JP2000349857A - Facsimile communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely receive image data in an error correction communication mode even by a data communication unit that decodes the received image data and processes the recording at a slow speed. SOLUTION: An ECM buffer 9 stores image data of one block received through ECM communication, a control section 5 decodes image data of one block in the ECM buffer 9, and a recording section 6 records the data. In the case that image data of a succeeding block cannot be stored in the ECM buffer 9 after the reception of data of one block, flow control through the transmission of an RNR signal is conducted or a PPR signal being a re-transmission request of the block having already been received is transmitted to efficiently use a time to record the image data to the ECM buffer 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data communication device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a data communication device having an error correction communication mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device of this type, for example, a facsimile device has an error correction communication mode (ECM communication recommended by CCITT). Conventionally, when facsimile communication is performed, the minimum transmission time is set and updated, particularly depending on the performance (decoding, printing speed, etc.) of the receiver. However, in ECM communication, communication is performed not in units of lines but in units of blocks, and the receiving side has two buffers for reception (frame size up to 25).
6 bytes = 256 bytes x 256 frames x 2 planes = 12
8K bytes), the data normally received by the buffer while receiving the image on one side, or another
In general, control is performed to print the data that was correctly received last time by using a buffer on the surface. For this reason, in the ECM communication, when it is necessary to wait for the other party due to the time required for print output, a signal (RNR signal) for causing the transmitting side to wait for the transmission of the next block is transmitted from the receiving side, and the transmission of the next block is performed. Is possible.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, according to the recommendation of CCITT T30, T5 = 60 ±
This is 5 seconds, and in a device that takes a long time to decode or print out, there is a disadvantage that printing may not be possible within T5 time and normal reception is not possible.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided means for transmitting a retransmission request signal for already received data when received data is not yet processed and the next received data cannot be stored in the storage means. Thus, the processing means can increase the time for processing the data in the storage means, and can surely perform data communication in the error correction communication mode even in a data communication device having a low data processing speed.

[0005]

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

In the following embodiments, a facsimile apparatus having an ECM communication function recommended by CCITT will be described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to a data communication apparatus such as a teletex or a computer communication having an error correction communication mode. All applicable.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit for displaying various information, and 2 denotes an operation unit having a plurality of key input switches. Reference numeral 3 denotes a ROM storing a control program, 4 denotes a reading unit for reading a document image, and 5 denotes a control unit including a processor element and the like, and performs overall control according to a program stored in the ROM 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording unit for recording a received image, 7 denotes a RAM for temporarily storing various data, and 8 denotes a communication unit including an NCU, a modem, and the like. Reference numeral 9 denotes an ECM buffer for storing a received image when an image is received by the ECM. ECM
At the time of reception, data is exchanged via the communication line 10 and the communication unit 8 and the received image data is sequentially transferred to the ECM buffer 9.
To be stored. The stored normal image data is sequentially decoded, converted into one-line printable data, and printed out by the recording unit 6.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the control section 5 of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation will be described in detail with reference to the operation flowchart of FIG. First, when an incoming call is detected, a pre-procedure is performed, and when ECM communication is designated from the transmitter side, an ECM receiving process is started, and data reception is started in step S1. The image data is converted into an HDLC frame in units of 256 bytes or 64 bytes per frame and sequentially sent from the transmitter.

The end of the picture signal is determined by the RCP signal (signal indicating the end of the picture signal) which is also converted into an HDLC frame, and this is checked in step S2. The print output of the image starts when the printable data of one line of decode has been obtained from the one that was correctly received in frame units,
Alternatively, it may be performed collectively after one block is completed. If printing is possible in step S10, one line printing is performed, and if printing is still not possible, the process returns to data reception and repeats this loop.

When the RCP is detected in step S2, a Q signal (MPS signal indicating that there is a next page, or EO indicating returning to the previous procedure) is continuously transmitted from the transmitter.
The M signal and the EOP signal indicating the end of the transmission of the image signal) are checked to determine whether the next block is transmitted. If the next block is not transmitted, the line is released in a later procedure, and the remaining image data is decoded and printed out. If the next block has been transmitted, it is determined in step S4 whether the other ECM buffer 9 cannot be used during decoding, printing, or the like. On the other hand, if the ECM buffer 9 is empty, the reception buffer in the ECM buffer 9 is switched, and the process is shifted to the data reception in step S1. On the other hand, if the ECM buffer 9 cannot be used during decoding or the like, it sends an RNR signal indicating that it is not ready to receive from the remaining amount of data in the block and enters flow control, or it issues a retransmission request signal for an error frame. The PPR signal is transmitted to check whether decoding or printing time is to be gained. The criterion in step S5 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the case shown in (1) of FIG. 3, that is, while the data of the first block is being decoded and printed out, the other ECM is being decoded.
When the data of the second block which has been received by the buffer is completed and the transmission procedure signal of the second block comes subsequently, there is no receivable ECM buffer 9 and it is necessary to make the transmitter wait. If the time to decode and print out the remaining data in the first block of data is shorter than T5 (60 ± 5 seconds) in the CCITT T30 recommendation,
Communication can be continued with flow control using an RNR signal and an RR signal for requesting resumption of transmitter transmission (when the transmitting side sends an RR signal, the receiving side returns the RNR signal and waits for transmission), but communication can be continued. If decoding and printout cannot be performed within T5 time from the remaining data amount, the time required for decoding and printout is obtained by a retransmission request by the PPR signal. Since the time required for decoding and printing differs depending on the device, fine adjustment can be made by incorporating each parameter as shown in FIG. 4 as a device constant or setting it as a serviceman as external registration data.

Based on the above criterion, the determination is made in step S5 of FIG. 2 and if it is determined that the decoding and printing output are not in time within the time T5, the process proceeds to step S12.
The PR is transmitted and a retransmission request is made to the transmitting side to gain time. At this time, it is more efficient to transmit the PPR of all frame errors for the purpose of saving time even if an error frame actually exists partially, and it is possible to overwrite the retransmission of the frame which has been normally received. Good, but it is desirable to ignore the retransmitted data because it may cause an error. If it is determined in step S5 that it is within the time T5, an RNR signal is returned and decoding and printing are performed. (Steps S6, S7, S8, S9, S1
3). When the printout is completed, the buffer is switched in step S16 to receive the next block.

In the above-described embodiment, when the reception cannot be continued, the decoding, within the T5 time, is performed due to its own processing capability.
When it is determined that the print output cannot be made in time, the PPR is returned, and thereafter, when it is determined that the processing is completed within the time T5, the flow shifts to the flow control. However, the PPR may be returned after the flow control is performed first. In this case, since the transmitter is disconnected at the time T5, the PPR is returned slightly earlier than the time. According to this method, the number of times of returning the PPR may be smaller than that described above, and there is also an effect of improving the disadvantage of falling back.

[0013]

According to the present invention, as described above, even in a device having a low reception processing speed, the data communication can be reliably performed in the error correction mode by increasing the processing time by transmitting the retransmission request signal. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a buffer management diagram at the time of ECM reception.

FIG. 4 is a buffer management diagram at the time of EDM reception.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display part 2 Operation part 3 ROM 4 Reading part 5 Control part 6 Recording part 7 RAM 8 Communication part 9 ECM buffer 10 Communication line

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 28, 2000 (200.4.2
8)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Patent application title: Facsimile communication method

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile communication method.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, conventional examples of error retransmission and flow control will be described. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
No. 145451 is raised. To this end, a predetermined amount of receiving buffer memory is provided on the receiving side, the normally received data is stored in the receiving buffer, and if the normally received data is arranged in order from the beginning, the data up to the point where the order is completed is obtained. It is described that the data is output and, on the other hand, the data received in error is not stored in the buffer memory, but a retransmission request is made to the transmission side. Further, if the oldest error data is retransmitted and received normally, the data up to the newly arranged order is output from the buffer memory.
If error data other than the oldest error data is normally received before the oldest error data, the oldest error data is retransmitted with the highest priority. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-77371 is a conventional example of flow control.
It describes that a receiving side has a buffer memory of a predetermined size, and the receiving side processes data stored in the buffer memory. When the processing of a certain data is completed, the area of the buffer memory is released, and the data transmitted thereafter is stored in the released area. However, data processing takes time,
When the free area of the buffer memory becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount, the STP signal is transmitted to the transmitting side to interrupt data transmission. Thereafter, the data processing proceeds, and if a free area is formed in the buffer memory, control is performed to transmit an STA signal and restart data transmission. Next, a conventional example having both an error retransmission function and a flow control function will be described. As a conventional example, there is a facsimile error correction communication mode (ECIT communication recommended by CCITT). E
In CM communication, communication is performed in block units,
The receiving side uses two buffers for reception (256 bytes x 256 frames x 2 frames with a maximum frame size of 256 bytes).
With the use of (128 Kbytes), control for printing data normally received by the buffer while receiving an image on one side or data previously received correctly on the other side of the buffer is generally performed. For this reason, in the ECM communication, when it is necessary to wait for the other party due to the time required for print output, a signal (RNR signal) for causing the transmitting side to wait for the transmission of the next block is transmitted from the receiving side, and the transmission of the next block is performed. Is possible. According to the recommendation, the ECM can transmit only the MCF as a response of the flow control. In other words, the order of error retransmission and flow control is such that if error retransmission is performed first and it takes time to print correctly received data, flow control is performed, and if printing is completed, MCF is transmitted.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0003

