JP2009017109A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication device capable of performing stable communication even if nonstandard communication is performed by knowing the communication procedure of an opposite party in facsimile communication. <P>SOLUTION: When communication with a device of an opposite communication party is first established, the manufacturer information of the device or manufacturer information is detected as an opposite party identifier from a signal transmitted from the opposite party by an opposite party detection means. During communication, the features of the communication signal and procedure of opposite party device are measured by a measuring means. When an evaluation means evaluates that a result measured by the measuring means has not satisfied a preset standard, the evaluation result is associated with the opposite party identifier and registered in a storage means. Then, a parameter for optimizing the communication means is selected based on the evaluation result corresponding to the registered opposite party identifier by referring to the storage means using a selection means at the next communication establishment point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that sets communication conditions according to the quality of a communication line.

When performing facsimile communication, it is desirable that the signals and procedures used comply with the recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T).
However, in reality, a small number of facsimile communication devices that do not comply with the above standards exist in the market and are operating due to cost reduction, etc., so a communication error occurs and retransmission (redial) is performed, but transmission is performed. Can't be wasted and wasted time and money.
In order to satisfactorily perform mutual communication with such a facsimile communication machine, it is widely performed to perform a communication operation outside the above-mentioned standard within a range where there is no problem.

In recent years, with the spread of PC-FAX and the like, many new manufacturers have entered the factory communication.
When designing a facsimile communication device, since the conformity to the above-mentioned standard in these facsimile communication devices is not known, it is necessary to design the facsimile communication device so as to cope with all signals outside the expected standard.

  However, if a facsimile communication device is designed so that signals that are extremely out of specification can always be transmitted / received, there is a concern that communication performance may be degraded in transmission / reception to the majority of facsimile communication devices that comply with the standard.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and grasps the communication procedure of the other party at the time of facsimile communication, and enables communication that enables stable communication even when performing non-standard communication. An object is to provide an apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the communication device of the present invention firstly uses a partner device from a signal sent from the partner when establishing communication with the partner device of the communication partner by the partner detection means. Manufacturer information or manufacturer information is detected as a partner identifier.
During communication, measurement means measures the communication signal and procedure characteristics of the counterpart device and evaluates by the evaluation means that the result measured by the measurement means does not satisfy a preset standard. When it is done, the evaluation result is registered in the storage means in association with the counterpart identifier.
Then, at the time when communication is established from the next time, the selection means refers to the storage means and selects a parameter for optimizing the communication means based on the evaluation result corresponding to the registered counterpart identifier. I made it.

  According to the present invention, even when a non-standard signal is generated in the pre-procedure and post-procedure used in facsimile communication, the signal characteristics of the counterpart device are grasped at the first communication, and the characteristics of the counterpart device are changed from the next time. By performing regular communication, it is possible to obtain a good communication result for both the standard and nonstandard facsimile communication apparatuses.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile communication apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, a facsimile communication apparatus 10 includes a main control unit 11 that controls the facsimile communication apparatus 10 in an integrated manner, and a predetermined control unit. A document reading unit 12 that reads a document image at a resolution of 1 to obtain image information for transmission, a printing unit 13 that prints image information received from another facsimile communication apparatus on a recording sheet at a predetermined resolution, and a plurality of operations. An operation display unit 14 having keys, switches, a liquid crystal display unit, and the like, various control programs and data tables, or a storage unit 15 that temporarily stores various data, and image data are encoded. A coding / decoding unit 16 for obtaining original image data by compression or decoding, a clock unit 17 for measuring time, and a communication partner device And a communication unit 20 for transmitting and receiving data between the various data and the like in the facsimile communication apparatus 10. The transmitted and received by the bus 18.

The communication unit 20 includes a network control unit (NCU: Network Control Unit) 21 and a modem 22. The network control unit 21 is hardware that performs line control operations for closing and opening a line with an analog public telephone line network (PSTN), and connects the modem 22 to the public telephone line network as necessary. That is, the network control unit 21 performs transmission / reception of image data and transmission / reception of control signals in accordance with a facsimile communication protocol, and also performs automatic outgoing / incoming processing.
The modem 22 modulates a transmission signal of facsimile communication into a form suitable for transmission on the line based on the facsimile communication standard, and demodulates the modulation signal transmitted from the line.

  The facsimile communication apparatus 10 encodes image data read by the document reading unit 12 by an encoding / decoding unit 16 and transmits the encoded image data through a public communication network, while receiving image data received through the line to the encoding / decoding unit 16. The basic operation of decoding and printing out from the printing unit 13 is performed.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a facsimile communication procedure between the facsimile communication apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 and the counterpart apparatus.
When data is transmitted from the calling side device to the called side device, a calling tone (CNG: Calling Tone) is first transmitted from the calling side device to the called side device.
When the called side device detects a calling tone from the calling side device, it first sends a called station identification signal (CED), and then a non-standard function including manufacturer information of the own device. A signal (NSF: Non-Standard Facilities signal), a called device identification signal (CSI: Called Subscriber Identification signal) including the telephone number of the device itself, and a digital including performance information of the device such as transmission speed and maximum reception width By sending an identification signal (DIS: Digital Transmit Command signal), the function of the own device is notified to the calling device.

