JP2005252611A - Facsimile communication system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile communication system and facsimile communication method which realize the elimination of instability in transmission by the Internet without adding a special change to a facsimile machine itself. <P>SOLUTION: A calling control part 238 calls a telephone number of a transmission destination of facsimile through an ADSL MODEM with IP telephone function which is connected to the Internet and a subscriber telephone network so that they can freely be switched. When the transmission destination is connected, a communication control part 239 transmits picture data stored in a picture storage part 235. When transmission is not normally completed, the control part causes the calling control part 238 and the communication control part 239 to perform retransmission, and causes the ADSL MODEM with IP telephone function which is stored in an access code storage part 234, to transmit an access code for indicating use of a subscribing telephone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile communication system and a facsimile communication method, and more particularly to a facsimile communication system and a facsimile communication method for communicating image data using the Internet.

  Facsimile devices have been widely used in the past as communication devices that easily transmit the contents of images and documents to a destination. Recently, facsimile devices capable of communicating using the Internet have appeared. The communication using the Internet is often cheaper than the communication using the conventional subscriber telephone network, for example, a charge regardless of the distance and connection time is set. Is attracting attention.

  By the way, since the Internet is shared by a large number of unspecified users, access may be concentrated locally and the load on the network may increase. In such a case, data may be delayed during transmission. Data may be discarded. For this reason, when the Internet is used for facsimile communication, when the load on the network becomes high during the communication, a communication abnormality may occur and the facsimile communication may not end normally.

  In general, in various communication devices, when an abnormality occurs in the communication process, the communication data of that part is retransmitted. Even in a facsimile machine, when a communication error occurs and normal data is not transmitted to the other party, the part is retransmitted, or when communication with the destination is disconnected, a re-call is performed. Technology exists. Communication errors may occur even in a facsimile machine using a normal telephone line, but it often occurs temporarily in the process of communication, such as noise, and the image part or communication procedure where the communication error occurred Often the problem is solved by re-communication for that part of the network.

  However, in the case of the Internet, there are cases where the network load continues to increase in a time zone where communication is concentrated, such as a communication discount time zone, or in a specific area. If a communication error occurs due to such a network load, the cause of the communication error often exists for a long time. In many cases, communication will fail even if it is repeated a number of times.

  In view of this, a proposal has been made in the past to change the upper limit of the number of re-calls when communication with a transmission destination is disconnected according to the Internet load (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the first proposal, the facsimile apparatus attempts to transmit image data via the Internet while repeating a call within a preset number of calls even if communication with the transmission destination is disconnected due to a communication error. . Then, when the communication reaches the predetermined upper limit and finally communication is terminated due to failure, retransmission is performed again by the operator's operation. At this time, a predetermined value is added to the previously set upper limit. Is set as the new upper limit. As a result, the set value of the upper limit of the number of outgoing calls at the time of performing one transmission according to the Internet load situation increases, so that the probability of completing the transmission of image data increases.

  However, in the first proposal, for example, when the Internet load remains high for a relatively long time, it takes time to complete the transmission or the operator gives up communication. There is a risk of ending up.

Therefore, a proposal has been made in the past to detect when image data transmission does not end normally via the Internet, and to transmit the image data using only the subscriber telephone network while avoiding the Internet ( For example, see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3.) In these second and third proposals, the facsimile apparatus first attempts to transmit image data as a file such as a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file using the Internet. When the transmission ends abnormally for a predetermined number of times, the communication path is switched so that the image data is retransmitted without using the Internet, that is, using only the subscriber telephone network. This makes it possible to transmit image data more reliably even when the Internet load is high.
JP2003-259070 (paragraph 0020) JP-A-11-234465 (paragraphs 0009 and 0010) JP 2002-10017 (No. 0064, paragraph 0079 to paragraph 0094)

