JP2001156959A - Communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal equipment, with which at least data on reception can be prevented from being lost even when a connection to a communication network is composed of an option board. SOLUTION: A PC card type memory 37 is packaged through an interface 36 for the PC card into an option board 30. Data, which are received by a mail server, on receiving due to an internet FAX are temporarily stored on the PC card type memory 37, sent from the PC card type memory 37 to an image memory in the main body of the facsimile equipment later and stored. Therefore, data on transmitting/receiving through the option board 30 are stored on the PC card type memory 37 without fail. Thus, even when the connection to the communication network is composed of the optical board 30, data on receiving can be prevented from being lost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device represented by a facsimile device and the like, and more particularly to a communication terminal device connected to a communication network by an option board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication network system in which a facsimile apparatus, a mail server, a personal computer, and the like are connected to each other using a communication network has been widely used. For this reason, some recent facsimile apparatuses are configured so that they can be connected to a communication network by adding an option board.

A facsimile apparatus includes an image memory for storing transmission / reception image data in order to perform G3 communication (G3 transmission / reception) using a memory transmission / reception function. This image memory is generally a DRAM (Dynamic R)
AM) and SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM). And even if a power failure occurs,
A backup power supply is connected to the image memory of the facsimile apparatus so that transmitted / received image data in the image memory is not lost.

[0004]

However, when an option board is added, received image data is sent from the mail server to the facsimile machine by Internet FAX. Also, transmission image data is sent from the personal computer to the facsimile machine. For this reason, the option board is also provided with an image memory. However, if a power failure occurs before the transmitted / received image data is transferred from the option board image memory to the facsimile machine image memory, those The image data will be lost.

Here, consider a case where transmitted / received image data has been lost. In other words, in the case of image data transmitted from a personal computer connected to the communication network, the sender of the image data can be specified, so that it can be dealt with quickly by sending it again from the personal computer to the facsimile machine. However, in the case of received image data from a source other than the communication network, it is difficult to specify the sender. That is, even if the communication management report includes a FAX number or the like specifying the transmission side, it is necessary to request the transmission side again for transmission by telephone or the like. Moreover, even in such a case, it is not easy to specify even the sender on the transmission side.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide at least data relating to reception even when a connection to a communication network is constituted by an option board. An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device capable of preventing loss.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a communication terminal device connected to a communication network by an option board, the power of the device is cut off. Storage means for continuing to store at least data relating to reception,
When the power is turned on after the power is turned off, control means is provided for restoring data relating to reception from the storage means.

According to the invention described in claim 2, in the communication terminal device described in claim 1, the storage means does not depend on the supply of power. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device according to the first aspect, the storage means is a volatile memory connected to a backup power supply.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the "communication terminal device" described in the claims or the means for solving the problems corresponds to the facsimile machine 1, and the "storage means" also corresponds to the PC. The “control means” also corresponds to the card type memory 37, and the MPU 31, the ROM 32,
Similarly, the “volatile memory” corresponds to the image memory 34.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a communication terminal device according to the present invention is embodied in a facsimile machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication network system includes a facsimile apparatus (FA) having a telephone line L.
X) 1, a mail server 2, a plurality of personal computers 3, and a hub (HUB) 5 for interconnecting the devices 1 to 3, a transceiver 6, an Ethernet cable 7, an AUI cable 8,
It is composed of a twisted pair cable 9 and a router 10.

The facsimile apparatus 1, the mail server 2 and the personal computer 3 are connected to a hub 5 via a twisted pair cable 9.
It is connected to the. The hub 5 is connected to the transceiver 6 via the AUI cable 8. Transceiver 6
Is connected to another transceiver 6 via an Ethernet cable 7. The facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2, and the personal computer 3 have a built-in interface for connecting to the twisted pair cable 9. Hub 5
Is provided for connecting the twisted pair cable 9 and the AUI cable 8, and the communication network T
Functions as a concentrator in the connection. The transceiver 6 is provided for connecting the AUI cable 8 and the Ethernet cable 7. The router 10 is provided for connecting to the Internet or another communication network.

The mail server 2 has a communication protocol for controlling communication with another device on the communication network T or with another device other than the communication network T via the router 10. Specifically, for example, a communication protocol (SMTP, POP3, etc.) used for e-mail is provided. When the image data is attached to the e-mail and transmitted, Internet FAX can be realized.

