JP2007043420A - Communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue communication procedures of facsimile communication even if the facsimile machine executes facsimile communication via a gateway apparatus with a PLC function and an IP network. <P>SOLUTION: A main control section 1 of the facsimile machine 20 determines whether or not the facsimile machine 20 is connected to an opposite facsimile machine 20A via the IP network 50 on the basis of an information signal received from the IP network 50 in call origination processing applied to the opposite facsimile machine 20A, the main control section 1 determines that the facsimile machine 20A is connected via the IP network 50 (YES in a step S3 in Fig.5), the main control section 1 sets facsimile transmission processing in the V. 34 mode to an ineffective mode (step S7), and executes the facsimile transmission processing in a prescribed mode lower in speed than that of the facsimile transmission processing in the V.34 mode (step S8). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus for performing facsimile communication with a counterpart facsimile apparatus via, for example, an IP network.

  In the prior art, facsimile communication is performed between a pair of opposed facsimile apparatuses connected via an IP network 50 that performs communication using, for example, an RTP, UDP, or IP protocol. FIG. 2 is a line configuration diagram when the facsimile machine 20 is connected to the facsimile machine 20A of the other party via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50.

  In FIG. 2, the NCU (Network Control Unit) 11 of the facsimile apparatus 20 is connected to the NCU 41 of the media gateway apparatus 40 with a PLC function via the public telephone network 30. Here, the PLC is an abbreviation for Packet Loss Concealment, which is defined in Non-Patent Document 1, and translated as, for example, “packet loss correction”. The PLC function refers to packet loss when packet loss occurs. The signal waveform of the IP telephone is corrected so that the signal waveform of the current frame is replaced with a signal waveform that is similar to the signal waveform of the immediately preceding frame and whose signal level is successively decreased by ½. . The media gateway device 40 is a device that performs mutual conversion between an analog signal and a digital signal. The media gateway device 40 is a VoIP terminal adapter device (also referred to as a VoIP gateway device) via a router device 51, an IP network 50, and a router device 52. 60.

  Here, a SIP server device 53 and a location server device 54 are connected to the IP network 50, and using these devices 53 and 54, for example, call control can be performed along a SIP communication procedure (for example, (Refer nonpatent literature 2.). The VoIP terminal adapter device 60 is also a device that performs mutual conversion between an analog signal and a digital signal in the same way as the media gateway device 40. Furthermore, the NCU 51 of the VoIP terminal adapter device 60 and the NCU 11A of the counterpart facsimile machine 20A are connected. That is, facsimile communication via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50 is performed by a pair of opposing facsimile apparatuses 20 and 20A, and signal conversion is performed by the two gateway apparatuses 40 and 60.

  As described above, when facsimile image communication is performed via the IP network, there is a problem that communication errors frequently occur when the modem data rate and symbol rate are high.

  In order to solve the above problem, for example, in Patent Document 1, the main control unit of the facsimile apparatus is based on whether or not “050” (IP telephone identification number) at the head of the telephone number to be dialed is detected. If the other party's facsimile machine is connected to the IP telephone network, and the other party's facsimile machine is detected to be connected to the IP telephone network, the high speed flag is turned off. The fax modem 10 is controlled to set the maximum data rate of the modem 10 to 9600 bps and the maximum symbol rate of the modem to 2400 baud.

JP-A-2005-130036. ITU-T (Telecommunication Standardization Sector of ITU), G. 711, Appendix 1, (09/99), Series G: Transmission Systems and Media, Digital Systems and Networks, Digital transmission systems-Terminal Equipments-Coding of Analogue Signals by Pulse Code Modulation, Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) of Voice Frequencies, Appendix 1: A High Quality Low-Complexity Algorithm for Packet Loss Concealment with G. 711, pp.1-19, September 1999. J. Rosenberg et al., Request for Comments: 3261, Obsoletes: 2543, Category: Standard Track, "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol", Network Group, The internet Society, June 2002.

  However, the PLC provided in the media gateway device 40 of FIG. 2 is a technology for IP telephone (voice call) and is inconvenient for modem signals for facsimile communication. Specifically, when the PLC works, As described above, in order to replace with a waveform signal of another frame, the facsimile modem cannot receive normal facsimile communication modem signals, cannot transmit / receive facsimile communication procedure signals to each other, and cannot perform facsimile communication. It occurs frequently. In particular, V.I. In the facsimile transmission in the 34 mode, since the data transmission speed is high, it is greatly affected by the loss of one packet.