  However, in the second and third proposals, when image data is transmitted using the Internet, the image file cannot be transmitted as an e-mail as it is. Therefore, transmission is performed by using a communication method of attaching an image file to the body (text information) of an e-mail. For this reason, a facsimile machine used for communication needs a communication environment in which electronic mail can be transmitted and received. Also, in the facsimile apparatus, when image data read from a document by a scanner or the like is converted into an image file and attached to an e-mail or when an image file attached to an e-mail is received, this is scanned. A special circuit for converting and recording information or a program for performing processing for realizing the circuit is required. Furthermore, since different communication protocols are used when the subscriber telephone network is used and when the Internet is used, the facsimile apparatus must be provided with a function as a respective communication control unit. These increase the cost of the facsimile apparatus. Furthermore, since communication is performed using a communication form called electronic mail using the Internet, there is also a problem that confidentiality is low.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication system and a facsimile communication method in which instability due to communication on the Internet is eliminated without adding any special changes to the facsimile apparatus itself.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, (a) a plurality of facsimile apparatuses constituting the transmission side or the reception side, (b) a subscriber telephone network, (c) the Internet, and (d) a plurality of facsimile apparatuses as described above. A first facsimile signal as an analog signal which is connected to a transmission-side facsimile apparatus to which the original document is to be transmitted and is transmitted from the transmission-side facsimile apparatus is transmitted, and the first facsimile signal. (E) a facsimile signal selecting and sending means for converting one of the second facsimile signals as a signal to be converted into a digital signal and transmitting a predetermined frequency band higher than the voice band. A transmission path for commonly transmitting the first or second facsimile signal selected and transmitted by the signal selection transmission means; ) When the signal transmitted through this transmission path is the first facsimile signal, it is sent to the receiving facsimile apparatus among the plurality of facsimile apparatuses only through the subscriber telephone network, and the second facsimile signal is sent. A facsimile signal transmission path switching means for converting a facsimile signal into a predetermined signal format if necessary and transmitting the facsimile signal to a destination facsimile apparatus via the Internet; and (g) a facsimile signal transmission path switching means. The facsimile communication system is provided with switching control means for switching the transmission path according to the Internet load.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a first facsimile signal which is a voice band signal output from the facsimile machine on the transmission side, and a predetermined higher signal than the voice band by converting the first facsimile signal into a digital signal. Any one of the second facsimile signals as signals transmitted in the frequency band is sent to a transmission line (for example, a DSL line) through which these signals can be transmitted in common. When the first facsimile signal is sent through this transmission path, the facsimile signal transmission path switching means switches this to the destination facsimile of the plurality of facsimile apparatuses only via the subscriber telephone network. Send to device. In addition, when a second facsimile signal is sent through this transmission path, it is sent to the receiving facsimile apparatus via the Internet. Here, since the switching control means switches and controls the transmission path of the facsimile signal transmission path switching means in accordance with the Internet load, if communication fails even if the second facsimile signal is transmitted over the Internet, From the beginning or according to the actual load, the original can be transmitted to the receiving facsimile apparatus via the subscriber telephone network only using the first facsimile signal.

  In the invention described in claim 6, (a) a first facsimile signal as an analog signal transmitted through a voice band transmitted from a facsimile machine on the transmission side is converted into a digital signal and is converted into a predetermined signal higher than the voice band. A transmission path transmission step for transmitting the first facsimile signal and the second facsimile signal as a second facsimile signal in the frequency band to a transmission path for transmitting in common; and (b) transmitting the transmission path in this transmission path transmission step. An Internet transmission step for transmitting the second facsimile signal that has been transmitted to the Internet; (c) a communication state determination step for determining a communication state of the second facsimile signal transmitted to the Internet in the Internet transmission step; ) In this communication state determination step, it is determined that the communication state of the second facsimile signal is not good. A transmission signal switching step for sending the first facsimile signal instead of the second facsimile signal to the transmission line; and (e) joining the first facsimile signal sent through the transmission line in the transmission signal switching step. And a communication path switching step for sending to the subscriber telephone network.

  That is, in the invention described in claim 6, when the second facsimile signal obtained by converting the first facsimile signal into a digital signal is first sent to the Internet, it is determined that the communication state of the second facsimile signal is not good. Instead, the first facsimile signal is sent to the subscriber telephone network. Thus, unlike the case where the first facsimile signal is unconditionally transmitted to the subscriber telephone network, communication via the Internet using the second facsimile signal becomes possible when the Internet is in good condition.

  In the invention according to claim 7, (a) the first facsimile signal as an analog signal transmitted in the voice band sent from the sending facsimile apparatus to the ADSL modem is sent in a predetermined time zone. (B) when it is determined in this time zone determination step that it has been sent in the predetermined time zone, the first facsimile signal is converted into a digital signal and (C) a facsimile signal sending step for sending the first facsimile signal to the subscriber telephone network when it is determined that the facsimile signal is sent to the Internet as a second facsimile signal and sent in other time zones; A communication state determining step for determining a communication state of the second facsimile signal sent to the Internet in the sending step; (D) When it is determined in this communication state determination step that the communication state of the second facsimile signal is not good, the first facsimile signal sent from the transmitting facsimile apparatus to the ADSL modem is sent to the subscriber telephone network. A communication path switching step for switching to a path to be performed is provided in the facsimile communication method.

