JP2003037685A - Communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal of a customer, which can automatically update an operating program for the terminal according to the convenience of the customer when the communication terminal is not in use. SOLUTION: A main control section 1 of a facsimile terminal 20 makes a call to a host computer 50 of a service center periodically for a prescribed updated period (S14) and communicates with the host computer 50 of the service center to receive version information of the operating program stored in the host computer 50 (S21), compares the version of the operating program stored in the host computer 50 with the version of the operating program stored in the facsimile terminal 20, and downloads the operating program from the host computer 50, stores the program in a flash ROM 6 and automatically updates the program (S25 to S27) when the version of the operating program stored in the host computer 50 is older (YES in S22).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus or the like which automatically downloads a new version of an operation program for a communication terminal apparatus stored in a host computer apparatus of a service center and updates the operation program of its own. Of communication terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operation program for a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine is updated by manually calling and accessing the communication terminal device of a customer from a host device of a service center. The operating program is being updated.

[0003]

However, while the host device of the service center is accessing the communication terminal device of the customer and updating the operation program in the communication terminal device, the operator of the customer: There is a problem that the communication terminal device cannot be used.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to automatically operate an operation program for a communication terminal device provided on the customer side when the customer's communication terminal device is not in use for the convenience of the customer. It is to provide a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device that can be updated manually.

[0005]

A communication terminal device according to the present invention is a communication terminal device which operates according to an operation program stored in a first storage means, and is a telephone number of a host device of a center which stores the operation program. And a second storage unit that stores in advance an update cycle for updating the operation program, and a call to the host device of the center periodically or as needed at the update period, and the host device of the center. By communicating, the version information of the operation program stored in the host device of the center is received, and the version of the operation program stored in the host device of the center and the operation stored in the communication terminal device are received. If the version of the operating program stored in the communication terminal device is older than the version of the program, Download the operating program from the host apparatus of the center, characterized in that a control means for automatically updating stored in the first storage means.

In the communication terminal device, the control means may automatically update the operation program for a preset automatic update effective period after the communication terminal device is installed.

Further, in the communication terminal device, the control means calls the host device of the center to automatically update the operation program at a preset update time.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus 20 having an operation program automatic updating function according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile device 20 according to this embodiment includes a flash ROM 6
The RAM 7 is a communication terminal device that operates by performing facsimile communication processing according to the operation program stored in the RAM 7. The RAM 7 stores the telephone number of the host computer device 50 of the service center that stores the operation program and the update cycle for updating the operation program. The main control unit 1 stores the registration table 7a containing the information, and the main control unit 1 periodically makes a call to the host computer device 50 of the service center at the update cycle (step S14 of FIG. 3), and the host computer device 5 of the service center.
0 to receive the version information of the operation program stored in the host computer device 50 (step S21), the version of the operation program stored in the host computer device 50, and the facsimile device 20. If the version of the operation program stored in the facsimile device 20 is old (YES in step S22), the operation program is downloaded from the host computer device 50 and flashed. It is characterized by being stored in the ROM 6 and automatically updated (steps S25 to S27).

Further, the main control section 1 executes the automatic update of the operation program only during the automatic update effective period preset and registered in the registration table 7a from the installation of the facsimile device 20 (step S11 in FIG. 3). If YES). Further, the main control unit 1 calls the host computer device 50 of the service center at the update time preset and registered in the registration table 7a to execute the automatic update of the operation program (YE in step S13 of FIG. 3).
When S).

In FIG. 1, the facsimile device 20 is
It has a facsimile communication function such as the conventional G3 system and also has an operation program automatic updating function. The main control unit 1 is specifically configured by a CPU, and the bus 13
It is connected to and controls the following hardware units via the, and also executes various software functions described later. The image reading unit 2 reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like and outputs dot image data converted into monochrome binary. The image recording unit 3 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system, and prints out and records the image data received by facsimile communication from another facsimile device as a hard copy. The display unit 4 is
It is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operating state of the facsimile device 20 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data.

The operation unit 5 is provided with keys necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus 20. Specifically, in addition to a ten-key for inputting a telephone number, a one-touch dial key, a stop key, a start key and various types are provided. Equipped with function keys, etc. In addition, you may comprise so that some or all of the various keys of this operation part 5 may be substituted by making at least one part of the above-mentioned display part 4 into a touch panel system.

The flash ROM 6 is an EEPROM capable of electrically erasing data and writing data, and stores various software programs required for the operation of the facsimile apparatus 20 and executed by the main control unit 1. It is stored in the program area 6a in advance, and the program is shown in FIG. 2 in addition to at least the operation program necessary for the facsimile function.
The program includes a program for registration / storing processing in the registration table 7a and a program for automatic operation program updating processing shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The RAM 7 is composed of an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like, is used as a working area of the main control unit 1, and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed. Here, the above-mentioned registration table 7a is stored in the RAM 7, and the registration table 7a is
By the registration storing process shown in FIG. 2, the following registration data is input and stored in advance using the operation unit 5 at the time of installation.

