JP2649997B2 - Logging method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for collecting, as log information, various types of information such as the status of use of a line in a multimedia mail apparatus. The present invention relates to a logging system that facilitates information retrieval and reference.

A multimedia mail apparatus has functions such as facsimile (FAX), voice mail, bulletin board, and the like. In such a multimedia mail apparatus, the use status of a line, that is, the start time of use of each line. , Use end time, user identification, error information at the time of error occurrence, and the like are accumulated as log information, and are used as materials for system operation such as billing.

It is desired that the logging method for collecting such log information be a one-communication-one-file recording method so that the log information can be easily searched and referred to.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Although log information is collected for each communication, the conventional logging method generally collects the information for each designated period and records it in one file. The contents of the log information thus collected are referred to as they are.

[0005]

In the conventional logging method, the log information is recorded in one file collectively for each designated period. Therefore, when referring to the log information, the log information must be referred to in the order in which the log information is created. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes time to search for log information.

Further, conventional log information is represented only by alphanumeric characters and is difficult to understand, so that there is a problem that it is difficult to refer to the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art, and collects more detailed log information than before and stores the log information of one communication in one file, thereby obtaining the log information. Is searched by user, line type, and service type in addition to search by the specified period.
The purpose of this is to make it possible to refer to these items in a mixed form so that the usage purpose can be effectively used not only for billing but also for statistics on the frequency of use by service type or line type. And

Further, in a multimedia mail apparatus having a media conversion function and an inter-center coordination function, log information at the time of media conversion and inter-center communication as well as log information at the time of data transmission / reception during line connection as in the prior art. The purpose is to be able to collect.

[0009]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a multimedia mail having facsimile and voice communication via a line and having inter-center communication and media conversion functions as shown in FIG. In the apparatus, line connection log information creating means 1 for creating log information at the time of line connection, inter-center communication log creating means 2 for creating log information at the time of communication between centers, and media for creating log information at the time of media conversion The conversion log creating means 3 and the log information created by each of the log creating means 1 to 3 are communicated in one communication-
A log storage unit 4 for storing in the form of one file and a log information reference command 5 for referring to log information from the stored log are provided. It is characterized in that log information can be searched and referred to by a search condition.

In this case, according to the present invention, the log information reference command 5 can search and refer to the log information from the accumulated log under each condition for each subscriber, each line type, each service type, or a mixed condition thereof. It is characterized by the following.

[0011]

[Action] Figure 2 is a shows a system configuration of a multimedia mail system, 11 represents a basic operating system (OS), is 12 ₁ to 12 _3, an application process.

Reference numeral 12 ₁ denotes an application process for receiving and delivering voice mail and bulletin boards, etc., and includes a line control unit 13, an FVCA (FAX / VOICE C
The service is realized via an communication adapter (driver) 14. The line control unit 13 uses the FVCA 15 to transmit and receive voice data or facsimile data from the application process and the line side,
Perform HI (HumanInterface) with the user. FVCA
Is an adapter that performs communication of FAX data and voice data with a line, and the FVCA driver is a driver that intervenes between the line control unit and the FVCA to mutually transmit information.

[0013] 12 ₂ is an application process of media conversion. When converting text data into image data or voice data when outputting a delivery result of voice mail, a service reception notification, a list of received data in a mailbox, etc., the media conversion control unit 16, TC
FA (TextConverse FAX Adapter) driver or TC
Through a VA (Text Converse Voice Adaptor) driver 17, a service is realized using TCFA or TCVA 18. TCFA is an adapter that converts text data created by a personal computer or the like into facsimile data and communicates with a line. TCVA converts text data into text data.
This is an adapter that converts to audio data and communicates with the line. The MCRA is an adapter that reads a barcode.

[0014] 12 ₃ is an application process of communication between the centers. Communication between centers is based on TISP (Tran
This is performed using a DCA (Digital Communication Adapter) 21 through a smission control protocol / Internet protocol (DC) 19 and a DC (Digital Communication) driver 20. TISP is a protocol for performing communication between centers via a network. The DC driver is a driver in this case, and the DCA is a communication adapter in this case.

FIG. 3 shows a log information creation sequence after the service is completed, and exemplifies a case where a user calls a mail device. When the application process gives an instruction to the line control unit by a message of "waiting for incoming call" (S1), the line control unit issues an enable signal to the FVCA driver and waits for a call from the other party. Request the process to put it in the waiting state (S
2). The application returns after the user receives a call and connects to the line (S3). At this time, the connection start time is received from the FVCA driver as a return value (return value).