  That is, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first facsimile signal is subscribed without sending the second facsimile signal obtained by converting the first facsimile signal into a digital signal in the time zone in which the Internet load is applied. It is sent to the subscriber telephone network. This avoids the risk of sending the message once to the Internet and then sending it again to the subscriber telephone network. In other time zones, the second facsimile signal is first sent to the Internet. In this case, the communication state is determined, and if this is bad, the first facsimile signal is sent to the subscriber telephone. Switching to send to the network is performed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the second facsimile signal sent to the Internet is the first facsimile signal converted into a digital signal, a document is created based on the digital signal created as an image file. It is easier to reproduce the first facsimile signal than when recording. In addition, compared with the case where an image is transmitted to the Internet as an attached file of an electronic mail, analog information obtained by compressing an image with information between scanning lines is converted into a digital signal and transmitted, so that security is improved.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the configuration of a facsimile communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile communication system 201 uses an asymmetric digital subscriber line called ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). In the facsimile communication system 201, the first user's home 202 ₁ that is the home of the first user is connected to the _first subscriber switching center 204 ₁ by the DSL subscriber line 203, and at the home of the second user. A second user home 202 ₂ is connected to a _second subscriber switching center 204 ₂ by a telephone line 205. The first subscriber switching center 204 ₁ and the second subscriber switching center 204 ₂ are connected to the Internet 206 and the subscriber telephone network 207, respectively.

  The Internet 206 is a call having a role as a virtual switch in an IP telephone service (hereinafter, referred to as an IP telephone as appropriate) that implements a telephone using the Internet 206 using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. A control device 208 is connected. Furthermore, between the Internet 206 and the subscriber telephone network 207, a gateway device 209, which is a device for realizing communication between the IP telephone of the Internet 206 and the subscriber telephone of the subscriber telephone network 207, is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the first user's house in the facsimile communication system of FIG. The first user's home 202 ₁ has an IP telephone as an ADSL modem equipped with a user splitter 211 for branching and joining signals connected to one end of the DSL subscriber line 203 and a function for using an IP telephone. A capable ADSL modem 212 is provided. Connected to the ADSL modem 212 with IP telephone function are a personal computer 213 for performing various data processing such as browsing a home page and a first facsimile apparatus 214 for transmitting and receiving image data.

The user splitter 211 is a device for branching and merging signals between the DSL subscriber line 203 and the first telephone line 215 ₁ and the second telephone line 215 ₂ connected to the opposite side. is there. The first telephone line 215 ₁ and the second telephone line 215 ₂ are both connected to the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function, but transmit different types of signals. The second telephone line 215 ₂ transmits an analog electric signal (hereinafter referred to as an analog voice signal) in the frequency band used in the subscriber telephone. The first telephone line 215 _1, the electrical signal used in ADSL a different frequency band than the analog audio signal is to transmit (hereinafter, referred to as ADSL signals.).

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the first subscriber switching center of the facsimile communication system of FIG. The first subscriber exchange station _{204 1, DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line} Access Multiplexer) 217 is a concentrator of DSL subscriber lines is provided, the other end of the DSL subscriber line 203 is connected thereto Yes. A plurality of other DSL subscriber lines (not shown) are also connected to the same side of the DSLAM 217. The DSLAM 217 is further connected to the subscriber telephone network 207 via the Internet 206 and a telephone exchange 219 for connecting a line with the subscriber telephone. The second subscriber switching center 204 ₂ has the same configuration, and therefore description and illustration thereof are omitted.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the second user's house in the facsimile communication system of FIG. The second user's home 202 ₂ users splitter or ADSL modem has not been installed, the end of the telephone line 205, first to perform the facsimile communication in the voice band using only switched telephone network by an analogue audio signal A second facsimile apparatus 220 similar to the facsimile apparatus 214 (FIG. 2) is connected.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the ADSL modem with the IP telephone function shown in FIG. The ADSL modem 212 with IP telephone function is provided with an ADSL modem section 221 that performs signal conversion and transfer processing between the digital data signal on the personal computer 213 side and the ADSL signal on the _first telephone line 2151 side. Yes. Between the first facsimile machine 214 and the second telephone line 215 ₂ , whether the first facsimile machine 214 is connected to the first telephone line 215 ₁ or the second telephone line 215 ₂ A relay control unit 222 that controls excitation of a relay (not shown) that performs switching, and a dial determination transmission unit 223 that determines a communication network connected to the first facsimile device 214 are provided. Between the relay control unit 222 and the ADSL modem unit 221, an A / D / D / A conversion unit 224 that performs analog-digital conversion and vice versa, and compression coding that compresses and decompresses data Unit 225 and an IP packetizing unit 226 that performs IP packetization and vice versa. The internal configuration of these ADSL modems 212 with an IP telephone function includes a circuit medium as existing hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a control program. It is realized by.

  First, the point that the ADSL modem with the IP telephone function can be connected to both the Internet 206 and the subscriber telephone network 207 in the facsimile communication system 201 having the configuration described above.