(A) The telephone number of the host computer device 50 of the service center which stores the operation program. (B) Operation program update cycle: A cycle in which the operation program automatic update process is executed by the facsimile apparatus 20. (C) Update time: The update time at which the operation program automatic update process is executed by the facsimile device 20. (D) Installation date and time: Date and time when the facsimile device 20 was installed in the customer's house. (E) Automatic update effective period: The period from the installation date and time when the operation program automatic update process is executed by the facsimile device 20. After this valid period, the operation of the operation program becomes stable, and there is no need for version upgrade, so automatic update is not performed.

When a flash memory is used as the RAM 7, the contents of the data are not lost even when the power is cut off due to a power failure, movement of the device, or the like. The image memory 8 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data. The RAM 7 and the image memory 8 may be hard disk memories. Further, the clock circuit 9 measures the current time and outputs the current time data to the main control unit 1 if necessary.

The fax modem 10 is a public telephone line L.
Is a modem that has the function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. An NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 is a hardware circuit that performs an operation of closing and opening a DC loop of an analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dialing function, and if necessary, the fax modem 10 To the public telephone line L. Here, the NCU 11 detects an ID receiving terminal activation signal and a normal telephone ringing signal in the originating telephone number notification service, and transmits a primary response signal and a secondary response signal in the originating telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a digital line (for example, ISDN line) of a baseband transmission system via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (subscriber line terminating device: Digital Service Unit).

The facsimile apparatus 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above has an operation program automatic updating function in addition to a normal G3 system facsimile communication function. In the facsimile communication function, the image reading unit 2
The dot image data read by the software is encoded by software according to the encoding system such as MH, MR, MMR defined by the facsimile communication standard, and then transmitted to the facsimile machine of the other party, while the other party The encoded data received from the previous facsimile machine is also decoded into image data by software and output from the image recording unit 3 as a hard copy. The image memory 8 stores image data as needed, and conversely outputs the stored image data as needed.

The host computer device 50 of the service center is connected to the NCU 11 of the facsimile device 20 via the public telephone network 30 and the public telephone line L and has the same configuration as the facsimile device 20 of FIG. The latest version of the operation program for the facsimile device 20 is a hard disk drive (not shown).
And the version of the operation program stored in the facsimile apparatus 20 is stored in the host computer apparatus 50 of the service center in response to the download request signal of the operation program from the facsimile apparatus 20. If it is older, the data of the operation program stored in the host computer device 50 of the service center is transmitted to the facsimile device 20 using the image information frame of the error resending communication.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a registration storing process in the registration table 7a, which is executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG. 1, and the above-mentioned registration data is input using the operation unit 5 in advance at the time of installation. Is a process for registering and storing the information.

In FIG. 2, first, in step S1, the telephone number of the host computer device 50 of the service center is registered and stored, and in step S2, for example, 1 is registered.
Register and store the update cycle in units of months, etc.
In 3, the update time convenient for the customer, such as 00:00 (midnight) who rarely uses the device 20, is registered and stored. Next, in step S4, the current date and time is registered and stored as the installation date and time, and in step S5, the automatic update valid period such as half a year or one year is registered and stored, and the registration storing process is ended.

3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation program automatic updating process executed by the main control section 1 of FIG.

In FIG. 3, first, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the automatic update valid period has elapsed from the installation date and time. If YES, the operation program automatic update process is terminated, while if NO, the step is performed. S12
Proceed to. Next, in step S12, it is determined whether or not only the update cycle has elapsed since the previous update. If YES, the process proceeds to step S13, and if NO, the operation program automatic update process ends. Further, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the current time measured by the clock circuit 9 is the update time. If YES, the process proceeds to step S14, and if NO, the operation program automatic update process ends.

In step S14, the host computer device 50 of the registered service center is dialed to make a call. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the partner line is busy. If it is busy (step S1)
(YES in step 5), it is determined in step S16 whether or not the number of redials exceeds 6, and if NO, the process waits for 10 minutes in step S17 and returns to step S14 to redial. On the other hand, YES in step S16
If so, the operation program automatic update process ends.

If the partner line is not busy in step S15 (NO in step S15), the line is connected to the partner machine,
In step S18, the NSF signal from the partner device, DI
The S signal is detected, and in step S19, the CIG signal is used for the keyword indicating the download request signal of the operation program for the facsimile machine and the software version "ROMW" and Ver.
N ”(where NN is the version number) is stored and transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S21 in FIG.

In step S21 of FIG. 4, the TSI signal containing the latest version information of the operation program for the facsimile machine stored in the host computer device 50 of the service center is detected, and in step S22 the latest version information in the TSI signal is detected. Is compared with the own version, and it is determined whether or not the own version is old. If YES, the process proceeds to step S25, while N
When it is O, the process proceeds to step S23. In the latter case, the version of the device itself is not old, so it is determined that it is not necessary to update it, a DCN signal is sent in step S23, the line is opened in step S24, and the operation program automatic update processing is terminated.

If YES in step S22, it is determined that the version of the own device is old, and in step S25, the program data stored in the image information frame of the error resending communication is received from the host computer device 50 of the service center. It is temporarily stored in the image memory 8 and the line is opened in step S26. Then, step S
In 27, the program data stored in the image memory 8 is updated by overwriting and writing in the program area 6a of the program flash ROM 6,
The operation program automatic update process ends.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the main control section 1 periodically calls the host computer device 50 of the service center at the update cycle registered and set in advance (step S14 in FIG. 3). ), The version information of the operation program stored in the host computer apparatus 50 is received by communicating with the host computer apparatus 50 of the service center (step S21), and the operation program stored in the host computer apparatus 50 is received. Is compared with the version of the operation program stored in the facsimile device 20 and the version of the operation program stored in the facsimile device 20 is older (Y in step S22).
ES), the operation program is downloaded from the host computer device 50, stored in the flash ROM 6 and automatically updated (steps S25-S27). Therefore,
Unlike the conventional example, the call is not made from the host computer device 50 of the service center. Therefore, when the customer's facsimile device 20 is not in use, the facsimile device 20 provided on the customer side is convenient for the customer. The operation program of can be updated automatically.

Further, the main control section 1 executes the automatic update of the above operation program for the automatic update valid period preset and registered in the registration table 7a from the installation of the facsimile apparatus 20 (at step S11 in FIG. 3). If YES). Therefore, since the operation program is not stabilized, dialing for useless updating is not performed, and communication charges can be saved.

Further, the main control section 1 has a registration table 7a.
At the update time preset and registered in, the host computer device 50 of the service center is called to execute the automatic update of the operation program (step S13 in FIG. 3).
And when YES). Therefore, for example, it is possible to freely set a time zone that is convenient for the customer, such as a midnight time zone when the facsimile machine 20 is hardly used, and it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the facsimile machine 20.

<Modification> In the above embodiment, an example of the facsimile device 20 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the facsimile device 20 is connected to a public network such as a public telephone network or a public digital line network. For example, it can be applied to a communication terminal device including a telephone, a data communication device, and the like.

In the above-described operation program automatic update process, the process is completed by one process, but the process is not executed but the process is continuously executed by returning to step S1. If NO in step S11, Y in step S12
When ES and YES in step S13, the processes in and after step S14 may be executed.

Although the above operation program automatic update processing is periodically executed at a predetermined update cycle, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation processing of the facsimile apparatus 20 becomes a loop state or a predetermined abnormality. When it is necessary to reset the device, such as when the process is executed, the operation program automatic update process after step S14 in FIG. 3 may be executed automatically or manually as necessary.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the communication terminal device of the present invention, in the communication terminal device operating by the operation program stored in the first storage means, the host of the center storing the operation program Second storage means for storing in advance a telephone number of the device and an update cycle for updating the operation program, and a call to the host device of the center periodically or as needed at the update cycle, and the center is called. By receiving the version information of the operation program stored in the host device of the center by communicating with the host device of the center, and storing the version of the operation program stored in the host device of the center and the communication terminal device. The version of the operating program stored in the communication terminal device is older than the version of the operating program The case, and a control means for automatically updating download operation program from the host apparatus of the center is stored in the first storage means. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, the call is not made from the host device of the service center. Therefore, when the communication terminal device such as the facsimile device of the customer is not used, the communication provided on the customer side is convenient for the customer. The operating program for the terminal device can be automatically updated.

In the communication terminal device, the control means automatically updates the operation program for a preset automatic update effective period after the communication terminal device is installed. Therefore, since the operation program is not stabilized, dialing for useless updating is not performed, and communication charges can be saved.

Furthermore, in the communication terminal device, the control means calls the host device of the center to automatically update the operation program at a preset update time. Therefore, for example, it is possible to freely set a convenient time zone for the customer, such as a midnight time zone when almost no communication terminal device is used, and it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the communication terminal device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus 20 having an operation program automatic update function, which is an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a registration storage process in a registration table 7a, which is executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first part of an operation program automatic update process, which is executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second part of the operation program automatic update processing executed by the main control unit 1 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main control unit, 5 ... operation part, 6 ... Flash ROM, 6a ... Program area, 7 ... RAM, 7a ... registration table, 8 ... Image memory, 9 ... Clock circuit, 10 ... fax modem, 11 ... NCU, 13 ... bus, 20 ... Facsimile device, L: Public telephone line.

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication terminal device which operates according to an operation program stored in a first storage means, and a telephone number of a host device of a center which stores the operation program,
Second storage means for storing in advance an update cycle for updating the operation program, and a call to the host device of the center periodically or as needed at the update period to communicate with the host device of the center. By receiving the version information of the operation program stored in the host device of the center by executing the operation program version of the operation program stored in the host device of the center and the operation program stored in the communication terminal device. When the version of the operation program stored in the communication terminal device is compared with the version, the operation program is downloaded from the host device of the center, stored in the first storage means, and automatically updated. And a control means for controlling the communication terminal device. 2. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the control means executes the automatic update of the operation program for a preset automatic update valid period after the communication terminal device is installed. . 3. The communication according to claim 1, wherein the control means calls the host device of the center to automatically update the operation program at a preset update time. Terminal device.