JPH08181810A - Fax information service system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a FAX information service system which requires short time for information selection and allows everyone to easily execute a selection operation. CONSTITUTION: When a host station is accessed by a terminal equipment, the host station transmits information selection guidance information to the terminal equipment as FAX data and the terminal equipment displays guidance information imagewisely on an LCD part 11. When pointing devices 15 and 16 designate arbitrary areas, the terminal equipment automatically transits PB signals corresponding to the areas to the host station. The host station instructs the terminal equipment to switch an output destination to a printer and transmits information corresponding to the PB signals to the terminal equipment as FAX data. The terminal equipment prints and outputs FAX data by a PR part 12 and supplies selection information to a user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information service system using, for example, a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as FAX), and more particularly to improvement of a transmission format of a host station and a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, information service systems using FAX have become popular. This FAX information service system is designed so that a terminal device (which can also be used by a general FAX device) can access a host station and request desired information from an information list to receive the information by FAX. is there.

The operation procedure of this system will be described.

First, when the user accesses the host station from the terminal device, the information list is sent from the host station by a FAX signal. FAX from the host station
Print out the signal and provide a list of information. This information list includes a list of information contents to be provided and a PB (push button) number for request.

Next, the terminal device will explain the operation procedure for information request by voice. When the user dials the PB number corresponding to the desired information in the information list to the terminal device according to the operation procedure described by the voice, the PB signal is sent from the terminal device to the host station.

When the host station receives the PB signal,
Identify which information service you want to receive from the PB number, read the corresponding information data from the data bank,
The PB signal is sent back as a FAX signal to the terminal device. The terminal device prints out the returned fax signal. As a result, the user can acquire any information in the information list by FAX.

However, the conventional FAX as described above is used.
In the information service system, since the terminal device side guides the operation procedure guidance by voice and outputs the information list by FAX, there is a drawback that it takes time to select information. In particular, since the operation procedure is explained by voice, there are drawbacks such as poor response when a user misses hearing, insufficient consideration for a hearing-impaired person, and intuition intuitively.

[0008]

As described above, in the terminal device of the conventional FAX information service system, it takes a long time to select information, it is difficult to handle when the user misses the hearing, and consideration is given to a hearing-impaired person. There was a shortcoming that it was not enough and it was difficult to understand intuitively.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and provides a FAX information service system and its terminal device in which the time until information selection is short and anyone can easily perform selection operation. The purpose is to

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention selects information from a host station to a terminal device by accessing the host station from the terminal device and transmitting an information selection signal to the host station. In a FAX information service system in which FAX data corresponding to a signal is transmitted, the FAX data is printed out on the terminal device side, and arbitrary FAX information is provided to a user, the terminal device accesses to access the host station. Means, a display device for displaying the FAX data from the host station as an image, a printer for printing out the FAX data, and a pointing device for dividing the display screen of the display device into a plurality of areas and selecting an arbitrary area. The area selected by this device is recognized and the information set in advance corresponding to each area is recognized. Information selection signal transmitting means for transmitting a selection signal to the host station, the FAX data output destination when the host station is accessed, the display device, and an output destination of the FAX data according to an output switching signal from the host station. An output destination switching unit that switches from the display device to the printer is provided, and the host station transmits the information selection guidance information as FAX data in response to an access from the terminal device, and a guidance transmission unit from the terminal device. After the output switching signal is transmitted in response to the information selection signal, the image information corresponding to the information selection signal is F
It is characterized in that it is provided with a transmitting means for transmitting as AX data.

[0011]

In the FAX information service system having the above structure, when the terminal device accesses the host station, the host station transmits the information selection guidance information to the terminal device as FAX data, and the terminal device displays the guidance information as an image on the display device. To do. When an arbitrary area is designated by the pointing device, the terminal device automatically sends an information selection signal corresponding to the area to the host station, and the host station instructs the terminal device to switch the output destination to the printer. After that, the information corresponding to the information selection signal is transmitted to the terminal device as FAX data, and the terminal device sends F
Print out the AX data.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A shows an external structure of a FAX information service system terminal device according to the present invention, and FIG.
Shows the block circuit configuration of the device.

This device is provided with an LCD (liquid crystal display) unit 11, a PR (printer) unit 12, and an FA, which are capable of pen input.
X interface unit 13, line interface unit 1
In addition to the stylus pen 15, a mouse 16 can be connected as a pointing device.

The line interface section 14 is connected to a host station side which provides information through a telephone line. Also,
The line interface unit 14 can accommodate a plurality of lines, and has a line switching function for connecting each line to the FAX interface unit 13, a PB sending function, and a PB recognition function.

The FAX interface unit 13 and the line interface unit 14 are connected to the system bus 17. A CPU 19 is connected to the system bus 17 via a bus interface unit 18, and a main memory 20, an LCD pen input interface unit 21,
The PR interface unit 22 and the mouse interface unit 23 are connected.

The image data (FAX data) from the host station received by this apparatus is stored in the main memory 20 and is output to a selected output device of the LCD section 11 or the PR section 13 by the I / O command of the CPU 19. Displayed or output.

The position touched by the stylus pen 15 on the LCD unit 11 can be detected as coordinates by the CPU 19 side via the LCD pen input interface unit 21. Even when the mouse 16 is used, the coordinates can be similarly detected via the mouse interface unit 23.

On the other hand, the storage structure on the host station side of the data transmitted to this apparatus is as shown in FIG.

First, in the data corresponding to the telephone numbers (1) to (n), the initial guidance and the next reference data (1-
There are head addresses 1) to (n-1). Further, among the data (1-1) to (n-1) to be referred to next, data (guidance or information) corresponding to each PB signal described later, P transmitted after the data is transmitted from the host station side.
B signal data, data to be referred to next (1-3) to (n-
The start address of 3) and the start address of the previously referenced data (guidance) are stored.

The guidance data is created according to the format of the guidance screen displayed on the LCD unit 11. FIG. 3 shows an example of the guidance screen. The guidance screen is divided into 3x4 areas and push button 1
Corresponds to ~ 9, *, 0, #. Each divided area is associated with a selection item.

The format of this screen data and the pointing device (stylus pen 15,
The selection range of the mouse 16) corresponds to the LCD section 11
When an arbitrary area is selected by the pointing device 15 or 16 on the guidance screen displayed in, the corresponding PB signal is sent to the host station side. The control flow of this function is shown in FIG.

That is, when the area is selected (step S1), it is determined whether the selection item is "1" (step S2), and if it is "1" (Y), a PB signal of "1" is sent ( Step S3), if it is not "1" (N), it is judged whether it is the selection item "2" (step S4), and if it is "2" (Y), the PB signal of "2" is transmitted (step S).
5) If it is not "2" (N), the next selection item is determined, and thereafter, it is similarly determined whether the selection item is "12" (step S6). "PB signal" is transmitted (step S7), and the processing is terminated by transmitting the PB signal.

Further, this apparatus has a function of transmitting the PB signal to the host side in response to the selection of the pointing devices 15 and 16 also by the application program.

FIG. 5 shows a procedure of transmitting / receiving FAX data between this apparatus and the host by the application program.

First, the apparatus dials the telephone number of the host station to which the information is to be provided, and the host station is called to access (step S11). Image data (F) of the initial guidance corresponding to the telephone number
AX data) is transmitted (step S31). The apparatus receives the FAX data and stores it in the memory (step S12). Here, if the LCD unit 11 is selected in advance as an output device on the apparatus side (step S13), the initial guidance data is displayed on the LCD unit 11 (step S14). FAX of the initial guidance on the host station side
When all the data is transmitted, an EOM (procedure end) signal is transmitted, and the device which has received this transmits an MCF (message confirmation) signal.

In this state, the pointing device 15 selects the selection items on the guidance screen displayed on the LCD unit 11.
When selected by 16 or 16, the PB signal corresponding to each item is transmitted to the host station (step S
15).

Here, in FIG. 5, PB signals (A) to
(A) is the next (previous) guidance screen selection, (B) is information selection, and (C) is LC.
Select the D unit 11 as the output device, (D) is the PR unit 1
Indicates that 2 is selected as the output device.

Here, as the selection items in the guidance displayed on the LCD unit 11, (1) information is selected, and (2)
Select next guidance, (3) go back, etc.

(1) When the next guidance is selected, the PB signal (A) is transmitted. At this time, the host station side determines that there is a PB signal (step S32), determines that the PB signal is (A) (step S33), and transmits guidance data corresponding to the PB signal from the next data ( In step S34), the EOM signal is transmitted when the transmission is completed.

Upon receiving the FAX data (continuation of the initial guidance) corresponding to (A), this apparatus holds this data in the memory 20 (step S16) and transmits the MCF signal to the host station. The host station receiving this MCF signal sends a PB signal (C) for selecting the LCD unit 11 as an output device to this apparatus (step S35).

On the side of this apparatus, it is judged that there is a PB signal (step S17), it is judged that the PB signal is (C) (step S18), and the FAX data of the next guidance screen is displayed on the LCD section 11. (Step S19), the process returns to step S15.

When (2) information is selected in step 15, the PB signal (B) is transmitted. At this time, the host station side determines that there is a PB signal (step S3).
2), it is determined that the PB signal is (B) (step S33), and the information (F) corresponding to the PB signal is calculated from the next data.
AX data) is transmitted, and an EOM signal is transmitted at the end of data transmission (step S36).

Upon receiving the FAX data (information desired by the user) corresponding to (B), the apparatus stores the data in the memory 20 (step S20) and transmits the MCF signal to the host station. The host station receiving this MCF signal sends a PB signal (D) for selecting the PR unit 12 as an output device to this apparatus (step S
37) and returns to step S32.

On the side of this apparatus, it is determined that there is a PB signal (step S21), it is determined that the PB signal is (D) (step S22), and the FAX data is printed out from the PR section 12 (step S23). ).

On the other hand, on the host station side, after transmitting the PB signal (D), the FAX data of the previously transmitted guidance is transmitted again (step S38). In this device, this FAX
When the data is received, it is held in the memory 20 (step S24), the LCD unit 11 is selected as the output device (step S25), and the process returns to step S14.

That is, (1) When the selection of the next guidance is designated (PB signal A is transmitted), the host side transmits the next guidance data, further transmits the PB signal C, and the output of this device. The LCD unit 11 is selected as the device (the PB signals C and D are recognized by the application program in the present apparatus, and the LCD / PR units 11 and 12 are switched), and the user further repeats the selection of items according to the guidance.

When (2) information selection is designated (PB signal B is transmitted), the host station side transmits information (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the PB signal from the next reference data. Further, the PB signal D is transmitted, and the PR unit 12 is selected as the output device of this apparatus. Then, the previously transmitted guidance data (see FIG. 2) is transmitted again. At this time, this apparatus receives the FAX data (guidance data), switches the output device to the LCD unit 11, and again the LCD unit 11
Display guidance data on.

Therefore, by using the terminal device having the above-mentioned configuration in the FAX information service system, the user can obtain the guidance of information selection as image data. Therefore, even if there are many selection items, compared with the voice method, Intuitive choices are possible.

Since the guidance data is displayed on the LCD unit 11, the guidance data can be obtained faster than the method of directly outputting from the FAX. Further, by displaying the guidance on the LCD unit 11, it is possible to view the image with better image quality than that of the FAX output.

As a specific application of this device, a conventional FA is used.
It can be used for FAX information services (news, real estate information, etc.) using X, and when searching for information, the terminal user can easily and easily by pen input on the screen or mouse operation instead of using voice (handset, speaker). You can definitely get the information.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a FAX information service system and its terminal device in which the time until information selection is short and anyone can easily perform a selection operation. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view and a block configuration diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a FAX information service system terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data storage structure on the host station side of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a format of a guidance screen of the same embodiment.

[Fig. 4] P by the guidance screen area selection of the same embodiment
It is a figure which shows the control flow of B signal transmission.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a FAX data transmission / reception procedure of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 LCD (liquid crystal display) section 12 PR (printer) section 13 FAX interface section 14 Line interface section 15 Stylus pen 16 mouse 17 System bus 18 Bus interface section 19 CPU 20 Main memory 21 LCD pen input interface section 22 PR interface section 23 Mouse Interface part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. By accessing a host station from a terminal device and transmitting an information selection signal to the host station, FAX data corresponding to the information selection signal is transmitted from the host station to the terminal device, and the terminal device side In a FAX information service system that prints out FAX data and provides arbitrary FAX information to a user, the terminal device is an access unit for accessing the host station, and a display for displaying FAX data from the host station as an image. A device, a printer for printing out the FAX data, a display device for dividing the display screen of the display device into a plurality of areas and selecting an arbitrary area, and an area selected by the device for recognizing each area in advance. Information selection signal transmission that transmits the information selection signal set corresponding to the area to the host station And an output destination switching means for switching the FAX data output destination from the display device to the printer in response to an output switching signal from the host station when the host station is accessed. The host station, after transmitting the guidance switching means for transmitting the information selection guidance as FAX data in response to the access from the terminal device, and the output switching signal in response to the information selection signal from the terminal device. A FAX information service system comprising: a transmission unit that transmits information corresponding to the information selection signal as FAX data. 2. The terminal device recognizes an area when the pointing device requests the next guidance while the information selection guidance is being displayed, and recognizes the area and is set in advance corresponding to each area. And a guidance selection signal transmitting means for transmitting a guidance selection signal to the host station, wherein the host station receives the guidance selection signal from the terminal device and transmits corresponding information selection guidance information to the terminal device. The FAX information service system according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. A host station is accessed and an information selection signal is transmitted to the host station, whereby FAX data corresponding to the information selection signal is received from the host station, and this FAX data is printed out to a user. In a terminal device of a FAX information service system for providing arbitrary FAX information, an access unit for accessing the host station, a display device for displaying FAX data from the host station as an image, and a printer for printing out the FAX data. ,
The display screen of the display device is divided into a plurality of areas, a pointing device for selecting an arbitrary area, an area selected by this device is recognized, and an information selection signal set in advance corresponding to each area is set. Information selection signal transmitting means for transmitting to the host station, the FAX data output destination when the host station is accessed, the display device, and the FAX data output destination from the display device in response to an output switching signal from the host station. FAX, comprising output destination switching means for switching to the printer
Terminal equipment of information service system. 4. The terminal device of the FAX information service system according to claim 3, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device. 5. The terminal device of the FAX information service system according to claim 3, wherein the pointing device is a stylus pen. 6. The terminal device of the FAX information service system according to claim 3, wherein the pointing device is a mouse.