A DSL subscriber line 203 shown in FIG. 1 uses a telephone line used for a subscriber telephone, and is a metal line laid before the introduction of ADSL. The user splitter 211 (FIG. 2) receives the ADSL signal received from the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function via the _first telephone line 2151 and the analog voice signal received via the _second telephone line 2152. The frequency is multiplexed and transmitted to the DSL subscriber line 203. On the contrary, the signal received from the DSL subscriber line 203 is separated into an ADSL signal and an analog voice signal, and the ADSL with IP telephone function is passed through the first telephone line 215 ₁ and the second telephone line 215 ₂ respectively. The data is sent to the modem 212.

  Similarly, the splitter (not shown) provided in the DSLAM 217 shown in FIG. 3 frequency-multiplexes the analog voice signal from the telephone switch 219 side and the ADSL signal generated inside the DSLAM 217 and sends it to the DSL subscriber line 203. Conversely, the signal received from the DSL subscriber line 203 is separated into an ADSL signal and an analog voice signal, and the analog voice signal is transferred to the telephone exchange 219 side. Further, the DSLAM 217 performs conversion and transfer processing between the internally separated ADSL signal and the digital data signal on the Internet 206 side. The telephone exchange 219 connects a line between the DSLAM 217 and the subscriber telephone network 207.

  In this way, the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function can be connected to both the Internet 206 and the subscriber telephone network 207. ADSL, which allows a single telephone line to be shared by analog voice signals and ADSL signals, effectively uses existing telephone lines and does not interfere with the use of subscriber telephones. Internet connection is possible.

  Next, a case where the first user's first facsimile machine 214 transmits image data to the second user's second facsimile machine 220 using an IP telephone will be described.

The dial determination transmission unit 223 provided in the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function of the first user shown in FIG. 5 determines the communication destination path based on the dial information transmitted from the first facsimile device 214. Then, the determination information is sent to the relay control unit 222. Based on this, the relay control unit 222 is connected to either the A / D / D / A conversion unit 224 side or the second telephone line 215 ₂ side for connecting the output destination to the first telephone line 215 _1. It is supposed to switch. When an IP telephone is used for facsimile communication of the first facsimile device 214, the relay control unit 222 connects the first facsimile device 214 to the A / D / D / A conversion unit 224 side.

The A / D / D / A converter 224 receives a facsimile signal as an analog signal received from the first facsimile device 214 (hereinafter referred to as a first facsimile signal) as a digital signal (hereinafter referred to as a second facsimile signal). .). The second facsimile signal as the converted signal is compression encoded by the compression encoding unit 225 and stored in the IP packet by the IP packetizing unit 226. Then, it is sent to the first telephone line 215 ₁ is converted to the ADSL signal in ADSL modem 221.

Conversely, if the ADSL signal is sent as a facsimile signal to the ADSL modem 212 from the first telephone line 215 _1, ADSL modem unit 221 extracts an IP packet from the ADSL signal, IP packetizing Send to section 226. The IP packetizing unit 226 extracts payload data from the received IP packet, and the extracted data is decompressed and decoded by the compression encoding unit 225. Then, it is converted into an analog signal by the A / D / D / A converter 224, and the first facsimile signal as the original analog signal output from the facsimile machine on the sending side is restored. The restored first facsimile signal is sent to the first facsimile device 214 via the relay control unit 222 and the dial determination transmission unit 223.

The IP packetizing unit 226 further executes a predetermined call control protocol with the call control device 208 connected to the Internet 206 in FIG. 1 when making or receiving a call with an IP phone. Yes. The ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function is lent from a provider that provides the IP telephone service to which the first user is subscribed, and this predetermined call control protocol is transmitted to the first user home 202 ₁ . It is set by this IP telephone service when it is installed.

  The call control device 208 and the gateway device 209 in FIG. 1 are devices of a provider that provides the IP telephone service subscribed to by the first user. When the call control device 208 receives a connection request to another communication terminal from the IP packetization unit 226 of the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function of the first user, the call control device 208 starts communication using the predetermined call control protocol described above. Relay the signal up to. As described with reference to FIG. 4, the user splitter and the ADSL modem are not connected to the second facsimile apparatus 220 of the second user. Therefore, when there is a connection request from the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function to the second facsimile apparatus 220, the call control apparatus 208 makes a call via the subscriber telephone network 207 in cooperation with the gateway apparatus 209.

  When communication is started, the gateway device 209 extracts data from the IP packet received from the Internet 206 side, decompresses and decodes it, restores it to a second facsimile signal, converts this into an analog signal, and converts it to the first signal. A facsimile signal is sent to the subscriber telephone network 207 side. Further, the first facsimile signal sent from the subscriber telephone network 207 side is processed in the reverse manner, and the IP packet is sent to the Internet 206 side. In this way, the first facsimile apparatus 214 can transmit image data to the second facsimile apparatus 220 of the second user using an IP telephone.

