JP3019967B2 - Facsimile multiplex communication control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a computer to a facsimile adapter and directly transmitting a document created on the computer by facsimile without printing out.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a device has been developed in which a facsimile adapter having a digital interface unit conforming to a standard such as RS-232C is connected to a computer and a document created on the computer is directly transmitted by facsimile.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional apparatus is connected to a single-line facsimile adapter. In order to support multiple lines, a new facsimile adapter and a computer must be purchased. Was. In addition, transmission and reception cannot be performed at the same time, or simultaneous transmission (at the same time) cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a facsimile multiplex communication control apparatus capable of executing facsimile multiplex communication such as simultaneous execution of transmission and reception and simultaneous broadcast transmission.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A facsimile according to the present invention.
The remultiplex communication control device transmits a predetermined document via a communication port.
Facsimile adapter that communicates data indicating the status to the outside
And generates the data, and connects the facsimile adapter
Facsimile multiplex communication with controlling computer
A control device, wherein the facsimile adapter has
A plurality of said data corresponding to a number of communication ports; and
Multiplexes data for instructing facsimile communication
Means for transmitting the multiplexed data to the computer
And means for transmitting between the facsimile adapter and
Contains.

[0006]

[Function] In this facsimile multiplex communication control device,
Simultaneous support for multiple communication ports
Data indicating number of documents and facsimile communication
The instruction data is multiplexed, and the multiplexed data is
Data transmission between computer and facsimile adapter
Is done. As a result, facsimile multiplex communication is executed.
Can be done.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile multiplex communication control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The facsimile multiplex communication control device includes a computer 1 and a facsimile adapter 2. The computer 1 includes a data transfer unit 3, a transmission / reception unit 4, a communication port management unit 5, a facsimile adapter management unit 6, and a multiplex communication unit 7. The facsimile adapter 2 includes a multiplex communication unit. A communication unit 8, a data transfer unit 9, a transmission / reception unit 10, and a storage device 11 are provided. The data transfer unit 3 transfers the transmission facsimile data to the facsimile adapter 2 via the multiplex communication units 7 and 8 by a high-speed I / F such as SCSI. The data transfer means 9 multiplexes the received facsimile data stored in the storage device 11 of the facsimile adapter 2 with the multiplex communication means 8,
7 to the computer 1. Transmitting and receiving means 4,
Reference numeral 10 denotes facsimile transmission of transmission facsimile data stored in the storage device 11 of the facsimile adapter 2 from a specific communication port, or facsimile reception from a partner facsimile, and reception facsimile data to the storage device 11 of the facsimile adapter 2. To accumulate. The communication port management means 5 manages each communication port,
If necessary, set a specific communication port to receive only. The facsimile adapter management unit 6 manages the entire facsimile adapter 2, such as initializing the facsimile adapter 2 and collecting logs. The multiplexing communication units 7 and 8 multiplex the data transfer units 3 and 9, the transmission and reception units 4 and 10, the communication port management unit 5, and the facsimile adapter management unit 6.

The communication port management means 5 manages a table as shown in FIG. 2, and rewrites the state of each communication port according to the communication status. The multiplex communication means 7 includes the data transfer means 3
In addition, for example, a logical channel number such as that shown in FIG. To the multiplex communication means 8, and the multiplex communication means 8 refers to the logical channel number and distributes the packet to the data transfer means 9 or the transmission / reception means 10. Similarly, the multiplexing communication means 8 includes, at the head of a packet such as data or a command from the data transfer means 9 and the transmission / reception means 10, for example, A logical channel number as shown in FIG. 3 is assigned and transmitted to the multiplex communication means 7. The multiplex communication means 7 refers to the logical channel number and distributes the packet to the data transfer means 3 or the transmission / reception means 4.

Next, the operation at the time of transmission will be described. At the time of transmission, information as shown in FIG. 4 is exchanged between the data transfer means 3 of the computer 1 and the data transfer means 9 of the facsimile adapter 2 via the multiplex communication means 7 and 8.
That is, first, the data transfer means 3 to the data transfer means 9
Then, the transfer of the transmission facsimile data is notified together with the message ID. Next, the page information is notified from the data transfer means 3 to the data transfer means 9 together with the image information and the image width. Next, from the data transfer means 9 to the data transfer means 3
Will be notified of receipt. Next, one page of transmission facsimile data is transferred from the data transfer means 3 to the data transfer means 9. Thereby, the data transfer means 9
Transfer the transmitted facsimile data and related information
The message ID is stored in the storage device 11 of the facsimile adapter 2 as a key. The transmission facsimile data is created separately by an operator using any means. The operation from the notification of the page information to the storage of the transmission facsimile data is repeated for each page. When the transmission of the outgoing facsimile data is completed,
The data transfer means 3 notifies the data transfer means 9 of the end of the procedure.

[0010] Thereafter, the communication port management means 5 refers to the table of FIG. 2 to obtain a free port number among the communication ports for transmission or transmission and to transmit the status column of the port number. Rewrite to Then, information as shown in FIG. 5 is exchanged between the transmission / reception means 4 of the computer 1 and the transmission / reception means 10 of the facsimile adapter 2 via the multiplex communication means 7 and 8. That is, first, the transmission / reception unit 4 notifies the transmission / reception unit 10 of the start of transmission together with the message ID, the port number, and the telephone number. Thereby, the transmission / reception means 10 extracts the transmission facsimile data stored in the storage device 11 based on the message ID, and sends the transmission facsimile data to the partner facsimile via the communication port of the port number acquired by the communication port management means 5 and the telephone line. Send. When the transmission is completed, the transmission / reception unit 10 notifies the transmission / reception unit 4 of the end of the transmission. Thereby, the communication port management means 5 releases the acquired communication port. That is, the status column of the table corresponding to the communication port used for transmission is rewritten to be empty. The transmission process is completed by the above operation.

The transmission / reception means 4 and 10 simultaneously transmit transmission facsimile data stored in the storage device 11 of the facsimile adapter 2 to a plurality of destinations by using a plurality of communication ports, thereby performing simultaneous broadcast transmission. It can be carried out. At this time, if the maximum ratio of the number of communication ports for broadcast transmission to the number of communication ports for transmission is set in advance, all transmission communication ports are not occupied by broadcast transmission. Other transmission jobs can be processed, and transmission scheduling can be performed.

Next, the operation at the time of reception will be described. At the time of reception, the multiplex communication means 7 and the transmission / reception means 4 are connected between the transmission / reception means 4 of the computer 1 and the transmission / reception means 10 of the facsimile adapter 2.
Information such as that shown in FIG. That is, first, when a facsimile call arrives at a vacant communication port, the transmission / reception unit 10 notifies the transmission / reception unit 4 of the call arrival together with the port number. Thereby, the communication port management means 5 rewrites the status column of the table corresponding to the incoming communication port during reception. Then, the transmission / reception unit 4 notifies the transmission / reception unit 10 of the start of the reception together with the message ID. As a result, the transmission / reception means 10 stores the received facsimile data in the storage device 11 using the designated message ID as a key. When the storage is completed, the transmission / reception unit 10 notifies the transmission / reception unit 4 of the end of the reception.
Thereby, the communication port management means 5 releases the acquired communication port. That is, the status column of the table corresponding to the incoming communication port is rewritten to be empty.

Thereafter, information as shown in FIG. 7 is exchanged between the data transfer means 3 of the computer 1 and the data transfer means 9 of the facsimile adapter 2 via the multiplex communication means 7 and 8. That is, first, the transfer of the received facsimile data is notified from the data transfer means 9 to the data transfer means 3 together with the message ID. Next, the page information is notified from the data transfer means 9 to the data transfer means 3.
Next, the data transfer means 3 notifies the data transfer means 9 of the confirmation of receipt. Next, the data transfer means 9 extracts one page of the received facsimile data stored in the storage device 11 based on the message ID. Next, one page of the received facsimile data extracted from the storage device 11 is transferred from the data transfer unit 9 to the data transfer unit 3. The operation from the notification of the page information to the transfer of the received facsimile data is repeated for each page.
When the transfer of the received facsimile data is completed, the data transfer means 9 notifies the data transfer means 3 of the end of the procedure. The receiving process is completed by the above operation.

When the computer 1 is started, the facsimile adapter management means 6 sets the facsimile adapter 2
Is initialized, and the communication port management means 5 sets the attributes (for both transmission and reception, reception only, and transmission only) of each communication port. Thus, constant transmission and reception are guaranteed regardless of the congestion degree of the transmission / reception JOB. For example, by making a specific communication port dedicated to reception, constant reception is possible regardless of the congestion degree of the transmission JOB. In addition, by making a specific communication port dedicated to transmission, constant transmission is possible regardless of the congestion degree of the reception JOB.

Thus, the communication between the data transfer means 3, 9 and the transmission / reception means 4, 10 is performed by the multiplex communication means 7, 8.
Is performed with a logical channel number attached, thereby enabling multiplex communication. For example, by multiplexing the transmission / reception means 4, 10, facsimile reception can be performed at another communication port during facsimile transmission. Furthermore, simultaneous broadcast transmission becomes possible.

Since each communication port is managed by the communication port management means 5, if the ratio of the maximum number of communication ports for broadcast transmission to the number of communication ports for transmission is set in advance, all transmission communication is performed by broadcast transmission. Since no port is occupied, another transmission JOB can be processed using an available transmission communication port, and transmission scheduling can be performed. Furthermore, by setting the attributes of each communication port (for both transmission and reception, reception only, and transmission only), constant transmission and reception are guaranteed regardless of the congestion degree of the transmission and reception JOB. For example, by making a specific communication port dedicated to reception, constant reception is possible regardless of the congestion degree of the transmission JOB. In addition, by making a specific communication port dedicated to transmission, constant transmission is possible regardless of the congestion degree of the reception JOB.

[0017]

Facsimile multiplex communication control according to the present invention
The device transmits data indicating a predetermined document via a communication port.
A facsimile adapter that communicates with the outside world and a
A computer that generates data and controls the facsimile adapter
Facsimile multiplex communication control device using a
You. In this facsimile multiplex communication control device, facsimile
Multiple adapters corresponding to multiple communication ports
Data indicating the document and instruction for facsimile communication
Are multiplexed, and the multiplexed data is
Transmitted between the computer and the facsimile adapter
You. This allows simultaneous transmission and reception, simultaneous broadcast transmission, etc.
Facsimile multiplex communication can be executed.

If the attributes of each communication port (transmission / reception, reception only, transmission only) are set in advance by the communication port management means, constant transmission and reception are guaranteed regardless of the congestion degree of the transmission / reception JOB. You. Also, if the maximum ratio of the number of communication ports for broadcast transmission to the number of communication ports for transmission is set in advance by the communication port management means, all transmission communication ports are not occupied by broadcast transmission. Other transmission JO using communication port
B can be processed and transmission scheduling can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile multiplex communication control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a table of a communication port management unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of logical channel numbers.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a data transfer unit at the time of transmission.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transmitting / receiving means at the time of transmission.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transmission / reception means at the time of reception.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the data transfer means at the time of reception.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 computer 2 facsimile adapter 3 data transfer means 4 transmission / reception means 5 communication port management means 6 facsimile adapter management means 7 multiplex communication means 8 multiplex communication means 9 data transfer means 10 transmission / reception means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/32 G06F 13/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data indicating a predetermined document via a communication port.
A facsimile adapter for communicating data
Data to generate the data and control the facsimile adapter.
Facsimile multiplex communication control device using a computer
A plurality of communications that the facsimile adapter has
A plurality of data corresponding to the port and a facsimile
Means for multiplexing data for instructing millimeter communication
And transmitting the multiplexed data to the computer and the file.
Facsimile including means for transmitting data to and from a ximi adapter
Simulator multiplex communication control device. 2. The facsimile multiplex communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a specific communication port is dedicated to reception so that a constant reception is possible regardless of the number of transmission JOBs. 3. The facsimile multiplex communication control device according to claim 1, wherein a specific communication port is dedicated to transmission so that a constant transmission is possible regardless of the number of received JOBs. 4. The facsimile multiplex communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein transmission scheduling is performed by setting a ratio of the maximum number of broadcast communication ports to the number of transmission communication ports.