JP3005248B2 - Mixed mode device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mixed mode device, and in particular, converts mixed data into image data or PDL data according to the function of a destination terminal, and The present invention relates to a mixed mode device that transmits a short one to reduce communication cost.

[Prior Art] Telematic service terminal devices used in data networks such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Communication Network) include:
There are a mixed mode device for transmitting image information, a teletex device for transmitting character information, and a mixed mode device for transmitting document information in which image information and character information are mixed.

Among them, the mixed mode device is realized as a class 3 terminal function of a G4 facsimile device, for example.

In the conventional mixed mode communication performed between the mixed mode devices, both the image data and the character data can be transmitted and received, and the mixed data including the image data and the character data is transmitted in a predetermined data block unit. .

Some mixed mode devices have the function of outputting document data to an external laser beam printer. In this case, the data is transmitted and received in mixed data or original page description language data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data). The laser beam printer converts the received data into receivable data and outputs the data. In normal mixed mode communication, a character data block is transmitted using a character code according to CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) recommendation T.61, and this character code is converted to CG
(Character generator) develops the character font, but the outline of the output character is jagged and sufficient print quality cannot be obtained for a device that can output a beautiful character like a laser beam printer. Therefore, by converting character data into PDL data based on a page description language that can handle outline fonts and enabling transmission and reception, high print quality can be obtained corresponding to a laser beam printer or the like.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in such a conventional mixed mode device, if the other party's mixed mode device can receive mixed data and PDL data, the mixed data created unless otherwise specified at the time of data transmission is mixed data. Since the PDL data is transmitted as it is, or the PDL data is transmitted as it is, the data length increases depending on the data format to be transmitted, and the transmission time is prolonged, resulting in an increase in communication cost. there were.

In other words, when having a function of transmitting and receiving mixed data and PDL data to each other when transmitting data between the mixed mode devices, not only mixed data but also compressed (encoded) is used as a data format when transmitting mixed data. Even if it is converted to image data or PDL data, it is possible to transmit, and if you select and transmit the shortest data length of each data form, the data transmission time will not be prolonged unnecessarily,
An increase in communication cost can be suppressed. The mixed mode device of the present invention transmits data in consideration of the data length as described above.

[Object of the invention]

Therefore, the present invention converts the created mixed data into image data and PDL data in advance and stores the data, and when the destination terminal has a function of receiving the mixed data and PDL data, the data is stored in the stored data. An object of the present invention is to select a short one and transmit it, thereby avoiding an unnecessarily long data transmission time between the mixed mode devices and suppressing an increase in communication cost.

[Means for solving the problem]

To achieve the above object, a function of transmitting input image data or character data, editing the image data and character data to create and transmit mixed data, and converting the mixed data to PDL data. Image data, character data, mixed data or PD data.
A mixed mode device for mutually exchanging communication function information when starting transmission of L data to a predetermined destination terminal and determining a predetermined communication procedure corresponding to each data, wherein the created mixed data is converted into image data and PDL
Data conversion means for converting data into data, the mixed data, converted image data and PD
Storage means for accumulating L data, and before transmitting the mixed data, the data conversion means converts the mixed data into image data and PDL data and accumulates the data. And a function of receiving PDL data, comparing the data lengths of the stored mixed data, image data and PDL data, and selecting a shorter data length for transmission. .

 Hereinafter, a specific description will be given based on examples.

1 to 7 are views showing an embodiment of a mixed mode device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mixed mode device 1 having a mixed mode communication function and a PDL data conversion function,
The mixed mode device 1 is a personal computer (P
C) 2, G4 class 3 adapter 3, scanner 4, laser beam printer 5, etc.

The personal computer 2 is provided with a keyboard for instructing document editing and facsimile communication, a scanner 3 and a CRT (Cathode Rey Tubu) for displaying document data input from the G4 class 3 adapter 3. An instruction to edit and edit document data to be printed out by the laser beam printer 5 and to execute a mixed mode communication with an external G4 facsimile apparatus via the ISDN network is transmitted to the G4 class 3 adapter 3.

The G4 class 3 adapter 3 includes a host interface unit 11, a system CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14,
It includes a data compression / decompression unit 15, a communication control unit 16, a hard disk device 17, a printer control unit 18, and the like.

The host interface unit 11 is a SCSI (Small Computer)
System interface) function, and transfers instructions and data input from the personal computer 2 to the respective units while being connected to the personal computer 2 and exchanges data with an external G4 facsimile terminal or the like via the communication control unit 16. To give and receive.

The system CPU 12 controls each unit according to a program in the ROM 13 to execute a mixed mode communication sequence, and converts the mixed data stored in the RAM 14 into PDL data.

The ROM 13 stores a program to be executed by the system CPU 12, and the RAM 14 has a work area for the system CPU 12.