  Next, a case where the first user's first facsimile machine 214 transmits image data to the second user's second facsimile machine 220 using a subscriber telephone will be described.

When using subscriber telephone in a first facsimile device 214, the relay control unit 222 of the IP telephone function ADSL modem 212 connects the second telephone line 215 ₂ to the first facsimile machine 214 side. That is, between the first facsimile machine 214 and the second telephone line 215 _2, the first facsimile signal as an analog signal is transmitted as it is. Thus, the first facsimile apparatus 214 can transmit image data to the second facsimile apparatus 220 of the second user using a subscriber telephone.

  As described above, when the first facsimile apparatus 214 transmits image data to the second user's second facsimile apparatus 220, a method of using an IP telephone via the Internet 206, a subscriber telephone, There are two methods to use and not via the Internet 206. When the first facsimile device 214 calls another facsimile device, the dial determination transmission unit 223 of the ADSL modem 212 with IP telephone function determines which of these two methods should be used. This determination is made based on the transmission number at the time of a call from the first facsimile apparatus 214.

  Specifically, an IP phone should be used when the calling number is a phone number having a normal number of digits or a predetermined number of number information at the beginning of the calling number is composed of numerical values used as a normal phone number. It is determined that On the other hand, if “0000” is added as the access code at the beginning of the calling number, it is determined that the subscriber telephone should be used. The reason why IP telephones are normally used is that the equipment cost is reduced by using the Internet 206, and the charges are cheaper than those of conventional telephones using only the subscriber telephone network 207. It should be noted that the dial determination transmission unit 223 of the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function also subscribes even when a special telephone number such as 110 or 119 that can be used only by a subscriber telephone is transmitted from the first facsimile device 214. It is determined that the phone should be used.

  The dial determination transmission unit 223 instructs the relay control unit 222 to switch the connection so as to connect the communication network that is determined to be used to the first facsimile apparatus 214. The relay control unit 222 switches the relay contact according to this instruction.

  FIG. 6 shows an outline of the circuit configuration of the facsimile apparatus. The first facsimile apparatus 214 is provided with a main control unit 230 that controls the entire apparatus. The main control unit 230 includes a CPU 231, a ROM 232 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 231, and a CPU 231. RAM (random access memory) 233 is provided as a working memory. The main control unit 230 is further provided with an access code storage unit 234 for storing the access code and an image storage unit 235 for temporarily storing the image data to be transmitted. The first facsimile apparatus 214 is further provided with an operation unit 236 for performing various operations, a scanner 237 for reading image data from a document to be transmitted, and a call control unit 238 for making a call. . Further, there is provided a communication control unit 239 that controls the communication procedure, encodes image data stored in the image storage unit 235, and sends the encoded image data to the ADSL modem 212 with an IP telephone function via a facsimile modem (not shown). . Each unit provided in the first facsimile machine 214 is connected to a bus 240 such as a data bus.

  The operation unit 236 includes a plurality of button switches (not shown). By operating each button switch, an input of a telephone number when making a call, an input of an access code stored in the access code storage unit 234, and facsimile transmission Can be operated. The input information is displayed on a liquid crystal display (not shown) so that the first user can perform an input operation while visually confirming. Furthermore, a handset (not shown) is provided, and has a function as a telephone.

  In the access code storage unit 234 of the main control unit 230, an access code, which is information for instructing the ADSL modem with IP telephone function to be connected to select a subscriber telephone, is stored in advance by operating the operation unit 236. Here, as described above, since the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function is set to select the subscriber telephone by the access code “0000”, the access code “0000” is stored.

  FIG. 7 shows a facsimile document transmission acceptance process of the first facsimile apparatus. When the user of the first facsimile device 214 transmits a facsimile to the second facsimile device 220 of the second user, the user sets a facsimile document at a predetermined position of the scanner 237 of the first facsimile device 214. The scanner 237 detects this (step S251: Y). When the telephone number of the second facsimile apparatus 220 of the second user who is the transmission destination is input by operating the operation unit 236 (step S252), the scanner 237 displays the set facsimile document as a driving roller (not shown). To move on a conveyance path (not shown). An image sensor (not shown) receives reflected light from the facsimile document and photoelectrically converts it to obtain image data (step S253).

  The obtained image data is sent to the image storage unit 235 of the main control unit 230 in a pair with the telephone number input in step S252, and is stored with a flag indicating “untransmitted” added ( Step S254). In this way, the process for accepting the transmission of the facsimile document of the first facsimile apparatus 214 ends (END). The image data once stored in the image storage unit 235 is stored as it is until at least transmission is completed or deleted.

