JP2001352437A - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of the conventional facsimile machines that the machine cannot process binary data in pages succeeding the 1st page that are received even in the case that various information sets, such as the distribution destination of a message and a reception confirmation request included in the 1st page cannot be decoded even, when the communication of the 1st page is normally conducted in the case of communications by a 'Salutation protocol' through the use of a BFT(binary file transfer) that is an optional function between the facsimile terminals. SOLUTION: The facsimile machine is provided with a CPU 10, that interrupts communications without receiving pages succeeding the 1st page, when information included in the received 1st page has an error, in the case that a facsimile message each page of which consists of binary files and the 1st page of which includes information to process the contents of the succeeding pages is received in accordance with facsimile communication procedure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention not only has a function of performing normal facsimile communication via a telephone line network, but also has a function of transferring a binary file.
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus capable of performing communication by a protocol.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A facsimile apparatus that is currently widely used is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union).
n) Recommendation T. There are many G3 standards conforming to G.30.
T. 30 has an error correction mode (ECM). This ECM requests retransmission from the receiving side to the transmitting side when the receiving side detects that a communication error has occurred during transmission and reception of a facsimile message of each page,
This function retransmits the page on the transmission side. But,
If the communication error is not resolved even after performing retransmission several times, the page may be skipped and the next page may be transmitted.

On the other hand, recently, various extended versions of the G3 standard have been proposed and put into practical use. Some of them have a BFT (binary file transfer) function. BFT is
For example, it is used for the purpose of converting a color image or the like into binary data and transmitting it.
M applies. Further, in recent years, a protocol called a Salutation protocol has been put to practical use utilizing the BFT function of the facsimile machine.

When executing the Salutation protocol, both facsimile apparatuses confirm that ECM and BFT are performed in a pre-procedure of facsimile communication as a non-standard procedure of the normal G3 standard, and then transmit the next image data. In the procedure, first, various information such as a document delivery destination and a reception confirmation request is transmitted as a binary file on the first page, and a binary file to be transmitted is transmitted on the second page and thereafter.

[0005]

However, when the above-described Salutation protocol is executed between the facsimile machines, even if the communication of the first page is normally performed, the distribution destination of the original included in the communication is not included. If the receiving side cannot decode various information such as a reception confirmation request, even if the subsequent pages are received, the binary data of those pages cannot be properly processed. There was a problem that communication was wasted.

Further, when ECM is executed during normal G3 facsimile communication, only one page out of a plurality of pages of the transmitted document need not be transmitted, and the other pages are transmitted normally. But Salutation
When the above-described ECM is executed on the first page during the execution of the protocol and is skipped, even if the data of each subsequent page can be normally received, the receiving side does not execute the binary of each page after the second page. There has been a problem that data cannot be properly processed, and communication of each page after the second page becomes useless.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when the Salutation protocol is executed between the facsimile apparatuses using the ECM (error correction mode) and the BFT function, the communication of the first page is normally performed. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which cuts off the communication at that time and prevents the useless communication after that when the information included in the information is not decoded properly on the receiving side. I do.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus in which, when an error cannot be recovered by the ECM during the communication of the first page during execution of the Salutation protocol, the communication is cut off at that time so that the subsequent useless communication is not performed. And

It is another object of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of improving the probability of successful communication by performing communication again when an error cannot be recovered by ECM during communication of the first page during execution of the Salutation protocol. .

[0010]

A facsimile apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a facsimile communication procedure in which each page is constituted by a binary file and a first page includes a facsimile message including information for processing the contents of subsequent pages. In the facsimile apparatus receiving in accordance with (1), if there is an error in the information included in the normally received first page, the communication is cut off without receiving the subsequent pages.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, when there is an error in information for processing the contents of the subsequent pages included in the normally received first page, communication is performed without receiving the subsequent pages. Is disconnected, so that unnecessary communication of receiving a page that cannot be processed can be avoided.

A facsimile apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a facsimile apparatus in which each page is formed of a binary file and a first page communicates a facsimile message including information for processing the contents of subsequent pages in accordance with a facsimile communication procedure. When the communication of the first page is unsuccessful, the communication is disconnected without performing the communication of the subsequent pages.