Upon receiving a notification of the line connection from the line control unit (S4), the application process receives services such as voice mail and bulletin boards (S5). When these services are completed, the application process instructs the line controller to disconnect the line (S6). The line control unit issues a disable signal to the FVCA driver to request a line disconnection (S7). When returning, the line control unit returns a return value as a return value. The communication record such as the time from the start to the end of the connection) and the connection destination number is received (S).
8). In the case of abnormal termination, driver level error information is added.

The received communication record is notified to the application process as it is, and log information is created together with the subscriber information, service type, application level error information, etc. recognized by the application process (S9), and one file is created. Is stored in

Similarly, when a call is sent from a mail device to a user, such as when sending mail, a communication record is received when the line is disconnected. The log information creation process is always started in the application process of all services when the process ends, such as after a service ends or when an error occurs. Therefore, log information is strictly collected in any case when communication is performed.

FIG. 4 shows a log information creation sequence at the time of media conversion. The media conversion is for converting text data created by a personal computer or the like into FAX or voice data. After measuring the current time (S11), the application process instructs the TCFA driver to perform media conversion via an interface function (S12). As a result, the TCFA driver executes the media conversion and notifies the application process of the termination at the time of termination. At this time, if the processing ends abnormally, error information is added. The application process records the time immediately after the function return (S13), and sets the line connection time from the issue time of the interface function to the return time.
Error information is added to this, and collected as log information at the driver level in a log file. Further, subscriber information, service type, and the like are simultaneously stored in a log file as application-level log information (S1).
4).

FIG. 5 shows a log information creation sequence at the time of communication between centers. At the time of communication between centers, the center on the side requesting processing such as mail delivery (hereinafter referred to as the client side) sends an end notification to the partner center (hereinafter referred to as the server side) from the time when the processing was requested. The line connection time is defined as the time up to the time when the connection with the partner center is released. At the time of abnormal termination, error information is added to the termination notification. On the other hand, the server side sets the line connection time from the reception of the processing request to the release of the connection. A log information file is created by adding application-level information such as subscriber information and service type to the above information.

As described above, in collecting the log information, in addition to the connection time information, the line type, the connection destination number, the error information at the driver level, and the like are collected as the driver level information. Also, subscriber information, service type, error information at the application level, and the like are collected as application level information. As for all of these information, information for one communication is stored in one file.

In order to refer to the log information created by such a method, a log information reference command is prepared.
Then, the administrator key-in this command from the console to start the log information reference process,
Reference of desired log information is performed. The log information reference command can specify, for each subscriber, each line type, each specified period, and a mixed condition thereof, so that log information can be used more effectively.

FIG. 6 shows a log information file name, which includes a center number, a log generation date, and a serial number unique to the file. The log information reference process searches for log information within a specified period based on the file name.

Searching of log information by subscriber or line is performed by opening a log information file, reading the contents, and making a determination. At the time of searching, when opening a file, it is also possible to calculate the operating line usage rate within the specified search period by summing the line connection statistical time.

In this command, it is also possible to output log information separately according to command options. For example, classification such as (a) summary information such as subscriber number, line type, line connection time, service type, and (b) detailed information such as connection destination station number, connection mode, and detailed error information can be performed.

In this case, as a specification restriction of the option, the option (-u, -t, -s, -e) is used as a search condition. -U: Search by subscriber number (-u is the external subscriber number (only one, 10
-T: Search by line type (Only one of FCVA, TCFA, TISP can be specified for -t line type) -s: Search start date specification (After -s, "MMDD ( -E: Specify the end date of the search (-e, specify the date in the format of "MMDD (4 digits, absolute specification)") Option (-l,- c, -d) is a processing method. -L: Print -c: Delete log information -d: Output detailed information Specify options as (search condition + processing method). Search conditions can be specified in combination. When the search condition is omitted, all information created today is assumed. When the processing method is omitted, it is only displayed on the screen.

7 and 8 show the control flow of the log information file reference command. FIG. 7 shows the first half of the control flow of the log information file reference command, and FIG. 8 shows the log information file reference command. 2 shows the latter half of the control flow.

Further, the output destination of the log information can be specified. The output destination that can be specified is a console screen, a printer output, a floppy save, and the like. In addition, it has a log information deletion function, and it is also possible to delete a file that has been referenced.

[0029]

FIG. 9 shows a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, which shows a multimedia mail apparatus having a function of inter-center communication and media conversion and handling FAX and voice information. Is a multimedia mail device forming a center (A), a console 22 and
It has a plurality of telephones 23 and a plurality of fax machines 24. Reference numeral 25 denotes another multimedia mail apparatus which forms a center (B) and has a console 26, a plurality of telephones 27, and a plurality of FAX apparatuses 28.
The multimedia mail device 21 and the multimedia mail device 25 are connected via a public line 29.