  Then, in response to these signals, the calling side device transmits a transmitting device identification signal (TSI: Transmitting Subscriber Identification signal) including its own telephone number and a non-standard procedure signal including manufacturer information of its own device (TSI). By sending NSS (Non-Standard facilities Set-up) and a digital command signal (DCS: Digital Command Signal) including performance information of the device such as transmission speed and maximum reception width, Inform the calling device. Here, the NSS signal may not be transmitted.

  Subsequently, when the called side device receives a training check signal (TCF) transmitted from the calling side device, a reception preparation confirmation signal (CFR) is sent from the called side device. Sent back to the side device.

  After receiving the CFR signal from the called device, the calling device transmits image data (PIX) for each page to the called device. Each time image data for one page is transmitted, a multipage signal MPS (MultiPage Signal) is transmitted from the calling side device and received by the called side device, and a message confirmation signal MCF (Message Confirmation signal) is called. The image data of the next page is transmitted from the calling side device and received by the called side device.

After transmission of data for all pages is completed, a procedure end signal EOP (End of Procedures signal) is transmitted from the calling side device and received by the called side device, thereby receiving image data for all pages. If the called device confirms this, a message confirmation signal MCF is returned from the called device to the calling device.
Finally, when a disconnection command signal DCN (Disconnect signal) is transmitted from the calling device and received by the called device, the facsimile communication is terminated.

  Such control for transmitting and receiving signals and data is performed by the main control section 11 in both the calling side and called side facsimile communication apparatuses.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration for setting parameters used in the communication unit 20 according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the communication unit 20 includes a partner detection unit 51, a parameter selection unit 52, a partner A destination number table 53, a partner manufacturer table 54, a measuring means 55, and an evaluation means 56 are included.

The partner detection means 51 detects the partner identifier as follows.
(1) When the own device is a called party:
The partner detection means 51 is activated in response to the detection of the CNG signal in the network control unit 21 and detects the telephone number of the calling side device based on the TSI signal received by the network control unit 21. Alternatively, when the network control unit 21 receives the NSS signal, the manufacturer information of the calling side device is detected based on the NSS signal.

(2) When the device is the calling party:
The counterpart detection means 51 receives the CED signal in the network control unit 21 and then detects the telephone number of the called device based on the received CSI signal. Alternatively, the manufacturer information (manufacturer name, model name, etc.) of the called device is detected based on the NSF signal received by the network control unit 21.

  In the present embodiment, these destination telephone numbers or manufacturer information are referred to as destination identifiers.

The parameter selection means 52 searches whether the partner identifier detected by the partner detection means 51 is registered in the partner number-specific table 53 or the partner manufacturer-specific table 54. Each parameter of the modem 22 is set so that communication is performed according to non-standard content corresponding to the identifier, and communication with a width exceeding the standard is performed.
If not registered in any table, each parameter of the modem 22 is set so that normal communication conforming to the ITU-T standard is performed.

  As described above, the communication unit 20 refers to the partner number-specific table 53 or the partner manufacturer-specific table 54 by the partner identifier at the time of redialing or the next transmission / reception, so that even if the communication procedure is not standardized. Communication can be performed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the by-destination number-specific table 53 is a table in which non-standard contents are registered corresponding to the other-party telephone number that is the other-party identifier.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the partner manufacturer-specific table 54 is registered with counterpart manufacturer information (for example, manufacturer name, model name, etc.) corresponding to non-standard content corresponding to the partner identifier. is there.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the counterpart detecting means 51 and the parameter selecting means 52.
If the partner device is the called party (step S61 / YES), it is checked whether a telephone number exists in the CSI signal. If it exists (step S62 / YES), the telephone number extracted from the CSI signal is used. As a partner identifier, a parameter is selected with reference to the partner number table 53 (step S63). Here, when the partner identifier is not registered in the partner number-specific table 53, parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.

On the other hand, when the telephone number does not exist in the CSI signal (step S62 / NO), it is checked whether the manufacturer information exists in the NSF signal. If it exists (step S64 / YES), it is extracted from the NSF signal. By using the manufacturer information as a partner identifier, a parameter is selected with reference to the partner manufacturer table 54 (step S65). Here, when the counterpart identifier is not registered in the counterpart manufacturer table 54, parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.
On the other hand, when manufacturer information does not exist in the NSF signal (step S64 / NO), parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.

  If the partner device is the calling party (step S61 / NO), it is checked whether a telephone number exists in the TSI signal. If it exists (step S66 / YES), the telephone number extracted from the TSI signal is used. As a partner identifier, a parameter is selected with reference to the partner number table 53 (step S67). Here, when the partner identifier is not registered in the partner number-specific table 53, parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.

On the other hand, when the telephone number does not exist in the TSI signal (step S66 / NO), it is checked whether the manufacturer information exists in the NSS signal. If it exists (step S68 / YES), it is extracted from the NSS signal. By using the manufacturer information as a partner identifier, a parameter is selected with reference to the partner manufacturer table 54 (step S69). Here, when the counterpart identifier is not registered in the counterpart manufacturer table 54, parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.
On the other hand, when manufacturer information does not exist in the NSS signal (step S68 / NO), parameter selection is performed as a normal standard.

  As described above, when it is recognized that the specific communication signal is out of the standard by determining the other party telephone number or the manufacturer information of the facsimile communication apparatus, the modem 22 transmits a short signal or a long signal. However, by accepting the signal as a predetermined signal, stable facsimile communication can be performed without causing a communication error.

The measuring means 55 operates during communication in the modem 22 and measures characteristics of communication signals and communication procedures.
If the evaluation unit 56 determines that the feature measured by the measurement unit 55 is a non-standard specification compared with the reference value stored in advance, the non-standard content corresponding to the counterpart identifier is determined. The information is registered in the destination number table 53 or the destination manufacturer table 54.

Here, “non-standard” means that the specific signal of the procedure signal used for facsimile communication is as follows.
·too short.
・ Too long.
• The description of information described by the signal is against the rules.
・ The frequency is shifted.

  The non-standard signal refers to a signal other than an image signal and a training signal, pre-assembly that is an empty signal sent before each signal, and a post flag that is an empty signal sent after each signal. And the above-mentioned conditions are met.

Next, a processing procedure for setting communication parameters optimal for communication in the communication unit 20 will be described using the flowchart of FIG.
At the time of facsimile communication, first, a destination identifier (telephone number or manufacturer information) is detected (step S71), and either the destination number-specific table 53 or the destination manufacturer-specific table 54 is referred to. It is determined whether or not it is registered as an “outside facsimile communication apparatus”, and if the destination is not registered (step S72 / NO), parameters are set so that normal communication conforming to the ITU-T standard is performed ( Step S73).

  On the other hand, if the registered partner is an identifier (step S72 / YES), communication parameters corresponding to the registered contents are set, and communication with a width exceeding the standard is performed (step S74).

If some trouble occurs during communication (step S75 / YES) and the cause is in the non-standard specification of the other party (step S76 / YES), the standard is determined according to the other party identifier as “non-standard facsimile communication apparatus”. The contents outside are registered in the table, the fact that there is a problem is transmitted to the partner apparatus, and the communication is terminated (step S77).
On the other hand, when there is no communication failure and the counterpart device is not performing non-standard communication (steps S75 / NO, S76 / NO), the communication process is continued.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the facsimile communication apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a sequence diagram which shows the communication procedure of a facsimile communication apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure which sets the parameter used by the communication part which concerns on embodiment. It is an example of a data structure of a table according to other party number. It is an example of a data structure of a table classified by partner manufacturer. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of an other party detection means and a parameter selection means. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which sets the communication parameter optimal for communication to a communication part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Facsimile communication apparatus, 11 ... Main control part, 12 ... Document reading part, 13 ... Printing part, 14 ... Operation display part, 15 ... Memory | storage part, 16 ... Encoding / decoding part, 17 ... Clock part, 18 ... Bus, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Communication part, 21 ... Network control part, 22 ... Modem, 51 ... Counterpart detection means, 52 ... Parameter selection means, 53 ... Table according to partner number, 54 ... Table according to partner maker, 55 ... Measurement means, 56 ... evaluation means.

Claims (4)

  When establishing communication with a partner device of a communication partner, a partner detection unit that detects a partner identifier, a measurement unit that measures a communication signal and procedure characteristics of the partner device, and the measurement unit When it is evaluated that the measured result does not satisfy a preset criterion, referring to the storage unit, an evaluation unit that registers the evaluation result in the storage unit in association with the counterpart identifier, Selection means for selecting a parameter for optimizing the communication means based on the evaluation result corresponding to the registered counterpart identifier, and when establishing communication with the counterpart device of the communication counterpart, A communication apparatus, wherein the communication means is optimized according to the parameter selected by the selection means.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partner detection unit extracts manufacturer information of the partner apparatus from a signal sent from the partner when establishing communication with the partner apparatus, A communication device characterized by:   2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the partner detection unit extracts a telephone number of the partner device from a signal sent from the partner when establishing communication with the partner device, and sets the partner identifier as a partner identifier. A communication device.   2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit measures a length of a specific signal of a procedure signal used for facsimile communication transmitted from a partner apparatus.

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