JP3221039B2 - Data communication method using multiple lines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication system using a plurality of lines, and more particularly, to a data communication system in which each station has a function of transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication lines. The present invention relates to a data communication system using a plurality of lines, which transmits data in parallel from a communication line and a receiving station combines data sent from the plurality of communication lines and restores the original communication data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when trying to transmit and receive data between communication devices such as facsimile machines, only one communication line can be used at a time, so one communication data is serially transmitted by one line. Therefore,
When transmitting image data with a large amount of information such as newspapers and magazines, there is a problem that the transmission time is extremely long.

However, in recent years, an integrated service digital network (hereinafter abbreviated as ISDN) and the like have been constructed, and it has become easy to simultaneously use a plurality of communication lines. ISDN refers to a service that requires a dedicated communication network for each service (telephone, data, etc.) and uses a single user / network interface to connect a plurality of different services or a plurality of identical services. This is a communication mode handled in an integrated manner, and has the advantage that access lines can be integrated into one line.

[0004] With the spread of ISDN, in recent years, a communication system for dividing communication data into a plurality of blocks and transmitting the divided block data in parallel, a so-called ultra-high-speed communication system, has been studied.

[0005]

However, regarding a data communication system using a plurality of lines, the communication system has been disclosed only in an extremely abstract manner, and the specific communication system has not been clarified until now. .

For example, when a block data is received from another transmitting station in the ultra-high-speed communication mode to a receiving station currently receiving block data in the ultra-high-speed communication mode, the receiving station transmits the block data to the receiving station. It is not clear how to determine the
Substantially, the conventional receiving station has a problem in that it cannot simultaneously receive block data from a plurality of different transmitting stations in the ultra-high-speed communication mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to distinguish block data transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of transmitting stations in an ultra-high-speed communication mode so that they can be processed simultaneously. It is in.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a data communication system using a plurality of lines, each station having a function of transmitting and receiving in parallel using a plurality of communication lines. The unique identification information of the transmitting station is allocated to a plurality of lines completed between the transmitting station and the receiving station, and the receiving station combines the block data received from the lines to which the same identification information is allocated. It is characterized in that the original communication data is restored by using this method.

[0009]

According to the above arrangement, the receiving station can identify the source of the block data sent from a plurality of lines by the identification information assigned to the line. Even if block data is transmitted at the same time, these can be processed separately for each transmitting station.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

A multi-channel (MC) management number "123" is set in the transmitting station A as identification information unique to the transmitting station. Similarly, transmitting station B has MC management number “45”.
6 "is set, and the MC number" 789 "is assigned to the transmitting station C.
Is set.

When the transmitting station A transmits its MC management number to the receiving station prior to transmitting the divided block data D,
Completed lines L1, L2, L between transmitting station A and receiving station
3 is assigned an MC management number “123”.

Similarly, to the lines L4 and L5 completed between the transmitting station B and the receiving station, an MC management number "456" is allocated, and the completed lines L6 and L6 between the transmitting station C and the receiving station are allocated.
MC management number "789" is assigned to L7.

Thereafter, when each of the transmitting stations A, B, and C transmits the block data from each line, the receiving station divides each block data into a plurality based on the MC management number assigned to the line on which the block data was received. To the combining means. Each combining means combines the sorted block data to restore the original communication data.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic block diagrams of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Here, FIG. 2 shows a configuration necessary for explanation of the operation as a transmitting station, and FIG. 3 shows a configuration necessary for explanation of the operation as a receiving station. The subscript a is attached to the configuration and the subscript b is applied to the configuration of the receiving station to distinguish them.

In FIG. 2, an operation unit 11a has operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a function selection key, a display unit, and the like.
0a. The system control unit 10a controls the entire facsimile machine.

The image input section 14a reads the document information on the document 1 and converts it into digital signal image data.
This is output to the encoding unit 15a. The encoding unit 15a encodes the image data and outputs the encoded image data to the file storage unit 16a.

The file storage section 16a stores the encoded image data as an image file. The file division unit 17a (17a1, 17a2, 17a3) divides the image data stored in the file storage unit 16a into a plurality of block data and outputs the divided data. Divided block control unit 1
8a (18a1, 18a2, 18a3) includes, as shown in FIG. 11, a document No., a page No., a block No., a block data size, a page size, an image quality, etc. in each of the divided block data. Is added and output.

