Communications systems having a selective facsimile output

• US 3,958,088 A
• Filed: 03/29/1974
• Issued: 05/18/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Vieri, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US05/456,201
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6, 178/DIG. 22, 178/2 R, 178/3, 178/17.5, 178/26 R, 178/26 A, 178/30, 179/2 DP, 340/324 A
• US Class Current: 379/100.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/22 using successive scanning, e.g. polling G06F13/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data

Abstract

A switched communications system including store and forward facilities is provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention wherein, in an exemplary embodiment, any of a plurality of teleprinter or teletypewriter peripherals may be given access to the communication system and input information thereto destined for one or more peripherals thereof. Input information from a transmitting peripheral is stored under the control of a central switching system which acts to inspect the destination information associated therewith. If a destination peripheral employing facsimile equipment has been designated, a facsimile controller is enabled and destination information associated with the facsimile peripheral defined is provided thereto from the central switching system. In response to the destination information, telephone communication to the defined facsimile peripheral is initiated by said facsimile controller and an indication is provided thereby to the central switching system when a communications link with the defined facsimile peripheral has been established and the defined facsimile peripheral is ready to receive facsimile information. Phasing information is then exchanged between said facsimile controller and the defined facsimile peripheral and thereafter stored information destined for the facsimile peripheral defined is transformed into a digital signal capable of being decoded into a baseband signal and applied to said facsimile controller. The digital signals applied to the facsimile controller are decoded into a baseband signal which is then transformed into a suitable facsimile format and transmitted to the defined facsimile peripheral. Upon transmission of all of the stored information for the defined facsimile peripheral, the communications link established between the facsimile controller and the defined facsimile peripheral is terminated.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising the combination of a plurality of teleprinter means for transmitting and receiving message information in a character coded format;

facsimile means for receiving message information in a raster scan forma; and

format,

a communications link having access to said teleprinter means and to said facsimile means for conveying messages originating at one of said teleprinter means to at least one of the other teleprinter means and said facsimile means, said link including format converting means for selectively converting the format of messages destined for said facsimile means from said character coded format to said raster scan format.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein said format converting means includes first means for encoding lines of said character coded message information into a digital code repesenting a synthesized analog baseband signal and second means for transforming said digital code into an analog baseband signal in accordance with a raster scan pattern.

3. The communications system according to claim 2 wherein said message conveying means further includes store and forward means for storing message information received from said teleprinter means and for subsequently forwarding said stored message information to said facsimile means.

4. A communications system comprising the combination of means for supplying message information in an ASCII code format;

controller means for selectively routing said message information to teleprinter means and to facsimile means, said controller means including format converting means for converting message information enroute to said facsimile means from said ASCII code format to a synthesized analog baseband signal.

5. The communications system according to claim 4 wherein said format converting means comprises:

means for separating said message information into lines of message information;

means for encoding lines of said message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal; and

means for transforming said digital code into an analog baseband signal suitable for application to a facsimile modem apparatus.

6. The communications system according to claim 5 wherein said means for encoding lines of message information into a digital code includes means for dividing each line of message information representing a line of alphanumeric character information into a plurality of lines of raster scan information and means for encoding each line of raster scan information into said digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal.

7. The communications system according to claim 6 additionally comprising means for inserting digitally coded information representing a plurality of raster scan lines of spacing information subsequent to said digital code representing an encoding of the last of said plurality of raster scan lines of each line of alphanumeric character information encoded.

8. A communications system comprising:

means for receiving input information in a format acceptable to teleprinter means, said input information including message information to be forwarded and destination information defining peripheral means to receive said message information;

means responsive to destination information contained in said input information for determining if said peripheral means defined includes a peripheral employing facsimile equipment;

means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means; and

means responsive to a determination that a peripheral employing facsimile equipment is defined for translating message information to be forwarded into a facsimile format and transmitting translated message information to said defined peripheral employing facsimile equipment.

9. The communications system according to claim 8 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means comprises:

first means responsive to a determination that a peripheral employing facsimile equipment is defined for developing a telephony communications number of a site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides; and

second means for dialing said telephony communications number of said site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides.

10. The communications system according to claim 9 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means additionally comprises third means for detecting the establishment of a communications link to a defined facsimile peripheral in a readied condition.

11. The communications system according to claim 9 wherein said second means achieves dialing through the issuance of precisely timed On Hook and Off Hook instructions.

12. The communications system according to claim 8 wherein said means for receiving input information in a format acceptable to teleprinter means includes high speed storage means for storing received input information, and subsequently forwarding the same through read operations.

13. The communications system according to claim 8 wherein said means responsive to a determination that a peripheral employing facsimile equipment is defined for translating message information to be forwarded into a facsimile format and transmitting translated message information to said defined peripheral employing facsimile equipment comprises:

means for dividing said message information into lines of message information;

means for encoding each line of message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal; and

means for transforming said digital code into an analog baseband signal suitable for application to facsimile modem apparatus.

14. The communications system according to claim 13 wherein said means for encoding each line of message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal includes means for dividing each line of message information representing a line of alphanumeric character information into a plurality of lines of raster scan information, and means for coding each line of raster scan information into said digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal.

15. The communications system according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said plurality of lines of raster scan information is representative of spacing information.

16. The communications system according to claim 14 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means comprises:

first means responsive to a determination that a peripheral employing facsimile equipment is defined for developing a telephony communications number of a site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides; and

second means for dialing said telephony communications number of said site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides.

17. The communications system according to Claim 14 wherein said means for receiving input information in a format acceptable to teleprinter means includes high speed storage means for storing received input information, and subsequently forwarding the same through read operations.

18. The communications system according to claim 17 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means comprises:

first means responsive to a determination that a peripheral employing facsimile equipment is defined for developing a telephony communications number of a site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides; and

second means for dialing said telephony communications number of said site at which said defined facsimile peripheral resides.

19. The communications system according to Claim 18 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means additionally comprises third means for detecting the establishment of a communications link to a defined facsimile peripheral in a readied condition.

20. The communications system according to Claim 18 wherein said second means achieves dialing through the issuance of precisely timed On Hook and Off Hook instructions.

21. The communications system according to Claim 19 wherein at least one of said plurality of lines of raster scan information is representative of spacing information.

22. The commuications communications according to Claim 21 wherein said means for establishing communications with defined peripheral means additionally comprises third means for detecting the establishment of a communications link to a defined facsimile peripheral in a readied condition.

23. In a switched store and forward communications system including a plurality of input/output peripherals for acting on message information presented in an ASCII code format;

and a central switching means for selectively accessing deisgnated ones of said plurality of peripherals when the same are acting as input peripherals, for storing message information received therefrom, and for accessing and forwarding message information to designated ones of said plurality of peripherals defined by said message information stored;

the improvement comprising;

switching means for determining when a facsimile output peripheral is defined by said message information stored;

means responsive to a determination that a facsimile output peripheral has been defined for establishing communications with said facsimile output peripheral; and

means responsive to the establishing of communications with said facsimile output peripheral defined for translating message information to the said defined facsimile output peripheral.

24. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of input/output peripheral means for transmitting and receiving information in a format acceptable to teleprinter means, said plurality of input/output peripheral means when acting as input peripheral means transmitting information representing message information to be conveyed and destination information defining locations to which said message information is to be conveyed;

facsimile controller means for communicating with peripherals employing facsimile apparatus and transmitting message information in a facsimile formate thereto;

central switching means for controlling message translation in said communications system, said central switching means acting to receive information transmitted by selected ones of said plurality of input/output peripherals and to forward message information present in received information to locations defined by said destination information therein; and

facsimile translation means within said central switching means for detecting message information to be forwarded to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus, said facsimile translation means additionally acting upon the detection of message information to be conveyed to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus to encode said message information into a format acceptable to said facsimile controller means and to forward encoded message information to said facsimile controller means.

25. The communications system according to Claim 24 additionally comprising high speed storage means for storing information received by said central switching means for subsequent forwarding of message information contained therein to locations defined by said destination information.

26. The communications system according to Claim 25 wherein information received at said central switching means is initially stored on said high speed storage means in such manner that destination and message information are arranged within the information stored in the same manner as in said information received at said central switching means and prior to forwarding said information is rearranged by said central switching means and stored on said high speed storage means to form a message queue for each location to which said message information is to be conveyed.

27. The communications system according to Claim 26 wherein information to be forwarded to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus and rearranged and stored on said high speed storage means prior to forwarding is organized for the purposes of storage on said high speed storage means in an output queue associated with said facsimile controller means.

28. The communications system according to Claim 27 wherein message information to be forwarded to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus is limited by said facsimile translation means to a predetermined number of lines per transaction.

29. The communications system according to Claim 28 wherein said facsimile translation means limits the number of lines of message information stored on said high speed storage means as a message queue present in said output queue associated with said facsimile controller means, thereby limiting the message information for peripherals employing facsimile apparatus to a predetermined number of lines per transaction.

30. The communications system according to Claim 29 wherein said facsimile translation means acts to append message indicia advisory of the incomplete nature of a message whenever a limited message queue in the output queue associated with the facsimile controller means has been formed and additional lines of message information in the message information received remain for forwarding in a subsequent transaction.

31. The communications system according to Claim 30 wherein said additional lines of message information, exceeding said predetermined number of lines, in said message information received which remain for forwarding in a subsequent transaction are stored on said high speed storage means as independent, continued message queues in the output queue associated with said facsimile controller;

each of said independent, continued message queues stored containing destination information defining the peripheral to which message information is to be conveyed, together with remaining portions of said received message information;

said remaining portions of said received message information not exceeding said predetermined number of lines.

32. The communications system according to Claim 24 wherein said facsimile translation means includes means for dividing message information destined for peripherals employing facsimile information into lines of message information, and means for encoding each line of message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal;

and said facsimile controller means includes means for transforming said digital code into an analog baseband signal.

33. The communications system according to Claim 32 wherein said facsimile controller means additionally comprises facsimile modem means for translating an analog baseband signal representing message information into a facsimile format.

34. The communications system according to Claim 33 wherein said means for encoding each line of message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal includes means for dividing each line of message information representing a line of alphanumeric character information into a plurality of lines of raster scan information, and means for coding each line of raster scan information into said digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal.

35. The communications system according to Claim 34 wherein at least one of said plurality of lines of raster scan information is representative of spacing information.

36. The communications system according to Claim 32 additionally comprising high speed storage means for storing information received by said central switching means for subsequent forwarding of message information contained therein to locations defined by said destination information.

37. The communications system according to Claim 36 wherein information received at said central switching means is initially stored on said high speed storage means in such manner that destination and message information are arranged within the information stored in the same manner as in said information received at said central switching means, and wherein said information is subsequently rearranged by said central switching means and stored on said high speed storage means to form a message queue for each location to which said message information is to be forwarded.

38. The communications system according to Claim 37 wherein said facsimile controller means additionally comprises facsimile modem means for translating an analog baseband signal representing message information into a facsimile format.

39. The communications system according to Claim 38 wherein said means for encoding each line of message information into a digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal includes means for dividing each line of message information representing a line of alphanumeric character information into a plurality of lines of raster scan information, and means for coding each line of raster scan information into said digital code representing a synthesized analog baseband signal.

40. The communications system according to Claim 39 wherein at least one of said plurality of lines of raster scan information is representative of spacing information.

41. The communications system according to Claim 40 wherein information to be forwarded to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus undergoes said rearrangement for storage on said high speed storage means in an output queue associated with said facsimile controller means.

42. The communications system according to Claim 41 wherein message information to be forwarded to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus is limited by said facsimile translation means to a predetermined number of lines per transaction.

43. The communications system according to Claim 42 wherein said facsimile translation means limits the number of lines of message information stored on said high speed storage means as a message queue present in said output queue associated with said facsimile controller means, thereby limiting the message information for peripherals employing facsimile apparatus to a predetermined number of lines per transaction.

44. The communications system according to Claim 43 wherein said facsimile translation means acts to append message indicia advisory of the incomplete nature of a message whenever a limited message queue in the output queue associated with the fascimile controller means has been formed and additional lines of message information in the message information received remain for forwarding in a subsequent transaction.

45. The communications system according to Claim 24 wherein said encoded message information forwarded by said facsimile translation means to said facsimile controller means takes the form of data bytes having a predetermined number of bits therein representing elements of facsimile scan information;

said facsimile controller means comprising;

data register means for loading each data byte forwarded;

encoder means for encoding bit information representing an element of facsimile scan information into an analog level representative of the element of facsimile scan information defined;

sequence gating means for selectively applying bit information present in a data byte loaded into said data register means to said encoder means in accordance with a predetermined sequence; and

means responsive to analog levels provided by said encoder means for translating such analog levels into a facsimile format and transmitting said translated information.

