Patent Publication Number: US-2003227653-A1

Title: Self-diagnosis method for facsimile device and facsimile device to perform the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-31991, filed Jun. 7, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a facsimile device, and more particularly, to a method of self-diagnosing a facsimile device, and a facsimile device to perform the same.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In general, errors occurring during the process of sending or receiving a facsimile include errors in communication lines to connect the facsimile devices, and errors in the facsimile devices themselves. When one of these two types of errors occurs, a conventional method of diagnosing the facsimile device involves communicating with another device or using a separate external measuring instrument. Accordingly, if an error occurs when the receiving facsimile device or the separate external measuring instrument is absent, a user cannot promptly determine whether the error is occurring in the communication lines or in the user&#39;s facsimile device. Thus, repair of a facsimile device cannot be provided in real time.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a self-diagnosis method for a facsimile device to self-diagnose errors in the peripheral environment of the facsimile device and/or errors in the facsimile device itself without communicating with the receiving device or without using an external measuring instrument.  
       [0007] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a facsimile device to perform the self-diagnosis method.  
       [0008] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
       [0009] Accordingly, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a self-diagnosis method for a facsimile device having a modem and a line interface unit (LIU) that connects the modem to an external line, the method including determining whether a communication path is in a normal state or in an abnormal state according to a detection of a dial tone transmitted from an outside, and determining whether the modem is in a normal state or in an abnormal state according to whether a diagnosing tone signal generated in the facsimile device is normally received.  
       [0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile device to perform self-diagnosis using an LIU to connect a modem and an external line, the facsimile device including the modem, a dial tone detection unit to detect a dial tone and output a detection result, and a first error determination unit to determine whether the communication path is in a normal state or in an abnormal state in response to the detection result.  
       [0011] In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile device to perform self-diagnosis using an LIU to connect a modem and an external line and the modem, the facsimile device including a tone signal generation unit to generate and transmit a diagnosing tone signal, a tone signal receiving unit to receive the tone signal generated from the tone signal generation unit, and a second error determination unit to determine whether the modem is in a normal state or in an abnormal state from the received tone signal and the transmitted tone signal. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a self-diagnosis method for a facsimile device according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining operation  10  of FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining operation  12  of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion of a facsimile device to perform the self-diagnosis method according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the second error determination unit of FIG. 4; and  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of features of the facsimile device of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0019] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a self-diagnosis method for a facsimile device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the method includes operations  10  and  12  to determine whether communication lines and/or a modem is in a normal state or in an abnormal state.  
     [0021] The method of FIG. 1 is performed in a facsimile device (not shown) having a modem (not shown) and a line interface unit (LIU) (not shown). Here, the LIU connects the modem to an outside line.  
     [0022] First, it is determined by detecting a dial tone supplied from the outside whether a communication path is in a normal state or in an abnormal state (operation  10 ). Here, the dial tone is generated in an exchange (network) (not shown) at the outside of the facsimile device and the communication path includes a line from the exchange to the facsimile device, the connection between the line and the facsimile device, and lines existing in the LIU. When the dial tone generated in the exchange is not detected, the communication path is determined as being abnormal. When the dial tone generated in the exchange is detected, the communication path is determined as being normal.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining operation  10  of FIG. 1.  
     [0024] Referring to FIG. 2, detection of the dial tone generated in the exchange is prepared (operation  30 ). In general, a facsimile device has a relay (not shown) that selectively connects the external exchange to a modem or a telephone (not shown) in the facsimile device. Here, in operation  30 , the relay connects the external exchange to the modem in the facsimile device to prepare for the detection of the dial tone.  
     [0025] After operation  30 , the facsimile device determines whether the dial tone generated in the exchange is detected or not (operation  32 ). If the dial tone is not detected, a communication path is determined as being abnormal (operation  34 ). In other words, if the dial tone is not detected, a line between the exchange and the facsimile device, the connection between the line and the facsimile device, or lines existing in the LIU are determined to be abnormal.  