In the facsimile apparatus of the second aspect, if the transmission / reception of the first page is unsuccessful, the communication is disconnected without transmitting / receiving the subsequent pages. It is not necessary to perform useless communication.

A facsimile apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention has
In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the communication of the first page is unsuccessful, the communication of the first page is performed again.

In the facsimile apparatus of the third aspect, when the transmission and reception of the first page is unsuccessful, the subsequent page is not transmitted and the first page is transmitted and received again, so that the communication is successful. Probability improves.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connection form of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, which is connected to a LAN 5 as a computer network and functions as a facsimile server. Also LAN5
Is connected to the client computer 2.
The facsimile machine 1 has an analog public telephone network (P
STN) 3, and sends a facsimile message to P in response to a request from the client computer 2.
The function of transmitting to the STN 3 and the facsimile message received from the PSTN 3
It has at least a function to distribute to

The telephone network in the present invention is not limited to a general public telephone network, but may be a dedicated telephone network, for example.

A large number of facsimile machines each having a telephone number are connected to the PSTN 3, and one of them is the facsimile machine 4 of the present invention.

The facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 of the present invention
Is ITU recommendation T. A G3 standard facsimile machine conforming to G.30, and its optional function, ECM
(Error correction mode) and BFT (binary file transfer).
It also has a function of transmitting and receiving a binary file between both parties using the T function by the Salutation protocol.

Although FIG. 1 shows one client computer 2, at least one client computer may be connected to the LAN 5. However, in practice, more client computers are often connected to the LAN 5.

FIG. 2 shows a facsimile apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of FIG. 2, a facsimile apparatus 1 includes a CPU 10, a PROM 11, a RAM 12, a modem 13a, an NCU 13b, an operation panel 14, a display 15, a scanner 16, a printer 17, and a LAN I / F 1 connected to the CPU 10 via a bus.
8 and the like.

The PROM 11 stores various computer programs executed by the CPU 10.
0 executes various processes necessary for the operation of the facsimile machine 1 based on the computer program stored in the PROM 11.

The RAM 12 is composed of a DRAM, an SRAM, a flash memory and the like, and stores temporary data generated when the CPU 10 executes a computer program, and also functions as an image memory.

The modem 13a is constituted by a facsimile modem capable of performing facsimile communication. Also, modem 1
3a is directly connected to the NCU (Network Control Unit) 13b. The NCU 13b is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening the line with the PSTN 3.
The modem 13a is connected to the PSTN 3 as necessary. Needless to say, by providing an ISDN interface, a connection to a digital public telephone network (ISDN) may be provided.

The operation panel 14 has various keys including function keys such as character keys, numeric keys, speed dial keys, and one-touch dial keys necessary for the user to directly operate the facsimile machine 1.

The display 15 is constituted by a liquid crystal display (LCD) in the present embodiment,
4 and the operation state of the CPU 10 and the like are displayed. It should be noted that the display 15 may be a CRT display or the like, and may be shared with a part or all of the operation panel 14 described above by being configured with a touch panel type display device.

The scanner 16 reads the contents of an original as an image using a color CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data (image data) converted into black and white binary or color. The image data output from the scanner 16 is temporarily stored in the RAM 12, then converted to facsimile data or binary data, and transmitted to the PSTN 3 via the modem 13a or to the LAN via the LAN I / F 18.
5 is output.

In the present embodiment, the printer 17 is constituted by a printer device of an electrophotographic system or the like.
The CPU 10 prints out the contents read from the printer 6, image data (image data) received by facsimile, and various messages output by the CPU 10.

The LAN I / F 18 is a facsimile machine 1
Is an interface for connecting to the LAN 5.

The facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 according to the present invention basically have the hardware configuration as described above.
It has the function of a normal facsimile machine,
In addition, it also has a function of transmitting and receiving image data read by the scanner 16 or a binary file received from the client computer 2 via the LAN according to the Salutation protocol, and between the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 of the present invention. Communication with another facsimile machine having the same function by the Salutation protocol can be realized.

However, during execution of the Salutation protocol, the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 according to the present invention have an error in the reception result even if the communication of the first page is normally performed. In the case where various information such as a reception confirmation request cannot be decoded, or when an ECM (error correction mode) recognized in normal G3 facsimile communication occurs during the communication of the first page, a different feature from the conventional one. Operation.