46. The communications system according to Claim 45 wherein said sequence gating means additionally acts to initiate a request for the application of a further data byte when all bit information in a given data byte loaded into said data register means has been applied to said encoder means.

47. The communications system according to Claim 46 wherein successive analog levels provided by said encoder means in response to the selective application of bit information thereto is effective to synthesize a baseband analog signal.

48. The communications system according to Claim 47 wherein said bit information applied in sequence to said encoder means comprise successive bit pairs present in each data byte loaded in said data register means, each bit pair representing a discrete element of facsimile information.

49. The communications system according to Claim 45 wherein said means responsive to analog levels provided by said encoder means comprises modulator means for supplying a carrier signal modulated in accordance with said analog levels.

50. The communications system according to Claim 49 wherein said modulator means comprises voltage controlled oscillator means for frequency modulating said carrier signal in accordance with said analog levels.

51. The communications system according to Claim 47 wherein said means responsive to analog levels provided by said encoder means comprises modulator means for supplying a carrier signal modulated in accordance with said analog levels.

52. The communications system according to Claim 51 wherein said bit information applied in sequence to said encoder means comprise successive bit pairs present in each data byte loaded in said data register means, each bit pair representing a discrete element of facsimile information.

53. The communications system according to Claim 24 additionally comprising:

command means present within said central switching means, said command means being responsive to a detection by said facsimile translation means of message information to be conveyed to peripherals employing facsimile apparatus and to said destination information conveyed with said message information for issuing orders in sequence representing a telephone access code of a defined location at which a designated peripheral employing facsimile apparatus resides;

coupling means at said facsimile controller means for coupling message information in a facsimile format to a telephone line; and

order means present at said facsimile controller means responsive to said orders in sequence representing a telephone access code issued by said command means for enabling said coupling means and causing said telephone access code to be dialed.

54. The communications system according to Claim 53 wherein said order means comprises:

order register means for accepting orders issued by said command means, said order register means further acting to decode specific orders issued by said command means and to provide predetermined output levels indicating the receipt thereof, said specific orders including orders representing "On Hook" and "Off Hook" commands;

latching means responsive to an output level representing the receipt of an Off Hook command for providing a first control level until an On Hook command is received and responsive to an output level representing the receipt of an On Hook command for providing a second control level until an Off Hook command is received; and

means for applying said first and second control levels to said coupling means to cause said coupling means to selectively couple and uncouple to said telephone line.

55. The communication system according to Claim 54 wherein said orders representing said telephone access code are appropriately timed and repetitiously issued On Hook and Off Hook commands calculated to achieve dialing of the telephone access code through the selective coupling and uncoupling of said coupling means to said telephone line.

56. The communications system according to Claim 53 wherein said order means additionally comprises means for detecting an answer tone from said location whose telephone access code was dialed.

57. The communications system according to Claim 56 wherein the detection of said answer tone is indicative that facsimile apparatus in a ready to receive condition has been coupled to said telephone line.

58. The communications system according to Claim 55 wherein said order means additionally comprises means for detecting an answer tone from said location whose telephone access code was dialed.

59. The communications system according to Claim 58 wherein the detection of said answer tone is indicative that facsimile apparatus in a ready to receive condition has been coupled to said telephone line.

60. The communications system according to Claim 53 wherein said encoded message information forwarded by said facsimile translation means to said facsimile controller means takes the form of data bytes having a predetermined number of bits therein representing elements of facsimile scan information;

said facsimile controller means comprising;

data register means for loading each data byte forwarded;

encoder means for encoding bit information representing an element of facsimile scan information into an analog level representative of the element of facsimile scan information defined;

sequence gating means for selectively applying a bit information present in a data byte loaded into said data register means to said encoder means in accordance with a predetermined sequence; and

means responsive to analog levels provided by said encoder means for translating such analog levels into a facsimile format and transmitting said translated information.

61. The communications system according to Claim 60 wherein said sequence gating means additionally acts to initiate a request for the application of a further data byte when all bit information in a given data byte loaded into said data register means has been applied to said encoder means.

62. The communications system according to Claim 60 wherein said means responsive to analog levels provided by said encoder means comprises modulator means for supplying a carrier signal modulated in accordance with said analog levels.

63. The communications system according to Claim 62 wherein said order means additionally comprises means for detecting an answer tone from said location whose telephone access code was dialed.

