal converting means are not required, and hence the structure may be reduced in size and simplified. 
     Thus, according to the invention, memory means is provided in the modulation/demodulation means for sending and receiving image data by using a telephone circuit, and an image data memory region and an acoustic data memory region are set by the memory control means, and the corresponding data are stored respectively. At this time, the memory control means is designed to store by varying the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region depending on the quantity of each type of data stored therein. 
     Accordingly, when storing the acoustic data, it is not necessary to install a memory means which is separate from the memory means in which the image data provided in the modulation/ demodulation means is stored, and the structure is reduced in size and simplified. Further, the memory means of the invention is the means for storing the image data, and such memory means is selected to have far greater capacity than the memory means for storing acoustic data. By using such memory means, an abundant quantity of acoustic data can be stored. Moreover, in the memory means, the image data memory region and acoustic data memory region can be dynamically assigned, and the memory content depending on the state of use of the facsimile apparatus can be realized. 
     In this way, according to the invention, the acoustic data is called out from the acoustic data memory region set in the program memory means, and is transferred to the modulation/demodulation means to be modulated and transmitted. As a result, a memory exclusively for storing the acoustic data is not needed, and the number of parts is reduced, and the overall structure is reduced in size. Moreover, the acoustic data is stored in the program memory means for storing the program to defining the control action of the central control means. Hence, the control by the central control means of the acoustic memory region is by far easier, and complicated controls such as for the continuous reproduction of plural types of acoustic data may be done relatively easily. 
     The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.