Abstract:
The present invention provides a communication device that reduces waste in paper, toner, and the like that are used for printing error reports, by eliminating the output of an error report when a user has noticed the occurrence of a communication error. The communication device may not print out an error report when a communication error occurs due to the failure to establish a connection with a recipient. An error report will be printed only when a user has not confirmed the occurrence of a communication error within a predetermined time period from the time the communication error occurred. Thus, output of an error report can be prohibited whenever a communication error occurs, and thus waste in paper, toner, and the like which are used for printing error reports can be reduced.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-156373. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-156373 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a communication device such as a facsimile. More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication device that functions to inform a user of a communication error by printing out an error report when the communication error occurs. 
   2. Background Information 
   Japan Patent Application Publication JP-A-2002-232625 discloses a communication device, such as a facsimile, a multifunction device with a facsimile function, and the like, that prints out an error report on which a communication error is recorded when a communication error occurs. A communication error refers an error in which a connection with another communication device is disabled due to, for example, a nonexistent telephone number having been input into to that communication device. 
   If the communication device fails to connect, the communication device will make several additional attempts to connect to the other communication device. If the communication device cannot connect to the other communication device within a predetermined number of attempts, the communication device is generally configured to recognize the situation as a communication error. Therefore, a communication error often occurs after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time a user has operated the communication device, such as the input of a telephone number thereto and the like. In addition, when a communication error occurs, a user is often away from the communication device. Thus, even if a communication error occurs, the user often will not notice the occurrence of the communication error. On the other hand, a communication device will be able to bring the communication error to the attention of the user by outputting an error report to the user after the occurrence of a communication error. 
   However, a user may have already noticed the occurrence of the communication error by the time the user reads the error report. In other words, when the user is in the vicinity of the communication device, the user may have noticed the occurrence of the communication error even if an error report is not output. However, conventional communication devices output error reports whenever a communication error occurs. Therefore, papers, toner, and the like, are wasted in order to print the error reports. 
   In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved communication device. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that reduces the number of times that error reports are output, and reduces the waste in paper, toner, and the like used for printing the error reports. 
   The communication device in accordance with the present invention will not necessarily print out an error report when a communication error occurred due to a failure to establish a connection with another communication device. If a user confirms the occurrence of a communication error, the communication device is configured not to output an error report. In addition, an error report will be printed only if a user did not confirm the occurrence of a communication error within a predetermined time after the occurrence of a communication error. 
   For example, a user can confirm whether or not a communication error has occurred by pressing an operation panel or a key arranged on the communication device. Thus, if the communication device determines whether or not this confirmation has occurred based upon whether or not the operation panel or the key arranged on the communication device has been pushed, the communication device will determine that the user has confirmed the occurrence of a communication error when it determines that the operation panel or key has been pushed within a predetermined time after the communication error occurred. 
   The types of communications for which an error report is printed out when a failure occurs are not limited to specific types of communications such as communication by fax and internet. Therefore, the communication device of the present invention can be applied to any device having a communication function, such as a fax, a multifunction device, or the like. 
   In addition, the content of an error report is not limited to a specific content as long as it allows a user to identify which communication resulted a communication error. For example, the date and time of a communication error, the content of the communication error, and the like can be described in the error report. 
   The communication device in accordance with the present invention will not print out an error report if a user has confirmed the occurrence of a communication error within a predetermined period of time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce waste in paper, toner, and the like which are used for printing the error reports. 
   These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the attached drawings which from a part of this original disclosure: 
       FIG. 1  is an exterior view of a communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of a printing unit and the peripheral units thereof shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing a procedure by which an error report is output in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
   A communication device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention performs facsimile communication with other communication devices. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the communication device  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a paper tray  101  on which paper or other recording media can be placed, a numeric keypad  102 , function keys  103 , and a display panel  104 . The function keys  103  include a send button  105 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the communication device  100  further comprises a send operation control unit  201 , a communication unit  202 , an error detection unit  203 , a printing unit  204 , a confirmation detection unit  205 , and a time limit memory unit  206 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the printing unit  204  comprises a timing unit  204   a , a comparison unit  204   b , an output control unit  204   c , and an output unit  204   d.    
   When transmitting an original document by facsimile using the communication device  100 , a user will first place the original document on the paper tray  101 . Then, the user will enter the telephone number (i.e., the facsimile number) of the intended recipient using the numeric keypad  102 , and then push the send button  105 . 
   Here, the send operation control unit  201  shown in  FIG. 2  will recognize that a telephone number was input from the numeric keypad  102 , and that the send button  105  was pushed. When the send operation control unit  201  recognizes that a telephone number has been input and that the send button  105  has been pushed, it will notify the communication unit  202  of that telephone number. 
   When the communication unit  202  is notified of the telephone number, the communication unit  202  will scan the original document placed on the paper tray  101 . When the communication unit  202  has scanned the original document, the communication unit  202  will attempt to connection with intended recipient  110  that is indicated by the telephone number. If a connection with the receiver  110  has been established, the communication unit  202  will transmit the scanned original document to the recipient  110 . 
   On the other hand, if a connection cannot be established, the communication unit  202  will again attempt to establish a connection with the recipient  110 . After the communication unit  202  has attempted to establish a connection with the recipient  110  a predetermined number of times, the communication unit  202  will notify the error detection unit  203  of the failure to establish a connection. 
   The error detection unit  203  detects the occurrence of a communication error upon receipt of notification that no connection has been established (step S 401  in  FIG. 4 ). When the error detection unit  203  detects the occurrence of a communication error, the error detection unit  203  will notify the confirmation detection unit  205  and the printing unit  204  of the occurrence of a communication error. 
   When the confirmation detection unit  205  and the printing unit  204  are notified of the occurrence of a communication error, a timing unit  204   a  in the printing unit  204  will start measuring the amount of time that has elapsed since notification (step S 402  in  FIG. 4 ). The timing unit  204   a  will transmit the results of the time measurement to the comparison unit  204   b . Then, the comparison unit  204   b  will compare this result with a predetermined time limit that is stored in advance in the time limit memory unit  206 . 
   When the error detection unit  203  notifies the confirmation detection unit  205  and the printing unit  204  of the occurrence of a communication error, the error detection unit  203  will notify the user of the occurrence of the communication error. For example, the error detection unit  203  performs this notification by displaying a message indicating the occurrence of a communication error on the display panel  104  or generating a warning beep from a speaker (not shown in the figures). 
   The error detection unit  203  is able to notify the user of the occurrence of the communication error by the above notification methods, and prompt the user to operate keys arranged on the communication device  100 , such as the numeric keypad  102 , the function keys  103 , and the like. If the user has noticed the occurrence of a communication error, the user can, for instance, confirm that the input telephone number is correct, place the original document on the paper tray  101  again, or enter the correct telephone number, and then attempt to transmit the original document again though the send operation control unit  201 . 
   The confirmation detection unit  205  will detect whether or not one or more predetermined keys on the numeric keypad  102  have been pressed, or whether or not one or more predetermined function keys  103  have been pressed, after receiving notification of the occurrence of a communication error from the error detection unit  203 . The confirmation detection unit  205  may directly detect the operation of the predetermined key(s), or indirectly detect the operation of the predetermined key(s) by detecting an input in the second operation control unit  201  therefrom. The timing unit  204   a  will continue to measure the elapsed time until either the confirmation detection unit  205  has detected the operation of the key(s), or until the comparison unit  204   b  determines that the elapsed time measured by the timing unit  204   a  has reached the time limit (the “NO” arrow of the step S 403  and the “NO” arrow of the step S 405  in  FIG. 4 ). If the confirmation detection unit  205  detects that the predetermined key(s) on the numeric keypad  102  or the predetermined function key(s)  103  was pushed before the elapsed time measured by the timing unit  204   a  is equal to the predetermined time stored in the time limit memory unit  206  (the “YES” arrow of step S 403  in  FIG. 4 ), the timing unit  204   a  will terminate the measurement of time based on the detected results of the confirmation detection unit  205  at the point when the predetermined key(s) on the numeric keypad  102  or the predetermined function key(s)  103  was pushed. Then, the printing unit  204  will terminate operation and not print an error report (step S 404  in  FIG. 4 ). 
   On the other hand, if the confirmation detection unit  205  failed to detect operation of the predetermined key(s), and the comparison unit  204   b  has determined that the elapsed time counted by the timing unit  204   a  is equal to the predetermined time limit (the “NO” arrow in step S 403  and the “YES” arrow in step S 405  in  FIG. 4 ), the output control unit  204   c  will control the output unit  204   d  so that the output unit  204   d  prints an error report (step S 406  in  FIG. 4 ). The timing unit  204  will terminate time measurement when it has received the comparison results of the comparison unit  204   b , and the printing unit  204  will terminate printing operations after the error report is printed. Note that a general printing unit used for printing an error report, that is, a printing unit that prints on paper with a developer such as toner and the like, can be used as the output unit  204   d.    
   As described above, if a user notices a communication error, and pushes one or more predetermined keys on a numeric keypad  102  or one or more predetermined function keys  103 , an error report will not be printed. Thus, it is possible to reduce the output of unnecessary error reports in order to notify the user of the occurrence of communication errors. Note that each of the blocks shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  may be achieved with hardware logic. In addition, note that each of the blocks in  FIGS. 2 and 3  may also be achieved with software working in conjunction with a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), or the like. In other words, the present invention can be achieved by providing a control program (i.e., software) to a CPU or the like via a recording medium on which the control program is readably stored, and then reading the control program from the recording medium and executing the control program by means of the CPU or the like. 
   GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS 
   In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Finally, terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms can be construed as including a deviation of at least ±5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies. 
   While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.