64. The communications system according to Claim 63 wherein said order means comprises:

order register means for accepting and decoding orders issued by said command means, said order register means providing predetermined output levels in response to specific orders including orders representing On Hook and Off Hook commands;

latching means responsive to an output level representing the receipt of an Off Hook command for providing a first control level until an On Hook command is received and responsive to an output level representing the receipt of an On Hook command for providing a second control level until an Off Hook command is received; and

means for applying said first and second control levels to said coupling means to cause said coupling means to selectively couple and uncouple to said telephone line.

65. The communications system according to Claim 64 wherein said facsimile controller means further includes control inputs for applying signals generated by the modulation means therein to said coupling means so that modulated message information may be coupled to said telephone line and for forcing said modulator means to generate an advisory signal, said command means additionally issuing orders to said control inputs and said order register means decoding said orders to said control inputs and applying control levels thereto representing said decoded orders.

66. The communications system according to Claim 64 wherein subsequent to dialing of a telephone access code orders are issued for a predetermined interval by said command means for said control inputs of said facsimile controller means for causing advisory signals to be broadcast and alternated with listening intervals wherein said modulator means are uncoupled until an answer tone is detected.

67. The communications system according to Claim 66 wherein said sequence gating means additionally acts to initiate a request for the application of a further data byte when all bit information in a given data byte loaded into said data register means has been applied to said encoder means.

68. The communications system according to Claim 67 wherein said orders representing said telephone access code are appropriately timed and repetitiously issued On Hook and Off Hook commands calculated to achieve dialing of the telephone access code through the selective coupling and uncoupling of said coupling means to said telephone line.

69. The communications system according to Claim 68 wherein the detection of said answer tone is indicative that facsimile apparatus in a ready to receive condition has been coupled to said telephone line.

70. The communications system according to Claim 69 wherein successive analog levels provided by said encoder means in response to the selective application of bit information thereto is effective to synthesize a baseband analog signal.

71. The communications system according to Claim 70 wherein said bit information applied in sequence to said encoder means comprise successive bit pairs present in each data byte loaded in said data register means, each bit pair representing a discrete element of facsimile information.

72. The communications system according to Claim 71 wherein the detection of said answer tone is indicative that facsimile apparatus in a ready to receive condition has been coupled to said telephone line.

73. A method of information translation comprising the steps of:

receiving input information in a format acceptable to teleprinter means, said input information including message information to be conveyed and destination information defining a peripheral to which said message information is to be conveyed;

analyzing destination information in received input information to ascertain if a peripheral employing facsimile equipment has been defined; and

selectively synthesizing an analog baseband signal from said message information whenever the destination information associated therewith defines a peripheral employing facsimile equipment.

74. The method of information translation according to Claim 73 additionally comprising the step of limiting message information to be conveyed in a single transaction to a destination peripheral employing facsimile equipment to a predetermined number of lines of message information.

75. The method of information translation according to Claim 74 additionally comprising the step of treating remaining lines of message information present in an individual message which exceeds said predetermined number of lines of message information as a second message transaction to said defined destination peripheral employing facsimile equipment.

76. The method of information translation according to Claim 73 wherein the step of receiving input information includes the steps of:

accumulating a predetermined number of units of input information for storage purposes;

storing each predetermined number of units of message information accumulated in designated storage locations in an information storage means; and

cross linking designated storage locations employed for various portions of an individual message to form a message queue.

77. The method of information translation according to Claim 76 wherein all destination information associated with an individual message is initially logged in a single designated storage location together with sufficient message information to fill said storage locations;

said method further comprising the step of relogging destination information in such manner that destination information specifying individual destination peripherals together with said sufficient message information is stored in individual storage locations.

78. The method of information translation according to Claim 73 wherein the step of selectively synthesizing an analog baseband signal from said message information additionally comprises the steps of:

loading a predetermined number of units of alphanumeric message information into a first buffer;

transferring said message information a line at a time and in sequence from said first buffer to a second buffer;

reading said information from said second buffer in accordance with a predetermined dot matrix encoding pattern having a plurality of raster scan lines for message information to provide digitally coded signals corresponding to the information for each raster line scan produced;

loading the digitally coded signals for each scan line of said raster into a third buffer; and

selectively forwarding successive portions of said digitally coded signals within said third buffer to means for decoding said signals into an analog baseband signal.