JP2624971B2 - Data communication system - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication technique and a technique particularly effective when applied to an information providing system for an unspecified number of people using a public telephone line. The present invention relates to a technology effective for use in a reception system when a user applies for provision of information from a public telephone line using a terminal to a host computer on the side.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when providing a weather forecast or other information to an unspecified number of people using a public telephone line, a plurality of so-called representative lines are prepared by an information provider, and the lines are vacant in the order of application. A method of providing information by connecting lines one after another was common.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional information providing method, when the application for information provision is concentrated, all the prepared lines are always in a busy state, and congestion occurs, so that the service cannot be easily received or an extreme case occurs. Sometimes paralyzed the telephone network.

In addition, the conventional information providing system is not necessarily provided with services in the order of application during congestion, and is highly contingent in that those who have made an application when a vacant line occurs by chance can receive services. For this reason, a fair service cannot be provided to the user, and if the user is unlucky, the service will not be received even if the application is made many times.

In addition, if a large number of service lines are prepared in advance in anticipation of congestion, there is a disadvantage that unused lines increase in a time zone during which application is not concentrated and waste increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and its purpose is to avoid the occurrence of congestion at the time of congestion in an information providing system for an unspecified number of people using a telephone line, An object of the present invention is to provide services fairly to more users and prevent paralysis of the telephone communication network due to concentration of applications.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The outline of a typical invention among the inventions disclosed in the present application is as follows.

In other words, a plurality of telephone lines prepared at the information providing center are classified into three types: a conventional service line, a reservation reception line, and a reservation service line, and at least the service line and the reservation reception line are treated as representatives. In addition, the highest priority is given to the service line, and at the same time when the line is connected, two kinds of services, a direct service that can receive the service and a service after the reservation is made, are executed. .

[Operation] According to the above-described means, when the service line is full, the service line is connected to the highest-priority service line and the service can be immediately received. Since reservations are made, congestion is unlikely to occur even when applications are concentrated, and services are not dispersed and the telephone communication network is not paralyzed. Further, once a reservation is made, the service can be always received at the reserved time through the reservation service line, so that a fair service can be given to the user.

Furthermore, by appropriately adjusting the number of the three lines so that the number of procedures through reservations increases during congestion and the service is provided immediately when the time is low,
It is possible to efficiently provide services with a minimum number of lines and configure a system with less waste.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a communication service system that provides information to an unspecified number of users using a public telephone line.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a host computer on the center side for providing information, which is constituted by, for example, a minicomputer. Although not particularly limited, the host computer 1 is provided with, for example, a group of 20 telephone lines 2 and can be connected to a terminal 4 such as a personal computer on the user side through a public telephone line 3.

A group of 20 telephone lines 2 on the center side includes a conventional service line 2a for providing information at the time of receiving an application, a reservation receiving line 2b for receiving a reservation, and a terminal connected at the reserved time. Reservation service line that provides information to
2c. Of these three lines, the service line 2a and the reservation reception line 2b are so-called representatives, and the service line 2a is given a high priority. When the service line 2a is full, the reservation line 2b is connected to the reservation receiving line 2b, and the host computer 1 transmits the reservation time and the representative number of the reservation service line 2c to the application terminal 4 to make a reservation. This reservation reception processing is completed in a few seconds as compared with the service providing time that takes several minutes, so that the reservation reception line 2b is less likely to be full, and congestion can be avoided.

It should be noted that the reservation service line 2c is treated as a representative separately from the service line 2a and the reservation reception line 2b. However, as described above, the reservation reception processing is completed in a short time, and it is expected that the reservation reception line 2b is rarely occupied by the reservation application, so the reservation service line 2c is replaced with the service line 2a or the reservation reception line 2b. There is practically no support even if the same priority is used as the same as above and the lowest priority is given.
The host computer performs software processing so that the service is not provided even if a line from a terminal other than the reserved terminal is connected to the reservation service line 2c.

Next, a specific procedure when the user receives the provision of the service from the center using the terminal device 4 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

When the terminal makes a call to the center-side host computer via the telephone line (step S1), the line is connected to the host computer (step S21). When the connected line is the service line 2a, as shown in FIG. 2, the host computer receives the service request (step S2) from the terminal side, and responds to the request for the service with the desired information. (Steps S22, S2
3). Upon receiving the transmission data, the terminal determines whether there is any other information provided (steps S3 and S4),
If there is, the process returns to step S2 to repeat the above procedure. If there is no more service to be received, the terminal disconnects the line and the host computer disconnects the line (steps S5 and S2).
Four).

On the other hand, if the line connected on the center side to the call from the terminal side is the reservation receiving line, the processing is performed according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B).

That is, a service request from the terminal side (step S2)
Is received by the host computer, the reservation time and the telephone number of the reservation service line are sent to the terminal together with a negative response indicating that the service cannot be provided (step
S22, S23). Then, the terminal receives the reservation information and disconnects the line once (step S24). When the reservation time comes, the terminal re-calls the designated reservation service line and makes a service request (steps S6 and S7).

The center receives the call to the reservation service line, connects the line, and receives a service request from the terminal (steps S25 and S26). Then, when the service is prolonged for more than the reservation time, after transmitting the advance reservation information for the next reservation, the requested information is transmitted together with the response signal corresponding to the service (steps S27 and S28).

When the terminal receives the above information (steps S8 and S9),
Determine whether there is any other information you want to receive (step S1
0) If not, proceed to step S15 to disconnect the line.
The center-side host computer receives this and cancels the advance reservation, and then disconnects the line (steps S33 and S3).
Four).

On the other hand, in step S10, if there are services not received yet, the process proceeds to step S11, where a service request is made again, and after receiving a response from the center side, the line on the host side is still connected. (Step S1
2, S13). If the line is connected, step S
Return to step 10, judge whether there are any services that you want to receive again, and repeat the above procedure.

After receiving the service request again from the terminal side and providing the desired service, the host computer immediately disconnects the line when the reservation time has elapsed, and enters a state where it accepts requests from other reservation users. Transfer (Step S29
~ S32).

By processing according to the above-described procedure, fair services can be provided to a large number of users while avoiding congestion at the time of congestion using a limited line.

Next, as an example, a description will be given of an example of a processing procedure in a host computer in a case where the communication service system of the present invention is applied and music song data is provided to a user.

Note that the music data in this case is not music itself but encoded music scores and the like, and the terminal has a function of playing music based on the music data.

First, a processing procedure when a connection is made to a service line is shown in FIG.

When the line is connected, the host computer receives a service request message from the terminal (routine).
R1). The service request includes a request for transmission of music data, a request for registration of music data, and a request for search for music. Further, the service request message includes information for distinguishing between a reserved one and a first one.

After receiving the service request, it performs processing according to the request content and transmits the requested information to the terminal side (routine R2). Then, it is determined whether or not the terminal has disconnected the line. If the line has not been disconnected, the process returns to the routine R1 again to accept another service request, and disconnects the line on the center side when the line on the terminal is disconnected.

Next, FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure of the host computer when the reservation accepting line is connected to a call from the terminal side.

When a service request is received from the terminal (routine R1
1), a reservation service line is selected and a reservation time is determined. When the reservation is established, three pieces of reservation information of a reservation start time, a reservation time, and a telephone number of the reservation service line are transmitted to the terminal (routine). R12-R14).

The host computer stores the identification code of the reserved terminal together with the reservation information. However, if the number of already accepted reservations exceeds the maximum number of reservations set in the system, the process proceeds from the routine R13 to R16 to transmit a center busy message to notify the terminal that service cannot be provided. In this case, if there is another sensor, send the telephone number to prompt the call to that number, or if there is only one center, send a message so that the call can be made again after an appropriate time. You may.

FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure of the host computer when a call is made to the reservation service line.

First, when a service request is received from the terminal, the service request is checked against reservation information stored in advance to determine whether or not the user is a legitimate reservation person (routines R21 and R22).

If there is a service request from a terminal that is not a legitimate subscriber, the process proceeds to routine R30, where a message similar to that of routine R16 is transmitted, and then the center disconnects the line.

On the other hand, if the user is an authorized person, the routine R23
After determining the next reservation (preceding reservation) and transmitting the same, the routine R24 determines whether or not the reservation time has elapsed, and then provides a service according to the request from the terminal (routine R25). . Then, it is determined whether or not the terminal has disconnected the line (routine R26). If the line has not been disconnected, the process proceeds to routine R27 to receive the next service request and then returns to routine R24. Here, if the reservation time has not elapsed, the service is provided in the routine R25, and if the reservation time has elapsed, the line is disconnected from the center side.

When all service provisions for the terminal side service request are completed within the reserved time, the routine R26 to the routine R28
The process goes to and cancels the advance reservation made in the routine R23 and then disconnects the line.

As described above, in the above embodiment, a plurality of telephone lines prepared on the information providing center side are classified into three types of a conventional service line, a reservation reception line, and a reservation service line, and at least the service line is provided. Lines and reservation accepting lines are treated as representatives, and service lines are given the highest priority, and there are two types of services: direct service that can receive services at the same time as line connection and service after making reservations Service was run,
When the service line is full, the service is connected immediately to the highest priority service line and services can be received immediately. However, congestion is less likely to occur, and services are dispersed, so that the telephone communication network is not paralyzed. Also,
Once a reservation is made, the service can always be received at the reserved time through the reservation service line, so that a fair service can be given to the user.

Furthermore, by appropriately adjusting the number of the three lines so that the number of procedures through reservations increases during congestion and the service is provided immediately when the time is low,
There is an effect that a service can be efficiently provided with a minimum number of lines and a system with less waste can be configured.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. Nor.

In the above description, the invention mainly made by the present inventor is applied to a music data providing system which is a field of use as a background, but the present invention is not limited to this, and A system that provides information through a telephone line can be generally used.

[Effects of the Invention] The effects obtained by typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.

That is, in an information providing system for an unspecified number of people using a telephone line, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of congestion at the time of congestion, to provide services to more users fairly, and to concentrate applications. The paralysis of the telephone communication network can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an information providing system using a telephone line according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system flowchart showing an operation procedure of the system when connected to a service line, FIG. (A) and (B) are system flowcharts showing an operation procedure of the system when connected to a reservation reception line. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in a center side host computer when connected to a service line. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the host computer when connected to the reservation receiving line, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure in the host computer when connected to the reservation service line. . 1 Host computer 2a Service line 2b
... Reservation reception line, 2c ... Reservation service line, 3 ... Public telephone line, 4 ... Terminal.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masahiko Asada 1479, Kamizuhoncho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo Inside Hitachi Microcomputer Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Yoyojo 2-22-2 Nakazato, Kita-ku, Tokyo Inside Japan Instruments

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data communication system for communicating by connecting a host computer and a plurality of terminals via a public telephone line, comprising: a plurality of telephone lines prepared in the host computer and connected to the public telephone line. A service line group, a reservation reception line group, and a reservation service line group. Of the three classifications, the service line group is given a higher connection priority than the reservation reception line group. The lowest priority is given to the reservation service line group, and the service line group immediately provides information to the terminal from the host computer side after connection with the terminal via the public telephone line. When the service line group becomes full due to connection with the terminal, the reservation accepting line group accepts reservations from the terminals via the public telephone line. A data communication system, wherein the reservation service line group provides information to a terminal via the public telephone line when a reservation time of the reservation accepted by the reservation reception line group comes. 2. The reservation accepting line group transmits the reservation time and the telephone number of the reservation service line group to the terminal via the public telephone line when the reservation is accepted. Upon receiving the time and the telephone number of the reservation service line group, the telephone line is disconnected once, and then the terminal having the reservation time again calls the reservation service line group by the telephone number. The data communication system according to claim 1. 3. The service line group and the reservation reception line group are the same representative telephone number of the public telephone line, and the service line group and the reservation reception line group are terminals by the same representative telephone number. 3. The data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the data communication system is connected to a data communication device.