The block delivery control unit 33a transfers each block data to each of the protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-n. Each protocol control unit 21a-1 to 21a-n
Transmits the delivered block data to the receiving station by normal protocol processing. Multiple communication control unit 12a
Controls the protocol controllers 21a-1 to 21a-n.

The line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n automatically dial and call a receiving station when a transmission instruction is issued by one-touch dialing or abbreviated dialing, and perform line connection processing with the receiving station. Execute

The line switching unit 19a is connected to the system control unit 10
a, each protocol control unit 21a-1
To 21a-n and the respective line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n are appropriately connected. The multiple line control unit 13a controls each of the line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n.

On the other hand, in FIG.
b (32b1, 32b2, 32b3) combines a plurality of block data delivered from the divided block control unit 18b (18b1, 18b2, 18b3) based on the management information, and outputs the combined data to the file storage unit 16b. Decoding unit 31b
Decrypts the image data stored in the file storage unit 16b. The image output unit 30b records the decoded image data and restores the document 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flow charts for explaining a data communication system using a plurality of lines according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 4 shows a communication system of a transmitting station, and FIG. The communication system is shown.

In step S101, it is determined whether or not the ultra-high-speed communication mode has been designated.
When the ultra high-speed communication mode is designated by operating each key switch 1a, the operation unit 11a that has accepted the designation of the ultra-high speed communication mode instructs the system control unit 10a to operate in the ultra-high speed communication mode.

In step S102, the system control unit 1
0a instructs the image input unit 14a to read the original 1. The image input unit 14a reads the document 1, converts the document 1 into digital signal image data, and outputs the digital signal image data to the encoding unit 15a. The encoding unit 15a encodes the image data by an appropriate encoding method, and stores the encoded image data in the file storage unit 16a.

In step S103, the system control unit 1
0a is identification information unique to the own station, for example, a multi-channel (MC) obtained by combining the own station line number and the own station terminal number.
Determine the communication management number.

In step S104, the system control unit 1
0a outputs a call request for an arbitrary line to the multiple line control unit 13a, and the multiple line control unit 13a
Line control unit 20a (for example, 20a-
A call request is output for 1).

The line controller 20a (20)
a-1) executes connection processing of a call adapted to the line interface, and outputs a processing result to the multiple line control unit 13a. The multiple line control unit 13a outputs the processing result to the system control unit 10a.

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a call connection procedure for ISDN.

Between the transmitting station and ISDN, and
"Call setting" signal, "call setting acceptance"
A signal, a "call" signal, a "response" signal, and a "response confirmation" signal are transmitted and received. When the calling according to the call control procedure ends normally, a path (line) is completed between the transmitting station and the receiving station.

When the line with the receiving station is completed, in step S105, the system control unit 10a transmits the protocol control unit 21a (for example, 2) corresponding to the connected line.
1a-1) is secured, and the line switching unit 19a is controlled to connect the protocol control unit 21a-1 to the line control unit 20a-1.

In step S106, the system control unit 1
0a outputs a protocol activation request to the multiple communication control unit 12a, and the multiple communication control unit 12a outputs a protocol activation request to the protocol control unit 21a-1 in response to the activation request.

In step S107, the protocol control unit 21a-1 having received the activation request confirms the consistency and the number of usable lines of the receiving station by using the non-standard function of the protocol as a notifying means, and checks other communication conditions. For example, it checks the coding method, the presence / absence of relay broadcasting, image quality, page size, and the like.

It should be noted that the confirmation by such a non-standard function is that when the communication mode is G3, N
This is performed by referring to the SF (non-standard function setting signal). When the communication mode is G4, the communication is performed by referring to the non-standard function of the RSSP transmitted from the receiving station.

If the receiving station does not have the ultra-high-speed communication mode and the two are not compatible, the process proceeds to step S119. Further, when the receiving station has the ultra-high-speed communication mode and the compatibility between the two can be obtained, in step S108,
The system control unit 10a determines the number of lines actually used based on the number of available lines of the receiving station and the number of available lines of the own station. Note that the following description is based on the assumption that the number of lines to be used is determined to be “3”.

