JP2965308B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to a facsimile apparatus suitable for shortening a transmission control procedure and shortening the entire communication time.

(Prior Art) In general, the communication time in facsimile communication, that is, the line use time, is composed of a protocol period for transmitting and receiving functions of the transmitting and receiving stations to determine a communication method, and an image information transmitting period.

Conventionally, a communication method is determined by the following transmission control procedure. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are sequence diagrams showing an example of a procedure for determining a communication system according to the T.30 recommendation of CCITT.

First, the procedure for polling communication will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, when a calling signal is transmitted from a calling station (the calling station is a station desiring to receive image information and becomes a receiving station for image information), a called station (image information transmitting station) is transmitted. Responds to this call signal by the non-standard function NSF for declaring the communication capability, the non-calling terminal identification CSI, and the digital identification signal DIS.
Is sent. Then, the calling station sends a non-standard function command NSC, a calling terminal identification CIG, and a digital transmission command DTC. This is followed by the non-standard function setting NSS (or digital command signal DCS) from the called station, and the transmitting terminal identification signal TSI.
Is sent.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a description will be given of a procedure when mode switching such as document size change or line density conversion is performed during one communication. In the figure, when the calling station (transmitting station) sends a message end EOM, the message confirmation MCF and the following non-standard function NSF, called terminal identification CSI, and digital identification signal DIS are called. Station (receiving station)
Sent from. Next, the non-standard function setting NSS from the transmitting station
(Or digital command signal DCS), and transmitting terminal identification T
SI is sent.

Further, a procedure in the case of re-executing the phase adjustment training in the transmission of a plurality of pages will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, after the multi-page signal MPS is transmitted from the transmitting station, if the line condition is bad and the data cannot be received correctly, the retraining positive RTP or the retraining negative RTN indicating the training rerun is indicated by the receiving station. , Followed by the non-standard function NSF, the called terminal identification CSI, and the digital identification signal DIS. Subsequently, the non-standard function setting NSS (or digital command signal DCS) and the transmitting terminal identification TSI are transmitted from the transmitting station.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-mentioned conventional communication system determination means has the following problems.

As can be understood from the above sequence, at the time of polling, the called terminal identification CSI is transmitted from the image information transmitting station, and then the transmitting terminal identification TSI including the same data as the called terminal identification CSI is transmitted. That is, the same protocol control signal (hereinafter, referred to as a command) is repeatedly transmitted.

Similarly, in the procedure including mode switching or phase adjustment training rerun, the sequence is such that the called terminal identification CSI and the transmitting terminal identification TSI are repeatedly transmitted.

In this manner, the same command is not repeatedly performed in the above-described example. For example, in the case of transmission, if the sequence of executing step S11 in the following procedure is repeated, the same command is repeatedly transmitted. Is done.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a main part of a transmission control procedure in a transmitting station performed in accordance with T.30 of the CCITT recommendation. In the figure, after the mode is set in step S10,
In step S11, a command TSI, NSS or TSI, DCS is sent. Therefore, step S1
According to the point D which is repeated at 1, ie, the sequence in which the procedure leading to the mode setting is repeated, the same command is repeatedly transmitted. This is the same in the procedure of the receiving station.

As described above, there is a problem that unnecessary communication time is wasted by repeatedly sending commands including data having the same contents.

The called terminal identification CSI and the transmission terminal identification TSI include data consisting of 20 digits (20 bytes) of numerical digits as facsimile information, and at least 0.72 seconds (however, the data signal speed is 300 bps) to transmit and receive this data. )
Cost. Such useless data transmission occurs many times, not only once during one communication. Therefore, when the number of times of communication increases, the effect on the communication cost becomes so large that it cannot be ignored.

Incidentally, as an example of a method for shortening the transmission control procedure in facsimile communication, there is a method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-149259. This method is a non-standard function NS
When the F is detected, the transmission of the transmitting terminal identification TSI is prohibited and the response is made only by the non-standard function setting NSS, the transmission of the called terminal identification CSI is prohibited in the communication between the same models, or the preamble time is This is a method of shortening the communication time by shortening or the like.

However, this method cannot eliminate waste of communication time caused by repeatedly sending the command including the same data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and eliminates repetition of transmission of a command including data having the same content, thereby shortening a protocol time and, as a result, an overall communication time. Is to provide.

(Means and Actions for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems and achieving the object, at the timing of transmitting a scheduled command to a partner device, the command and data having the same content as the command are transmitted. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not any of the commands consisting of has already been sent to the partner machine, and if any of the commands has been sent, the command is not sent to the partner machine. There is.

In the present invention having the above configuration, at the timing of sending the scheduled command, if any of the command and the command having the same data as the command has already been sent, the scheduled command is not sent. The protocol time can be shortened accordingly.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Second
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, image information read by a reading device 1 is compression-encoded by an encoding / decoding circuit 3 and temporarily stored in an image information memory 2. After the stored image information is modulated by the modem 4, it is sent out to a line via a network control unit (NCU) 5. The modem 4 and the NCU 5 are controlled by the communication control unit 6.

On the other hand, the signal taken in from the line is demodulated by the modem 4 and stored in the image memory 2. The stored image information is decompressed by the encoding / decoding circuit 3, read out as appropriate, and recorded by the printing device 7. The system control unit 8 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls each of the above components according to a predetermined program. The ROM 9 stores the program, and the RAM 10 stores management data for communication. The operation unit 11 is provided for inputting management data for performing a predetermined operation and inputting a dial number of a partner station.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing essential functions of the system control unit 8 for eliminating useless repetition of sending a command for a protocol, and FIG. 3 shows an operation of a transmitting station based on the essential functions. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving station.

In FIG. 1, a command for a protocol is output from a command output unit 12 and transmitted to a line via a transmission / reception control unit 17. The type of command output from the command output unit 12 is determined based on a command input from the operation unit 11 or an analysis result of a command transmitted from the partner station. The specific command determining unit 13 determines whether the type of the determined command is a predetermined specific command, for example, a called terminal identification CSI and a transmission terminal identification TSI. If it is determined that the command to be transmitted is a specific command, the command transmission completion determining unit 14 further determines whether the command has already been transmitted in the communication. Whether or not the specific command has already been transmitted is determined based on the storage content of the command-transmitted storage unit 15, for example, the state of the flag.

The command transmission completion determining unit 14 supplies an output command a to the command output unit 12 when determining that the specific command has not been transmitted yet, and when determining that the command has already been transmitted, The command output inhibiting unit 16 outputs a signal b for causing the command output unit 12 to output the output inhibition command c.

When the transmission / reception control unit 17 detects that the specific command output in response to the output command a has been transmitted to the line, the detection signal is output to the command transmission storage unit 15, and the command transmission storage 15 The flag of the unit 15 is set.

Next, the operation of this embodiment based on the above functions will be described with reference to a flowchart.

First, the operation in the transmitting station will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, in step S1, it is determined whether or not it is the output timing of a specific command (here, the transmitting terminal identification TSI or the called terminal identification CSI having the same contents as this). The determination is performed by the specific command determination unit 13, for example,
11. Whether or not the process has gone through step S10 (mode setting) shown in FIG. 11, that is, a command such as the transmission of the message end EOM or the retraining negative RTN or the retraining positive RTP requesting the phase adjustment training rerun has been received. It is performed based on whether or not. If the output timing of the specific command is scheduled, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, it is determined whether the transmitting terminal identification TSI or the called terminal identification CSI has already been transmitted. The determination is made by the command-sending determination unit 14 based on the flag of the command-sending storage unit 15.

If the determination in step S2 is affirmative, the process jumps to step S4. On the other hand, if the judgment is negative, that is, if the command has not been transmitted yet, the transmitting terminal identification TSI is transmitted in step S3.

In step S4, a non-standard function setting NSS or digital command signal DCS is transmitted.

In step S5, the phase adjustment training TCF is transmitted.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the partner station. If there is a response, in step S7 a specific command, that is, the transmitting terminal identification TSI or the called terminal identification C
Set a flag indicating that SI has been sent.

If it is determined in step S6 that there is no response from the partner station, the process proceeds to step S8, and it is determined whether the process of the flowchart has been tried three times. If the process is less than three times, the process returns to step S1 to return to step S1. Is repeated.

Next, the operation of the receiving station will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the output timing of a specific command (here, the called terminal identification CSI) is received. The determination is performed by the specific command determination unit 13 based on, for example, reception of the message end EOM or transmission of the retraining negative RTN or the retraining positive RTP requesting the phase adjustment training rerun. If the output timing of the specific command is scheduled, the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, it is determined whether the called terminal identification CSI has already been transmitted. The determination is made by the command-sending determination unit 14 based on the flag of the command-sending storage unit 15.

If the determination in step S22 is affirmative, the process jumps to step 24. On the other hand, if the judgment is negative, that is, if the command has not been transmitted yet, the called terminal identification CSI is transmitted in step S23.

 In step S24, the non-standard function NSF is transmitted.

In step S25, it is determined whether or not there is a response from the partner station. If there is a response, a specific command, that is, a flag indicating that the called terminal identification CSI has been transmitted is set in step S6.

In step S5, if there is no response from the partner station, a procedure based on T.30 of the CCITT recommendation (shown in FIG. 3), such as determination of reception of group command GC, determination of three trials, and determination of elapse of scheduled time T1 (35 ± 5 seconds). Go to zu).

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show examples of communication sequences performed in accordance with the above operation procedure. The example of the sequence shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 is an example of an improved sequence corresponding to the communication sequence based on the conventional system shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, respectively.

As shown in the figure, the transmitting terminal identification TSI and the called terminal identification CSI (marked with * in the figure) are transmitted once to the partner station, and thereafter are not repeatedly transmitted.

As described above, in this embodiment, at the output timing of a specific command that does not need to be repeatedly transmitted, it is determined whether or not the command has already been transmitted to the partner station. If so, this was not sent again.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, unnecessary repetition of protocol command transmission is eliminated, so that protocol time can be shortened and communication cost can be reduced. it can.

In particular, communication with a lot of mode switching, communication when the line condition is not good, and broadcast and relay broadcast that perform many of these communications, and multi-polling (collection) where polling is frequently used. In communication in which the repetition of a specific command increases, the effect of reducing the protocol time is great.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment, and FIG.
FIGS. 6, 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an example of a communication sequence of the embodiment, FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 are diagrams showing an example of a communication sequence according to the prior art, and FIG. It is a flowchart of a transmission procedure. 11 ... operation unit, 12 ... command output unit, 13 ... specific command discrimination unit, 14 ... command transmission completion judgment unit, 15 ... command transmission completion storage unit, 16 ... command output suppression unit, 17 ...
Transmission / reception control unit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for detecting a timing at which a scheduled protocol control signal is transmitted to a partner machine, and at the timing, one of the scheduled control signal and a control signal consisting of data having the same content as the control signal has already been detected. Means for determining whether or not the signal has been transmitted to the partner device; and if any of the control signals has already been transmitted,
Means for inhibiting transmission of the control signal or a control signal consisting of data having the same content as the control signal to a partner machine.