JP3168712B2 - Communication terminal device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a communication terminal device and its
In particular, the present invention relates to a communication terminal device accommodating a plurality of lines of different types and a control method thereof .
About the law .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, one line is connected to one communication terminal device, for example, a facsimile device. In recent years, facsimile apparatuses capable of connecting a plurality of lines to one unit have been developed.
Some facsimile machines of this type are configured so that the type of line that can be connected is not limited to either analog or digital, and that both analog and digital lines can be connected together.

In the facsimile apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is necessary to determine whether to use an analog or digital line before communication, and to determine in which communication mode among communication modes such as G3 and G4. .

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-250851 discloses a communication terminal device having an analog network processing system circuit and an ISDN network processing system circuit. This apparatus is configured to select a line type and a communication mode to be used by a key operation of an operator.

[0005]

The above conventional communication terminal has the following problems. That is, in the conventional communication terminal device, there is a troublesome operation in which the key operation must be performed in consideration of the combination of the communication mode and the line type that the operator does not need to pay attention to.

Further, operation keys are set in advance so that combinations of the communication mode and the line type correspond to each other. Therefore, for example, when a combination of the ISDN network and the G3 communication mode is set as an operation key and communication is performed using the operation key, there is a problem that communication using the same combination cannot be performed. Was.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device which can simplify the operation by an operator and can simultaneously execute a plurality of communications having the same combination of the communication mode and the line type, and a control method thereof.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a communication system which, when a communication mode used for communication is inputted, registers a communication mode corresponding to the communication mode. It is characterized in that one of the boards is selected according to a predetermined selection criterion, and when a line type is input, one of the line boards registered corresponding to the line type is selected in accordance with the predetermined selection criterion. There is.

[0009]

According to the present invention having the above features, when at least one of the communication mode and the line type is input, the communication mode and the line type are registered according to the communication mode and the line type, respectively. One of the plurality of communication boards and line boards is selected, and communication can be performed using the selected communication board and line board.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a main part of a facsimile apparatus which is an example of a communication terminal apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a system controller 1 includes:
An input device 2 for an operator to input instruction information;
Control data memory 3 for registering various control data
And an image information memory 4 for storing transmission image information and reception image information. Further, a communication board 5 and a line board 6 are connected to the system control device 1. The communication boards 5 and the line boards 6 are provided in a number corresponding to the number of lines accommodated in the facsimile machine. In this embodiment, a case is shown in which six communication boards 5 and six line boards 6 are provided.

In this embodiment, the number of the communication boards 5 and the number of the line boards 6 are the same. However, it is not always necessary that the number of the communication boards 5 and the number of the line boards 6 are equal. Should be fine.

The communication board 5 and the line board 6 are
As described above, a plurality of such switches are provided, and can be connected to each other in any combination by the connection switching device 7. The connection switching device 7 is switched according to an instruction from the system control device 1.

The communication board 5 sends the image information stored in the image information memory 4 to a line in accordance with the instruction information input from the input device 2 and the control data in the control data memory 3, and transmits the image information from the line. In order to receive a call in response to an incoming call, communication protocol control according to the communication mode is performed. Then, the line board 6 performs control relating to outgoing and incoming calls.

Next, an example of communication performed using the facsimile apparatus having the above configuration will be described. Here, an example of transmission performed by the operator instructing either the communication mode or the line type and the destination telephone number (dial number) will be described.

In the flowchart of FIG. 3, a communication mode and a dial number are input from the input device 2 in step S1. In step S2, a line type corresponding to the input communication mode is determined. Here, the line type is determined by searching the communication mode / line type combination table (see FIG. 4) of the control data memory 3 in which the line type corresponding to the communication mode is registered in advance. For example, if the input communication mode is G3, PSTN (telephone network) is selected as the line type.

If the communication mode and the line type corresponding to the communication mode are determined, the process proceeds to step S3, where one communication board and one line board are respectively selected from the plurality of communication boards and the plurality of line boards.

The communication board is selected from a communication mode / communication board grouping table (see FIG. 5A) in the control data memory 3 in which a plurality of communication boards are grouped in advance for each communication mode and registered. Similarly, the line board is a line type / line board grouping table in the control data memory 3 in which a plurality of line boards are grouped in advance for each line type and registered (see FIG. 5B).
Choose from

If the communication board and the line board can be selected, the process proceeds to step S4, where the connection switching device 7 is started,
Connect the selected communication board and line board. In step S5, a call is made using the dialed number entered in step S1, and communication is started.

In steps S1 and S2, the communication mode is input and the line type corresponding to the communication mode is determined. Instead, the line type is input first, and The communication mode to be performed may be determined. The processing in this case is described in steps S1a and S2.
a. After steps S1a and S2a, step S
The above processing may be performed in 3 to S5.

In the process of step S3, there are several methods for selecting which of a plurality of communication boards and a plurality of line boards to use for communication.
For example, selection can be made according to a scheduled priority, according to a planned rotation, or the frequency of use can be used as a selection criterion so that each board is used uniformly. The operation for each selection method will be described below.

First, an operation for selecting a communication board and a line board in accordance with the priority order will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this selection method, priorities are assigned in advance to a plurality of communication boards grouped for each communication mode and a plurality of line boards grouped for each line type, and the priorities are assigned to a table (FIG. 7, FIG.
8 (see FIG. 8).

In FIG. 6, in step S30, the communication board having the highest priority is selected from the table (FIG. 7) to which the priorities of the communication boards are assigned. Step S
At 31, it is determined whether the selected communication board is in use. If the selected communication board is in use, step S3
Proceed to 2 to determine whether all communication boards have been checked for use. When all communication boards have been checked, the process ends.

If there is a communication board that has not been checked, a communication board having the next highest priority is selected in step S33, and the process returns to step S31. If the determination in step S31 is negative, this communication board is selected.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S34, where the line board having the highest priority is selected from the table (FIG. 8) to which the priority of the line board is assigned. In step S35, it is determined whether the selected line board is in use. If the selected line board is in use, the process proceeds to step S36, and it is determined whether or not it is checked whether all the line boards are in use. When all the line boards have been checked, the process is completed.

If there is a line board that has not been checked yet, a line board with the next priority is selected in step S37, and the process returns to step S35.
If the determination in step S35 is negative, a line board is selected and the process returns to step S4 in FIG.

Next, an operation for selecting a communication board and a line board according to a scheduled rotation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this selection method,
A rotation number is assigned in advance to each of a plurality of communication boards grouped for each communication mode and a plurality of line boards grouped for each line type, and is controlled as a table (see FIGS. 10 and 11). It is registered in the data memory 3.

The communication boards of each communication mode group and the line boards of each line type group are provided with flags indicating whether or not they have been used for the previous communication. In this communication, this flag is set (=
1) The selection procedure is started from the communication board and the line board to which the next rotation number of the communication board and the line board is assigned.

In step S40, a communication board having a rotation number next to the previously used communication board is selected from the table in which communication boards to which rotation numbers are assigned are registered. In step S41, it is determined whether or not the selected communication board is in use. If the selected communication board is in use, the process proceeds to step S42, and it is determined whether all communication boards have been checked for use. When all communication boards have been checked, the process ends.

If there is a communication board that has not yet been checked, a communication board to which the next rotation number is assigned is selected in step S43, and the flow proceeds to step S4.
Return to 1. If the determination in step S41 is negative, this communication board is selected, the flag of the selected communication board is set to "1" (step S41a), and the flag of the previously used communication board is set to "0". (Step S41b).

Subsequently, in step S44, a line board having a rotation number next to the previously used line board is selected from the table in which the line boards to which the rotation numbers are assigned are registered. In step S45,
Determine whether the selected line board is in use. If the selected line board is in use, proceed to step S46,
Determine whether all line boards have been checked for use or not. When all the line boards have been checked, the process is completed.

If there is a line board that has not been checked yet, a line board to which the next rotation number is assigned is selected in step S47, and step S4 is executed.
Return to 5. If the determination in step S45 is negative, this line board is selected, the flag of the selected line board is set to "1" (step S45a), and the flag of the previously used line board is set to "0". (Step S45b).

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation when selecting a communication board and a line board according to the frequency of use will be described. In this selection method, a plurality of communication boards grouped for each communication mode and a plurality of line boards grouped for each line type are registered in the control data memory 3 as tables (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Keep it. Each of these communication boards and line boards is provided with an area in which the number of times of use used up to that time can be stored.

In step S50, a communication board which has been used the least number of times is selected from the table (FIG. 13) in which communication boards are grouped and registered for each communication mode. In the step S51, it is determined whether or not the selected communication board is in use. If the selected communication board is in use, the process proceeds to step S52, and it is determined whether all the communication boards have been checked for use. When all communication boards have been checked, the process ends.

If there is a communication board that has not been checked yet, a communication board having the next least number of uses is selected in step S53, and the process returns to step S51. If the determination in step S51 is negative, this communication board is selected,
Proceeding to step S54, the use count storage value corresponding to the selected communication board is increased by "1".

Subsequently, in step S55, a line board which has been used the least number of times is selected from a table (FIG. 14) in which line boards are grouped and registered for each line type. In step S56, it is determined whether the selected line board is in use. If the selected line board is in use, the process proceeds to step S57, and it is determined whether all line boards have been checked for use. When all the line boards have been checked, the process is completed.

If there is a line board that has not been checked yet, a line board having the next least number of uses is selected in step S58, and the process returns to step S56. If the determination in step S56 is negative, this line board is selected, and the flow advances to step S59 to increase the use count storage value corresponding to the selected line board by "1".

The above-mentioned priorities are determined based on, for example, a difference in capabilities such as modem speed, and a higher priority is added to a communication board having a higher modem speed.

According to the selection method based on the rotation number and the frequency of use, transmission can be prevented from being concentrated on a specific communication board or line board. The possibility that reception becomes impossible can be reduced.

Next, the main functions of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the functional blocks shown in FIG. In the figure, a communication mode / line type combination storage unit 8 stores a table in which communication modes and corresponding line types are combined (see FIG. 4).
Is stored.

When the communication mode or the line type used for communication is supplied from the input device 2, the line type / communication mode determining unit 9 stores the communication mode / line type combination storage unit 8.
And outputs the information indicating the corresponding line type or communication mode to the communication board / line board selection unit 10 with reference to the table.

The communication mode / communication board grouping storage section 11 is a table (FIGS. 5A, 7A, 7B, 7A, and 7B) that is grouped for each communication mode and to which priority order, rotation number, and use count data are added as necessary. , FIG.
0, see FIG. 13).

The line type / line board grouping storage unit 12 stores a table (FIG. 5B, FIG. 5B) in which groups are grouped for each line type, and priority order, rotation number, and use count data are added as necessary. 8, 11 and 14) are stored.

In the communication board / line board selection unit 10,
With reference to the tables registered in the communication mode / communication board grouping storage unit 11 and the line type / line board grouping storage unit 12, available communication boards and line boards are selected.

When the communication board and the line board are selected, information indicating the selected communication board and the line board is output to the connection switching control unit 13. Connection switching control unit 13
Outputs a switching instruction to the connection switching device 7 according to the information.

The registered data in the storage units 8, 11, and 12 may be input from the input device 2, or the storage units 8, 11, and 12 may be configured by a ROM in which predetermined data is stored in advance.

As described above, in this embodiment, usable communication boards and line boards can be selected only by inputting the communication mode or the line type.

In this embodiment, PSTN and ISDN are shown as examples of the line type. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, connection to an extension communication terminal can be performed in the same manner as this embodiment. In communication mode, G3, G4
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a G2 mode.

[0049]

As is apparent from the above description, the claims
According to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, the communication mode and the line type
When another one is entered, the other is determined and the decision
Registered in advance based on the communication mode and line type
One of the communication boards and line boards
The selection is made according to the schedule selection criteria. Therefore, multiple
One communication board and multiple line boards
However, if it is in a usable state, data can be transmitted. That
As a result, the operator can select either communication mode or line type.
If you enter one or the other party's phone number,
Transmission can be performed using the communication board and line board.
Operation can be simplified.

Particularly, according to the invention of claim 3 or claim 6,
, Select communication board or line board according to priority
For example, if modem speeds differ from each other,
Higher modem speed if a signal board is used
High priority to add
It can be set to use the most advanced ones
it can. In addition, the rotation and the number of times
Use to equalize usage frequency and maintain
Board and line board can be prevented from deteriorating.
You.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating main functions of a communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence between communication modes and line types.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing communication boards and line boards grouped by communication mode and line type;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a selection operation based on priority.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which priorities are added to communication boards grouped for each communication mode.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example in which priorities are added to line boards grouped for each line type.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a selection operation based on a scheduled rotation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which rotation numbers are added to communication boards grouped for each communication mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example in which rotation numbers are added to line boards grouped for each line type.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a selection operation based on usage frequency.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which information indicating the number of times of use is added to communication boards grouped for each communication mode.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example in which information indicating the number of times of use is added to line boards grouped for each line type.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Input device 8 Communication mode / line type combination storage unit 9 Line type / communication mode determination unit 10 Communication board / line board selection unit 11 Communication mode / communication board grouping storage unit 12 ... Line type / line board grouping storage unit 13 Connection connection control unit

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hideo Kinami 3-7-1, Funai, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (56) References JP-A-4-119068 (JP, A) JP-A-4- 176254 (JP, A) JP-A-64-16061 (JP, A) JP-A-1-240065 (JP, A) JP-A-63-128860 (JP, A) JP-A-3-24848 (JP, A) JP-A-3-151747 (JP, A) JP-A-3-250851 (JP, A) JP-A-2-46470 (JP, U) JP-A-1-133856 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A communication system accommodating a plurality of lines of different types.
In a communication terminal control method for controlling a trusted terminal device, a registration is made in advance based on a communication mode instructed at the time of transmission.
According to the combination of communication mode and line type
The step of determining the line type and the step of registering the line type corresponding to the plurality of communication modes.
From the number of communication boards to the specified communication mode
Selecting the corresponding one according to a predetermined selection criterion
And a plurality of lines registered for multiple line types
Corresponding to the determined line type from among the line boards
Selecting one to do according to a predetermined selection criterion
A method for controlling a communication terminal. 2. A communication system accommodating a plurality of lines of different types.
In a communication terminal control method for controlling a trusted terminal device , a pre-registered communication terminal is controlled based on a line type specified at the time of transmission.
Communication according to the combination of communication mode and line type
Determining a mode, and registering a plurality of modes registered corresponding to a plurality of communication modes.
From the number of communication boards to the specified communication mode
Selecting the corresponding one according to a predetermined selection criterion
And a plurality of lines registered for multiple line types
Corresponding to the determined line type from among the line boards
Selecting one to do according to a predetermined selection criterion
A method for controlling a communication terminal. 3. The schedule selection criterion is registered in advance.
Priority or of certain communication and line boards
Registered in advance so that usage frequency does not increase
Rotation or use count
3. The communication terminal control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Law. 4. A communication terminal device accommodating a plurality of lines of different types, an input means for inputting a dial number of a destination and a communication mode to be used, and registering a combination of a communication mode and a line type. A second storage unit for registering a plurality of communication boards respectively corresponding to a plurality of communication modes; a third storage unit for registering a plurality of line boards respectively corresponding to a plurality of line types; A line type determining unit that determines a line type based on a combination stored in the first storage unit based on a communication mode input from an input unit; and a line type determined by the communication mode and the line type determining unit. And one of a plurality of communication boards and one of the line boards according to a predetermined selection criterion using the second and third storage means. And a selection means for selecting a line board. 5. In a communication terminal device accommodating a plurality of lines of different types, input means for inputting a dial number of a destination and a line type to be used, and registering a combination of a communication mode and a line type. A second storage unit for registering a plurality of communication boards respectively corresponding to a plurality of communication modes; a third storage unit for registering a plurality of line boards respectively corresponding to a plurality of line types; Communication mode determining means for determining a communication mode based on a combination stored in the first storage means based on the line type input from the input means; and a communication mode determined by the line type and the communication mode determining means. The second and third storage means are used to select one communication board from a plurality of communication boards and line boards in accordance with a predetermined selection criterion. A communication terminal device comprising: a selection unit for selecting a mode and a line board. 6. The schedule selection criterion is registered in advance.
Priority or of certain communication and line boards
Registered in advance so that usage frequency does not increase
Rotation or use count
The communication terminal device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein