Abstract:
There is described a facsimile device which includes a first transmitting device that transmits previously stored communication information of a receiving device to the receiving device; and, in response to such transmission, the receiving device compares that communication information with its own communication information. When the comparison shows a difference, a second transmitting device, which is associated with the receiving device, transmits new communication information back to the first transmitting device; and, in response to this, the first transmitting device updates the stored communication information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a facsimile device having one-touch dialing and abbreviated dialing functions. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hitherto, there have been known facsimile devices in which communication information such as, for example, receiving station names and image transmission speeds, are stored in accordance with the receiving stations with which communication is carried out registered by means of the one-touch dialing function or the abbreviated dialing function to record the name of the receiving station in the communication management report or to shorten the communication time. 
     However, such conventional facsimile devices do not have any means to update by communication the communication information regarding receiving devices of the receiving stations with which communication is carried out which are stored at the transmitting side. Therefore, when changes are made in the communication information regarding the receiving side, differences arise between the communication information regarding each of these receiving devices of the receiving stations stored at the transmitting side and the communication information at the receiving side, so that extra time may be taken to complete the communication, wrong information may be written in the communication management report, etc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved facsimile device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile device capable of allowing proper communication and report output by proper updating management of communication information regarding the receiving station device with which communication is carried out. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a construction of embodiments of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operation of a transmitting device in the aforementioned first embodiment; 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device in the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device in the aforementioned second embodiment; 
     FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a third embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8, consisting of FIGS. 8A and 8B, is a flow chart of operation of a transmitting device in the aforementioned third embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device in the third embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a conventional communication procedure in conformity with T. 30; 
     FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in the aforementioned fourth embodiment; 
     FIG. 13 is a flow chart of operation of a transmitting device in the fourth embodiment; and 
     FIG. 14 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device in the fourth embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a construction of a facsimile device common to the embodiments of the present invention. 
     The facsimile device has a network control device  1  for controlling public line networks, a modem  2  for modulating and demodulating a digital signal and an analog signal, a CPU  3  for controlling the entire facsimile device, ROM  4  for storing a program, RAM  5  which provides work area, a console panel  6  for performing operation, a reading device  7  for reading an original, a recording device  8  for printing information onto recording paper, and a telephone  9  for communication. 
     FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a conventional communication procedure in conformity with T. 30. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a first embodiment in correspondence with the first and third claims of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the operation of a transmitting device in the aforementioned first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of a receiving device in the first embodiment. 
     In the facsimile devices of each of the embodiments described below, when it functions as a transmitting device, it repeatedly transmits a non-standard set-up signal (hereinafter referred to as “NSS”) at a fixed interval immediately following dialing (S 1 ) and upon reception of a confirmation to receive signal (hereinafter referred to as “CFR”) (S 2 ), performs high-speed transmission of information previously stored in accordance with the receiving stations. On the other hand, when it functions as a receiving device, immediately after line acquisition (S 11 ) (FIG.  4 ), it receives NSS (S 12 ), and sends out CFR (S 13 ), after which it subsequently performs high-speed reception. 
     In the first embodiment of the present invention, after reception of CFR (S 2 ) (FIG.  3 ), the previously stored information of the receiving station device with which communication is carried out is set in D 1  (S 1025 ), so as to allow the transmitting device to transmit high-speed modem training (hereinafter referred to as “TRN”), stored communication information regarding the receiving station device with which communication is carried out (hereinafter referred to as “D 1 ” and described in detail below), a transmitting subscriber identification signal (hereinafter referred to as “TSI”), and digital command signal (hereinafter referred to as “DCS”) (S 3 ). Thereafter, it successively transmits after these signals an image signal (hereinafter referred to as “PIX”), and partial page signal-end of procedure signal (hereinafter referred to as “PPS-EOP”), employing error correction function (S 4 ). That is, it executes image signal transmission without waiting for a signal from the receiving station following the transmission of communication information of the receiving station. 
     It is to be noted that in S 3  and S 4  of FIG. 3, the signals are successively transmitted at a high speed by employing data of the capacity of a high-speed modem of the receiving station device with which communication is carried out, previously stored in accordance with the destinations. 
     On the other hand, when a message confirmation signal (hereinafter referred to as “MCF”) is sent from the receiving station device (S 5 ), a determination is made that normal image transmission can be performed and it is no longer necessary to update D 1 . Accordingly, a disconnect signal (hereinafter referred to as “DCN”) is generated (S 9 ), thereby terminating the communication (S 10 ). Thereafter, as communication management information D 1  is employed and the communication result report is output (S 1105 ). 
     When communication information of the receiving station device (hereinafter referred to as “D 2 ”) is sent from the receiving station device (S 6 ), information D 1  regarding stored communication information of the address of the receiving station device is updated to D 2  (S 7 ). Then, the high-speed modem is used again to transmit TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP. 
     When it receives MCF (S 5 ), D 1  updated by D 2  is employed as communication management information to output the communication result report (S 1105 ). 
     D 1  will now be described. As described above, D 1  is information of the receiving station devices stored in accordance with their addresses. The contents of this information are as follows: 
     (1) recording sheet size of the receiving station device (whether A4 size, B4 size, are provided, whether there are limitations to recording paper length), 
     (2) abbreviated name of user of receiving device, 
     (3) telephone number of receiving device, 
     (4) communication mode capacity (confidential reception possible/not possible, relay reception possible/not possible), and 
     (5) communication mode capacity (whether V. 27 ter, V. 29, V. 17, possible). 
     On the other hand, after calling, with line acquisition performed (S 11 ), the receiving device waits NSS to be transmitted from the transmitting device of the receiving station (S 12 ). When NSS is detected and the mode is in compatible mode, it transmits CFR (S 13 ) to receive TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP employing a high-speed modem (S 14 , S 15 ). Thereafter, a comparison is made between the information D 1  transmitted by the transmitting device and the communication information D 2  of one&#39;s own device (S 16 ). If information D 2  and D 1  are the same, after reception of PPS-EOP, it sends MCF (S 18 ). 
     If D 1  and D 2  are not the same, or when proper reception of image signals and communication information due to, for example, a difference in transmission speed could not be achieved, D 2  is transmitted by a low-speed modem (S 17 ) to receive again TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP by the high-speed modem. 
     After sending MCF, the received image is output onto recording paper (S 1181 ). Then, if it receives DCN while waiting to receive DCN (S 1182 ), the line opens (S 1183 ), thus completing the reception. 
     FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the operation of a receiving device in the aforementioned second embodiment. 
     The transmitting device of the second embodiment transmits D 1 . When this transmission is properly completed, the content of stored information D 1  is held as it is. When this transmission is completed with an error, re-dialing is executed to perform communication by a standard procedure in conformity with ITU-T recommendation T. 30 during which D 1  is updated. 
     After calling, with line acquisition performed (S 1191 ), the receiving device of the second embodiment waits for NSS to be transmitted from the transmitting device of the receiving station (S 1192 ). When reception of NSS is detected and the mode is in compatible mode, it transmits CFR (S 1193 ). Thereafter, it receives TRN, D 1 , TSI, and DCS transmitted from the transmitting device by the high-speed modem. 
     When information D 1  transmitted from the transmitting side is compared with the communication information D 2  of one&#39;s own device (S 19 ) and are the same, the receiving device continues the communication (S 21 ). On the other hand, when they are different, the line is disconnected one-sidedly and a communication error is deliberately generated to the receiving station device (S 20 ), thereby ending the process with an error (S 1205 ). 
     In S 21 , the receiving device receives an image signal and PPS-EOP. When the image signal is properly received, it transmits MCF (S 1211 ). The received image is output onto recording paper (S 1212 ). When it receives DCN while waiting to receive DCN from the receiving station device (S 1213 ), the line opens (S 1214 ), thus terminating the reception. 
     FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a communication procedure system in a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flow chart of operation of a transmitting device in the aforementioned third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device in the third embodiment. The same operations as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the communication procedure (FIG. 3) in the aforementioned first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when D 2  as well as a signal signifying that re-transmission of an image signal is not required (P 1 ) are sent (S 23 ), the transmitting device updates D 1  (S 24 ), followed by transmission of DCN, after which the communication is terminated. 
     In the communication procedure (FIG. 4) in the aforementioned first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, when D 1  and D 2  are different but reception of the image signal can be properly performed and it is determined that re-transmission of the image signal is not required (S 27 ), the receiving device transmits D 2  as well as P 1  (S 28 , S 1281 ). 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 are each explanatory views of the communication procedure system in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 13 is a flow chart of operation of a transmitting device in the fourth embodiment. 
     The transmitting device transmits immediately after dialing, receiving device information D 1  of the receiving station as well as the NSS signal (S 52 ). 
     After reception of CFR (S 53 ), TRN, D 1 , TSI, and DCS are transmitted by a high-speed modem, followed by transmission of image signal and message end signal (S 57 ). 
     When a D 2  signal is received instead of CFR (S 54 ), the address information D 1  is updated by D 2  (S 55 ), followed by transmission of TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP. 
     FIG. 14 is a flow chart of operation of a receiving device of the fourth embodiment. 
     After the reception is detected, with line acquisition performed (S 71 ), the receiving device receives NSS and D 1  signals (S 72 ). When the received NSS and D 1  signals and the information D 2  of one&#39;s own device match, it transmits a CFR signal (S 74 ) and receives TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP (S 76 , S 77 ). 
     When the received NSS and D 1  signals and D 2  of one&#39;s own device do not match, it transmits the D 2  signal (S 75 ). 
     Thereafter, it receives TRN, D 1 , TSI, DCS, PIX, and PPS-EOP signals (S 76 , S 77 ). 
     When the received image signal is the correct signal, the receiving device transmits MCF (S 78 ) and the received image signal is output onto recording paper (S 79 ). Further, when it receives DCN (S 80 ), the line is opened (S 81 ), thus terminating the reception. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, during communication, it is possible to automatically update the communication information of the receiving station device, so as to eliminate the conventional problem that communication information of the receiving device of the receiving station stored in the transmitting device differs from the actual information of the receiving device, which makes communication difficult.