The data compression / decompression unit 15 compresses (encodes) the dot data expanded from the PDL data by the CPU 21 to be described later according to the MMR encoding method or the like, creates G4.1 data (G4 class 1 data), and Play (decode).

The communication control unit 16 is connected to the ISDN line, and transmits and receives G4.1 data, mixed data, and PDL data according to a mixed mode communication protocol.

The hard disk device (storage means) 17 stores the received mixed data, the PDL data converted by the system CPU 12, and the G4.1 data converted by the data compression / decompression unit 15.

The printer control unit 18 includes a CPU 21 and a ROM 2 as shown in FIG.
2, RAM23, shared memory (Dual Port RAM) 24, DMA
A control unit 25, an I / O port interface unit 26, a video interface unit 27, and the like are provided.

The CPU 21 operates according to the program in the ROM 22.
The PDL data is decoded through the shared memory 24 and output to the RAM 23 as a page memory. In addition, the CPU 21 stores software (PD
The PDL data is developed into dot data by an L interpreter and stored in the RAM 23, and the PDL data stored in the RAM 23 is output to the laser beam printer 5 via the video interface unit 27, or the dot data stored in the RAM 23 is shared. Data compression / decompression unit via memory 24
Transfer to G4.1 data.

The DMA control unit 25 executes a DMA (Direct Memory Access) process in transferring data between the CPU 21 and the ROM 22 and the RAM 23, that is, causes the data to be transferred only between the ROM 22 and the RAM 23 without passing through the CPU 21. The data processing of the CPU 21 is enabled even during the data transfer processing. This DMA
The processing is executed at a predetermined processing timing in order to improve the data processing efficiency of the CPU 21.

The I / O port interface unit 26 is connected to a host device (not shown) and outputs the PDL data stored in the RAM 23 to the host device.

The video interface unit 27 outputs P
The DL data is output to the laser beam printer 5.

The system CPU 12, the data compression / decompression unit 15, and the CPU 21 have a function as a data conversion unit.

 Next, the operation will be described.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, mixed data created from text data inputted by a personal computer 2 and image data inputted from a scanner 4 are converted into PDL data and G4.1 data in advance and stored. However, if the function of the destination communication terminal can receive mixed data and PDL data at the time of transmission, unless the data format is specified, select the shortest data length from the stored data The feature is in the place where it is sent. The data conversion processing and transmission processing of the mixed data will be described.

 First, the data conversion processing will be described.

The mixed data created by the personal computer 2 is stored in the hard disk device 17 via the host interface unit 11, and the stored mixed data is stored in the ROM 1.
The data is converted into PDL data by the processing of the system CPU 12 according to a predetermined PDL data conversion program stored in 3 and stored in the hard disk device 17. Also, the accumulated PDL
The data is transferred to the shared memory 24 in the printer control unit 18 and converted into dot data in an area in the RAM 23 as a page memory by the PDL interpreter processing of the CPU 21 and expanded (the page memory capacity is, for example, A4 size). About 1Mbyte is required for 300dpi data). Next, the dot data expanded in the RAM 23 is transferred again to the data compression / decompression unit 15 via the shared memory 24,
The data is compressed by the R encoding method, converted into G4.1 data, and stored in the hard disk device 17. The mixed data created by the personal computer 2 by the above-described mixed data conversion processing is converted into PDL data and G4.1 data and stored in the hard disk device 17.

 Next, the transmission process will be described.

Mixed mode device 1 with G4 class 3 function is the fourth
As shown in the figure, the data format to be transmitted can be selected according to the function of the destination terminal. If the destination terminal has only the function of G4 class 1, raster data (G4.1 data) If the destination terminal has a normal G4 class 3 function or G4 class 2 function, it transmits mixed data (G4.3 data) or raster data. If the destination terminal also has a PDL data processing function as a G4 class 3 function, it can be transmitted in the form of mixed data, raster data and PDL data.

In the conventional mixed mode device, when the destination terminal has the G4 class 3 function, unless the data format to be transmitted is specified, the mixed data created is transmitted as mixed data, and the PDL data is transmitted as PDL data. . The data length of the transmission data file created differs depending on the contents of the transmission original (such as the ratio of character data to image data), and this data length was not considered in the conventional mixed mode device, that is,
In the G4 class 3 communication, the relationship between the data length of the data file to be transmitted and the data transmission time was not sufficiently considered. Therefore, depending on the data format, the transmission time could be shortened depending on the data format. The transmission time is prolonged, and the communication cost is increased.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in G4 class 3 communication, unless the data format to be transmitted is specified otherwise, the data format with the shortest data length is selected and transmitted, so that the data transmission time is not prolonged more than necessary. To

FIG. 5 shows a communication protocol in the mixed mode of G4 class 3, which is CCITT.
(International Telegraph and Telephone Advisory Committee) Complies with recommendations.

