JP3019014B2 - Communication terminal 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 communication terminal device, and more particularly, to a master unit (for example, a G3 facsimile machine body) and a plurality of slave units (for example, a G4 option board, a printer board, etc.) connected in a daisy chain. To a communication terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various optional boards have been installed in a facsimile apparatus main body, for example, a G4 facsimile apparatus main body has a G4
In some cases, the option board of the facsimile function or the option board of the printer is connected in a daisy chain to extend the function. In this case, the main body of the G3 facsimile apparatus is a master unit, and the other option boards function as slave units. Further, in recent years, a personal computer has also been daisy-chained to such a communication terminal device, and bitmap image data created by the personal computer has been temporarily transferred to the facsimile apparatus main body and printed out using an option board of the printer. Alternatively, a configuration in which facsimile transmission is performed as is is also conceivable.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a conventional communication terminal device in which a plurality of slave units are connected to a master unit.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a master unit, and a plurality (two in this example) of slave units 2-1 and 2-2 are daisy-chain connected (serial connection) in this order. Note that slave units 2-1 and 2
-2 can take various forms, such as an option board detachable from the master unit 1 or an integrated circuit fixed on the board of the master unit 1, but in any case, the master unit 1 They are daisy-chain connected.

In the master unit 1, at least a CPU
10 and a memory 50 are provided. Also, each slave unit 2-1 and 2-2 has at least CPU 20-1,
20-2 and DPRAM (dual port RAM) 21-1 and 21-2 are provided. The master unit 1 and each of the slave units 2-1 and 2-2 have their own memory 50, DPRAM 21-1, 21-
2. Data transfer is performed asynchronously via 2.

Reference numeral B-0 denotes a bus line connecting the master unit 1 and the DPRAM 21-1 of the slave unit 2-1, and is connected to the CPU 10 and the memory 50 in the master unit 1. . Reference numeral B-1 is a bus line connecting the slave unit 2-1 and the DPRAM 21-2 of the slave unit 2-2, and the CPU 20-1 and the DPRAM 21-1 are connected in the slave unit 2-1. Connected. Further, reference numeral B-2 is a bus line for connecting the slave unit 2-2 to another slave unit, and is connected to the CPU 20-2 and the DPRAM 21-2 in the slave unit 2-2 .

In such a conventional communication terminal device in which a plurality of slave units 2-1 and 2-2 are daisy-chain connected to such a master unit 1, for example, the terminal of the daisy chain connection, that is, the slave unit 2-2 The operation when data is transmitted to the master unit 1 when any data is input to the bus line B-2 is as follows. The data input to the bus line B-2 is temporarily written to the DPRAM 21-2 of the second-stage slave unit 2-2. Next, the DPRAM 21-2 of this slave unit 2-2
Data is read from the first slave unit
2-1 is temporarily written to DPRAM 21-1. And finally,
Data is read from the DPRAM 21-1 of the slave unit 2-1 and written to the memory 50 of the master unit 1.

As described above, data input from the bus line B-2 is sequentially transferred between the slave units 2-2 and 2-1 and reaches the target master unit 1. During this time, no processing such as data processing is performed. Therefore, when the data input from the bus line B-2 is very large data such as bit map data, various problems occur.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example in which the daisy chain connection as described above is applied to an actual facsimile machine. In this example, a slave unit, which is a G4 standard option board, is connected to a master unit 1, which is a G3 standard facsimile machine body, via a bus line B-0.
The slave unit 2-1 is connected to the slave unit 2-1 via a bus line B-1, and the slave unit 2-2 which is a 28.8 Kbps modem board is connected to the slave unit 2-1. A slave unit 2-3 as a printer board is connected via a line B-2, and a slave unit 2-3 as a memory board is connected to the slave unit 2-3 via a bus line B-3. As a whole, each slave unit 2-
1, 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4 are daisy-chained.

In such a configuration, for example, when a user performs facsimile communication by making extensive use of the G4 function, the G4 standard is transmitted from the facsimile apparatus main body, which is the master unit 1, via only the bus line B-0. It is possible to transfer data to the slave unit 2-1 which is an option board of the above. However, if the user frequently uses the printer or the memory, the master unit 1
Bus lines B-0, B-1,
It becomes necessary to transfer data in order via B-2 (B-3),
Data transfer efficiency decreases. In addition, the data transfer characteristics of the daisy-chain connection depend on the capacity of each option board itself, specifically, the data processing capacity of CPU, internal memory capacity, buffer capacity (DPRAM capacity shown in Fig. 5), etc. Is done.

[0011]

As described above, in a conventional communication terminal device in which a plurality of slave units are daisy-chain-connected to a master unit, a slave unit that relays data to be transmitted has a processing capability of the slave unit. Since it is devoted to data relay, the ability to perform processing inherent to each slave unit is reduced. In addition, there is a problem that the data transfer speed itself is slower than when the daisy chain connection is not used.

Furthermore, with the recent spread of facsimile machines and personal computers to general households, a connection form in which the facsimile machine is used as a printer for a personal computer is conceivable. In this case, the facsimile apparatus is used as a master unit and the personal computer is connected as a slave unit in a daisy chain connection. However, in such a connection form, a personal computer is daisy-chain connected at the last stage when viewed from the main body of the facsimile apparatus. For example, bitmap image data is transmitted from the personal computer to the facsimile apparatus. It is considered that there are many opportunities to transmit and print out using a printer board or to perform facsimile communication as it is. In such a case,
The above problem becomes more serious because the amount of transfer data is larger than data such as character codes.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a communication terminal device in which a plurality of slave units including a modem board are daisy-chain-connected to a master unit, the capability of each slave unit, for example, It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device capable of instructing an appropriate connection order from the data processing capability of the CPU itself, the internal memory capacity, the buffer capacity, and the like.

[0014]

Communication terminal device according to the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION may, Aru a master unit and a plurality of slave units includes a CPU and a memory and daisy chained through
In the communication terminal device, the clock of the CPU of each unit
Capability of each unit, including at least the number and capacity of memory
Means for quantifying according to a predetermined rule, and the number by the means
According to the result of the binarization, the slave unit
Means for determining the connection order from the master unit
Characterized in that that.

[0015]

Furthermore the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention, the number of
The means to convert the value of each unit according to the function of each unit
And means for modifying and said Rukoto.

In the present invention , the CPU of the slave unit is used.
Quantify and evaluate the clock and memory capacity
Then, since the connection order is determined based on this, an appropriate connection order can be obtained.

[0018]

Further, according to the present invention , each unit has its capability.
Instead of being quantified uniformly, depending on the function of the unit
To make a more reasonable connection order.
I can .

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a communication terminal device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a master unit configured as a main body of a facsimile apparatus conforming to the G3 standard, and includes at least a CPU 10, a memory (RAM) 50, and a direct memory access controller (DMAC) 40. Further, although necessary components such as an encoding / decoding circuit (CODEC), a network control circuit (NCU) and the like necessary for the facsimile apparatus are also provided, they are omitted here.

A plurality of (two in the example shown in FIG. 1) slave units 2-3 and 2-1 are daisy-chain connected to the master unit 1 which is the main body of the facsimile apparatus. However, in this example, at least the CPU 20 is attached to the slave unit 2-3 configured as a printer board.
-3 and DPRAM 21-3 and has RAM 50 - 3 and the DMAC40-3 are provided, but also provided more necessary for example, a printer interface such as a printer board, which are not shown in here. The slave unit 2-1 configured as a G4 board has at least the CPU 20-1, DPRAM 21-1, and RA
M50-1 and an encoding / decoding circuit (CODEC) required as a G4 board. Note that the slave units 2-3 and 2-1 are also provided with a ROM in which software programs necessary for realizing the respective functions are provided, but are omitted in FIG.

Master unit 1 and slave unit 2-3
Are connected by a bus line B-0. More specifically, CPU 10, RAM 50 and DMAC 40 in master unit 1
And the DPRAM 21-3 in the slave unit 2-3 are connected by a bus line B-0. Also, slave unit
2-3 and the slave unit 2-1 are connected by a bus line B-1. More specifically, DPRAM 21-3, CPU 20-3, RAM 50-3 and DMAC 40-3 in the slave unit 2-3,
DPRAM 21-1 in slave unit 2-1 is connected to bus line B-
Connected by one. CP in slave unit 2-1
U 20-1 , RAM 50-1 and DPRAM 21-1 are connected to a bus line B-2, and another slave unit is connected to the bus line B-2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall system configuration of the communication terminal apparatus of the present invention as described above. The G3 facsimile apparatus main body as the master unit 1 and the printer as the slave unit 2-3 are provided. The board, the G4 board as the slave unit 2-1, the modem board as the slave unit 2-2, and the memory board as the slave unit 2-4 are daisy-chain connected in this order.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, whether the connection relationship between the master unit 1 which is the main body of the facsimile apparatus and each of the slave units 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 2-4 is determined. The following items are conceivable as influential factors.

(1) Buses B-0 and B connecting between the master unit 1 and each slave unit 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4
-1, B-2, B-3, B-4 bus width (number of bits) (2) Master unit 1 and slave units 2-1 and 2-
Whether or not 2, 2-3 and 2-4 have DMA function (3) Master unit 1 and each slave unit 2-1 and 2-
2, 2-3, 2-4 CPU 10, 20-1 to 20-4 processing capacity (4) DPRAM 21 for each slave unit 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4
(1) Master unit 1 and each slave unit 2-1 and 2-
2, 2-3, 2-4 internal memory 50, 50-1 to 50-4 capacity (6) Each slave unit 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 on the daisy chain Connection order

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by the CPU 10 functioning as an evaluation means and a judgment means of the master unit 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of an evaluation table set in the RAM 50 of the master unit 1. It is.

First, an evaluation table as shown in FIG. 4 for each of the above items is prepared in the RAM 50 of the master unit 1, and the CPU 10 daisy-chains to the master unit 1 every time the power is turned on. Slave unit 2-1,
Each of the above items is evaluated for each of 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4 (step S11), and the result is stored in the evaluation table.
(Step S12).

The outline of the contents of the evaluation table is as follows. In the order of daisy chain connection according to the unit number, the main unit G3 facsimile machine main body and each slave unit 2-3 printer board, 2-1 G4 board, 2-2 modem board, 2-
The evaluation result of the memory board, which is 4, is stored. Accordingly, the unit number "1" is the master unit 1, and the unit numbers "2" to "5" correspond to the slave units 2-3, 2-1, 2-2, and 2-4, respectively.

The CPU capability of each unit is replaced by its operating clock frequency (MHz), and the RAM capability is determined by the capacity (M
byte), the capacity of the bus is represented by the number of bits, the capacity of the DPRAM is represented by the capacity (Mbyte), and the presence or absence of the DMA function is represented by “1”, and the absence of the DMA function is represented by “0”. You. In the function item, the function of each unit is stored in a predetermined code. The CPU 10 uses the specific numerical values of these items as they are, and performs a predetermined calculation by substituting preset coefficients for the presence / absence and function of DMA (step S13). The predetermined calculation in step S13 includes, for example, the operating clock frequency (MHz) of the CPU, the RAM capacity (Mbyte), the bus width (bit), and the DPRAM capacity.
(Mbyte) A calculation is performed such that each is multiplied by a coefficient predetermined by the function of each unit to obtain the total. At this time, for example, the coefficient of the CPU is set to be smaller than that of the other unit in a unit that performs more complicated processing, and the coefficient of the RAM is set to another unit in a unit that performs processing requiring a larger memory capacity. If it has a DMA function, the total value is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient. From the calculation result in step S13, the CPU 10 determines that each of the slave units 2-3, 2-1,
Find the optimal connection order of the printer board, G4 board, modem board, and memory board that are 2-2 and 2-4 (step S1
4) Output hard copy or soft copy to the outside (step S15).

Therefore, if the user has the ability, he or she requests a service person, and according to the result output as described above, each slave unit 2-1, 2
-It becomes possible to change the connection order of -2,2-3,2-4 or to replace the unit with a higher capacity unit.

It is to be noted that, in addition to obtaining the optimum connection order, if there is a slave unit having an extremely unbalanced ability as compared with other slave units, it is of course possible to perform processing for pointing out that fact. is there.

Although the number of slave units is four in the above embodiment, the number is not limited. Furthermore, each slave unit does not need to be a detachable option board, and may be an integrated circuit directly configured on a board of the facsimile apparatus main body which is the master unit 1 if it is daisy-chained, for example.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the facsimile apparatus main body is used as the master unit 1, and the G4 board is used as the slave units 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4.
Although a modem board, a printer board, a memory board, and the like have been described as examples, these are merely examples and are not limited. Furthermore, the calculation to be performed in step S13 in FIG. 3 described above is an example, and it goes without saying that a different calculation method may be used.

[0035]

According to the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention as described in detail above, according to the present invention, capacity of the master unit and a plurality of slave units which are daisy-chained is <br/> evaluated by the evaluation unit, with the result Based on the determination as to whether or not the connection order of each unit is appropriate, the user can easily recognize whether or not the state of the device is optimal. Therefore, when the state of the apparatus is not optimal, it is possible to maintain the apparatus in an optimal state by changing the connection state of each unit according to the result determined by the apparatus itself or by requesting a service person. Will be possible.

[0036]

Further, according to the communication terminal device of the present invention,
Since the result that the processing ability of each unit to modify in accordance with the function of each unit is evaluated, the user state of the capabilities and device of each board according to the actual use state recognizes whether the optimal It is easily possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication terminal device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an overall system configuration example of a communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when evaluating a unit of the communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of an evaluation table.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional communication terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a practical example of an overall system configuration example of a conventional communication terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Master unit (facsimile machine) 2-1 Slave unit (G4 board) 2-2 Slave unit (modem board) 2-3 Slave unit (printer board) 2-4 Slave unit (memory board) 10 CPU 50 RAM

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A master unit having a CPU and a memory.
And a plurality of slave units to daisy chain
In the communication terminal apparatus with Te, said each unit of the CPU
Each unit including at least the number of clocks and the memory capacity
Means for quantifying the ability of a person in accordance with predetermined rules;
According to the result of the digitization by
Communication terminal device of the connection order from the master unit, characterized in that Ru and means for each decision. 2. The means for digitizing the function of each unit
The communication terminal device according to claim 1, characterized in Rukoto comprises means for modifying the ability of each depending on the.