The multimedia mail devices 21 and 25 have a media conversion function, can handle FAX information and voice information by telephone, and can provide services such as mail transmission / reception and bulletin board information transmission / reception. By inputting a log information file reference command by the system administrator, the created log information can be referenced from the screens of the consoles 22 and 26, and can be used for system operation.

FIG. 10 shows a process configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. A thin solid line indicates a process start interface, a dotted line indicates a function interface, and a thick solid line indicates a file interface. In the figure, 3
1 is an operation screen control process, 32 is a console, 33
Is a keyboard input control process, 34 is a log information reference command, 35 is an initial startup process, 36 is an application process, 37 is an inter-center cooperation process, and 38 is T
ISP, 39 is a delivery management process, 40 is a notification management process, 41 is a bulletin board cooperation process, 42 is a delivery system process, 43 is an MLCP, 44 is an incoming call monitoring process, and 45 is a login process.

The operation screen control process 31 controls an operation screen on the console 32. When the log information reference command 34 is input, it is input to the operation screen control process 31 via the keyboard input control process 33. An operation command for activating various services of the multimedia mail device is also input to the operation screen control process 31 via the keyboard input control process 33.

When various services of the multimedia mail apparatus are activated, an initial activation process 35 is activated.
The initial activation process 35 activates each unit according to the type of service.

When performing communication between centers, an application process 36 and an inter-center coordination process 37 are started, whereby communication with another center is performed via the TISP 38.

When the received mail is delivered at a predetermined time, a delivery management process 39 is started, and when a mail is received and a notification of the mail delivery result or the like is made, a notification management process 40 is started, and the service of the bulletin board is started. Is activated, the bulletin board cooperation process 41 is activated. As a result, the delivery system process 42 executes delivery, and sends out to the line via the line control unit (MLCP) 43. on the other hand,
The incoming call monitoring process 44 includes a line control unit (MLCP) 43
Monitors information from the line that arrives via. The login process 45 includes a line type, a connection time, a connection partner number,
Collect communication records such as error information in logs. At the same time, the log-in process 45 also collects application-level information such as subscriber type, service type, and application-level error information in a log.

The log-in process 45 can collect logs of media conversion and communication between centers in addition to logs of data transmission and reception at the time of line connection. At this time, the line connection statistics time is totaled under various search conditions,
It is possible to calculate the operation line utilization rate within the search designated period, that is, the line utilization rate with respect to the operation time.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show examples of log information screen output images on the console.
1 illustrates a summary-displayed statistical information confirmation screen, and FIG. 12 illustrates a detailed-displayed statistical information confirmation screen. If the log information spans many screens, for example, the function key F
Pressing 1 displays the previous page, and pressing function key F2 displays the next page. In this case, since the kanji expression can be used for displaying information on the screen, it becomes easier to understand than when only alphanumeric characters are used.

[0038]

As described above, according to the logging method of the present invention, the log information is stored in the format of one communication file, so that the log information is stored for each designated period, for each user, for each line, or for each of them. Log information can be searched under mixed conditions. Therefore, including charging information, line usage rate,
The usage status can be known from various angles, such as the usage frequency for each subscriber and the usage frequency for each service type.

In addition to the recording of data transmission / reception, the time required for media conversion and communication between centers can be known.
More accurate billing information can be obtained.

Further, the line utilization rate with respect to the operation time can be calculated under various search conditions, so that data effective in system operation can be obtained.

According to the logging method of the present invention, more detailed log information can be obtained as compared with the conventional method.

Further, at the time of data communication, error information at the driver level and the application level can be obtained, so that error analysis is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a multimedia mail device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a log information creation sequence after the service is completed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a log information creation sequence at the time of media conversion.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a log information creation sequence at the time of communication between centers.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a log information file name.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a first half of a control flow of a log information file reference command.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the latter half of the control flow of the log information file reference command.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a process configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a statistical information confirmation screen of a schematic display.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a statistical information confirmation screen of a detailed display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Line connection log information creation means 2 Inter-center communication log creation means 3 Media conversion log creation means 4 Log storage means 5 Log information reference command

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] In a multimedia mail apparatus which performs facsimile and voice communication via a line and has a function of inter-center communication and media conversion, line connection log information creating means (1) for creating log information at the time of line connection. ), Inter-center communication log creating means (2) for creating log information at the time of communication between centers, media conversion log creating means (3) for creating log information at the time of media conversion, and each log creating means (1). Log storage means (4) for storing the log information created in (1) to (3) in the form of one communication file, and a log information reference command from the stored log .
Command (5) to refer to log information.
Log information from the accumulated log under arbitrary search conditions.
A logging method characterized by providing means for searching and referencing . 2. The log information reference command (5) is capable of searching and referring to log information from the stored log under each condition for each subscriber, each line type, each service type, or a mixed condition thereof. The logging method according to claim 1, wherein: