JP2828130B2 - Facsimile adapter device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile adapter having a facsimile function connected to an external device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a facsimile adapter device connected to an external device such as a computer receives a facsimile message and gives it to the external device as a received facsimile message.

In this type of facsimile adapter device,
A facsimile message is received and supplied to an external device without monitoring the status of the external device.

On the other hand, JP-A-5-30266 discloses that
1 shows a facsimile apparatus having a computer interlocking function, which describes a measure to be taken when a failure occurs in a signal transmission line connecting a computer and a facsimile apparatus. In other words, monitor the timer,
When the time is up, it is determined that a failure has occurred in the external device or a connection line with the external device, and the device is reset to the initial reset state, so that normal operation can be started immediately when signal transmission is restored. I have.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional facsimile adapter does not monitor the status of the external device or the connection line to the external device.
Even when a failure occurs in the external device or a connection line to the external device, a message is received, and there is a problem that many messages stay in the facsimile adapter device. On the other hand, in the facsimile apparatus which is returned to the initial reset state by the timer monitoring, when the time is up, there is a problem that the received message is discarded due to the reset processing.

In any case, the conventional facsimile machine has a problem that a large number of messages stay in the device or the received message is discarded, and the received message cannot be processed efficiently. There is.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile adapter device capable of efficiently controlling message reception according to the state of an external device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a facsimile adapter device connected to an external device and connected to a facsimile communication line and providing a facsimile communication function to the external device. When receiving a command from the external device while holding the reception feasibility state of the facsimile communication line, monitoring the time until the next command is received from the external device and using the first means as a timer time, Second means for comparing the set maximum allowable time of the command reception interval with the timer time and changing the reception enabled / disabled state to the reception prohibited state when the timer time reaches the maximum allowable time, When the command is received while the reception enabled / disabled state is the reception disabled state, the reception enabled / disabled state is changed to the reception enabled state. A third means for restarting timekeeping when the command is received in the receivable / non-receivable state, and performing transmission processing irrespective of the state of the external device at the time of facsimile message transmission A facsimile adapter device having the fourth means is obtained.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated facsimile adapter device includes an external interface control unit 1, a communication control unit 2, a reception state management unit 3, and a main processing unit 4, and the external interface control unit 1 The communication control unit 2 is connected to an external device (not shown) such as a computer via an external connection line, and is connected to a facsimile communication line.

The external interface control unit 1 communicates with an external device. When the external interface control unit 1 receives information from the external device, it notifies the main processing unit 4 as a command a. On the other hand, when a facsimile message is received, the external interface control unit 1 notifies the external device of the facsimile message.

When the command a is received, the main processing unit 4
Then, a timer reset request e is sent to the reception state management unit 3. At the time of facsimile message transmission, the main processing unit 4 notifies the communication control unit 2 of a facsimile message transmission instruction d. On the other hand, when receiving a facsimile message, the main processing unit 4
, And a facsimile message is held.

The reception state management unit 3 has a timer function, and a prescribed time for command reception wait (hereinafter, referred to as command wait time) is set in the reception state management unit 3.
When receiving the timer reset request e, the reception state management unit 3 starts measuring time and monitors the elapsed time. Then, the reception state management unit 3 compares the elapsed time with a preset command waiting time, and when the timer value (elapsed time) reaches a specified value (command waiting time), determines whether the facsimile message can be received. Change to receiving prohibited. In the reception state management unit 3, when the reception enabled / disabled state is the reception prohibited state and the timer reset request e from the main processing unit 4 is received,
The reception enable / disable state is changed to the reception enable state. On the other hand, when the reception enable / disable state is the reception enable state and the timer reset request e is received, the timer is restarted.

The communication control unit 2 manages facsimile communication, and sends a ringer detection notification f to the reception state management unit 3 when a ringer is detected. The communication control unit 2 performs a reception process based on the reception availability state g notified from the reception status management unit 3 if the reception is possible, and does not perform the reception process if the reception is prohibited.

When the external interface control unit 1 receives information from an external device, it notifies the main processing unit 4 of the command a.

When the main control unit 4 receives the command a,
A timer reset request e is notified to the reception state management unit 3.

Before receiving the timer reset request e from the main processing unit 4, the reception state management unit 3 changes the reception enabled / disabled state to reception disabled when the timer reaches the command waiting time, and sets the reception enabled / disabled state to the reception disabled state. If a command has been received, the reception enabled / disabled state is changed to reception enabled, and if the command is received in the reception enabled / disabled state, the timer is restarted.

Under the above-described line state management, the communication control unit 2 notifies the reception state management unit 3 of a ringer detection notification f when a ringer is detected.

When receiving the ringer detection notification f from the communication control unit 2, the reception state management unit 3 notifies the communication control unit 2 of the reception availability status of the internally held line (g).

The communication control unit 2 does not perform reception if the line status is prohibited according to the reception availability status notification g notified from the reception status management unit 3, and if the line status is receivable, The communication control unit 2 performs reception and notifies the main processing unit 4 of a facsimile message reception notification c.

The main processing unit 4 having received the facsimile message reception notification c notifies the external interface control unit 1 of the notification b.
Notify.

When transmitting a facsimile message, the main processing unit 4 notifies the communication control unit 2 of a facsimile message transmission instruction d.

Upon receiving the facsimile message transmission instruction d, the communication control unit 2 performs a transmission process via a facsimile communication line.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By monitoring the time after receiving a command from the external device, and changing the line to prohibit reception when the time is up, prohibiting the external device or the external device connection line from continuing to receive facsimile messages in an abnormal state, There is an effect that it is possible to prevent an increase in messages staying in a state of waiting for a command instruction from the device. In addition, facsimile message transmission,
By continuing the operation irrespective of the state of the external device, there is an effect that accumulation of stored facsimile messages waiting to be transmitted can be prevented. Monitors non-communication time with external devices,
By prohibiting only the reception of a facsimile message by a communication line when no command is received for a predetermined time or more, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of facsimile messages staying when a failure occurs in an external device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a facsimile adapter device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 external interface control unit 2 communication control unit 3 reception state management unit 4 main processing unit a command b notification c facsimile message reception notification d facsimile message transmission instruction e timer reset request f ringer detection notification g reception enabled / disabled state

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A facsimile adapter device connected to an external device and connected to a facsimile communication line for providing a facsimile communication function to the external device. When receiving a command from the external device while maintaining a state, first means for monitoring the time until receiving the next command from the external device and setting it as a timer time, and a maximum of a preset reception interval of the command Second means for comparing the allowable time with the timer time and changing the reception enabled / disabled state to the reception disabled state when the timer time reaches the maximum allowable time; and When the command is received, the reception permission state is changed to the reception permission state, and the reception permission state is changed to the reception permission state. A third means for restarting timekeeping when the command is received in the state, and a fourth means for performing transmission processing irrespective of the state of the external device at the time of facsimile message transmission. Facsimile adapter device. 2. The facsimile adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the reception process is performed when the reception permission state is the reception enabled state, and the reception processing is prohibited when the reception permission state is the reception prohibited state. A facsimile adapter device having a fifth means. 3. The facsimile adapter device according to claim 1, further comprising a sixth means for detecting said command.