JPH0225157A - Facsimile adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To utilize directly an output data by printout by expanding an output data from a printer interface into dot information and prescribed code information and supplying the result to a MODEM. CONSTITUTION:A data sent from a personal computer 20 is fed to a printer 30 via a printer interface 70 and required print processing is executed. In the case of data transmission, the data is sent to a signal conversion means 100 via the said printer interface 70. The data is interpreted by a software interpreter sequentially and a character font is read out and it is converted into a dot data and then converted into a facsimile data. The data is fed to a network control circuit 40 via a MODEM 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a facsimile adapter suitable for application to a two-way one-way system that performs two-way communication between a host device and a slave device. .

``Prior Art'' Leap signals are normally exchanged between a host device, such as a personal computer, and a slave device, such as a facsimile machine, using a two-way communication system.

A facsimile adapter used in such a two-way communication system is a device that can directly convert documents and charts created on a personal computer or word processing device into a facsimile signal and transmit the signal.

In such a facsimile adapter, R5-2
A message is sent from the computer to the facsimile adapter using the 32C communication interface and dedicated software control.

A document created on a computer is printed out and sent to the other party using a facsimile machine, but the document that is sent is the same as the printed document. For this reason, this type of communication software first converts the text data on the computer into the document format for printing out, and then converts it into the R5-23 format.
The data is transmitted to the facsimile adapter via 2C.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, such conventional facsimile adapters have a number of drawbacks as described below.

First, when using the R5-232C software, it is necessary to configure the hardware for it in advance.

Second, it is necessary to temporarily suspend a currently running word processor, create a document file, and then start dedicated communication software to transmit it.

Third, in order to output the same image as when printed out, it is necessary to convert the data into a printout format using dedicated software.

In this way, in conventional facsimile adapters,
It caused various troubles for both users and manufacturers, and was extremely inconvenient to use.

Therefore, the present invention proposes a facsimile adapter that eliminates these drawbacks.In other words, the present invention proposes a facsimile adapter that uses a printer interface to directly use output data from a printout operation. This is a proposal.

“Means for solving problems” Above! ! In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, data sent from the host side device via the printer interface is expanded into dot information and specified code information and then supplied to the modem, and the data is obtained from the modem. This system is characterized in that a predetermined analog signal is directly transmitted to the other party's non-voice terminal through a communication line.

"Operation" Output data (printout data) sent from the host side device (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer) 20 via the printer interface is first converted into dot information and specified code information. After being subjected to ArR, the signal is supplied to the modem 50.

A predetermined analog signal obtained from the modem 50 is directly transmitted as a facsimile signal to the other party's non-voice terminal, ie, facsimile machine, through a communication line.

Here: The output data output to the printer interface, ie, the printout data, has already been converted into a printout format. Conversion to facsimile data is performed in accordance with control data added before and after the output data.

Therefore, no special communication software is required. Also, In
There is no need to terminate any application software, such as a word processor, that is currently running. The operation to print out is just a normal computer operation procedure, so
It is much easier than operating normal application software.

``Example'' Next, Figure 1 and the following are the cases where the facsimile adapter according to the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned two-way communication system! In this invention, which will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 5, a printer interface 70 is used as shown in FIG. This realizes two-way communication.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a receiving system IA in this two-way communication system, and FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmitting system IB.

In the receiving system IA shown in FIG. 3, 1o is a facsimile adapter, and 20 is a personal computer which is a host m device.

30 is a printer for printing out data from the personal computer 2o. The facsimile adapter 10 is
Functions as a slave device.

Data supplied from the telephone line is sent to the network control circuit (NCU).
) 40, the data is demodulated by being supplied to the modem 6o, and then the demodulated data is sent to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 60.
At , 1 byte of parallel data is converted to serial data.

In order to serially convert the demodulated data, in this example, the serial converter 2. It is serially converted to SCI (similar to SCI).

The serially converted data is supplied to the personal computer 20 via the printer interface 70.

Serial data is sent using the printer interface 7.
A busy line provided at 0 is used.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a transmission system IB in a two-way communication system, and the transmission system IB also includes a personal computer 20, a printer 30, and a facsimile adapter 10.

Data transmitted from the personal computer 20 is supplied to the printer 30 via the printer interface 70, and necessary printing processing is executed. In the case of data transmission, the data is supplied to the signal conversion means I00 via this printer interface 70, and the signal-converted data is sent to the modem 50.
The signal is then supplied to the NCU 40 and sent out to a communication line such as a telephone line. At this time, the computer 20 is in printout mode.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the signal conversion means 100 shown in FIG. The printout data output from the personal computer 20 is taken in through the printer interface 70 described above, and then stored in the RAM 101 for the printer code buffer.

When the printer code buffer of the buffer RAM 10I becomes full, the busy-1 word BUSY is transferred from the printer interface 70 to the personal computer 20, thereby controlling data transmission from the personal computer 20.

Then, the data in the buffer of the buffer RAM 10I is sequentially interpreted by the software interpreter 102, the character font of the character generator 103 configured in the ROM is read out, this is converted to dot data, and the data is stored in the dot map memory RAM 10.
4 Expand on top.

When the dot data of the tJ11 line is accumulated, the data of the l line is converted into facsimile data by referring to the code table in the code table ROM 106.
This is RAM10 for sequential facsimile code buffer.
It is accumulated in 5.

Then, data is read from the facsimile code buffer yRAM 105 at a timing corresponding to the communication speed, converted into a specified analog signal by the modem 50, and sent to the telephone line side through the NCU 40.

In addition, in the facsimile data, an EOL signal, which is a line separation signal, is inserted for each product line, and it is specified that the EOL signal is closed when the one line is sent.

A logic 0 signal is inserted between the I-line data transmission delimiter signal EOL and the specified maximum time. Furthermore, 8-bit facsimile code data is generated and transferred to the modem 50 in 8-bit units.

In this way, in the signal converting means 100, the printout data transmitted from the personal computer 20 through the Bunonta interface 70 is once developed into dot information, which is encoded and transmitted by the specified modem 50.
The information is then transmitted directly to the other party's facsimile machine via the telephone line.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of this signal conversion process. When data, that is, printout data is received from the personal computer 20 by interrupt processing, it is stored in the buffer RAM 10I, and then processed according to the procedure shown in FIG. ! pchi data buffer RAMl
Printout data is read out in order from 0I,
It is checked whether the data is command data or raw data (steps 111 and 112).

If it is command data, the data will be analyzed and various settings will be made (step 113). After that, the process returns to step 111 again.

When the captured data is raw data, it is checked whether the data is code data or dot data (step 114), and if it is code data, the receiver recognizes the character from the captured character code,
The character font will be read (step 115)
.

The obtained font data is stored on the virtual VRAM and dot rM opening is performed (step 116). The dot map memory RAM 104 is used for this purpose.

After the dot expansion is completed, when the expansion for one line is completed, the data for one line is sequentially stored in the facsimile code buffer RArv 1105 by counting the vertical dots as a product.

Thereafter, as described above, the data stored in the code buffer RAM 105 is sequentially read byte by byte by the modem's interrupt processing, and this is converted into an analog signal and sent to the telephone line side.

Now, FIG. 6 shows an example of the printer interface 70.

Personal computer 2 (8-bit data lines DO to D7 from 11
A strobe line (STB) and a busy line (BU
A total of nine lines (SY) are led out and led to the input terminal 71. At the input terminal 71, the data line DQ-S
-D7 is connected to the corresponding data lines DO to D7 of the terminal 72 on the printer 30 side. Each of the data lines DO to D7 of the printer side terminal 72 is supplied to the modem 50 via a data bus. Also, one of the data lines of terminal 72
The book, ie, DO, is used to supply a reception block from the personal computer during data communication.

Straw 7 wire STB and busy wire B of terminals 71 and 72
A first switching means 75 is provided between USY and USY.

When data from the personal computer 20 is printed out as is, the strobe line STB and busy line BUSY at the terminal 71 are connected to the corresponding lines at the terminal 72.

Data communication, that is, received data to the computer 20! ! When transmitting to tl, switching is made to the printer interface 7011.

This switching is performed by a cut-off signal (FAX) sent from the microcomputer 80. When the control signal FAX is obtained, the transistor 76 is turned on and the relay 77 is energized, so that the first switching means 75 is switched to the state shown by the solid line. As a result, the busy line BUSY is used as a data line for serial data.

The straw-1 line STB is used for timing adjustment during preprocessing for data exchange.

That is, the straw-1 signal (for convenience, referred to as STB, FIG. 7C) obtained from the personal computer 20 is transmitted to the first switching means 7.
5 and an amplifier 85, and is supplied to a set terminal of a D-type flip-flop 86.

When the strobe signal STB arrives, a high-level pulse synchronized with the fall of the strobe signal STB is obtained from the Q terminal. This high level pulse (hereinafter referred to as BUSY pulse) is supplied to the DO terminal of the second switching means 82 via an inverter 87.

The second switching means 82 is a switching means for using the busy line BUSY as a data line DATA, and as a signal line for timing adjustment between the Bahacon 20 and the printer interface 70111 until the received data is transmitted. used.

Therefore, the busy signal at the Q terminal is sent to the busy line BUSY via the inverter 83 until data transmission is started.

In addition, BUSY and READ output from the microcomputer 80
The Y disconnection signal (FIG. 7E) is supplied to the DO terminal of the second switching means 82 via an amplifier 88. Therefore, this D
The O terminal always maintains a low level from when the strobe signal STB is obtained until when a switching signal indicating a ready state is obtained.

Note that the second switching means 82 is activated by switching No. 18 5END outputted from the microcomputer 80.

Now, the manually received data supplied to the terminal 73 is supplied to the parallel-to-serial conversion circuit 60, where the data is serially converted (FIGS. 7A and 7D). As a clock for serial conversion, the serial clock SCK sent from the personal computer 20 is used (Fig. 7A). This serial clock connects one of the data lines DO-D 7. It is used and sent out. In this example, the DO data line is also used as the serial clock SCK clock line.

In synchronization with the serial clock SCK, 1 byte of serially converted input received data is sent to the inverter 79. Second
D1 terminal of the switching means 82, and furthermore, the inverter 83
and is sent to the busy line BUSY via the first switching means 75. The received data is now serially transmitted to the personal computer 2011.

Note that the strobe signal STB obtained from the inverting terminal of the D-type flip-flop 86 is supplied to the microcomputer 80, and the arrival of the strobe pulse STB is detected.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a control program for exchanging signals between the personal computer 20 and the modem 50 when receiving data.

Therefore, it is assumed that the first switching means 75 is switched to the side shown by the solid line, and the second switching means 82 is switched to the DO terminal side.

First, by starting the control program 120 on the personal computer side, the control program 140 of the facsimile adapter 1011 performs a confirmation process as the status clocks ST and CK are sent out (step 1).
21. 141).

On the adapter side, the presence or absence of an incoming call is then checked, and when there is an incoming call, a ready signal READY is sent to the personal computer side, and in response to this ready signal READY, the personal computer side sends out a strobe signal STB. This strobe signal STB is confirmed on the adapter side (122.123, 143.144).

When the confirmation of the strobe signal STB is completed, a ready signal READY is sent from the adapter side, and one byte of the received data is loaded. When loading of the received data is completed, a busy signal BUSY is sent (steps 145 to 147).

On the personal computer side, when this is confirmed by receiving READY (No. 1 READY), the BUSY signal is then confirmed (steps 124 and 125).
When both are confirmed, a strobe signal STB is sent to the adapter side, and in response, the adapter 140 (
In Ill, confirmation processing of the strobe signal STB is executed (steps 126 and 148). When the confirmation of the strobe signal is completed, the second switching means 82 is controlled to switch to the D1 terminal side so that the busy line BUSY can be used as a data line (step 149).

When the switching of the busy line BUSY is completed, the serial clock SCK is sent from the personal computer side, and the parallel-serial converted received data is sent accordingly (steps 127 and 150).

On the personal computer side, each bit is sequentially received, and when there is 1 byte of received 1g data, the transmission of the serial clock SCK is stopped and the received data is processed (steps 128 to 131). )
.

When the processing of the manually received data is completed, the strobe signal STB is sent out in step 132. After confirming the arrival of this strobe signal STB, the adapter side changes the busy line BUSY to the original busy line. (Steps 151 and 152). Then, it is checked whether the received data has reached the end of one page, and if it has not, the process returns to Step 12.
Returning to step 4, serial data is sequentially transmitted one byte at a time to the personal computer 20g11 while checking mutual timing using the same procedure as described above.

When the data for one page has been sent manually and to the computer, the control routine exits (step 133.
153).

In this way, steps 121-123 and 141-14
Steps 4 to 4 are all confirmation steps on the personal computer side, and steps 124 to 12G and steps 145 to 148 are steps for checking the start of the received data.

All of these are considered part-timers.

Then, steps 127 to 129 and step 14
9. 150 is an interval in which the amount of bits is the same every time. Then, the remaining steps 130 to 132 and step 15
1.152 are all sections of the same part-time job.

As a result, 1 byte of received data is serially converted in synchronization with the serial clock SCK sent from the personal computer 20g4, and 1 byte of data is transmitted via the busy line BUSY in synchronization with this serial clock SCK. It is serially transferred (see Figure 7A and D).

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, the output data sent from the host device via the printer interface is expanded into dot information and prescribed code information, and then supplied to the modem. It was designed to do so. In this case, output data output by a printout operation on the host device is sent directly to the communication line side using a printer interface.

Output data output to the printer interface, that is, printout data, has already been converted into a printout format. Conversion into facsimile data can be performed by adding one to the control data added before and after the output data.

As a result, no special communication software is required. In addition, there is no need to close the currently running application software such as a word processor, and output data can only be sent using the familiar printout operation on a computer, making the operation extremely simple. It has the following characteristics.

Therefore, the two-way communication system according to the present invention is extremely suitable for use as a facsimile adapter for data communication between a personal computer and a facsimile machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a specific system diagram of the signal converting means showing an example of the essential parts of the facsimile adapter according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing an example of a receiving system in a two-way communication system, FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing an example of a transmitting system, FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a two-way communication system, and FIG. A configuration diagram showing an example of a printer interface, FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram for explaining its operation, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart showing an example of signal exchange between the host side and the slave side at the time of reception. 104...Facsimile code buffer 10B...
-Code table IA / IB / 10A / 20 30 / tlo / 50 φ 6 θ / 70 / 100 103 / - Receiving system of two-way communication system - Sending system of two-way communication system - Facsimile adapter skewer PC / printer NCU Φmodem, parallel-serial conversion circuit, printer interface, signal conversion means, printer code buffer ◆Interpreter, character generator

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Data sent from the host device via the printer interface is expanded into dot information and specified code information and then supplied to the modem, and the specified analog signal obtained from this modem is sent directly to the other party via the communication line. A facsimile adapter characterized in that the data is transmitted to a non-voice terminal on the side.