  FIG. 8 shows image data transmission processing of the first facsimile apparatus. When new image data is stored in the image storage unit 235 or image data that has been stored and has not been transmitted yet (step S261: Y), the main control unit 230 should transmit next. It is checked whether the image data is to be processed as retransmission (step S262). Specifically, it is checked whether or not a flag indicating “transmission failure” is added. Since the image data newly stored and added with the flag indicating “not transmitted” is not retransmitted (N), the telephone number stored in association with the image data in step S254 in FIG. The call control unit 238 makes a call as it is (step S263).

  Since the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function has not received the access code “0000” before the telephone number, it determines that the IP telephone should be used as described above, and connects to the Internet 206. When the IP telephone is used to connect to the second facsimile apparatus 220 of the second user (step S264: Y) and the transmission of the image data by the communication control unit 239 is completed (step S265: Y), the image storage unit 235 A flag indicating “transmission complete” is added to the image data stored in (step S266). Then, the process proceeds to transmission processing for other image data stored in the image storage unit 235 (return).

  However, if the connection cannot be established with the second user's second facsimile machine 220 (step S264: N) or the transmission of the image data cannot be completed (step S265: N), “transmission failure” Is added (step S267). Then, after a certain time, for example, 1 minute has elapsed, the transmission process is repeated again (return). The determination of whether or not the connection with the transmission destination in step S264 has been established, and the determination of whether or not the transmission of the image data in step S265 has been completed are performed by confirming a response signal from the signal transmission destination in the communication protocol. . In step S265, if a signal indicating “transmission failure” is received or if a signal indicating “transmission completion” is not received within a predetermined time after image data transmission, the second user's It is determined that the data has not been correctly transmitted to the second facsimile apparatus 220. If a signal indicating “transmission complete” is received within a predetermined time after the transmission of the image data, it is determined that the transmission is completed without any communication abnormality.

  If image data to which a flag indicating “transmission failure” is added in step S267 is present in the image storage unit 235 (step S261: Y, step S262: Y), since the previous transmission attempt failed. Re-send after a certain period of time. However, in the Internet 206 in which best-effort communication is performed, there are cases where IP packets are delayed or discarded when the load on the network increases. Furthermore, there is a time zone in which access is generally concentrated on the Internet 206 and the load on the network becomes high. If transmission fails due to collision with such a time zone, retransmission is performed again via the Internet 206. There is a high possibility that the failure will be repeated.

  Therefore, if the first transmission fails, that is, if a flag indicating “transmission failure” is added to the image data, the ADSL modem 212 with IP telephone function is instructed to use the subscriber telephone. Specifically, before making a call to the telephone number stored in association with the image data, the call control unit 238 transmits the access code “0000” stored in the access code storage unit 234 (step S268). Then, the process proceeds to step S263, and subsequently, the call control unit 238 makes a call to the telephone number stored in the image storage unit 235 in a pair with the image data. Then, since the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function receives the access code “0000” before the telephone number, it determines that the subscriber telephone should be used as described above, and connects to the subscriber telephone network 207.

  Similarly, when the transmission of the image data is completed (step S264: Y and step S265: Y), a flag indicating “transmission completed” is added to the image data (step S266) and stored in the image storage unit 235. The process proceeds to the transmission processing for the other image data (return). On the other hand, when the transmission of the image data is not completed (step S264: N, step S265: N), a flag indicating “transmission failure” is added to the image data (step S266), and the transmission process is repeated again. (return).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first facsimile apparatus 214 transmits image data using the Internet. However, as in the case where only the conventional subscriber telephone network 207 is used, analog voice is used. Facsimile communication by data can be performed. If the transmission of the image data does not end normally, it is retransmitted. At this time, since a call is made by designating a subscriber telephone, the communication path is switched and the load on the Internet 206 is caused. Communication errors can be avoided. Also, since this retransmission is performed automatically, it is possible to save the user from having to designate a subscriber telephone and perform a retransmission operation. Therefore, the possibility of completing the facsimile transmission can be increased. Further, since the facsimile machine itself is not changed specially compared with the conventional facsimile machine, it can be produced at a lower cost.

  In the embodiment described above, the facsimile apparatus gives an instruction to switch to a subscriber telephone immediately when the first transmission is not completed. It may be set in advance, and switching to the subscriber telephone may be performed when the number of times is exceeded. Further, the present invention may be applied to the case where an ADSL modem with an IP telephone is installed at the transmission destination and the transmission destination facsimile apparatus uses only the IP telephone. In this case, there are two communication paths: a method using an IP telephone and not passing through a subscriber telephone network, and a method using a subscriber telephone and passing through a subscriber telephone network. Switching to a subscriber telephone does not completely avoid the Internet, but there is a possibility of avoiding a portion where the load on the network is high due to a change in the communication path. Furthermore, when the same sender has both IP phone numbers and subscriber phone numbers, these phone numbers are stored in the facsimile machine, and when sending by IP phone, the IP phone number is stored. When transmitting by a subscriber telephone, a call may be made to the telephone number of the subscriber telephone.