  In addition, recently, an IP telephone can be provided by a so-called “portability” service using a telephone number in a conventional public telephone network, so that the destination facsimile machine can be used only with the telephone number to be called. There is a problem that it is not possible to determine whether the network is connected to the public telephone network or the IP network.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to confirm that the other party is connected via the IP network even when performing facsimile communication via the gateway device with PLC function and the IP network. And it is providing the facsimile apparatus which can continue the communication procedure of facsimile communication.

The facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is a V.10 recommended by ITU-T. In a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication in 34 mode,
Based on the information signal received from the network side in the calling process for the other party's facsimile apparatus, it is determined whether or not the other party's facsimile apparatus is connected via the IP network, and is connected via the IP network. When it is determined that V. 34 mode facsimile transmission processing is disabled, Control means for controlling to execute a facsimile transmission process in a mode lower than the 34-mode facsimile transmission process is provided.

The facsimile apparatus further comprises a storage means for storing a communication history table including a communication start speed of facsimile communication for each destination,
In the facsimile transmission process, when the communication speed before image data transmission is slower than the communication speed after image data transmission, the control means uses the communication speed after image data transmission as the communication start speed to After storing in the history table, facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table in the next facsimile transmission process.

  In the facsimile apparatus, the information signal received from the network side in the call processing is an information signal transmitted from a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server apparatus connected to the IP network. .

Further, in the facsimile apparatus, the facsimile apparatus further includes an interface circuit connected to a terminal adapter device or a gateway device connected to the IP network,
The control means receives an information signal received from the network side in the call processing from the terminal adapter device or gateway device connected to the IP network via the interface circuit.

  Here, in the facsimile apparatus, the interface circuit is a LAN interface circuit.

  Therefore, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, whether or not the destination facsimile apparatus is connected via the IP network based on the information signal received from the network side in the calling process for the destination facsimile apparatus. When it is determined that the connection is established via the IP network, the above V.V. 34 mode facsimile transmission processing is disabled, Control is performed so as to execute a facsimile transmission process in a mode lower than the 34-mode facsimile transmission process. Therefore, even when the facsimile communication is performed via the gateway device with the PLC function and the IP network, it is possible to accurately confirm that the other party is connected via the IP network, and the communication of the facsimile communication can be performed without any trouble. The procedure can be continued properly. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

  In the facsimile transmission process, when the communication speed before the transmission of the image data is slower than the communication speed after the transmission of the image data, the communication speed after the transmission of the image data is set as the communication start speed in the communication history table. After storing, facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table in the next facsimile transmission process. Therefore, even in the next facsimile transmission process to the same destination, the communication procedure of facsimile communication can be properly continued without any trouble. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment according to the present invention in which V.P. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the facsimile machine 20 having a control function for invalidating the 34 mode. FIG. 3 shows a facsimile machine 20A of the other party via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50 in FIG. It is a line | wire structure figure when it is connected to. In this embodiment, the facsimile apparatus 20 is assumed to be connected to the facsimile apparatus 20A of the other party via the IP network 50 and the public telephone network 30 as shown in FIG. As is well known, facsimile communication may be performed by connecting to the destination facsimile machine 20A only through the network 30.

  The facsimile machine 20 according to this embodiment is a V.16 recommended by ITU-T. 34 mode and slower V.V. This is a so-called Super G3 facsimile machine capable of performing facsimile communication in a low-speed mode such as the 17 mode. The main control unit 1 of the facsimile machine 20 is connected to the destination facsimile machine 20A via the IP network 50 based on the information signal received from the IP network 50 side in the call processing for the destination facsimile machine 20A. When it is determined that the connection is established via the IP network 50 (YES in step S3 in FIG. 5), the above V.V. The facsimile transmission processing in 34 mode is set to invalid (step S7). Control is performed to execute a facsimile transmission process in a predetermined mode at a lower speed than the 34-mode facsimile transmission process (step S8).

  The facsimile apparatus 20 also includes a RAM 7 that stores a communication history table 7a including a communication start speed of facsimile communication for each destination. The main control unit 1 determines that the communication speed before image data transmission is an image in the facsimile transmission process. If it is slower than the communication speed after data transmission (YES in step S15 in FIG. 6), the communication speed after image data transmission is stored in the communication history table as the communication start speed (step S16), and then In the facsimile transmission process, facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table (steps S4 to S6).

  The information signal received from the IP network 50 side in the call processing is an information signal transmitted from the SIP server device 53 connected to the IP network 50, and the main control unit 1 converts the information signal into the information signal. The data is received from the SIP server device 53 via the LAN interface circuit 14 from the VoIP terminal adapter device 60 (also referred to as a VoIp gateway device) connected to the IP network 50, for example.

  In FIG. 1, the facsimile apparatus 20 has a conventional facsimile communication function such as the G3 system, and is based on an information signal from the SIP server apparatus 53 when it is transmitted via the IP network. A control function for invalidating the 34 mode is provided. The main control unit 1 is specifically composed of a CPU, and is connected to the following hardware units via the bus 13 to control them, and executes various software functions to be 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 black and white binary. The image recording unit 3 is an electrophotographic printer or the like, and prints out image data received from another facsimile apparatus by facsimile communication as a hard copy and records it. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) or a CRT display, and displays the operation state of the facsimile device 20 and displays image data of a document to be transmitted and received image data. .

  The operation unit 5 includes character keys necessary for operating the facsimile apparatus 20, a dial keypad, a speed dial key, a one-touch dial key, various function keys, and the like. In addition, you may comprise so that a part or all of the various keys of this operation part 5 may be substituted by making the above-mentioned display part 4 into a touch panel system.

  The ROM 6 stores in advance various software programs that are necessary for the operation of the facsimile apparatus 20 and are executed by the main control unit 1. Here, the programs are at least used for the facsimile transmission process of FIGS. 5 and 6. Includes programs. The RAM 7 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and is used as a working area for the main control unit 1 to store temporary data generated when the program is executed. 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. Note that the RAM 7 and the image memory 8 may be constituted by a hard disk memory. Here, the RAM 7 stores a communication history table 7a of FIG. 4 in which a setting value of the communication start speed is stored for each destination telephone number.

  The fax modem 10 is a modem connected to the public telephone line L and having a function of a fax modem for normal facsimile communication. The fax modem 10 demodulates data of outgoing telephone number information received as an FSK signal and sends it to the main control unit 1. Output. The NCU 11 is a hardware circuit that performs closing and opening operations such as a DC loop of the analog public telephone line L and has an automatic dial function, and connects the fax modem 10 to the public telephone line L as necessary. Here, the NCU 11 detects the ID receiving terminal activation signal and the normal telephone call signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service, and transmits the primary response signal and the secondary response signal in the outgoing telephone number notification service as necessary. can do. The NCU 11 may be connected to a baseband transmission type digital line (for example, an ISDN line) via a predetermined terminal adapter and a DSU (Subscriber Line Termination Unit: Digital Service Unit).

  The facsimile apparatus 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above is not limited to the normal G.3 facsimile communication function, and the V.A. It has a control function that disables the 34 mode. In the facsimile communication function, the dot image data read by the image reading unit 2 is encoded by software in accordance with an encoding method such as MH, MR, or MMR defined in the facsimile communication standard, and then the counterpart facsimile machine On the other hand, the encoded data received from the facsimile machine of the other party 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 the image data as necessary, and conversely outputs the stored image data as necessary.

  Furthermore, V.C. is capable of high-speed data communication such as facsimile communication. A 34-mode communication procedure will be described. When data communication is performed with a communication terminal device such as a facsimile machine, the recommendation V. of ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standardization Sector) of the half duplex method, for example. The modem uses a modem that conforms to the 17-mode communication procedure, etc., and is a G3 standard facsimile communication procedure. Follow the procedure specified in 30. Also, the recommendation V.I. An ultra-high speed communication procedure (hereinafter referred to as a V.34 mode communication procedure) with a maximum transmission rate of 33.6 kbps conforming to the standard No. 34 has been put into practical use. In the 34-mode communication procedure, at the time of starting communication and during communication execution, the receiving side designates the communication speed according to the line status at that time, specifically, S / N (signal to noise power ratio) and bandwidth. It is possible for the transmission side to change the communication speed so that transmission is performed at the communication speed specified on the reception side. V. 34. When data communication is performed using the communication procedure of the mode, the same recommendation V. The actual communication speed is determined by performing the pre-procedure in 8 communication procedures.

  FIG. 3 is a line configuration diagram when the facsimile machine 20 is connected to the counterpart facsimile machine 20A via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50 in the embodiment. 3 is connected to the LAN interface circuit 14 of the facsimile apparatus 20 and the LAN interface circuit 62 of the VoIP terminal adapter apparatus 60 in comparison with the circuit configuration of FIG. When the device 20 makes a call to the counterpart facsimile device 20A via the VoIP terminal adapter device 60 and the IP network 50, the facsimile device 20 receives an information signal of a response message transmitted from the SIP server device 53. Can be received.

  For example, in signaling control by SIP (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 2), when the facsimile apparatus 20 that is a client apparatus (UAC) makes a call by IP telephone, first, the telephone number information of the facsimile apparatus 20A of the other party is included. An INVITE method is transmitted as a request message to the SIP server device 53 to make a call request. In response to this, the SIP server device 53 inquires of the location server device 54 about the location of the destination facsimile device 20A, and based on this information, the server device (UAS) to which the destination facsimile device 20A belongs is shown. In the same manner, the request message is transmitted using the INVITE method. In a normal case, the received server apparatus (UAS) rings the partner facsimile apparatus 20A and responds to the SIP server apparatus 53 using a response message that the status code “180” is being called. To do. In addition, the SIP server device 53 relays this to the facsimile device 20 via the VoIP terminal adapter device 60 and responds to the facsimile device 20 using a response message. On the other hand, when the other party's facsimile machine 20A goes off-hook, a response message “OK” with a status code “200” (corresponding to the information signal from the SIP server 53 described above) is sent via the SIP server 53 to the facsimile machine 20. Respond to. Then, the facsimile apparatus 20 transmits a message of the “ACK” method to the server apparatus (UAS) via the SIP server apparatus 53, and when the server apparatus (UAS) receives the message, the call is started.

  When the call is disconnected, the BYE method is transmitted as a request message to the destination facsimile machine 20A via the SIP server apparatus 53, and the response message of OK with the status code “200” is sent from the destination SIP server apparatus (UAS). The session ends when the message is received. This operation can be executed by any facsimile machine 20 or 20A that makes a call.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a facsimile transmission process executed by the main control unit 1 of the facsimile apparatus 20 of FIG.

  In step S1 in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the destination telephone number of the destination is a “0A0” number system such as 050. If YES, the process proceeds to step S7. If NO, the process proceeds to step S2. . In step S2, the calling process is started. In step S3, it is determined whether an information signal is received from the SIP server device 53 in the connected IP network 50. If YES, the process proceeds to step S4. If so, go to Step S8. Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not there is a past communication history for the destination in the communication history table 7a. If YES, the process proceeds to step S5. If NO, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the V.V. 34 mode is disabled, e.g. Set to a slower mode, such as 17, and proceed to step S8. On the other hand, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the start speed is specified in the attribute of the destination in the communication history table 7a. If YES, the process proceeds to step S6. If NO, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S6, the own device transmission capability is set to the communication start speed specified in the attribute, and the process proceeds to step S8. Further, in step S8, the facsimile transmission process of FIG. 6 is executed, and in step S9, the line is opened and the facsimile transmission process is terminated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a facsimile transmission process (S8) which is a subroutine of FIG.

  In step S11 of FIG. 6, the current maximum communication capability (including the maximum communication speed) is temporarily stored in the RAM 7, handshake processing before image data transmission is executed in step S12, and the image data in step S13 is executed. Transmission processing is executed, and handshake processing after image data transmission is executed in step S14. In step S15, it is determined whether or not the final communication speed after image data transmission is different from the maximum communication speed before image data transmission, that is, whether or not it has been changed to a low speed. While the process proceeds to S16, if the answer is NO, the process returns to the original main routine. In step S16, the final communication speed is set and stored as the start communication speed in the destination attribute of the communication history table 7a, and then the process returns to the original main routine.

  As described above, the main control unit 1 of the facsimile apparatus 20 determines that the counterpart facsimile apparatus 20A is IP based on the information signal received from the IP network 50 side in the calling process for the counterpart facsimile apparatus 20A. When it is determined whether or not the connection is made via the network 50, and when it is determined that the connection is made via the IP network 50 (YES in step S3 in FIG. The facsimile transmission processing in 34 mode is set to invalid (step S7). Control is performed so as to execute a facsimile transmission process in a predetermined mode at a lower speed than the facsimile transmission process in the 34 mode (step S8). Therefore, even when performing facsimile communication via the gateway device 40 with the PLC function and the IP network 50, it is possible to accurately confirm that the other party is connected via the IP network 50, and the facsimile can be performed without any trouble. The communication procedure of communication can be continued properly. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

  Further, in the facsimile transmission process, the main control unit 1 of the facsimile machine 20 determines that when the communication speed before the transmission of the image data is slower than the communication speed after the transmission of the image data (YES in step S15 in FIG. 6). After the data transmission speed is stored in the communication history table as the communication start speed (step S16), facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table in the next facsimile transmission process. (Steps S4-S6). Therefore, even in the next facsimile transmission process to the same destination, the communication procedure of facsimile communication can be properly continued without any trouble. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

<Modification>
In the above embodiment, an example of the facsimile apparatus 20 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a telephone connected to a public network such as an IP telephone network, a public telephone network, or a public digital circuit network, The present invention can be applied to communication terminal devices including data communication devices.

  As described above in detail, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, the facsimile apparatus of the other party is connected via the IP network based on the information signal received from the network side in the calling process for the facsimile machine of the other party. When it is determined whether or not the connection is established and it is determined that the connection is established via the IP network, 34 mode facsimile transmission processing is disabled, Control is performed so as to execute a facsimile transmission process in a mode lower than the 34-mode facsimile transmission process. Therefore, even when the facsimile communication is performed via the gateway device with the PLC function and the IP network, it is possible to accurately confirm that the other party is connected via the IP network, and the communication of the facsimile communication can be performed without any trouble. The procedure can be continued properly. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

  In the facsimile transmission process, when the communication speed before the transmission of the image data is slower than the communication speed after the transmission of the image data, the communication speed after the transmission of the image data is set as the communication start speed in the communication history table. After storing, facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table in the next facsimile transmission process. Therefore, even in the next facsimile transmission process to the same destination, the communication procedure of facsimile communication can be properly continued without any trouble. Thereby, it is possible to prevent an excessive communication time due to the occurrence of a communication error.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, the V.P. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the facsimile apparatus 20 which has a control function which invalidates 34 mode. FIG. 3 is a line configuration diagram when the facsimile machine 20 is connected to the facsimile machine 20A of the other party via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50 in the prior art. FIG. 3 is a line configuration diagram when the facsimile machine 20 is connected to the counterpart facsimile machine 20A via the public telephone network 30 and the IP network 50 in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication log | history table 7a stored in RAM7 of FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a facsimile transmission process executed by a main control unit 1 of the facsimile apparatus 20 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the facsimile transmission process (S8) which is a subroutine of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... main control part,
2. Image reading unit,
3 ... image recording unit,
4 ... display part,
5 ... operation part,
6 ... ROM,
7 ... RAM,
7a ... communication history table,
8 ... Image memory,
10. Fax modem,
11, 11A ... NCU,
12 ... LAN interface circuit,
13 ... Bus
20, 20A ... facsimile machine,
30 ... public telephone network,
40. Media gateway device,
41 ... NCU,
50 ... IP network,
51, 52 ... router device,
53. SIP server device,
54 ... Location server device,
60 ... VoIP terminal adapter device,
61 ... NCU,
62 ... LAN interface circuit,
L: Public telephone line.

Claims (5)

V. of ITU-T recommendation. In a facsimile apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication in 34 mode,
Based on the information signal received from the network side in the calling process for the other party's facsimile apparatus, it is determined whether or not the other party's facsimile apparatus is connected via the IP network, and is connected via the IP network. When it is determined that V. 34 mode facsimile transmission processing is disabled, A facsimile apparatus comprising control means for performing control so as to execute a facsimile transmission process in a mode slower than a 34-mode facsimile transmission process. Storage means for storing a communication history table including a communication start speed of facsimile communication for each destination;
In the facsimile transmission process, when the communication speed before image data transmission is slower than the communication speed after image data transmission, the control means uses the communication speed after image data transmission as the communication start speed to 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the data is stored in the history table, facsimile communication is performed using the communication start speed stored in the communication history table in the next facsimile transmission process.   3. The information signal received from the network side in the call processing is an information signal transmitted from a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server device connected to the IP network. Facsimile device. The facsimile apparatus further includes an interface circuit connected to a terminal adapter device or a gateway device connected to the IP network,
The control means receives an information signal received from the network side in the call processing from the terminal adapter device or gateway device connected to the IP network via the interface circuit. The facsimile apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the interface circuit is a LAN interface circuit.

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