Transmitting method in facsimile

In the present invention, a transmission control procedure from the time when a calling facsimile receives a digital identification signal from a called facsimile to the time when the calling facsimile transmits a facsimile message is carried out by control signals using tone signals. For example, the calling facsimile sends out to the called facsimile a first control signal indicating that facsimile transmission should be performed through a particular procedure if it receives the digital identification signal from the called facsimile. The called facsimile sends to the calling facsimile, if it receives the first control signal, a second control signal indicating that the first control signal is received. The calling facsimile sends out to the called facsimile a third control signal indicating that a facsimile message should be sent and then, sends out the facsimile message to the called facsimile if it receives the second control signal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a transmitting method in a facsimile. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
FIG. 1 shows a conventional facsimile communication procedure. 
If a called facsimile is connected to a network by calling the called 
facsimile from a calling facsimile, the called facsimile sends out a 
non-standard facilities (NSF) signal, a called subscriber identification 
(CSI) signal and a digital identification signal (DIS). 
The calling facsimile receives the above described signals and then, sends 
out a transmitting subscriber identification (TSI) signal and a digital 
command signal (DCS). In addition, the calling facsimile then sends out a 
training signal and a training check (TCF) signal. 
The called facsimile sends out a confirmation-to-receive (CFR) signal if 
the adjustment of a high speed modem is completed. The calling facsimile 
sends out a coded facsimile message subsequently to the training signal if 
it receives the CFR signal. 
The calling facsimile sends out an end-of-procedures (EOP) signal if it 
sends out all facsimile messages. The called facsimile sends out a message 
confirmation (MCF) signal if it receives the EOP signal. The calling 
facsimile sends out a disconnect (DCN) signal if it receives the MCF 
signal. 
The communication time of the facsimile is broadly divided into time 
required for image transmission and time required for transmission control 
procedure. The time required for image transmission is significantly 
shortened by realizing coding at a high compression rate and increase in 
the transmission rate, so that an image on one standard original of A4 
size can be transmitted in six seconds. However, the time required for 
transmission control procedure follows the procedure of CCITT T.30. If 
procedures before and after the communication are added, therefore, it 
takes approximately 15 to 30 seconds. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a transmitting method in a 
facsimile in which time required for transmission control procedure can be 
shortened. 
A first transmitting method in a facsimile according to the present 
invention is characterized in that a transmission control procedure from 
the time when a calling facsimile receives a digital identification signal 
from a called facsimile to the time when th e calling facsimile transmits 
a facsimile message is carried out by control signals using tone signals. 
The transmission time of each of the control signals is set to, for 
example, several hundred milliseconds. 
The above described control signals comprise, for example, a first control 
signal sent out from the calling facsimile and indicating that facsimile 
transmission should be made through a particular procedure, a second 
control signal sent out from the called facsimile when the called 
facsimile receives the first control signal and indicating that the first 
control signal is received, and a third control signal sent out from the 
calling facsimile when the calling facsimile receives the second control 
signal and indicating that a facsimile message should be sent. 
A second transmitting method in a facsimile according to the present 
invention is characterized in that a calling facsimile sends out to a 
called facsimile a first control signal composed of a tone signal 
indicating that facsimile transmission should be made through a particular 
procedure if it receives a digital identification signal from the called 
facsimile, the called facsimile sends out to the calling facsimile a 
second control signal composed of a tone signal indicating that the first 
control signal is received if it receives the first control signal, and 
the calling facsimile sends out to the called facsimile a third control 
signal composed of a tone signal indicating that a facsimile message 
should be sent to the called facsimile and then, sends out the facsimile 
message to the called facsimile if it receives the second control signal. 
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the 
present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed 
description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4, embodiments of the present invention will be 
described. 
FIG. 2 shows the schematic construction of a facsimile. 
A facsimile is controlled by a control portion 1 constituted by a 
microcomputer and the like. The facsimile comprises as an input-output 
device of the control portion 1 a reading portion 2 for reading an 
original image, a recording portion 3 for recording a received image on 
recording paper, an operating portion 4 for performing a dial input 
operation including one-touch dialing and abbreviated dialing, a memory 5 
storing dial information, communication information and the like, a 
facsimile modem 6 comprising a programmable tone sending and detecting 
function, and a network control unit (NCU) 7 for controlling a network. 
FIG. 3 shows a transmission procedure between two facsimiles of the above 
described construction. A number enclosed in parentheses in FIG. 3 is a 
sequence number. 
If a called facsimile is called from a calling facsimile (Sequence NO. 1), 
and the called facsimile is connected to a network, the called facsimile 
sends out an NSF signal, a CSI signal and a DIS signal (sequence NO. 2). 
The calling facsimile sends out a tone signal (a control signal 1) 
indicating that transmission control should be carried out through a 
particular procedure according to the present embodiment if it receives 
the above described signals (sequence NO. 3). 
The called facsimile sends out, if it receives the control signal 1, a tone 
signal (a control signal 2) indicating that the control signal 1 is 
received (sequence NO. 4). 
The calling facsimile sends out a tone signal (a control signal 3) 
indicating that a facsimile message should be sent if it receives the 
control signal 2 (sequence NO. 5) and then, sends out the facsimile 
message (sequence NO. 6). 
The calling facsimile sends, if it sends out all facsimile messages, a tone 
signal (a control signal 4) indicating that transmission of the facsimile 
messages is terminated (sequence NO. 7). 
The called facsimile sends out, if it receives the control signal 4, a tone 
signal (a control signal 5) indicating that the control signal 4 is 
received (sequence NO. 8). 
The calling facsimile sends out a DCN signal if it receives the control 
signal 5 (sequence NO. 9). 
FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b together shows a transmission processing procedure 
carried out by the control portion 1 in the calling facsimile. 
If facsimile communication is established using a particular procedure 
according to the present embodiment, the transmission rate is not checked 
between the calling facsimile and the called facsimile, as apparent from a 
transmission procedure shown in FIG. 3. When a certain facsimile is first 
called, therefore, facsimile communication is established in accordance 
with the conventional system. If facsimile communication is established at 
the highest transmission rate of the calling facsimile, a dial number, 
receiving station information and the like of the called facsimile are 
stored in the memory 5. 
If the facsimile in which the dial number, the receiving station 
information and the like are stored in the memory 5 is called, the 
facsimile communication using the particular procedure according to the 
present embodiment is established. 
The transmission processing procedure carried out by the control portion 1 
in the calling facsimile will be described in detail. 
If dial input is first provided from the operating portion 4 (step 1), a 
call is issued (step 2). In addition, it is judged whether or not a dial 
number is stored in the memory 5 (step 3). 
If the dial number is not stored in the memory 5, facsimile communication 
is established through the conventional transmission control procedure 
(see FIG. 5) (step 4). If the facsimile communication is terminated (step 
5), it is judged whether or not the facsimile communication is established 
at the highest transmission rate of the calling facsimile (step 6). This 
judgment is made on the basis of the results of a training check in the 
preceding procedure. 
When the facsimile communication is not established at the highest 
transmission rate of the calling facsimile, the program is returned to the 
step 1. In the step 1, a dial input waiting state occurs. On the other 
hand, when the facsimile communication is established at the highest 
transmission rate of the calling facsimile, the dial number and the 
receiving station information of the called facsimile are stored in the 
memory 5 (step 7) and then, the program is returned to the step 1. In the 
step 1, a dial input waiting state occurs. The receiving station 
information shall be obtained herein from the NSF signal. 
If the NSF signal, the CSI signal and the DIS signal from the called 
facsimile are received in a case where it is judged in the foregoing step 
3 that the dial number is stored in the memory 5 (step 8), it is judged 
whether or not receiving station information included in the received NSF 
signal coincides with the receiving station information corresponding to 
the dial number stored in the memory 5 (step 9). 
This judgment is made for judging whether or not the facsimile itself 
installed on the side of the receiving station is replaced. If received 
receiving station information differs from the receiving station 
information stored in the memory 5, it is judged that the facsimile itself 
is replaced, so that the dial number and the receiving station information 
of the receiving station which are stored in the memory 5 are cleared 
(step 10). The program then proceeds to the step 4. In the step 4, the 
facsimile communication is established through the conventional 
transmission control procedure (see FIG. 1). 
If it is judged in the foregoing step 9 that the received receiving station 
information coincides with the receiving station information stored in the 
memory 5, the tone signal (the control signal 1) indicating that 
transmission control should be carried out through the particular 
procedure according to the present embodiment is sent out for a 
predetermined time period (for example, 500 msec) (step 11). The called 
facsimile sends out, if it receives the control signal 1, the tone signal 
(the control signal 2) indicating that the control signal 1 is received 
for a predetermined time period (for example, 600 msec). 
When t he control signal 2 is no t detected within a predetermined time 
period (for example, 1 sec) elapsed since the control signal 1 was sent 
out in the foregoing step 11 (step 12), the program is returned to the 
step 11 again. In the step 11, the control signal 1 is sent out for a 
predetermined time period. 
Even if the control signal 1 is repeatedly sent out in the above described 
manner, when the control signal 2 is not detected until a predetermined 
time period (for example, 3 sec) has elapsed since the control signal 1 
was first sent out in the foregoing step 11 (YES in the step 13), the dial 
number and the receiving station information of the receiving station 
which are stored in the memory 5 are cleared (step 14). It is indicated on 
a display provided for the operating portion 4 that a communication error 
occurs (step 15) and then, the program proceeds to the step 1. In the step 
1, a dial input waiting state occurs. 
When the control signal 2 is detected in the foregoing step 12, the tone 
signal (the control signal 3) indicating that a facsimile message should 
be sent is sent out for a predetermined time period (for example, 20 msec) 
(step 16). If a predetermined time period (for example, 200 msec) has 
elapsed since the control signal 3 was sent out (step 17), the facsimile 
message is sent out (step 18). 
If all the facsimile messages are sent out (step 19), the tone signal (the 
control signal 4) indicating that the transmission of the facsimile 
messages is terminated is sent out for a predetermined time period (for 
example, 500 msec) (step 20). The called facsimile sends out, if it 
receives the control signal 4, the tone signal (the control signal 5) 
indicating that the control signal 4 is received for a predetermined time 
period (for example, 600 msec). 
When the control signal 5 is not detected within a predetermined time 
period (for example, 1 sec) elapsed since the control signal 4 was sent 
out in the foregoing step 20 (step 21), the program is returned to the 
step 20 again. In the step 20, the control signal 4 is sent out for a 
predetermined time period. 
Even if the control signal 4 is repeatedly sent out in the above described 
manner, when the control signal 5 is not detected until a predetermined 
time period (for example, 3 sec) has elapsed since the control signal 4 
was first sent out in the foregoing step 20 (YES in the step 22), the dial 
number and the receiving station information of the receiving station 
which are stored in the memory 5 are cleared (step 23). It is indicated on 
the display provided for the operating portion 4 that a communication 
error occurs (step 24) and then, the program proceeds to the step 1. In 
the step 1, a dial input waiting state occurs. 
When the control signal 5 is detected in the foregoing step 21, a DCN 
signal is sent out (step 25) and then, the program proceeds to the step 1. 
In the step 1, a dial input waiting state occurs. 
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in 
detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration 
and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit 
and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the 
appended claims.