     [0026] After operation  34 , the facsimile device reports the abnormal state of the communication path in operation  36 . For example, after operation  34 , the facsimile device displays the message “check line” on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel (not shown) in order to visually report the abnormal state of the communication path. Thus, the abnormal state of a line to transmit signals when communicating with another device is reported to the outside. As a result, if a user receives a report that the communication path is in the abnormal state, the user checks the communication path, namely, the line between the exchange and the facsimile device, the connection between the line and the facsimile device, and the lines in the LIU.  
     [0027] However, if the dial tone is detected, it is determined that the communication path is in a normal state in operation  38 . After operation  38 , the facsimile device reports that the communication path is in the normal state in operation  40 .  
     [0028] Here, operation  10  of FIG. 2 may not include either one of operation  36  and operation  40 .  
     [0029] Referring back to FIG. 1, after operation  10 , the facsimile device determines whether the modem is in a normal state or in an abnormal state by determining whether a diagnosing tone signal generated in the facsimile device is received normally or not (operation  12 ). Here, the tone signal can be a single tone signal at a level of 1100 Hz or 2100 Hz, or a multi-tone signal. For example, the facsimile device feeds back the tone signal generated in the modem to the facsimile device in order to diagnose the state of the modem by using the level and/or frequency of the fed back tone signal.  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining operation  12  of FIG. 1.  
     [0031] Referring to FIG. 3, a tone signal is transmitted via a transmission terminal (not shown) of the modem in operation  50 . After operation  50 , a feedback path is formed in order to feed back the transmitted tone signal to a receiving terminal (not shown) of the modem, in operation  52 .  
     [0032] Here, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may include at least one among operation  54 , operation  56 , and operation  62 . In this case, operations  54 ,  56 , and  62  are performed either in the order shown in FIG. 3, or another order.  
     [0033] When operation  12  of FIG. 3 includes operations  54 ,  56 , and  62  (a first embodiment), after operation  52 , it is determined whether the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over a predetermined level, in operation  54 . Here, the predetermined level of the tone signal can be, for example, −43 dBm. If the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is greater than or equal to the predetermined level, it is determined whether the frequency of the received tone signal is the same as the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, in operation  56 . If the frequencies of the transmitted tone signal and the received tone signal are the same, the state of an interface memory register (not shown) embedded in the modem is checked in operation  62 . Here, the setting of the interface memory register indicates the control of the modem by establishing a predetermined option but does not indicate a data buffering. In other words, the state of the interface memory can be determined by writing a specific value on a specific register in the interface memory and reading the value from the specific register.  
     [0034] Here, if the state of the memory register is determined as being abnormal, the frequencies of the transmitted tone signal and the received tone signal are different, or the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal is lower than the predetermined level, the facsimile device determines that the modem is in an abnormal state in operation  58 . More specifically, if the level of the received tone signal is lower than the predetermined level, the modem cannot recognize the tone signal so that the modem is determined as being abnormal.  
     [0035] After operation  58 , the abnormal state of the modem is reported in operation  60 . For example, after operation  58 , the facsimile device displays the message “check modem” on an LCD panel (not shown) in order to visually report the abnormal state of the modem. Accordingly, the abnormal state of the facsimile device is reported to the outside. Thus, the user noticing the report of the abnormal state of the modem can check the inside of the modem.  
     [0036] On the other hand, if the state of the memory register is determined as being normal, it is determined that the modem is in a normal state in operation  64 . After operation  64 , the facsimile device reports that the modem is in the normal state in operation  66 .  
     [0037] In this case, operation  56  may be performed prior to operation  54 , or operation  62  may be performed prior to operation  56  and/or operation  54 .  
     [0038] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operations  54  and  62  (a second embodiment). In this case, after operation  52 , it is determined whether the frequency of the received tone signal is the same as the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, in operation  56 . If the frequencies of the transmitted tone signal and the received tone signal are the same, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 . If the frequency of the transmitted tone signal and the frequency of the received tone signal are different, the modem is determined as being in the abnormal state in operation  58 .  
     [0039] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operation  62  (a third embodiment). In this case, if the frequency of the transmitted tone signal and the frequency of the received tone signal are different or the level of the received tone signal is lower than the predetermined level, the modem is determined as being in the abnormal state in operation  58 . And, if the frequencies of the transmitted tone signal and the received tone signal are the same, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 . Here, operation  56  may be performed prior to operation  54 . In other words, after operation  52 , it is determined whether the frequency of the received tone signal is the same as the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, in operation  56 . When it determined that the frequencies of the received tone signal and the transmitted tone signal are the same, it is determined whether the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over a predetermined level, in operation  54 . If the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over the predetermined level, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 .  
     [0040] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operations  56  and  62  (a fourth embodiment). If the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over a predetermined level, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 . However, if the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is lower than a predetermined level, the modem is determined as being in the abnormal state in operation  58 .  
     [0041] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operation  54  (a fifth embodiment). After operation  52 , it is determined whether the frequency of the received tone signal is the same as the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, in operation  56 . Here, operation  62  may be performed prior to operation  56 . Namely, after operation  52 , the state of the memory register embedded in the modem is checked in operation  62 . If the state of the memory register is determined as being normal, it is determined whether the frequency of the received tone signal is the same as the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, in operation  56 . If the frequencies of the transmitted tone signal and the received tone signal are the same, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 .  
     [0042] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operation  56  (a sixth embodiment). In this case, when it is determined that the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over a predetermined level, the state of the memory register embedded in the modem is checked in operation  62 . Here, operation  62  may be performed prior to operation  54 . Namely, after operation  52 , the state of the memory register embedded in the modem is checked in operation  62 . If the state of the memory register is determined as being normal, it is determined whether the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over a predetermined level, in operation  54 . If the level of the tone signal received by the receiving terminal of the modem is over the predetermined level, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 .  
     [0043] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include operations  54  and  56  (a seventh embodiment). In this case, after operation  52 , the state of the memory register embedded in the modem is checked in operation  62 . If the state of the memory register is determined as being normal, the modem is determined as being in the normal state in operation  64 . However, if the state of the memory register is determined as being abnormal, the modem is determined as being in the abnormal state in operation  58 .  
     [0044] Alternatively, operation  12  of FIG. 3 may not include either one of operation  60  and operation  66 .  
     [0045] The present self-diagnosis method may include only operation  10  or operation  12 . Alternately, the method may include both operations  10  and  12 , performed either in the order shown in FIG. 1, the opposite order, or at the same time.  
     [0046] The configuration and operation of a facsimile device according to the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings.  
     [0047] Referring to FIG. 4, the facsimile device is formed of a modem  90  having a dial tone detection unit  80 , a tone signal receiving unit  82 , first and second error determination units  84  and  86 , a tone signal generation unit  88 , a memory register examination unit  92 , and an alarm unit  94 .  
     [0048] The dial tone detection unit  80  examines if a dial tone generated in an exchange is input through an input terminal IN 1  to perform operation  32 . Thereafter, the dial tone detection unit  80  outputs the examination result to the first error determination unit  84 . The first error determination unit  84 , to perform operation  34  or operation  38 , determines the state of the communication path in response to the examination result from the dial tone detection unit  80 , and outputs the determination result to the alarm unit  94 . For example, when the first error determination unit  84  recognizes the detection of the dial tone according to the detection result of the dial tone detection unit  80 , the first error determination unit  84  determines that the communication path is in a normal state to perform operation  38 . However, when the first error determination unit  84  recognizes that the dial tone is absent, the first error determination unit  84  determines that the communication path is in an abnormal state to perform operation  34 .  
     [0049] Here, the alarm unit  94 , which performs operations  36  and  40 , reports the state of the communication path to the outside via an output terminal OUT 1  in response to the determination result of the first error determination unit  84 . For example, when the first error determination unit  84  determines that the communication path is in an abnormal state, the alarm unit  94  reports the abnormal state of the communication path via the output terminal OUT 1  to perform operation  36 . When the first error determination unit  84  determines that the communication path is in a normal state, the alarm unit  94  reports the normal state of the communication path via the output terminal OUT 1  to perform operation  40 .  
     [0050] The tone signal generation unit  88  generates a diagnosing tone signal and outputs the tone signal via an output terminal OUT 2  in order to perform operation  50 . Here, in order for the tone signal receiving unit  82  to receive the tone signal transmitted from the tone signal generation unit  88 , (to perform operation  52 ), a feedback path is formed between the tone signal generation unit  88  and the tone signal receiving unit  82 .  
     [0051] The tone signal receiving unit  82  and the second error determination unit  86  perform at least one of operations  54 ,  56 , and  58 . Here, the tone signal receiving unit  82  receives the tone signal generated in the tone signal generation unit  88  and is fed back to the tone signal receiving unit  82  via an input terminal IN 2 , and outputs the received tone signal to the second error determination unit  86 . Here, the second error determination unit  86  determines the state of the modem according to the received tone signal input from the tone signal receiving unit  82  and the transmitted tone signal input from the tone signal generation unit  88 , and outputs the determination result to the alarm unit  94 .  
     [0052]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the second error determination unit  86  of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the second error determination unit  86  is formed of a first comparison unit  110 , a second comparison unit  112 , and an error determiner  114 .  
     [0053] The second error determination unit  86  of FIG. 5 performs the first and the third embodiments. For example, the first comparison unit  110  compares the frequency of the received tone signal, which is input through an input terminal IN 3 , with the frequency of the transmitted tone signal, which is input from the tone signal generation unit  88  via an input terminal IN 4 , and outputs the comparison result to the second comparison unit  112  as a first control signal C 1 , in order to perform operation  56 .  
     [0054] In order to perform operation  54 , the second comparison unit  112  compares the level of the received tone signal input via the input terminal IN 3  with a predetermined level, in response to the first control signal C 1 , which is input from the first comparison unit  110 . Thereafter, the second comparison unit  112  outputs the comparison result to the error determiner  114  as a second control signal C 2 . For example, when the frequency of the received tone signal is recognized as being equal to the frequency of the transmitted tone signal through the first control signal C 1 , the second comparison unit  112  compares the level of the received tone signal with the predetermined level.  
     [0055] In order to perform operations  58  and  64 , the error determiner  114  determines the state of the modem in response to the first or second control signal C 1  or C 2 , which is input from the first or second comparison unit  110  or  112 , respectively, and outputs the determination result via an output terminal OUT 3 . For example, when the frequency of the received tone signal and the frequency of the transmitted tone signal are recognized as being different through the first control signal C 1  input from the first comparison unit  110 , the error determiner  114  determines that the modem is in the abnormal state. Or, when the level of the received tone signal is recognized as being under the predetermined level through the second control signal C 2  input from the second comparison unit  112 , the error determiner  114  determines that the modem is in the abnormal state. Thereafter, the error determiner  114  outputs the result of the determination via the output terminal OUT 3 .  
     [0056] In order to perform the second or the fifth embodiment, the second error determination unit  86  of FIG. 5 may include only the first comparison unit  110  and the error determiner  114 . In this case, when the frequency of the received tone signal and the frequency of the transmitted tone signal are recognized as being different through the first control signal C 1  input from the first comparison unit  110 , the error determiner  114  determines that the modem is in the abnormal state.  
     [0057] In order to perform the fourth or the sixth embodiment, the second error determination unit  86  of FIG. 5 may include only the second comparison unit  112  and the error determiner  114 . In this case, when the level of the received tone signal is recognized as being under the predetermined level through the second control signal C 2  input from the second comparison unit  112 , the error determiner  114  determines that the modem is in the abnormal state. In addition, the error determiner  114  outputs the result of the determination via the output terminal OUT 3 .  
     [0058] Referring back to FIG. 4, in order to perform operations  60  and  66 , the alarm unit  94  reports the state of the modem via the output terminal OUT 1  in response to the determination result of the second error determination unit  86 . For example, if the second error determination unit  86  determines the modem to be in the abnormal state, the alarm unit  94  reports the abnormal state of the modem via the output terminal OUT 1  in order to perform operation  60 . If the second error determination unit  86  determines the modem to be in the normal state, the alarm unit  94  reports the normal state of the modem via the output terminal OUT 1  in order to perform operation  66 .  
     [0059] In order to perform operation  62 , the memory register examination unit  92  checks the state of the memory register and outputs the check result to the second error determination unit  86 .  
     [0060] In the first or the fifth embodiment, the memory register examination unit  92  checks the state of the memory register, in response to the first control signal C 1  input from the first comparison unit  110  of FIG. 5. For example, if the frequency of the transmitted tone signal and the frequency of the received tone signal are recognized as being the same, through the first control signal C 1  input from the first comparison unit  110 , the memory register examination unit  92  examines whether the memory register is in a normal state or in an abnormal state.  
     [0061] In the sixth embodiment, the memory register examination unit  92  checks the state of the memory register, in response to the second control signal C 2  input from the second comparison unit  112  of FIG. 5. For example, if the level of the received tone signal is greater than the predetermined level, through the second control signal C 2  input from the second comparison unit  112 , the memory register examination unit  92  examines whether the memory register is in a normal state or in an abnormal state.  
     [0062] In this case, the error determiner  114  of the second error determination unit  86  determines the state of the modem in response to the examination result of the memory register examination unit  92 , and outputs the determination result via the output terminal OUT 3 . For example, if the memory register is recognized as being in an abnormal state according to the examination result of the memory register examination unit  92 , the error determiner  114  determines that the modem is in an abnormal state and outputs the determination result via the output terminal OUT 3 .  
     [0063] As shown in FIG. 4, the modem  90  does not include the memory register examination unit  92  and the alarm unit  94 . However, either or both of these elements may also be included in the modem  90 .  
     [0064]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of additional features of the facsimile device according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6, the facsimile device includes a line interface unit (LIU)  130  and the modem  90 .  
     [0065] The LIU  130  of FIG. 6 is formed of a relay  170 , a transformer  172 , zenor diodes Z 1  and Z 2 , capacitors C 1  and C 2 , resistors R 1  and R 2 , first and second amplifiers  174  and  176 , a voice unit  180 , and a direct current (DC) feeding unit  182 .  
     [0066] Here, the voice unit  180  corresponds to a telephone, and the DC feeding unit  182  informs an exchange whether the facsimile device uses lines or not. In other words, the DC feeding unit  182  controls the current of the facsimile device according to whether the lines are connected, so that the exchange may recognize the state of use of the lines. Here, the relay  170  connects the line and the modem  90  or the line and the voice unit  180 . The transformer  172  transmits signals between the external exchange and the modem  90 .  
     [0067] The zenor diodes Z 1  and Z 2  protect the facsimile device from voltage overload, and the resistors R 1  and R 2  and the capacitors C 1  and C 2  are used for matching impedance. Here, the first amplifier  174  (or a first filter) is connected to the modem  90  to amplify or filter a signal output from a transmission terminal Tx of the modem  90 . The second amplifier  176  (or a second filter) outputs the amplified or filtered result to a receiving terminal Rx of the modem  90 .  
     [0068] In order to perform operation  10  of FIG. 1, the relay  170  of FIG. 6 connects the line and the modem  90  in operation  30  of FIG. 2. Here, a dial tone generated in the external exchange is input to the receiving terminal Rx of the modem  90  via a first path  150  after passing through the lines. In other words, the first path  150  corresponds to a path to input signals from the external line to the receiving terminal Rx of the modem  90 , and a second path  152  corresponds to a path to transmit signals from the modem  90  to the external line via the transmission terminal Tx of the modem  90 . In addition, in order to perform operation  52  of FIG. 3, the feedback path of FIG. 6, i.e., a third path  154 , is formed. Here, the first through third paths  150 ,  152 , and  154  can be formed by using an internal multiplexer (not shown) of the facsimile device or by controlling analog switches.  
     [0069] As described above, a self-diagnosis method for a facsimile device according to the present invention and a facsimile device to perform the same can self-diagnose errors in the peripheral environment of the facsimile device, i.e., errors on external lines, and errors in the facsimile device, e.g., errors in a modem, without using a separate external measuring instrument or without communicating with another device. Therefore, unnecessary calls are prevented and repair service can be promptly provided so that the cost for maintaining the facsimile device is reduced, and user satisfaction is increased.  
     [0070] Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.