In FIG. 5, DTA (Data Transfer And Manipula)
tion) user block, DTAM block and ACSE (Associ
ation Control Service Element) block is the application layer (L7), and DTAMuser block is DTAM
The user of the service provided by DTM is a software that implements various services for document transfer. The basic recommendation is specified by T.431 / 432/433. The ACSE block is the kernel part of the application layer and is specified in X.217 / 227. This application layer is the highest layer and manages the actual communication function process.

The block specified by X.216 / 226 is a presentation layer (L6), and this presentation layer performs a process for transferring information handled by the application layer in what data representation format (transfer syntax).

The block specified by X.215 / 225 is the session layer (L5), which is used to select and transmit data transfer methods (eg, full-duplex (two-way simultaneous) or half-duplex (alternate communication)). Rights, etc.).

The block defined by X.214 / 224 is the transport layer (L4), which is between the upper layer (L5-L7) and the lower layer (L1-L3) and supplements the communication quality of the lower layer. To ensure transparent data transfer to the upper layer.

The block defined by ISO8208 is a network layer (L3), which controls the selection of a data transfer route and the relay and transfer of data.

The block defined by X.75 is the data link layer (L2), which performs the transmission control procedure of the framed data.

The block specified by I.430 / 431 is the lowest physical layer (L1), which guarantees the transmission of data to electrical and mechanical physical media such as cables for transmitting data.

In this embodiment, the data reception capability of the destination terminal is determined by exchanging the SCAPABILITY DATA shown in FIG. 6 of the session layer specified by X.215. Here, when the destination terminal can receive only the G4.1 data, the data is stored in the hard disk device 17 by the data conversion process.
If G4.1 data is transmitted and the destination terminal can receive the G4.3 mixed data and can also receive the PDL data, the mixed data stored in the hard disk device 17,
The data having the shortest data length is selected from the PDL data and the G4.1 data and transmitted. This data length comparison processing is performed in the transmission processing of the system CPU 12,
As shown in the figure, the data length information added when each data is stored in the hard disk drive 17 is compared, and the one with the shorter data length is selected.

Note that transmission of PDL data can be performed when both the transmitting side and the receiving side have a unique data processing mode for the same PDL data.
Software (PDL) that determines the data expansion method for L data
Interpreter).

As described above, in the mixed mode device 1, the mixed data is converted into PDL data and G4.1 data in advance and is stored in the hard disk device 17, and when transmitting the stored mixed data, the destination terminal transmits the mixed data or mixed data. When a data and PDL data receiving function is provided, the data form having the shortest data length is selected and transmitted unless otherwise specified.

Therefore, unlike the conventional mixed mode device, the mixed mode device 1 always automatically selects and transmits a short data length from among the data forms that can be transmitted when transmitting mixed data. It can be shortened and the increase in communication cost can be suppressed.

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, the created mixed data is converted into image data and PDL data in advance and stored, and when the partner terminal has a function of receiving the mixed data and PDL data, the data is stored in the stored data. Since a short data is selected and transmitted, it is possible to prevent the data transmission time between the mixed mode devices from being unnecessarily prolonged, and to suppress an increase in the communication cost of the mixed mode device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 7 are views showing an embodiment of a mixed mode device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the mixed mode device, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a G4 class 3 adapter in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a mixed mode document created by the mixed mode device, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data transmission form of the mixed mode device, and FIG. 5 is a mixed mode device. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a protocol sequence of data exchange executed in the session layer of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a protocol sequence of data exchange executed in the session layer of FIG. 5; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file configuration of data. 1 ... mixed mode device, 2 ... personal computer, 3 ... G4 class 3 adapter, 4 ... scanner, 5 ... laser beam printer, 11 ... host interface unit, 12 ... system CPU, 13 ... ROM 14 ... RAM, 15 ... Data compression / decompression unit, 16 ... Communication control unit, 17 ... Hard disk drive, 18 ... Printer control unit, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24: Shared memory, 25: DMA controller, 26: I / O port interface, 27: Video interface

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A function for transmitting input image data or character data, editing the image data and character data to create and transmit mixed data, and converting the mixed data to PDL data for transmission. When starting transmission of the image data, character data, mixed data or PDL data to a predetermined destination terminal, the communication function information is mutually exchanged to determine a predetermined communication procedure corresponding to each data. A data conversion means for converting the created mixed data into image data and PDL data, respectively; and the mixed data and the converted image data and PDL data.
Storage means for accumulating data, before transmitting the mixed data, the data conversion means converts the mixed data into image data and PDL data and accumulates them, and when exchanging the communication function information, the destination terminal A mixed mode device, comprising a function of receiving PDL data, comparing the data lengths of the stored mixed data, image data and PDL data, and selecting a shorter data length for transmission.