Hereinafter, a case where the information on the first page cannot be decoded by the receiving apparatus will be described as a first embodiment with reference to a time chart of FIG. A case in which communication itself is malfunctioning and a communication error cannot be recovered by ECM will be described as a second embodiment with reference to a time chart of FIG. Since the operations of the first and second embodiments are executed by the CPU 10 of the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4, the flowchart of FIG. 5 showing the processing procedure of the CPU 10 of the calling apparatus, the flowchart of FIG. This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the processing in the first embodiment, that is, the processing when the information included in the first page cannot be decoded by the called apparatus will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. 3 and the flowcharts of FIGS. ,explain.

In the first embodiment, a binary file transmitted from the client computer 2 to the LAN 5 is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1 serving as a facsimile server.
To the facsimile machine 4 via the PSTN 3
A case in which communication is performed using the Salutation protocol will be described. Therefore, the facsimile device 1 is the calling device and the facsimile device 4 is the called device.

After dialing, the CPU 10 of the calling side facsimile apparatus 1 first transmits "CNG (calling tone)" to the called side facsimile apparatus 4 to make a call (procedure P1, step S11), and receives an incoming call (step S11). The CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 4 that responds to the CI (CI) transmits "CED (Called Station Identification)" (procedure P2, step S51).
After the line is thus connected, the pre-procedure is executed between the two facsimile machines 1 and 4 (step S12,
S52). Here, "CNG" means that the calling station is a non-voice terminal such as a facsimile apparatus, and "CED" means that the called station is a non-voice terminal such as a facsimile apparatus.

When the CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 4 transmits "CED", the "NSF"
(Non-standard function) "and" DIS (digital identification signal) "
Is transmitted (procedure P3). These are all signals for initial identification. "NSF" is an optional signal, This is a signal for identifying a specific user request (here, execution of the Salutation protocol) not defined in the 30 standard. “DIS” is a signal indicating the capability of the called device.

Upon receiving these signals, the CPU 10 of the calling facsimile machine 1 sets "NSS (non-standard function setting)".
And “DCS (digital command signal)” (procedure P4). These are all reception commands. "NSS"
Is an option signal, information included in "NSF",
That is, T. This is a digital command response to a specific user request not defined in the 30 standard. Also, "DC
"S" is a digital setting command responsive to the capability of the called device identified by "DIS".

According to the above procedure, it is possible to perform communication by the salutation protocol between the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 (both are "Y" in steps S13 and S53).
ES "). After a predetermined time has elapsed after the procedure P4, the CPU 10 of the calling facsimile machine 1 sequentially transmits a" training "signal and a" TCF (training check) "(procedure P5). “TCF” is a signal for confirming the training result, and indicates that communication is possible at the data transfer rate during training.

When the communication according to the Salutation protocol is not carried out (both in steps S13 and S53)
NO "), the CPUs 10 of the facsimile machines 1 and 4 execute a normal facsimile communication procedure (step S1).
0, S50). In this case, when transmission of all pages is completed, CPU 10 of calling facsimile machine 1 transmits "DCN" (step S33) and disconnects the line (step S34). When the CPU 10 of the called-side facsimile machine 4 receives "DCN"("YE" in step S73).
S "), the line is disconnected (step S57). Thus, the normal facsimile communication between the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 4 is completed.

When receiving "TCF", the CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 4 transmits "CFR (reception preparation confirmation)" (procedure P6). “CFR” is a digital response signal for confirming that all the pre-procedures so far have been completed normally and transmission of a facsimile message, which is the original purpose, may be started. Upon receiving this "CFR", the CPU 10 of the calling-side facsimile apparatus 1 starts transmitting the first page of the facsimile message (step S1).
4). Specifically, the CPU of the calling facsimile machine 1
10 sequentially transmits a "training" signal and a facsimile message (first page) (procedure P7).

The facsimile message transmitted from the calling-side facsimile apparatus 1 to the called-side facsimile apparatus 4 in the procedure P7 is a binary file according to the Salutation protocol, and the first page is a distribution destination, a reception confirmation request, or the like. Is a file in which various information items are encoded into binary data. When the CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 1 receives the first page of the facsimile message without the communication error by the ECM and the BFT ("YES" in step S54), it decodes the information contained therein, but can decode normally. If not, it is considered that an error has occurred (“YE” in step S55).
S "), immediately transmit" DCN (disconnect command) "to the calling facsimile machine 1 (procedure P8, step S56),
The line is disconnected (step S57). When the CPU 10 of the calling facsimile machine 1 receives this "DCN",
("YES" in step S15), the line is disconnected (step S16).

As described above, in the first embodiment, even when the first page of the binary file transmitted from the calling facsimile machine 1 is normally received, the information included in the first page has an error and the reception is performed. Facsimile machine 1
If decoding cannot be performed normally, the line is immediately disconnected, and no further unnecessary communication is performed.

Next, as a second embodiment, the processing when the communication itself between the calling facsimile machine 1 and the called facsimile machine 4 is not normally performed will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the second embodiment, a binary file transmitted from the client computer 2 to the LAN 5 is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 1 serving as a facsimile server.
To the facsimile machine 4 via the PSTN 3
The case of transmitting by the Salutation protocol will be described. Therefore, the facsimile device 1 is the calling device and the facsimile device 4 is the called device.

In the case of the second embodiment, as in the procedures P1 to P7 of the time chart shown in FIG.
Procedures P11 to P17 of the time chart shown in FIG.
Is executed, and the CPU 10 of the calling-side facsimile apparatus 1 performs the processing of steps S11 to S14, and the CPU 10 of the called-side facsimile apparatus 4 executes the processing of steps S51 to S53.
Is executed in the same manner as in the case shown in the time chart of FIG. However, both facsimile machines 1,
When the CPU 10 of the called-side facsimile device 4 determines that an abnormal reception has occurred in the communication state between the four devices and that the called-side facsimile device 4 has failed in normal reception (step S5).
4 is “NO”), and after receiving “PPS (partial page signal)” transmitted from the calling side facsimile apparatus 1 after the procedure 17, the CPU 10 of the called side facsimile apparatus 4 sets “P
PR (partial page request) "(procedure P18, P
19).

Here, "PPS" is a signal indicating that only some of the plurality of pages have been transmitted, in other words, that there is still another page to be transmitted next.
"R" is a signal requesting retransmission of the page transmitted immediately before (step S61).

CPU 10 of calling facsimile machine 1
Receives the retransmission request signal from the called facsimile machine 4, that is, "PPR" (step S2).
1) It is determined whether or not this is the fourth "PPR" reception (step S22). Until the fourth time ("NO" in step S22), the calling facsimile machine 1
CPU 10 retransmits the first page of the facsimile message in the same manner as in procedure P17 (procedure 20, step S23).

CPU 10 of called facsimile machine 4
Is "DCN" after the retransmission request and "CTC"
Is not received (steps S62 and S62).
Both are “NO” at 63), and the process returns to step S54.
Such a request for retransmission from the called facsimile machine 4 can be made up to three times, but at the fourth time, another process is performed in the calling facsimile machine 1 without performing retransmission (procedures P24 to P24). P28).

However, if the normal communication has been performed before that, the CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 4 checks the above-described decoding error (step S).
55) If no decoding error has occurred (“NO” in step S55), transmission of the facsimile message of the next page is sequentially requested until the reception of the last page is completed (steps S71 and S72). Received the facsimile message of the page ("in step S71").
YES ")," DCN "from the calling facsimile machine 1
Is received ("YES" in step S73), the line is disconnected (step S57).

The above processing is performed by the CPU 10 of the calling-side facsimile apparatus 1 receiving a signal other than "PPR" in step S21 ("N" in step S21).
O "), the facsimile messages of the next page are sequentially transmitted until the transmission of the last page is completed (steps S31 and S32), and when the transmission of the facsimile messages of all pages is completed (" YE "in step S31).
S "), the process of transmitting" DCN "and disconnecting the line is performed (steps S33, S34).

As described above, the called facsimile machine 4
A retransmission request (transmission of “PPR”) from the calling facsimile machine 1 is accepted up to three times, but if communication of the same page fails four consecutive times, the call from the called facsimile machine 4 The transmission of “PPR” is performed for the fourth time (“YES” in step S22), and the calling facsimile machine 1
CPU 10 performs the following processing different from the previous processing.

If the transmission of the same page fails four times, including three retransmissions, the CPU of the calling facsimile machine 1
10 judges fallback, that is, whether or not the communication speed of the line can be reduced from the communication speed up to that time (step S41). Normally, the first communication is performed at a sufficiently high speed and fallback is possible. However, if fallback has already been repeated several times and the communication speed cannot be further reduced (step S4).
1 and “NO”), the CPU 1 of the calling side facsimile machine 1
0 transmits "DCN" and disconnects the line once (procedure P2
9, Steps S44 and S45), a call is made again (Step S46), and the process returns to Step S12. That is,
In this case, redialing is performed.

The CPU 10 of the called facsimile machine 4
Receives the “DCN” transmitted from the calling facsimile machine 1 in response to the retransmission request made in step S61 (“YES” in step S62), and disconnects the line (step S57).

On the other hand, if fallback is possible, that is, if the communication speed can be further reduced ("YES" in step S41), the CPU 10 of the calling side facsimile apparatus 1 sets "CTC (correction)". "Continue)" (procedure P30). C of the called facsimile machine 4
The PU 10 responds to the request for retransmission made in step S61 by sending the “CT” transmitted from the calling facsimile machine 1.
C ”(“ NO ”in step S62, S63
"YES"), and transmits "CTR" (procedure P31,
Step S64). CPU of calling facsimile machine 1
Upon receiving the "CTR"("YES" in step S43), the process returns to step S15 to retransmit the first page of the facsimile message. However, in this case, since fallback is performed, subsequent communication is performed at a lower speed than the previous communication.

As described above, in the second embodiment, if communication between the calling facsimile machine 1 and the called facsimile machine 4 is not performed normally, it is impossible to fall back. In this case, the line is disconnected to prevent the subsequent communication from being performed, and if fallback is possible, the communication is performed after the fallback. However, if the line is disconnected without successful communication of the first page, transmission is performed again by processing such as executing redial.

[0056]

As described in detail above, according to the facsimile apparatus according to the present invention, the Saluta
If there is an error in the information included in the first page normally received according to the tion protocol, the communication is cut off without receiving the subsequent pages. 1st received
If there is an error in the page information, subsequent pages cannot be processed even if they are received, so that the facsimile apparatus of the present invention does not needlessly perform communication.

In the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, Salu
When the communication of the first page is unsuccessful when executing the tation protocol, the communication is disconnected without performing the communication of the subsequent pages. If the communication of the first page is unsuccessful, even if the communication of the subsequent pages is performed, the receiving side cannot process it, so that the facsimile apparatus of the present invention does not needlessly perform the communication.

Further, in the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, Salu
When the first page communication is unsuccessful when executing the tation protocol and the line is disconnected, the first page communication is performed again, so that the probability of successful communication is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a connection mode of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 Salutation between facsimile machines according to the present invention.
6 is a time chart showing a communication procedure according to a protocol.

FIG. 4 Salutation between facsimile machines according to the present invention.
6 is a time chart showing a communication procedure according to a protocol.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a CPU when a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention becomes a calling apparatus to perform communication by a salutation protocol.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of a CPU when a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention becomes a called apparatus to perform communication according to the Salutation protocol.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Facsimile machine 4 Facsimile machine 3 Public telephone network (PSTN) 10 CPU DCN disconnection command PPR Partial page request CTC Correction continuation CTR Correction continuation response

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Each page is composed of a binary file,
In a facsimile apparatus that receives a facsimile message including information for processing the contents of the subsequent pages on the first page according to a facsimile communication procedure, if there is an error in the information included in the normally received first page, A facsimile machine characterized by disconnecting communication without receiving a page. 2. Each page is composed of a binary file,
In a facsimile apparatus for communicating a facsimile message including information for processing the contents of a subsequent page to a first page in accordance with a facsimile communication procedure, the communication of the subsequent page is performed if the communication of the first page is unsuccessful. A facsimile apparatus characterized in that communication is cut off without any interruption. 3. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the communication of the first page is unsuccessful, the communication of the first page is performed again.