Facsimile apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

This invention relates to a facsimile apparatus and, more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus connected on the ISDN side in a communication network in which the ISDN is connected to a telephone network.

French patent application FR-A-2578374 discusses the problem of communication between future all-digital (G4) facsimile apparatuses, and conventional (G3) apparatuses. This document proposes that for this purpose each G4 apparatus must be connected separately to both a digital type network and the conventional telephone network.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In contrast, an ISDN is a communication network which provides a wide variety of services, such as telephone, data and facsimile communication services, wherein information such as voice and image data is communicated in the form of a 64 Kbps digital signal by an information channel referred to as a B channel. Signal-converted information for link control, call control, etc., used in communicating with a network is transferred over a 16 Kbps D channel.

Though a pay station network or public switched telephone network (PSTN) is presently in wide use as a communication network, there are plans to replace this with the ISDN. In the transitional period during which the replacement will be made, both the ISDN and PSTN will coexist for an extended period of time and the two networks will be connected to each other.

In G3 facsimile modulation/demodulation, a procedure signal employs a CCITT V.21 300 bps modem, a picture signal employs a CCITT v.299 600 bps modem, and the bandwidth used is 300 Hz - 3.3 KHz. In mutual communication with a G3 facsimile in a network connection between the ISDN and PSTN, an ISDN facsimile converts the transmission analog signal of both modems into a digital signal by CCITT G.711 u-law or A-law coding and then transmits the analog signal, and converts a received digital signal into an analog signal by the above-mentioned coding. The transmitted and received digital signals are transferred to or from a telephone network through the B channel of the ISDN.

An ISDN bearer service, which is defined by CCITT advisory I.211, is classified into voice, 3.1 KHz audio and 64 KHz unlimited digital. Voice refers to a telephone signal, 3.1 KHz audio to a 3.1 KHz band data signal, such as in a G3 facsimile, and 64 KHz unlimited digital to a digital signal such as in a G4 facsimile. Thus, in an ISDN, the information which flows through the network is recognized as being a telephone voice or facsimile image data.

In an ISDN terminal, a terminating procedure of the kind shown in Fig. 3 is executed. By means of a SET-UP message, the network indicates to a called terminal the classification of the transfer capability, namely the voice signal, 3.1 KHz audio signal or 64 KHz unlimited digital signal. The called terminal checks the abovementioned transfer capability and decides whether a response is allowed.

In the telephone network, on the other hand, an end-to-end bus is connected in accordance with a telephone number requested by the calling terminal, and whether the information which flows through the network is a voice signal or facsimile image signal cannot be identified. Accordingly, in a case where a call is placed from a telephone network to the ISDN in a network connection between the telephone network and the ISDN, it is no longer possible to distinguish between a voice and 3.1 KHz audio. This means that an ISDN facsimile will be incapable of recognizing whether a calling terminal is a telephone or a facsimile.

Thus, when a call is received from a PSTN or G3 facsimile, the ISDN terminal is unclear as to whether the call is from a telephone or a facsimile. The problem that results is that the called terminal cannot decide whether to respond with a facsimile signal or inform the operator of the fact that a call has been received from a telephone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a facsimile apparatus for connection to an integrated services digital network (ISDN), which network is also connected to an analogue telephone network, the apparatus comprising first communication means for communication with a facsimile apparatus of Group 4 or above (hereinafter "G4") via the ISDN in a G4 facsmile mode, characterised by further comprising: second communication means for communicating with a facsimile apparatus of Group 3 or lower (hereinafter "G3") via the ISDN in a G3 facsimile mode; network identifying means for identifying whether data received via the ISDN is sent from an ISDN terminal or an analogue network terminal; setting means for selecting either an automatic response mode or a manual response mode of the apparatus; and detecting means for detecting when a signal received via a B channel of the ISDN comes from a G3 facsmile apparatus, wherein when said network identifying means identifies that received data is sent from an analogue telephone network terminal, in a case where said detection means detects that the signal proceeds from a G3 facsimile apparatus, communication proceeds in the G3 facsmile mode; in a case where said detection means does not detect the facsmile signal and an automatic mode is set, communication proceeds in the G3 facsmile mode; and in a case where said detection means does not detect a facsmile signal and a manual mode is set, communication proceeds in a telephone (voice) mode.

In a case where the facsimile signal is detected (for example by detecting a CNG signal) in the above arrangement, a response is made in a facsimile mode. In a case where the facsimile signal is not detected, a response is made in a facsimile mode if automatic reception prevails and in a telephone mode if manual reception prevails.

In accordance with the invention, there can be provided a facsimile apparatus which eliminates or reduces communication failure due to a difference in mode between a calling side and a called side regardless of the network terminal from which a call is received.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 is an embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the terminating operation of the embodiment of the facsimile apparatus;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a view illustrating an ISDN terminating procedure; and</li><li>Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a G3 facsimile communication procedure.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 is an embodiment of a block diagram illustrating a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. The facsimile apparatus includes a reader 1 for reading an original manuscript, a main controller 2 for administering overall control of the apparatus, a printer 3 for performing printing, an ISDN interface 4 for controlling transmission and reception with regard to an ISDN, a G4 CCU 5 for implementing B-channel protocol of a G4 facsimile, a G3 CCU 6 for implementing T.30 protocol of a G3 facsimile, and a modem 7 for modulating/demodulating a T.30 protocol signal and a G3 picture signal, the modem having a CNG detector 7a for detecting a CNG signal. The apparatus further includes a G.711 codec 8 for analog signal and digital signal conversion, a telephone handset 9, a G.711 codec 10 for voice signal and digital signal conversion, an ISDN line 11, and an automatic reception switch 12.

Operation of this arrangement at the time of a transmission will now be described. Image data read by the reader 1 is transferred to the G4 CCU 5 if the G4 mode is in effect and to the G3 CCU 6 if the G3 mode is in effect. The G4 CCU 5 transfers the image data to the ISDN interface 4 as a B-channel signal B₁ with a B-channel protocol. The G3 CCU 6 attaches a G3 facsimile protocol T.30 to the image data, which is modulated by the modem 7 and converted into a PCM signal by the codec 8. This signal is transferred to the ISDN interface 4 as a B-channel signal B₂. The handset 9 converts a voice into an electric signal, which is transferred to the ISDN interface 4 as a B-channel signal B₃ by the codec 10.

The ISDN interface 4 executes procedures in accordance with an ISDN D-channel protocol layer 1 (CCITT advisory I.430), layer 2 (CCITT advisory I.441), layer 3 (CCITT advisory I.451) and B-channel protocol layer 1 (CCITT advisory I.430). The D-channel protocol layer 1 and B-channel protocol layer 1 are a physical electrical stipulation and channel multiplexing stipulation. The D-channel protocol layer 2 is a link control procedure stipulation for network linkage. The D-channel protocol layer 3 is a call control procedure stipulation for connection with the communicating party.

The ISDN interface 4 is such that a connection is made with the communicting party by the D-channel protocol, after which the information from the G4 CCU 5, G3 CCU 6 or handset 9 is transmitted from the ISDN line 11 via the B channel.

Operation when a call is received will now be described. A signal received from the ISDN line 11 is separated into a D channel and B channel by the ISDN interface 4. The B-channel information is converted into an analog signal by the G4 CCU 5 or codec 8. The analog signal from the codec 8 is transferred to the G3 CCU 6 via the modem 7 and CNG detector 7a. Alternatively, the B-channel information is converted into an analog signal by the codec 10 and then transferred to the handset 9. Picture signals from the G4 CCU 5 and G3 CCU 6 are printed out by the printer 3 under the control of the main controller 2.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a terminating operation in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment.

When a call is received from a network at step S20 of the flowchart, the ISDN call control procedure is executed by the ISDN interface 4 of Fig. 1. This is followed by a step S21, at which a voice, 3.1 KHz audio or 64 KHz unlimited digital is recognized by a transfer capability information element in the SET-UP message of Fig. 3. Whether the call has been received from a telephone network is identified by an interum identifier information element in the abovementioned SET-UP message. The operations of both steps S21 and S22 are executed by the ISDN interface 4 of Fig. 1.

When a call is not received from the telephone network, the program proceeds to step S27, at which the apparatus communicates with an ISDN terminal. When a call is received from the telephone network, CNG signal detection is performed by the CNG detector 7a (Fig. 1) at step S23. The G3 CCU 6 and the main controller 2 are informed of the results of detection. The CNG signal will now be described.

CCITT advisory T.30 stipulates the protocols of the telephone network G2, G3 facsimiles. The communication procedure of the G3 facsimile is illustrated in Fig. 4. In accordance with the CCITT advisory T.30, the CNG signal is defined as follows: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>(1) The calling office of a non-voice frequency terminal first transmits the CNG signal.</li><li>(2) The signal is essential with an automatic calling terminal and optional with a manual terminal.</li><li>(3) The signal is sinusoidal with a frequency of 1100 ± 38 Hz.</li><li>(4) The signal is on for 0.5 sec and off for 3 sec.</li></ul>

Detection of the CNG signal at step S23 is performed in the following manner, by way of example:

〈Detection of 1100 Hz Sinusoidal Wave〉

There are two methods of detecting the frequency of 1100 Hz, which is condition (3) mentioned above. The first entails comparing the analog waveform of the input signal with a reference potential by means of a comparator, differentiating the output of the comparator by a differentiating circuit, and detecting frequency by counting intervals between differentiated pulses at times that the input signal crosses the reference potential. The other method is to detect the 1100 Hz frequency by a PLL circuit.

〈Detection of Signal Width〉

The on time of 0.5 sec and off time of 3 sec, namely the condition (4) mentioned above, are detected. One method of accomplishing this in a case where the frequency is detected based on the aforementioned differentiating pulses is to measure the time during which the differentiated pulses are inputted within a predetermined interval. Another method in a case where the PLL circuit is used is to measure the length of time of the output waveform. In the foregoing, the on time of 0.5 sec is detected, but the subsequent off time of 3 sec can be detected in a similar manner.

Though the conditions for detecting CNG are the two conditions (3), (4) mentioned above, in actuality it is sufficient to rely solely upon detection based on the frequency of condition (3). If the CNG signal has been detected, the program proceeds to step S25, where the communicating part is judged to be a G3 facsimile and communication is performed in accordance with the G3 communication procedure of Fig. 4.

If the CNG signal has not been detected, the program proceeds to step S24, where it is determined by the main controller 2 of Fig. 1 whether the automatic reception switch 12 is in the ON state. If the automatic mode is in effect, the program proceeds to the step S25; if not, the program proceeds to step S26, at which the operator is informed of the fact that a telephone call has arrived.

In the present embodiment, the facsimile connected to the telephone network is a G3 facsimile. However, the facsimile of the telephone network can be a G1 or G2 facsimile. The reason is that these facsimiles also transmit a CNG signal just as the G3 facsimile does. In addition, the discrimination of the incoming data by detection of the CNG signal in the present embodiment is effective even in communication between G3 facsimiles. Furthermore, the CNG detector is provided in the modem in order to simplify the circuitry. However, the invention is not limited to such an arrangement.

Thus, as set forth hereinabove, CNG signal detection is performed when a call is received from a telephone network. If the CNG signal is detected, a decision is rendered to the effect that the communication party is a telephone network facsimile. This is effective in reducing communication failure due to non-agreement between telephone and facsimile communication modes.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.