  Further, in this embodiment, the access code is transmitted to the ADSL modem with the IP telephone function by sending the access code to the ADSL modem before calling, but the switching to the subscriber telephone is instructed. It is also possible to use instruction means.

  <Modification of the invention>

  In the embodiment described above, the IP phone is used for the first transmission for each image data. However, there are cases where the time zone in which access to the Internet is locally concentrated and the probability that the facsimile transmission by the IP telephone fails is high can be specified in advance. Therefore, as a modification, a case will be described in which a time zone for transmission using a subscriber telephone is set in the facsimile apparatus in advance.

  FIG. 9 shows an outline of a circuit configuration of a facsimile apparatus as a modification of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. 6 of the embodiment. Therefore, the same parts as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The main control unit 330 of the facsimile apparatus 312 is provided with a CPU 231, a RAM 233, an access code storage unit 234, and an image storage unit 235 as in the embodiment, and a ROM 332 is provided instead of the ROM 232 of FIG. 4. ing. Furthermore, a clock 341 for outputting time information and a subscriber telephone use time zone storage unit 342 for storing in advance a subscriber phone use time zone as a time zone for transmission using a subscriber phone are provided.

  By operating the operation unit 236, the subscriber telephone use time zone can be input to the subscriber phone use time zone storage unit 342, which is a time zone during which access is concentrated on the Internet, which is known in advance. For example, “20:00 to 23:00” corresponding to a time zone in which many people use the Internet after returning home.

  FIG. 10 shows the transmission processing of the first facsimile apparatus, and corresponds to FIG. 8 of the embodiment. The same steps as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same step numbers, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Further, the facsimile document transmission acceptance process performed prior to the transmission process is the same as that in FIG. 5 of the embodiment, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. When new image data is stored in the image storage unit 235 or there is image data that has been stored and has not been transmitted yet (step S261: Y), the main control unit 330 outputs the clock 341. It is checked whether or not the time information is within the range of the subscriber telephone usage time zone stored in the subscriber telephone usage time zone storage unit 342 (step S362). When it is not the subscriber telephone usage time zone (N), the call control unit 238 is caused to make a call as it is for the telephone number stored in a pair with the image data (step S263). Then, since the ADSL modem 212 with the IP telephone function has not received the access code “0000” before the telephone number, it determines that the IP telephone should be used and connects to the Internet 206. Step S263 and subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG.

  On the other hand, if the time information output from the clock 341 is the subscriber phone usage time zone stored in the subscriber phone usage time zone storage unit 342 (step S362: Y), even if transmission is performed via the Internet, the failure occurs. There is a high possibility of doing. Therefore, before making a call to the telephone number stored in a pair with the image data, the call control unit 238 sends the access code “0000” stored in the access code storage unit 234 (step S268). ). Then, the process proceeds to step S263, and subsequently, the call control unit 238 makes a call to the telephone number stored in the image storage unit 235 in a pair with the image data. Then, since the ADSL modem 212 with IP telephone function has received the access code “0000” before the telephone number, it determines that the subscriber telephone should be used and connects to the subscriber telephone network 207. Step S263 and subsequent steps are the same as those in FIG.

  As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus 312 of this modification, a time zone in which access to the Internet is predicted to be concentrated locally is registered in advance, and a subscriber telephone is used during that time zone. Send image data. This makes it possible to avoid communication abnormalities caused by the Internet load in advance. Therefore, the image information can be transmitted more reliably and the number of unnecessary transmission processes can be reduced.

  Note that the facsimile apparatus described in the embodiment may be combined with the technique of the facsimile apparatus of this modification, and the access code may be transmitted in the case of retransmission or transmission in a set time zone. In addition, the facsimile apparatus described in the embodiment is equipped with a function for learning a time zone in which there is a high possibility that a communication error will occur based on the transmission result of the image data. It is also possible to give instructions. In this case, the number of attempts to transmit image data by IP telephone and the number of failed transmissions are accumulated and stored for each time zone divided in advance, and the transmission failure rate is calculated every other week, for example. Then, a time zone in which the calculated transmission failure rate exceeds a predetermined threshold may be set as a time zone in which image data is transmitted using a subscriber telephone.

  In the embodiment and the modification, the ADSL modem unit and other device units are provided in one device as an ADSL modem with an IP telephone function, but they may be arranged as separate devices so as to be connectable.

It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the structure of the facsimile communication system by one Example of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the 1st user's house by the facsimile communication system of a present Example. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the 1st subscriber switching center by the facsimile communication system of a present Example. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the 2nd user's house by the facsimile communication system of a present Example. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the ADSL modem with an IP telephone function of a present Example. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a circuit configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a facsimile document transmission acceptance process of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of image data transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the outline | summary of the circuit structure of the facsimile apparatus by a modification. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of image data transmission processing of a facsimile apparatus according to a modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 Facsimile communication system 202 User house 203 DSL subscriber line 204 Subscriber switching center 205, 215 Telephone line 206 Internet 207 Subscribed telephone network 208 Call control apparatus 209 Gateway apparatus 211 User splitter 212 ADSL modem with IP telephone function 213 Personal computer 214 First 1 facsimile machine 217 DSLAM
218 Telephone exchange 220 Second facsimile machine 221 ADSL modem unit 222 Relay control unit 223 Dial determination transmission unit 224 A / D / D / A conversion unit 225 Compression encoding unit 226 IP packetization unit 230, 330 Main control unit 231 CPU
232, 332 ROM
233 RAM
234 Access code storage unit 235 Image storage unit 236 Operation unit 237 Scanner 238 Call control unit 239 Communication control unit 240 Bus 341 Clock 342 Subscribed telephone use time zone storage unit

Claims (7)

A plurality of facsimile machines constituting a transmission side or a reception side;
A subscriber telephone network;
Internet and
A first facsimile signal as an analog signal that is connected to a transmission-side facsimile device that is to transmit a document among the plurality of facsimile devices and that is transmitted from the transmission-side facsimile device through an audio band; Facsimile signal selection / transmission means for converting the first facsimile signal into a digital signal and selecting and transmitting any one of the second facsimile signals as signals transmitted in a predetermined frequency band higher than the voice band. When,
A transmission path for commonly transmitting the first or second facsimile signal selected and transmitted by the facsimile signal selection / transmission means;
When the signal transmitted through the transmission path is the first facsimile signal, the signal is sent to the receiving facsimile apparatus among the plurality of facsimile apparatuses only via the subscriber telephone network, and the second facsimile signal is transmitted. A facsimile signal transmission path switching means for converting the signal into a predetermined signal format when necessary and transmitting the signal to the receiving facsimile apparatus via the Internet;
A facsimile communication system comprising switching control means for switching and controlling a transmission path of the facsimile signal transmission path switching means in accordance with a load on the Internet.   2. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the switching control means is means for switching control of a transmission path of the facsimile signal transmission path switching means in accordance with a set time zone.   The switching control unit is configured to determine a communication state determining unit that determines a communication state of the Internet, and when the communication state determining unit determines that the Internet is in a communication state that is not suitable for communication of the second facsimile signal, 3. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a post-internet connection switching unit that switches the transmission route for sending to the facsimile apparatus to a route that passes only through the subscriber telephone network.   The switching control means is provided in a facsimile machine on the transmission side, the facsimile signal selection / transmission means is a communication modem connected to the facsimile apparatus, and the facsimile signal transmission path switching means is connected to the communication modem. 4. The facsimile communication system according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile communication system is a subscriber exchange station connected via a personal computer.   5. The facsimile communication system according to claim 4, wherein the communication modem is an ADSL modem. The first facsimile signal as an analog signal transmitted in the voice band transmitted from the facsimile machine on the transmission side is converted into a digital signal and the second facsimile signal in a predetermined frequency band higher than the voice band is used as the second facsimile signal. A transmission path sending step for sending the first facsimile signal and the second facsimile signal to a transmission path for commonly transmitting;
An Internet sending step for sending the second facsimile signal sent through the transmission path to the Internet in the transmission path sending step;
A communication state determination step for determining a communication state of the second facsimile signal transmitted to the Internet in the Internet transmission step;
A sending signal switching step for sending the first facsimile signal instead of the second facsimile signal to the transmission line when it is determined in this communication state determining step that the communication state of the second facsimile signal is not good;
A facsimile communication method comprising: a communication path switching step of transmitting the first facsimile signal sent through the transmission path in the transmission signal switching step to a subscriber telephone network. Time zone discrimination step for discriminating whether the first facsimile signal as an analog signal transmitted in the voice band sent from the sending facsimile apparatus to the ADSL modem is sent in a predetermined time zone. When,
When it is determined in this time zone determination step that the signal has been sent in the predetermined time zone, the first facsimile signal is converted into a digital signal, sent to the Internet as a second facsimile signal, and sent in other time zones. A facsimile signal sending step for sending the first facsimile signal to the subscriber telephone network when it is determined that
A communication state determination step for determining a communication state of the second facsimile signal transmitted to the Internet in the facsimile signal transmission step;
A route for sending the first facsimile signal sent from the sending facsimile apparatus to the ADSL modem to the subscriber telephone network when the communication state of the second facsimile signal is judged to be not good in this communication state judgment step. And a communication path switching step for switching to a facsimile communication method.

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