In step S109, the plural communication control units 1
2a notifies the protocol control unit 21a-1 of the number of lines actually used "3" and the MC communication management number.
According to the protocol, the protocol control unit 21a-1 starts transmission in the ultra-high-speed communication mode,
The receiving station is notified of various communication conditions (for example, coding method, presence / absence of relay broadcasting, image quality, etc.), MC communication management number, and the like.

When the communication mode is G3, this notification includes, in the NSS (non-standard function setting signal) to be transmitted, information for activating the ultra-high-speed communication mode, the number of lines used, various communication conditions, and MC communication management. This is performed by setting a number, and when the communication mode is G4, it is performed by setting each of the above information in the non-standard function of the CDCL.

In step S110, the system control unit 1
0a outputs a call request corresponding to the number of lines "3" to the multiple line control unit 13a. The multiple line control units 13a include two other line control units 20a (for example, 20a-2 and 20a-2) except for the line control unit 20a-1 for which a route has already been completed.
The call request is output to 20a-3).

In step S111, the two line controllers 20a-2 and 20a-3 that have received the call request perform connection processing for a call conforming to the line interface, and notify the processing result to the multiple line controller 13a. Multiple line control unit 13
a further notifies the system control unit 10a of the processing result.

The system control unit 10a secures two protocol control units 21a (for example, 21a-2 and 21a-3) corresponding to the two line control units 20a-2 and 20a-3. Also, the protocol control unit 21a-1 to be used
To the block delivery control unit 33a.

In step S112, the system control unit 1
0a controls the line switching unit 19a, and connects the reserved protocol control units 21a-2 and 21a-3 to the line control units 20a-2 and 20a-3, respectively.

In step S113, the system control unit 1
0a, a request for starting a protocol is output to the plurality of communication control units 12a, and a request for starting a protocol is output from the plurality of communication control units 12a to each of the protocol control units 21a-2 and 21a-3 to start each protocol. You.

In step S114, the protocol controllers 21a-2 and 21a-3 execute M
Notify the receiving station of the C communication management number and the like. This notification is made by setting the MC communication management number in the NSS if the communication mode is G3, and
If it is 4, it is performed by setting the MC communication management number in the non-standard function of the CDCL.

When three lines are secured in this way, in step S115, the system control unit 10a instructs the file division unit 17a (for example, 17a1) to start reading image data. The file dividing unit 17a
File storage unit 16a for each preset size
From the divided block control unit 18a (for example, 18
hand over to a1).

In step S116, as shown in FIG. 11, the divided block control unit 18a adds management information such as document No., page No., block No., block data size, page size, and image quality to each block data. Is added and delivered to the block delivery control unit 33a.

In step S117, the block delivery control unit 33a transmits the protocol control units 21a-1, 21a-2, and 21a previously notified by the system control unit 10a.
-3, the block data is sequentially delivered.

In step S118, each of the protocol controllers 21-1, 21a-2, and 21a-3a performs protocol processing in the same manner as normal processing, and transmits each block data to the receiving station. Each protocol control unit 21a-1, 21a-
When the transmission of the last block data passed from the block delivery control unit 33a is completed, 2, 21a-3 outputs a transmission end notification to the multiple communication control unit 12a.

In step S119, the plural communication control units 1
2a outputs a protocol stop request to the protocol control unit 21a that has output the transmission end notification,
The system controller 10a is notified of the end of communication on the line.

In step S120, the system control unit 1
0a outputs a disconnection request to the multiple line control unit 13a in order to disconnect the line notified from the multiple communication control unit 12a. The multiple communication control unit 13a outputs a disconnection request to the line control unit 20a corresponding to the specified line.

At this time, between the transmitting station and the ISDN and between the ISDN and the receiving station, as shown in FIG.
The “disconnect” signal, the “release” signal, and the “release confirmation” signal are exchanged to end a series of communication operations.

When confirming the release of the line, the system control unit 10a releases all applicable systems and prepares for the next communication. When communication on all the lines used is completed,
The system control unit 10a releases the multiple communication control unit 12a and the multiple line control unit 13a to prepare for the next communication.

On the other hand, when the receiving station detects an incoming call from the transmitting station, in step S201, the line control unit 20
b is the system control unit 10 via the multiple line control unit 13b.
b is notified of the incoming call.

In step S202, the system control unit 1
0b secures the protocol control unit 21b (for example, the protocol control unit 21b-1) corresponding to the incoming call.

In step S203, the system control unit 1
0b outputs a protocol activation request to the protocol control unit 21b via the multiple communication control unit 12b, and activates the protocol.

In step S204, the number of usable lines is determined, and the result of the determination is notified to the transmitting station according to the protocol.

In step S205, the protocol control section 21b-1 responds to the transmitting station according to its own protocol, and notifies the system control section 10a of the MC communication management number notified from the transmitting station via the plurality of communication control sections 12b. .

In step S206, the system control unit 1
0b is the divided block control unit 18b (for example, 18b1) corresponding to the MC communication management number, and the file combining unit 32b
(For example, 32b1) and the file storage unit 16b are activated, and these are put into a standby state.

When a plurality of lines are connected in response to a call from the transmitting station and transmission of image data is started, in step S207, each protocol control unit 21b (for example, 21b-1, 21b-2, 21b-3 transfers the received block data to the divided block control unit 18b corresponding to the MC communication management number.

In step S208, the divided block control section 18b rearranges each block data based on the management information added to each block data, and outputs this to the file synthesizing section 32b.

In step S209, the file synthesizing unit 3
2b synthesizes each block data and generates a file storage unit 16
b.

When the data transmission is completed and the image file is completed, in step S210, the system control unit 10b
Activates the decoding unit 31b and the image output unit 30b to output the received document 1.

When an incoming call is received from another transmitting station during communication with one transmitting station, the receiving station sets the MC of the other transmitting station.
The divided block control unit 18b (for example, 18b2) and the file combining unit 32b (for example, corresponding to the communication management number)
32b2) to start communication.

On the other hand, when performing ultra-high-speed communication with another receiving station while communicating with one receiving station, in the transmitting station, the system control unit 10a reads image data from the file dividing unit 17a (eg, 17a2). Instruct to start. The file division unit 17a divides the image data from the file storage unit 16a and reads out the image data, and transfers it to the divided block control unit 18a (for example, 18a2) as block data. Thereafter, data transmission to the other receiving station is started in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a protocol when the communication mode is G3.

When the transmitting station calls the receiving station, CNG is transmitted to the receiving station. The receiving station that detects CNG is CE
A D signal (called station identification signal) is transmitted, and further, an NSF signal (non-standard function setting signal) and a DIS signal (digital identification signal) are transmitted.

If the receiving station has an ultra-high-speed communication mode, information indicating that the receiving station has an ultra-high-speed communication function is registered in this NSF signal. The consistency is determined based on the NSF signal.

The transmitting station that has received the NSF signal registers the MC communication management number in the NSS signal (non-standard function setting signal) and sends it to the receiving station.

Thereafter, a TCF signal (training check signal) is transmitted from the transmitting station, and a CFR signal (reception preparation confirmation signal) is transmitted from the receiving station in response thereto.

Block data is transmitted from the transmitting station that has detected the CFR signal. When transmission of all block data is completed, the transmitting station sends a PPS. EOP is sent.

PPS. M from the receiving station that detected EOP
A CF signal (message confirmation signal) is transmitted, and finally,
The transmitting station transmits a DCN signal (line disconnection command signal), and the transmission / reception ends.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a protocol when the communication mode is G4.

When the transmitting station calls the receiving station, the transmitting station transmits a CSS signal (session start command), and the receiving station transmits an RSSP signal (session start acknowledgment).

If the receiving station has the ultra-high-speed communication mode, the information indicating that the receiving station has the ultra-high-speed communication function is registered in the RSSP signal. The consistency is determined based on the RSSP signal.

The transmitting station that has received the RSSP signal is a CDC.
The MC communication management number is registered in the L signal (document function list command) and transmitted to the receiving station.

Thereafter, an RDCLP signal (document function list acknowledgment) is transmitted from the receiving station. When the transmitting station detects the RDCLP signal, it transmits a CDS signal (document start command), and then transmits block data.

When transmission of all block data is completed, a CDE (document end command) is transmitted from the transmitting station, and an RDEP signal (document acknowledgment) is transmitted from the receiving station.

Finally, a CSE signal (session termination command) is transmitted from the transmitting station, and an RSEP signal (session termination acknowledgment) is transmitted from the receiving station to terminate the transmission / reception.

According to this embodiment, the transmitting station gives the receiving station a multi-channel (MC) for specifying the transmitting station.
Since the communication management number is notified, the receiving station can identify the transmission source by the MC communication management number, and can process data from a plurality of transmitting stations by ultra-high-speed communication in parallel. .

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts for explaining a communication system between a transmitting station and a receiving station according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the steps denoted by the same reference numerals as above, the same processing is performed. Since it is executed, its description is omitted.

In the above embodiment, the transmitting station notifies the receiving station of the MC communication management number. In the present embodiment, however, the receiving station notifies the transmitting station of the MC communication management number. There is a feature.

At the transmitting station, a receiving station is first called from one line, and the protocol control unit 21a-1 is activated in step S106, as described above. In step S301, the protocol control unit 21a which has received the activation request is activated. -1 is
The non-standard function of the protocol is used as a notification unit to check the consistency in the same manner as described above.

When the consistency is attained, in step S302, the number of usable lines of the receiving station and the MC communication management number assigned to the transmitting station by the receiving station are received by using the non-standard function of the protocol as the notification means. The MC communication management number is set to NSF when the communication mode is G3, and is set to RSSP when the communication mode is G4.

In step S303, step S1 is executed.
The number of lines determined in step 08 is notified to the receiving station.

Thereafter, when a plurality of lines complete the route and each protocol control unit 21a is started, step S11
In 4, each protocol control unit 21a notifies the receiving station of the MC communication management number and the like notified from the receiving station according to its own protocol. This notification is made by setting the MC communication management number in the NSS if the communication mode is G3, and the CD if the communication mode is G4, as described above.
This is performed by setting an MC communication management number in a non-standard function of the CL.

On the other hand, in the receiving station, when the protocol control unit 21b is started in step S203, in step S401, an MC communication management number for identifying the transmission source is determined. In step S402, this MC communication management number is notified to the transmitting station together with the number of usable lines.

According to the present embodiment, similarly to the above, the receiving station can identify the transmission source by the MC communication management number, so that data from a plurality of transmitting stations by ultra-high speed communication can be processed in parallel. .

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, the receiving station can identify the source of each block data sent from a plurality of lines by the identification information assigned to the line. become. Therefore, even if a plurality of transmitting stations simultaneously transmit block data to the same receiving station using a plurality of lines, the receiving station can process the block data separately for each transmitting station.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a facsimile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a facsimile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the transmitting station according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the receiving station according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a transmitting station according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a receiving station according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a call connection procedure for ISDN.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a G3 protocol.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a G4 protocol.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a structure of block data.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Document, 10a (10b): System control unit, 11a
(11b) ... operation unit, 12a (12b) ... multiple communication control units, 13a (13b) ... multiple line control units, 14a ... image input unit, 15 ... encoding unit, 16a (16b) ... file storage unit, 17a ... File division unit, 18a (18b) ...
Divided block control unit, 19a (19b) ... line switching unit,
20a (20b): Line control unit, 21a (21b): Protocol control unit, 30b: Image output unit, 31b: Decoding unit, 32b: File combining unit

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Sakayama 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Shinichiro Nagoshi 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Shares Company Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Hideo Kinan 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Hiroaki Sakaki 3-7-1, Fuuchi, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Inside the Iwatsuki Office (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ueyama 3-7-1, Funai, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Inside the Iwatsuki Office (56) References JP-A-1-279645 (JP, A) JP-A-63 -170759 (JP, A) JP-A-4-14938 (JP, A) JP-A-3-263958 (JP, A) JP-A-62-262591 (JP, A) JP-A-3-62767 (JP, A) JP-A-64-36151 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name ) H04M 11/00-11/10 H04L 29/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. Each station has a function of transmitting and receiving in parallel using a plurality of communication lines, a transmitting station divides communication data and transmits the divided data from the plurality of communication lines, and a receiving station transmits the divided data from the plurality of communication lines. In a data communication method using a plurality of channels for combining transmitted data and restoring the original communication data, a step of requesting a receiving station to use a plurality of channels from a transmitting station, wherein the receiving station uses the plurality of channels. A step of returning identification information and the number of available lines in response to the request; a step of securing a plurality of lines between the transmitting station and the receiving station in response to the number of available lines ; Dividing the data into a plurality of blocks, allocating the identification information to each of the blocks, and transmitting the data from the plurality of lines; Data communications side of multiline use which comprises a procedure for restoring over data
Law .