A plurality of personal computers 3 include a control unit for controlling the entire personal computer 3 and an LCD for displaying various information.
And a storage unit including a keyboard, a mouse, a hard disk, and the like for specifying received data displayed on the display unit and inputting predetermined characters and the like. Further, the plurality of personal computers 3 are used for transmitting and receiving between the facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2 and another personal computer 3, and between the facsimile machine 1 and the external communication terminal via the mail server 2. It has a communication protocol.

As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile machine 1
Are the facsimile machine body 1a and the option board 30
It is composed of The facsimile machine main body 1a
MPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 14, recording unit 15, operation unit 16, display unit 17, image memory 18,
It comprises a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21 and an option board slot section 22, and the sections 11 to 22 are respectively connected via a bus 23.

The MPU 11 controls each part of the facsimile machine 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the facsimile machine 1. RAM 13
Is a non-volatile memory, for example, an SRAM (StaticRAM)
And temporarily stores various information related to transmission and reception of the facsimile machine 1.

The reading unit 14 reads image data on a document and outputs black and white binary image data. The recording unit 15 is formed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data or image data of a document read by the reading unit 14 on recording paper in a recording operation or a copying operation of received image data.

The operation unit 16 includes a numeric keypad (including * and # keys) 16a for inputting a telephone number, an abbreviated key 16b for registering an abbreviated number or transmitting from an abbreviated number, a telephone number or a FAX number registered in advance. One-touch key 16c for designating a one-touch operation, a start key 16d for starting a document reading operation, and a "communication (FA)
X) Communication for setting "operation" or "copy" operation /
Various operation keys such as a copy key 16e are provided. LC
D, etc., of the facsimile apparatus body 1a
Various information such as the operating state of the device is displayed.

The image memory 18 is connected to a backup power supply (not shown), and temporarily stores received image data and image data read by the reading unit 14 and binarized, and encoded by the codec 19 according to the MMR method. Remember. The image memory 18 temporarily stores the image data sent from the personal computer 3 via the option board slot unit 22.

The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 in accordance with the MH, MR, MMR system or the like for transmission. The codec 19 decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 conforms to ITU-T Recommendation T.30. Facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30 and V.30. 17, V. 2
7ter, V.A. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to 29 or the like are performed. The NCU 21 has functions of closing and opening the telephone line L, detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the fax number of the other party, and the like.

The option board slot section 22 has an option board 3 for connecting to the communication network T.
0 is equipped. That is, the option board 30
Is installed in the option board slot section 22, the connection to the communication network T becomes possible.

As shown in FIG.
Is composed of an MPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an image memory 34, a data conversion unit 35, a PC card interface 36, a PC card type memory 37, a communication protocol control unit 38, and a network interface 39. Are connected via a bus 40.

The MPU 31 controls each part constituting the option board 30. The ROM 32 stores a basic program for controlling the option board 30. The RAM 33 temporarily stores various information regarding the option board 30. The image memory 34 stores the image data sent from the personal computer 3.

The data conversion unit 35 includes TIFF and BM transmitted from the personal computer 3 via the communication network T.
The image data such as P, GIF, JPEG, PCX, DCX, etc. is converted into image data such as MH, MR, MMR method.
On the contrary, MH received via the telephone line L,
In order to convert image data such as MR and MMR formats into a format that can be easily handled by a plurality of personal computers 3, TIFF, BMP,
The image data is converted into image data such as GIF, JPEG, PCX, and DCX.

The PC card interface 36 is
The PC card type memory 37 is accessed via the PC card adapter 36a based on the control signal from the PU 31. The PC card type memory 37 is "PC Card Standard"
Compliant with, for example, a flash memory (EEPROM), and stores data relating to transmission / reception via the option board 30. Specifically, it stores the image data received by the mail server 2, that is, data related to reception of Internet FAX, and data related to transmission when image data is transmitted from a plurality of personal computers 3 via the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. Also, it stores settings relating to the printing process from the personal computer 3, settings relating to the reception process of the Internet FAX transmitted from the mail server 2, and settings relating to the transmission (G3 transmission) transmitted from the personal computer 3. That is, even if the power of the facsimile machine 1 is stopped or a power failure occurs, data related to transmission and reception is stored so as not to be lost.

The communication protocol control unit 38 communicates with other devices on the communication network T via the network interface 39,
9 and a communication protocol for controlling communication with other devices other than the communication network T via the public line network or the like. Specifically, for example, SMTP (mail transmission protocol), POP3 (mail reception protocol), FT
P (File Transfer Protocol), ITU-T Recommendation T. Three
0, that is, a communication protocol of a facsimile transmission control procedure, a communication protocol for salutation defined by a salutation consortium, and the like.

A plurality of personal computers 3 include a control unit for controlling the entire personal computer 3 and an LCD for displaying various information.
And a storage unit including a keyboard, a mouse, a hard disk, and the like for specifying received data displayed on the display unit and inputting predetermined characters and the like. Further, the plurality of personal computers 3 are used for transmitting and receiving between the facsimile machine 1, the mail server 2 and another personal computer 3, and between the facsimile machine 1 and the external communication terminal via the mail server 2. It has a communication protocol. Furthermore, personal computer 3
Also has a network interface for connecting to the communication network T.

Next, the communication network T
The operation when image data is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1 via the facsimile apparatus 1 and image data is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus main body 1a will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram shown in FIG. In this operation, the operation relating to the personal computer 3 is executed under the control of the control unit of the personal computer 3, and the operation relating to the option board 30 is executed under the control of the MPU 31 based on the program stored in the ROM 32, and the operation relating to the facsimile apparatus main body 1a is performed. The operation is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on a program stored in the ROM 12. Hereinafter, the personal computer 3, the option board 30,
The same applies to the operation of the facsimile machine body 1a.

In step S1, data relating to transmission from the personal computer 3 via the communication network T (for example, FAX number of transmission destination, transmission image data, transmission source information, etc.)
Is sent to the option board 30.

In step S2, the transmitted data regarding the transmission is temporarily stored in the P of the option board 30.
It is stored in the C card type memory 37. In step S3, the data regarding the transmission is stored in the option board 30.
Facsimile machine body 1 from PC card type memory 37
a to the image memory 18 of FIG.

In step S4, data related to transmission is stored in the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a. In step S5, after a call is made from the NCU 21 to the destination FAX number, the transmission image data is transmitted from the facsimile machine body 1a to the destination FAX number.

Next, the operation of transmitting the received image data by the Internet FAX received by the mail server 2 to the facsimile apparatus 1 and recording the received image data in the facsimile apparatus body 1a will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described with reference to the drawings.

In step S 11, data relating to reception by Internet FAX (for example, received image data, transmission source information, etc.) is sent from the mail server 2 to the option board 30.

In step S12, the transmitted data relating to the reception is temporarily stored in the PC card type memory 37 of the option board 30. Step S13
In, data relating to reception is transmitted from the PC card type memory 37 of the option board 30 to the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a.

In step S14, the data relating to the reception is stored in the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a.
Is stored. In step S15, the received image data is recorded on recording paper by the recording unit 15 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a.

Next, the operation when the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned on after the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned off will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned on after the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned off, the initialization of the facsimile machine 1 is executed in step S21. Specifically, initialization of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a excluding the option board 30 is first performed based on a control signal from the MPU 11. Next, PC
The initialization of the option board 30 excluding the card type memory 37 is executed. More specifically, for example, settings relating to the printing process from the personal computer 3 are initialized.

In step S22, it is determined whether or not there is transmission / reception data backed up in PC card type memory 37. Specifically, FAT
(FileAllocation Table). If there is data related to transmission and reception backed up in the PC card type memory 37, step S23
Move to On the other hand, if there is no data on transmission / reception backed up in the PC card type memory 37, the process proceeds to step S24.

In step S23, the data related to transmission / reception stored in the PC card type memory 37 is restored. Specifically, data relating to transmission and reception stored in the PC card type memory 37 is temporarily stored in the image memory 18.
Is forwarded to Then, the received image data is codec 1
9 and is transferred to the recording unit 15. On the other hand, the transmission image data is transferred from the image memory 18 to the modem 20. Thereafter, the transmission image data is transmitted to the transmission destination via the NCU 21 and the telephone line L (G3 transmission).

In step S24, the initialization of the PC card type memory 37 is executed. More specifically, initialization of a setting relating to a reception process of the Internet FAX transmitted from the mail server 2 and a setting relating to transmission (G3 transmission) transmitted from the personal computer 3 are executed.

As described in the background art, in the case of transmitted image data when an original is read by the reading unit 14 of the facsimile machine 1 or in the case of image data received via the telephone line L, once, It is stored in the image memory 18. Moreover, the image memory 18 is connected to a backup power supply. Therefore, even if the power of the facsimile machine 1 is cut off due to a power failure or the like, there is no room for any problem to occur.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (1) A PC card type memory 37 is mounted on the option board 30 via a PC card interface 36. The transmission data transmitted from the personal computer 3 is temporarily stored in the PC card type memory 37, and then transmitted from the PC card type memory 37 to the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and stored therein. On the other hand, the data concerning the reception by the Internet FAX received by the mail server 2 is temporarily stored in the PC card type memory 37, and then sent out from the PC card type memory 37 to the image memory 18 of the facsimile apparatus main body 1a and stored. . Therefore, data relating to transmission and reception via the option board 30 must be stored in the PC card type memory 3.
7 is stored. Then, even if the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned off, if the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned on, data related to transmission and reception is restored from the PC card type memory 37. Therefore, even when the connection to the communication network is configured by the option board 30, it is possible to prevent the loss of data related to reception. In addition, loss of data related to transmission from the personal computer 3 can be prevented.

(2) The PC card type memory 37 of the option board 30 is constituted by a flash memory (EEPROM). Therefore, even if the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned off, the PC card type memory 37
There is no loss of data related to transmission and reception stored in. Therefore, when the power of the facsimile machine 1 is turned on, the data related to transmission and reception of the PC card type memory 37 can be quickly restored.

(3) In addition, the PC card type memory 37
Since is a portable recording medium, it is also possible to analyze transmission / reception data stored in the PC card type memory 37 using the personal computer 3, for example. Therefore,
Even if the power of the facsimile device 1 cannot be turned on (for example, a failure of the power supply circuit), the received image data by the Internet FAX stored in the PC card type memory 37 can be recorded by another facsimile device. it can.

The above embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications. -Instead of the PC card type memory 37 of the option board 30, the image memory 34 to which a backup power supply composed of DRAM or SDRAM is connected may be used.
With such a configuration, data related to transmission and reception can be quickly restored.

In addition, instead of the PC card type memory 37, an HDD (hard disk, for example, type III of a PC card), for example, an IC card equipped with an SRAM may be used.

Further, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape or the like may be used. In the above-described embodiment, the data relating to the transmission from the personal computer 3 is also stored in the PC card type memory 37. However, only the data relating to the reception by the Internet FAX from the mail server 2 is stored in the PC card type memory 37.
May be stored.

Further, technical ideas other than the claims grasped from the above embodiment and the like will be described below together with their effects. [1] Even if the power of the apparatus is turned off, the storage means for continuously storing data related to transmission and reception, and if the power is turned on after the power is turned off, the data related to transmission and reception is restored from the storage means. A communication terminal device comprising a control unit.

With this configuration, even when the connection to the communication network is made by the option board, it is possible to prevent data loss related to transmission and reception. [2] The communication terminal device according to [1] or [1], wherein the storage unit is a nonvolatile memory.

With this configuration, data stored in the nonvolatile memory can be quickly restored.

[0052]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the connection to the communication network is made up of an option board, at least loss of data related to reception can be prevented.

According to the second or third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, at least data relating to reception can be quickly restored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication network system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an option board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when image data is transmitted from a personal computer via a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 5: Internet FAX received by mail server
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when image data is recorded by a facsimile apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when the power of the facsimile apparatus is turned on after the power of the facsimile apparatus is turned off.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Facsimile machine as a communication terminal device, 30 ... Option board, 31 ... MPU which comprises a control means, 3
2. ROM constituting control means, 33 RAM constituting control means, 34 image memory as volatile memory,
37: PC card type memory as storage means, T: Communication network.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device comprising an option board for connection to a communication network, wherein a storage means for continuously storing at least data relating to reception even when the power of the device is turned off; And a control unit for restoring data related to reception from the storage unit when the power is turned on after the power is turned on. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means does not depend on power supply. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a volatile memory connected to a backup power supply.