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, according to the recommendation of CCITT T30, T5 = 60 ±
The time is 5 seconds, and in a device that takes a long time to decode or print out, printing may not be performed within T5 time. In this case, MCF cannot be transmitted because decoding or printing has not been completed, but other signals cannot be transmitted due to restrictions on recommendations, and eventually no signal can be transmitted. Then, since there is no response even if the time is over within T5, the transmitting side transmits the DCN and terminates the communication, and the receiving side has a drawback that the data cannot be normally received. And, as described below, there has been no one that has conventionally recognized this problem. JP-A-57-1454
No. 51 is the oldest error data to cope with the situation where the error is not resolved even if the oldest error data is retransmitted many times, and the oldest data cannot be output normally from the buffer memory because the oldest data is not received normally. If other error data is received normally earlier, only the highest priority is given to retransmission of the oldest error data, and it takes time to output the received data stored in the buffer memory. I don't even realize that I gain time with control. Furthermore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-145451, an upper limit is set for the flow control time as in the ECM, but the problem that the communication is disconnected when the data processing time exceeds the upper limit is completely recognized. It has not been. In the method of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-77371, the flow control time (ST
Since there is no upper limit for the transmission of the P signal to the transmission of the STA signal), an upper limit is set for the flow control time as in the ECM, but communication is performed when the data processing time exceeds the upper limit. There is no recognition of the problem of the disconnection. Therefore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
Even if conventional error retransmission and flow control such as that of JP-A-145451 and JP-A-58-77371 are combined, error retransmission is performed first as in the recommended ECM, and printing of correctly received data cannot be performed in time. Only control in the order of control is led. In short, the fact that the order of the error retransmission control, the flow control, and the flow control is reversed so that the PPR can be transmitted as a response to the flow control is not suggested at all even by combining the conventional techniques.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0004]

According to the present invention, when flow control is performed in ECM of facsimile communication,
The PPR can be transmitted as a response.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

In the above-described embodiment, if the reception cannot be continued, the decoding, within the time T5, is performed based on the processing capability of the terminal itself.
When it is determined that the print output cannot be made in time, the PPR is returned, and thereafter, when it is determined that the processing is completed within the time T5, the flow shifts to the flow control. However, the PPR may be returned after the flow control is performed first. In this case, since the transmitter is disconnected at the time T5, the PPR is returned slightly earlier than the time. According to this method, the number of times of returning the PPR may be smaller than that described above, and there is also an effect of improving the disadvantage of falling back. According to the ECM recommendation of T30, only MCF can be transmitted as a response to flow control. Therefore, as a premise of realizing the above-described configuration, the present application assumes that PPR can be transmitted as a response to flow control as necessary. did.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in addition to the recommended MCF, the PPR is used in response to the ECM flow control.
Can be transmitted, so that disconnection of communication when the data processing time exceeds the upper limit of the flow control time can be prevented.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A data communication device having an error correction communication function, a storage means for storing received data, a processing means for processing data in the storage means, and the following data cannot be stored in the storage means. A data communication device comprising means for transmitting a retransmission request signal for data already received in such a case. 2. A flow control system according to claim 1, wherein when the next data cannot be stored in said storage means, flow control for transmitting a signal indicating that reception is not ready is performed, and then said retransmission request signal is transmitted. A data communication device, characterized in that: