JP3528298B2 - Image communication 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 image communication device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image communication apparatus capable of performing broadcast communication to a plurality of parties by including a plurality of communication modules.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image communication apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, as a means for transmitting the same information to a large number of destinations, a job sequence based on destination information is generated and the job sequence is sequentially executed. The technology (hereinafter referred to as "sequential broadcasting method") is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-84904. However, since the sequential broadcasting system has a problem that the processing speed is slow, a simultaneous broadcasting system has been developed as a technique for solving this problem.

In this broadcast system, a broadcast device is provided between a transmitter and an information exchange network, and information is simultaneously sent to a plurality of receivers via the broadcast device and a plurality of lines. And JP-A-55-145458 and JP-A-5-145458.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-166375.

However, while the simultaneous broadcast system has a high processing speed, it requires a plurality of subscriber lines corresponding to the number of partner stations, resulting in a large facility scale and communication costs. Further, there is another problem that a device having the same function must be arranged because a predetermined line training is required before transmitting the image information.

Therefore, a technique which has a high processing speed and solves the problem of the simultaneous broadcast method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 183663/1993.
It is disclosed in the publication. The technology disclosed in the publication is
It is intended to realize a broadcast operation by creating a job sequence corresponding to a plurality of lines in advance and controlling a transmission operation based on the job sequence.

[0006]

However, in the above-described communication control system based on a job sequence corresponding to a plurality of lines, a large number of jobs are activated because job sequences are created in advance evenly. Even if the memory capacity is squeezed or the transmission operation for the allocated line ends earlier than other lines, there is no means to reallocate the job. However, there was a problem that the usage efficiency of the line was significantly reduced.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention manages the usage status of communication modules and uses a means for sequentially generating and allocating jobs to communication modules determined to be usable. An object of the present invention is to provide an image communication device capable of preventing the memory capacity from being pressed during generation and improving the use efficiency of a line in a broadcast communication operation.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is an image communication apparatus comprising a plurality of communication modules for communicating using a plurality of lines, wherein the communication module Job generating means for generating a first job holding information necessary for communication operation using
Based on the destination information of the first job,
The second job for controlling the communication module
Copy the information required to start the job from the
2 job generating means, a line resource judging means for managing the use states of the plurality of communication modules, and judging whether each communication module can be used for job-based communication control, and the line resource judging means. Job assigning means for assigning the second job to the communication module determined to be usable, and a job for controlling the communication module based on the second job assigned by the job assigning means to perform a communication operation And a control means.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image communication apparatus according to the first aspect, the second job generating means is
The second job is required to start the job from the first job.
Copy the necessary information, and select the second
Can be generated by initializing unnecessary information in the job.
And are characteristic.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image communication apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the invention, the second job generating means is a second module assigned to a communication module.
When the communication control by the job is completed, the second job assigned to the communication module is deleted, and the next second job assigned to the communication module is divided and generated based on the information held by the first job. It is a means to do.

[0011] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the image communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to請<br/> Motomeko 3,
The first job includes management information for managing the divided and generated second job and a communication module system required for communication operation.
Hold the control information, and the second job stores the first job
It is characterized in that for holding the communication module control information copied from the management information and the information held in the first job managing the second job itself copied from information held jobs.

[0012]

[0013] The invention according to claim 5, claim 1 請
In the image communication device according to any one of claim 4 ,
The first job is generated by the first job generating means also
A stop instruction means for inputting an operation stop instruction from an operator to the second job generated by the second job generation means , and a job when an operation stop instruction is given by the stop instruction means. And a job stopping means for stopping the operation of.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image communication apparatus according to the fifth aspect , when the job stopping means gives a stop instruction to the second job being executed by the stop instruction means, The feature is that only the operation of the second job being executed is stopped.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image communication apparatus according to the fifth aspect , when the job stop means gives a stop instruction to the second job being executed by the stop instruction means, It is characterized in that the operation of the first job that manages the second job that is being executed and all other second jobs that have been divided and generated from the first job are stopped together with the second job that is being executed.

[0016] The invention according to claim 8, when the image communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the job stop means, there was stop instruction to the first job by the stop instruction means, the first job At the same time, the operation of all the other second jobs divided and generated from the first job is stopped.

[0017] The invention according to claim 9, claim 1 請
In the image communication device according to any one of claim 8
At least one communication module of the plurality of communication modules has a network control means capable of selecting and connecting at least two or more line networks among ISDN, CSDN and general public line networks, and the line Resource determining means includes means for determining a use state of a line network connectable by the network control means, and the job allocating means of the line network determined to be usable by the line resource determining means. It is characterized in that a means for allocating the second job to any one of them is provided.

[0018]

[0019]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the line resource judging means manages a plurality of installed communication modules corresponding to a plurality of lines of the same kind or different kinds, and each communication module is assigned to a job. It is determined whether it can be used for communication control based on the above. Further, the job assigning unit searches the job information for the communication module determined to be usable by the line resource determining unit, and assigns the second job. Then, the first job generating means is the communication module.
Job that holds information necessary for communication operation using
And the second job generation means holds the first job.
Control the communication module based on the destination information
Second job to start the job from the first job
Copy and generate specific information. A second job is created,
When assigned, the job control means controls the communication module based on the generated second job to execute the communication operation.

The job generation by the second job generation means may be performed before or after the job allocation means assigns the jobs. In the former case, the job allocating means searches for jobs that have already been generated and selects and allocates jobs that can control the communication module. On the other hand, in the latter case, the job allocating means allocates and reserves the job before generation based on the information that is the basis of the job generation, and then
The job is actually allocated after the job is generated by the second job generating means.

The second job generating means may generate a job in advance before the line resource determining means determines that the job can be used.

By the above operation, the second job is newly assigned to the communication module that has completed the communication operation and the communication control is performed, so that the use efficiency of the line is increased. In particular, a plurality of second communication times with different communication times
In the state where the jobs are activated, the second jobs that are determined to be usable are sequentially assigned to the communication modules whose communication has been terminated early, so that the use efficiency of the line is significantly increased.

[0023]

Further , by dividing the job into the first job that holds information necessary for communication and the second job for communication control that is subordinate to the job , as described above, the first job to the second job Since two jobs can be divided and generated, it is not necessary to generate jobs evenly in advance, and there is an effect that the use efficiency of the line is improved and memory management is facilitated. Na
According to the invention described in claim 2, as described in claim 1,
In the invention, the second job generating means may be the second job.
Information from the first job from the first job
Of the copied information, it is unnecessary for the second job.
It can be generated by initializing the information.

According to the invention of claim 3 , claim 1
Alternatively, in the invention according to claim 2, when the second job assigned to the communication module completes its communication control, the second job generation means deletes the second job assigned to the communication module. . That is, the information regarding the second job, the program for controlling the communication module, and the like are erased from the memory.

When the second job completes the communication control, the communication module has an empty space. Therefore, the line resource determining means determines that the communication module that has completed the communication can be used. When it is determined that the communication module can be used, the job allocating unit retrieves information about the second job based on the first job and allocates job information for controlling the vacant communication module.

The second job generation means controls the communication module based on the assigned job information.
Create a job. Then, the job control means performs communication control based on the second job, and the communication operation is executed.

Therefore, until one communication is completed and the communication module has a space, only the first job is resident in the memory and the second job is not generated. Further, the second job for which communication control has been completed is promptly deleted. As a result, even when a large number of jobs are started, there is an effect that the possibility that the memory capacity will be pressed is extremely reduced.

According to the invention of claim 4, claim 1
In the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 3, the first job holds management information for managing the second job and communication module control information necessary for communication module control. Further, the second job is generated by copying the information held by the first job. That is, the second job is composed of the management information for managing the second job itself, which is copied from the first job, and the communication module control information, which is also copied .

This has the effect of making it extremely easy to generate the second job from the first job. Further, even if a plurality of second jobs are divided and generated from the same first job,
The management state of the second job can be determined only by searching the information of the first job, and conversely, the first job can be immediately identified from the information of the second job, so that the plurality of second jobs can be easily related to each other. As a result, the effect is obtained that the job can be started quickly.

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

According to the invention of claim 5 , claim 1
In the invention according to any one of claims 4 to 4 , the operator uses the stop instruction means to externally execute the first job or
When a stop instruction for the second job is input, the job stop means stops the operation of the job.

As a result, the operator can freely cancel the communication. According to the invention of claim 6, wherein
In the invention of item 5 , when the operator inputs a stop instruction of the second job being executed from the outside by the stop instruction means, the job stopping means stops only the operation of the second job being executed.

As a result, the operator can freely cancel the communication even during the communication operation. According to the invention described in claim 7 , in the invention according to claim 5 , when the operator inputs a stop instruction of the second job being executed from the outside by the stop instruction means, the job stopping means causes the job stop means to execute the second job being executed. With the two jobs, the operation of the first job that manages the second job and the operation of the other second job that is divided and generated from the first job are also stopped.

As a result, the operator can cancel the communication freely even during the communication operation, and can cancel all the communication of the same process. Therefore, when it is desired to cancel the communication having the same process, it is sufficient to specify one second job, and the operability is improved.

According to the invention of claim 8 , claim 5
In the invention described in (1), when the operator inputs a stop instruction of the first job from the outside by the stop instruction means, the job stop means, together with the first job, of all the second jobs divided and generated from the first job. Also stop the operation.

As a result, the operator can freely cancel the communication even during the communication operation, and can cancel all the communication in the same process. Therefore, when it is desired to cancel the communication having the same process, it is sufficient to specify the first job, and the operability is improved.

According to the invention of claim 9 , claim 1
In the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 8 , when the line resource judging means judges the availability of a plurality of communication modules, an ISDN connectable by the network controlling means,
Judgment is made including the usage status of at least two line networks of CSDN and general public line networks. Then, the job allocating means assigns the first to the line network judged to be usable among the ISDN, CSDN and general public line networks by the line resource judging means .
Assign 2 jobs. This enables ISDN and CSD
Communication can be performed using a network such as N and a general public network. Therefore, there is an effect that the degree of freedom of communication is expanded.

[0041]

[0042]

[0043]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a circuit constituting a facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment. A control unit 2 for controlling an input unit 4, a printer 28, and a scanner 30 manages communication and manages communication. It is connected to the communication unit 6 that controls the control.

The control unit 2 transmits the data read by the scanner 30 through the line by the communication unit 6 or by the communication unit 6 based on the input instruction from the input unit 4 and the internal program. The data received via the printer is output to the printer 28.

In order to perform such control, the control section 2
In addition to a CPU (central processing unit) 10, a program ROM (read only memory) 12 and a RAM (rand)
o m access memory) 14, printer I / F (interface
) Control circuit 16, scanner I / F control circuit 20, I / F
It is composed of an F input / output control circuit 22, an encoding / decoding circuit 24, and a communication I / F control circuit 26, and is capable of inputting / outputting data.

The CPU 10 is a control microprocessor, which sends a command signal to each component based on a program stored in the program ROM 12 or receives a response signal thereof to control data input / output and the like. To do. It also has a function of generating a job for controlling communication and transmitting the job to the communication unit 6.

Since the program ROM 12 is a read-only memory that stores a control program and is a non-volatile memory, the program remains unerased even when the power is turned off. When the power of the present facsimile machine is turned on, the CPU 10 first detects the program ROM
Access 12 and read the program.

The RAM 14 is a data readable / writable memory and serves as a working storage area for the CPU 10. For example, a job for communication control generated by the CPU 10 is temporarily saved here. It also has a role of temporarily storing the received data received by the communication unit 6 or the data read by the scanner 30. The data stored in the RAM 14 is the printer I /
It is output to the F control circuit 16 or the communication I / F control circuit 26. The printer I / F control circuit 16 is a circuit that controls the input / output timing when outputting the reception data received by the communication unit 6 to the printer 28.

The scanner I / F control circuit 20 is a circuit for controlling the input / output timing when the data optically read from the original by the scanner 30 is output to the communication I / F control circuit 26.

The communication I / F control circuit 26 is a circuit for controlling the input / output timing of communication data between the control section 2 and the communication section 6.

The encoding / decoding circuit 24 includes a scanner 30.
The digital data read by is encoded into a code having a predetermined number of bits. On the contrary, the received data received by the communication unit 6 is restored from the code string to the original digital data.
Issue

The I / F input / output control circuit 22 controls the input / output timing of the input signal transmitted from the input section 4 to the control section 2 and the output signal for display transmitted from the control section 2 to the input section 4. It is a circuit to do.

The control unit 2 includes an EEPROM.
(Electrically erasable and programmable rom) 18
Is also provided. The EEPROM 18 is a ROM in which the stored contents can be electrically erased and rewritten. Since the stored contents are retained even when the power is turned off, important data that may be rewritten is stored. Used for.

On the other hand, the input section 4 comprises a key input section 34 and a panel 32. The key input unit 34 is provided with a plurality of keys, and when an operator presses a key, an input signal corresponding to the key is transmitted to the control unit 2 so that an operator's command or data can be input. Further, the panel 32 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal or the like, detects the contact of the operator with the liquid crystal surface, and outputs an input signal corresponding to the detected position.

[0055] The printer 28 is an apparatus for printing digital data decoded by the received encoding / decoding circuit 24 by the communication unit 6 to the paper.

The scanner 30 is a device that scans a transmission document while irradiating it with light, quantizes the intensity of the reflected light, converts it into digital data, and outputs it.

The communication section 6 includes a plurality of communication control devices 36, 3
8, 40, 42, 44 and a plurality of line control devices 46, 4
It is composed of 8, 50, 52 and 54. The communication control devices 36 to 44 control the line control devices 46 to 54 on the basis of the job sent from the control unit 2 to control data transmission / reception. On the other hand, the line control devices 46 to 54 perform access to the telephone line network and control of connection to the receiver on the other side based on commands from the communication control devices 36 to 44.
The communication control devices 36 to 44 and the line control devices 46 to 5
4 and 1 are paired with each other to form one communication module. That is, the image communication apparatus includes a plurality of communication modules and is capable of simultaneous communication with a plurality of different parties.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration block diagram when the image communication apparatus according to the first embodiment is grasped by function, but other functional configuration blocks necessary for the image communication apparatus are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the communication control unit 60 displays the G3 / G
It controls the protocol such as 4 and closes or opens the telephone line.

The line resource management unit 62 manages the usage status of the telephone line and creates line resource information.

The resource information storage unit 64 includes the line resource management unit 6
The resource information is saved based on the information in 2.

The resource information judging section 66 is connected to the resource information storing section 6
Based on the resource information stored in 4, the availability of the line resource is determined.

The job generating section 68 includes a resource information judging section 66.
The job is generated based on the judgment of.

The job control unit 70 controls the generated job and performs communication operation and the like. FIG. 3 shows an example of an information table that manages information required for each function block to perform its function and to normally start a job.

First, FIG. 3A shows the structure of the PPB management area. Note that the PPB is information for executing a process, and the PPB management area is a P that is currently being executed or is waiting.
An information table for managing PB.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the PPB management area is Rea.
dy-Link information 80, Wait-Link information 8
2, Run-Link information 84, Idle-Link information 86, data 88 and data 90.

Ready-Link information 80 is the PPB number of the waiting process, Wait-Link information 82 is the PPB number of the waiting process, and Run-Link information 8
4 is the PPB number of the process being executed, Idle-Link
Information 86 shows each unused PPB number.
The data 88 is the number of unused PPBs, and the data 90 is the number of all PPBs. In this way, the state of all processes can be grasped by managing the processes with PPB numbers.

Next, FIG. 3B shows the structure of the PPB. From FIG. 3B, PPB is roughly classified into data 92 and data 1.
02 and data 110. Of these, data 92 is PPB management information for managing the PPB, and is composed of PPB number 94, Link information 96, process number 98, and same process identification number 100 . The PPB number 94 is a number assigned to each PPB to identify the PPBs from each other, and the Link information 96 is a number of the PPB to be linked next. The process number 98 is a number assigned each time one PPB is generated, and is used for identifying a cancel instruction or the like. The same process identification number 100 is a number given to one communication instruction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the data 102 is PP
It is an information table for managing the child PPB generated based on B, and the parent PPB identification information 104 and the child PPB number 1
06 and 108 incomplete destinations. When a PPB subordinate to the PPB is generated based on one PPB, the former is the parent PPB and the latter is the child PPB.

The parent PPB identification information 104 is a number for identifying whether or not it is the parent PPB. In the case of the parent PPB, P
An impossible value as the PB number, for example, a number such as all F is set, and in the case of the child PPB, the number of the parent PPB is set to specify the parent PPB. The number of child PPBs 106 indicates the number of child PPBs generated based on the parent PPB, and is a parameter valid only for the parent PPB. This child PPB number 106 is incremented when the child PPB is generated, and
Decremented when PB is deleted. The number of incomplete destinations 108 is the number of destinations instructed when the parent PPB is created, and is a parameter valid only for the parent PPB. The number of uncompleted destinations 108 is calculated every time communication with one destination is completed.
Decremented.

The data 110 is communication information,
The data is composed of a communication file number 112, a communication destination number 114, a broadcast type 116, and destination information 118. The communication file number 112 represents the number of the data file created at the time of communication, and at the time of transmission, the transmission file,
Indicates the number of the received file when receiving. Broadcast type 116
Is a parameter indicating either type of sequential communication or broadcast communication. Further, the destination information 118 is a CPB number for specifying information regarding the destination (hereinafter referred to as “CPB”), and is connected in the order of the designated destination.

One CPB is created for each destination designated at the time of reservation of communication and linked to the PPB. In the case of broadcast / collection, multiple Cs are included in one PPB.
PBs are linked.

FIG. 3C shows the structure of CPB. Figure 3
According to (c), CPB includes data 120 and data 12.
It is composed of 8. Of these, the data 120 is CPB
This is a management area, and CPB number 122 and Link information 12
4 and check target flag 126. The CPB number 122 is a number assigned to each CPB in order to identify the CPBs from each other, and the Link information 124 is L next.
This is the number of the CPB to be inked. The check target flag 126 is identification information indicating whether or not the child job for communication control is being activated. This check target flag 12
When 6 is turned on and is identified as waiting, it is subject to the line resource check, and when it is turned off and is identified as being activated, it is not subject to the check. The check target flag 126 is turned OFF when the child job is activated, and is turned ON again when there is a need for resending / redialing at the end of the job.

The data 128 is destination information, which includes the communication mode 130, the designated line 132, and the dial number 13.
4 data. The communication mode 130 is G
Mode information indicating designation of 3 or G4, an outside line or an extension line. The designated line 132 is specific line information designated by the user, and the dial number 134 is a destination dial number.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, the following processing is performed as the most basic communication control. That is, when the operator gives an instruction such as "communication reservation" or "cancel" through the panel 32, the job control unit 70 performs processing for adding or stopping the reservation for the instruction. Further, the Ready-Link information 80 is constantly monitored, and it is checked whether or not there is a process waiting for execution. If there is no process waiting for execution, the job is started. When making a communication reservation, Idle in the PPB management area is mainly used.
-The Link information 86 is read, one PPB connected to the Idle-Link is secured, the instruction parameter from the operator is expanded to the parent PPB, and the operation to connect to the Ready-Link is performed.

The above communication control processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, it is first determined in step 200 whether or not the operator has given an instruction through the panel 32. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 202, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 212.

Since step 202 is a case where an instruction is input from the panel 32, it is determined whether or not the instruction is a communication reservation. If the determination is affirmative, step 204 is performed, and if the determination is negative, the procedure is step 218. Transition.

At step 204, since the instruction from the panel 32 is the case of the communication reservation, the instruction parameter is expanded to the parent PPB. Next, in step 206, the parent PPB in which the instruction parameter has been expanded is connected to Ready-Link as the PPB of the process waiting for execution. In this case, the Ready-Link information 80 of the PPB management area
Is the parent PPB number. And then step 20
In 8, the other waiting reservations are Ready-Lin.
It is determined whether or not it is k, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to the next step 210, and if the determination is negative, the process is step 2 again.
The same process is repeated after returning to 00.

At step 210, a job activation determination process is performed, and when the process is completed, the process returns to step 200 and the same process is repeated.

Step 218 is a determination process when the instruction from the panel 32 is not the communication reservation, and it is determined whether or not the instruction is a stop request. In the affirmative determination, that is, in the case of the stop request instruction, the communication cancel process is performed in the next step 220, and then the process proceeds to step 208. When the determination is negative, that is, when the instruction is not the stop request instruction, the process directly proceeds to step 208.

In step 212, it is determined whether or not there is a status change in the job currently being executed when no instruction is input from the panel 32. If the determination is affirmative, that is, if the status of the job being executed has changed, the process proceeds to the next step 214, and if the determination is negative, that is, the status of the job has not changed, the process proceeds to step 208.

In step 214, it is determined whether or not the job is finished. If the determination is affirmative, the job termination processing is performed in the next step 216, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 208.

The flow of the communication control process has been described above. The specific contents of the job start determination process of step 210 will be described below.

When there is a reservation process, the job activation determination process reads PPBs in the order in which they are linked and determines whether to activate the job based on the instruction parameter. When the CPB that is the destination information is connected to one PPB, the CPBs that are connected to the PPB are read in the order in which they are linked, and the line resources necessary to communicate with the destination waiting for execution can be secured. A child PPB is created and a child job is started. This line resource check is performed only on the destination information whose check target flag 126 forming the CPB is ON. Further, the creation of the child PPB is performed even by single station communication or multi-destination instruction. However, only one child PPB is created in the case of single station communication and sequential broadcast when multiple destinations are designated.

In this way, the line resources can be efficiently handled by checking the line resources and generating and allocating the child jobs to the usable lines.

The above-mentioned job activation judgment processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. From FIG. 5, first, in step 230, the information of the parent PPB is read out, and based on the information, in the next step 232, it is determined whether single station communication / sequential broadcast instruction and the child PPB exists.

Single station communication / sequential broadcast instruction, and child PPB
If it is determined that there is a call, the process proceeds to step 244, and other reservations waiting for calling are Ready-Lin.
A determination is made as to whether it is at k. If the determination is affirmative, that is, if there is a reservation waiting for a call, step 230 is performed again.
Return to and repeat the same processing. In the case of negative determination, that is, when there is no reservation waiting for call origination, the job activation determination process is ended and the process returns to the communication control process again.

On the other hand, if it is not a single station communication / sequential broadcast instruction, or if there is no child PPB, step 23.
Then, the process proceeds to step 4, and it is judged whether or not the CPBs waiting for the call are connected. In the case of affirmative determination, that is, C waiting for a call
If the PBs are connected, the destination information "CPB" waiting for a call is read in step 236, the line resource check process is performed in the next step 238, and it is determined whether or not there is a usable line. It In the case of negative determination, that is, when the CPB waiting for the call is not connected, the process proceeds to step 244, and the reservation waiting for the call is Ready.
-A determination is made as to whether or not it is in Link.

When the line resource check in step 238 is completed, the process proceeds to step 240 and it is judged whether or not there is the line resource necessary for making a call.

If the determination in step 240 is affirmative,
That is, if there is a line resource, the line resource is secured (step 246) and the child job starting process (step 2).
48) is executed. Then, when the child job starting process of step 248 ends, the process returns to the communication control process again.

If the determination in step 240 is negative,
That is, if there is no line resource, the process proceeds to the next step 242, and the C waiting for the call to the link after the destination information “CPB” waiting for the call read in the previous step 236.
It is determined whether or not there is a PB. Then, if there is a CPB that is waiting for an outgoing call, the process returns to step 236 again, the CPB is read, and similarly, if there is a line resource through the line resource check processing (step 238), a child is found. The job activation process (step 248) is executed. In this way, the child jobs are activated in the line resources secured one after another for the linked CPBs. As a result, the CPB in the call waiting state is efficiently assigned to the line, and the line use efficiency is increased.

When the CPBs waiting for the call are exhausted, that is, when a negative determination is made in step 242, the process shifts to step 244, and a parent PPB other than the parent PPB has a call waiting reservation. Whether or not it is determined.

The job activation determination process has been described above. The child job activation process of step 248, which plays a central role in this process, will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step 250, the information necessary for starting the job is copied from the parent PPB to the child PPB. Thereby, the child PPB by the job control unit 70
It is possible to control the communication based on.

In the next step 252, step 250
Of the information copied in step 1, unnecessary information is initialized in the child PPB, and the child PPB is created. As a result, the information about the child PPB becomes: That is, PPB of child PPB
In the management information 92, the process identification number is the parent PP
The value unique to the child PPB is used for other data. Also, the child PPB management information 10 of the child PPB
2, the parent PPB identification information 104 is the parent PPB.
The PPB number of the above is set, and the other information is set to an invalid value as valid only for the parent PPB. Then, in the communication information 110, the destination information 118 is the CPB number for which the line resource can be secured, and other than that, the one copied from the parent PPB is used as it is. This child PPB
Is created and the parent PPB is rewritten in the job generation unit 68. In addition, by creating the child PPB, the parent P
The child PPB management information of the PB is rewritten. For example, in step 254, the check target flag 126 is rewritten to OFF for the job activation target “CPB”, and in the next step 256, the number of child PPBs of the data 106 is incremented.

Next, at step 258, the newly created child PPB is connected to the Run-Link to activate the job, and the process returns to the communication control process of FIG.

The above is the child job activation processing, but the line resource check processing of step 238 in the job activation determination processing of FIG. 5 is also a characteristic part of this embodiment.

This line resource checking process differs depending on the mounting status of the image communication apparatus, but in the present embodiment, the following case is assumed. Enables simultaneous communication by G3 / G4, and G3
And G4 can be selected. And in G3, it is possible to make a call by ISDN and PSTN,
The G4 can make a call by ISDN and CSDN. If there are a plurality of these lines, any of them can be used, and they can be used simultaneously or individually for a plurality of destinations. Further, the used line can be designated by a user's instruction or automatically selected.

This line resource check processing will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. According to FIG. 7, when the communication instruction is G4 (Yes at Step 260), there is no line designation (No at Step 262), and only ISDN / is implemented (No at Step 264 and Yes at Step 266). In step 268, it is determined whether or not there is an idle line in ISDN /. If this determination is affirmative, that is, if there is a free line, it is possible to secure the line resource (step 270) and the process returns to the job start determination process.
In step 246 of FIG. 5, the empty line is secured. On the other hand, when the negative determination is made, that is, when there is no free line, it is determined that the line resources cannot be secured (step 276) and the process returns to the job start determination process. When there is a CPB waiting for a call in the next Link, CPB Is read (Step 2 in FIG. 5)
36).

The communication instruction is G4 (Yes at Step 260), the line is not designated (No at Step 262), and I
When both SDN / CSDN are installed (step 264), it is determined in step 272 whether there is a free line in ISDN / CSDN. If this determination is affirmative, that is, if there is a free line, it is determined that line resources can be secured (step 270) and the process returns to the job activation determination process. In step 246 of FIG. 5, the free line is secured. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, that is, if there is no free line, it is determined that line resources cannot be secured (step 276) and the process returns to the job activation determination process.

When the communication instruction is G4 (Yes at Step 260) and the line is designated (Yes at Step 262), it is determined at Step 282 whether the designated line is free. If the result of this judgment is affirmative, that is, if there is a free line, it is determined that line resources can be secured (step 270) and the processing returns to the job start judgment processing, and step 246 in FIG.
The free line is secured at. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, that is, if there is no free line, it is determined that line resources cannot be secured (step 276) and the process returns to the job activation determination process.

If the communication instruction is G3 (No at Step 260), and there is no line designation (No at Step 278).
In step 280, it is determined whether or not there is a free line from PSTN / ISDN. If this determination is affirmative, that is, if there is a free line, it is determined that line resources can be secured (step 270) and the process returns to the job activation determination process. In step 246 of FIG. 5, the free line is secured. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, that is, if there is no free line, it is determined that line resources cannot be secured (step 276) and the process returns to the job activation determination process.

If the communication instruction is G3 (No at Step 260) and the line is designated (Yes at Step 278), it is determined at Step 282 whether or not the designated line is free. If the result of this judgment is affirmative, that is, if there is a free line, it is determined that line resources can be secured (step 270) and the processing returns to the job start judgment processing, and step 246 in FIG.
The free line is secured at. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, that is, if there is no free line, it is determined that line resources cannot be secured (step 276) and the process returns to the job activation determination process.

The above is the line resource check process. Since an empty line is searched by this process, the line resource can be effectively used in combination with the means for generating and allocating a child job.

In addition, since the job is generated in this embodiment, when the job is completed, the PPB and C of the completed job are
Job end processing for deleting PB (step 21 in FIG. 4)
6) is required. This job end processing will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, when one job is completed, the line resource used for communication is released (step 28).
4). Next, it is determined whether or not retransmission / redial is necessary (step 286), and if so,
The check target flag is turned on for "CPB" to be retransmitted / redialed (step 296). On the other hand, when there is no need for retransmission / redial, the CPB information of the completed destination is deleted, and the "number of uncompleted destinations" of the parent PPB is decremented by 1 (step 290).

Next, it is judged whether or not the "number of uncompleted destinations" of the parent PPB is 0 (step 292), and if it is 0, the parent PPB is deleted (step 294) and then the communication control is performed. Return to processing. On the other hand, when the “number of uncompleted destinations” of the parent PPB is not 0, the parent PPB is not deleted and the process returns to the communication control process.

By the above job end processing, for example, when a communication instruction for a plurality of destinations is given and one child job is ended, the data of the parent PPB is rewritten as follows.

Parent PPB [Management information of child PPB] Number of child PPBs = -1 Number of uncompleted destinations = -1 (initial value when PPB is created is number of destinations) [Communication information] Delete CPB after communication (retransmission / When the job is completed, the check target flag of the CPB is ON. When the job is completed, the PPB can be rewritten or deleted to normally execute the job control.

Further, the communication control process includes a communication cancel process (step 220 in FIG. 4) for canceling communication according to an instruction from the operator. In this communication cancellation, when cancellation is instructed to the parent PPB waiting for execution, it is a suspend request for one communication instruction, and is sent to all destinations including the job in execution having the same “process identification number”. Perform interrupt processing. In this case, the child job being executed is stopped, and all CPBs waiting for execution (the “check target flag” is ON) connected to the parent PPB are deleted. When the child job being executed is canceled, it is determined whether only the child job is to be interrupted by the user's instruction, or whether all the child jobs are to be interrupted similarly to the cancellation to the parent PPB, and the interruption processing May be performed.

This communication canceling process will be concretely described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the operator operates the panel 32 and gives an instruction to cancel the communication, it is determined whether the PPB of the job for controlling the communication to be canceled is the parent PPB (step 298). If the PPB to be canceled is not the parent PPB, it is determined in the next step 300 whether the PPB to be canceled is the child PPB. As a result, if it is determined that the specified cancel target is neither the parent PPB nor the child PPB, as in the case where the specified cancel target does not correspond to any communication currently in operation or in standby, the communication cancel process is not executed. Return to communication control processing.

If it is determined in step 300 that the PPB to be canceled is the child PPB, the child job to be canceled is instructed to stop (step 30).
2) It is determined whether the stop instruction is the same process stop request (step 304). If it is not the same process stop request, the communication cancel process is ended only by the stop instruction for the child job in step 302, and the process returns to the communication control process. On the other hand, if the requests are the same process stop request, the "process identification number" is obtained from the child PPB that has been canceled (step 30).
6). Note that the P to be canceled in the previous step 298
When it is determined that the PB is the parent PPB, the process directly proceeds to step 306 and the parent PPB that is the cancellation target
"Process identification number" is required.

When the "process identification number" is obtained, the child job having the same "same process identification number" as this process identification number is searched from the Run-link and the stop is instructed (step 308).

Next, the parent PPB having the "same process identification number" is searched from the Ready-Link, and the CPB whose check target flag is ON is deleted (step 310).

Then, the "number of incomplete destinations" of the parent PPB is subtracted by the number of deleted CPBs (step 312).
Return to communication control processing.

The above is the flow of the communication cancel processing, but the deletion of the child PPB and the parent PPB is performed in the process of the normal job end processing (flowchart in FIG. 8).

Next, the operation of the image communication apparatus of this embodiment under specific conditions will be described.

First, the flowchart of FIG. 10 shows an example of a procedure for managing line resources and generating and allocating a job to an empty line under the following specific conditions.

The communication system is a simultaneous broadcast system. The destination and the protocol for communicating with the destination are as follows.

Destination 1 (G3), Destination 2 (G3), Destination 3
(G4) Both G3 and G4 are mounted lines.

Further, the PP for each step in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a state diagram showing B and CPBs connected to the PPB in the Ready state and the Run state (during job execution). Note that in FIG. 11, CPBs for destinations 1, 2, and 3 are CPB1 and CPB, respectively.
B2 and CPB3 are set, the CPB in standby is surrounded by a solid line, and the CPB in execution is surrounded by a broken line.

Now, in FIG. 10, according to the broadcast instruction,
The job generation unit 68 uses three pieces of destination information of destination 1, destination 2 and destination 3, that is, CPB1, CPB2, CPB3 and 1
Create one parent job (PPB1) (step 40)
0). In FIG. 11, the state of this step 400 is Re
CPB to PPB1 connected to ady-Link
1, CPB2, CPB3 are represented as being connected in that order. Note that in this step, the job has not been started yet, so there is no PPB1 in the Run state.

Next, for the destination 1 determined to be communicable by the resource information determination unit 66, the job generation unit 68 generates the child job 2 based on PPB1 of the parent job 1, and the job control unit 70 generates G3. Child job 2 on the line
Is assigned and the job is started (step 40).
2). Therefore, in FIG. 11, the destination information linked to the Ready-Link is only CPB2 and CPB3, and instead, the child PPB2 and the CPB1 connected to the PPB1 appear in the Run state.

Next, since there is only one G3 line, the resource information judgment unit 66 judges that the line cannot be secured for the destination 2, and the G4 line is judged as an empty line.
For the destination 3, the job generation unit 68 generates the child job 3 based on the PPB1 of the parent job 1, and the job control unit 70 allocates the child job 3 to the G4 line and starts the job (step 404). . Therefore, FIG.
In 1, the destination information linked to the Ready-Link is only CPB2, and instead the child PPB2 is set to the Run state.
And CPB1 and child PPB3 connected to this and CPB3 connected to this appear.

Although the state of step 404 continues for a while, when the communication of the destination 1 is completed, the information of CPB1 is deleted from the parent job 1 and the child job 2 is also deleted (step 40).
6). Therefore, in FIG. 11, the child PPB2 and its CPB1
Disappears, and the job connected to the Run state is the child PPB3.
And only that CPB3 remains.

When the communication to the destination 1 is completed, the G3 line is vacant, so the job generation unit 68 generates the child job 4 based on the PPB1 of the parent job 1, and the job control unit 70 causes the G3 line to the child job. 4 is allocated and the job is activated (step 408). Figure 11
Then, the CPB linked to the Ready-Link no longer exists, and the PPB3 and its CPB3 of the child job 3 and the PPB4 and its CPB2 of the child job 4 are in the Run state.

By the way, FIG. 10 shows an example of the simultaneous broadcast system, but there is another system called a sequential broadcast system. While the simultaneous broadcast method is a method of "creating a plurality of child PPBs from the transmittable block row of the CPB row according to an empty line", the sequential broadcast method is "a child PB according to the CPB row.
In this method, PBs are sequentially created one by one. That is,
The transmission is intermittently and sequentially performed in the order in which the broadcast instruction is received at a designated interval with a certain interval.

Next, in the image communication apparatus having a plurality of lines and performing simultaneous broadcast and sequential broadcast in a mixed manner, the difference in the retrieval method between the simultaneous broadcast method and the sequential broadcast method when the destination information is called will be described below. Explained.

FIG. 12A shows a CPB search method of the simultaneous broadcast method, and FIG. 12B shows a CPB search method of the sequential broadcast method. Note that the broadcast A is a CPB sequence A-1, A-2 ,. ． ． , A-
n, single station B has G-1 only B-1, broadcast C has G4 / G3 alternating CPB sequences C-1, C-2 ,. ． ． , C-n
Handle the case.

In the case of the simultaneous broadcasting system of FIG. 12 (a),
First, the CPB sequence A-1, A-2 ,. ． ． , An
The search is performed in this order. In this case, since the G3 / G4 lines are alternately allocated, a plurality of simultaneous communications can be performed within the broadcast A even if only one G3 or G4 line is installed. When the search for broadcast A is completed, the process moves to the next single station B-1.
Column B C-1, C-2 ,. ． , C-n are searched in the order of C-n. Also in this case, since the G4 / G3 lines are alternately assigned, a plurality of communications within B-1 and C-1 or broadcast C can be performed.

On the other hand, in the case of the sequential broadcasting system of FIG. 12B, when the communication of the CPB of the broadcasting A, A-1, is performed first, then the CPB of the single station B, B-. 1, Broadcast C C
The search is performed in the order of C-1 which is PB. When the search for C-1 is completed, it returns to the broadcast A again and searches for A-2. Therefore, in the sequential broadcasting system, the order of the CPB sequences in the broadcasting A and the broadcasting C is always maintained. It

As described above, simultaneous / sequential control in the broadcast communication can be performed only by changing the search method of the line resource.

The communication operation in the case of the sequential broadcasting system of FIG. 12 (b) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

According to FIG. 13, first, the job generator 68
Creates parent PPBs in the order in which the communication instruction is given (A-B-C) and connects to the Ready-Link (step 4).
10). The parent PPB of the communication is Ready-Link.
The order in which they are connected to does not change thereafter.

Next, the resource information judging section 66 judges whether or not the line resource can be acquired (step 41).
2) If the job can be acquired, the job generation unit 68
Creates child jobs in the order of the CPBs that have received the broadcast instruction at regular intervals at the instructed destination (step 41).
4).

Next, the job control unit 70 allocates the created child job to the secured line resource and activates communication (step 416).

When the communication ends (step 41)
8) Then, it is determined whether or not the communication ends in error and restart is necessary (step 420). In the case of affirmative determination, the CPB of the communication that ended in error is Ready-in the same parent job. The last CPB that has been linked is connected to the CPB that ended in error (step 422). For example, when A-1 or C-1 ends in error, they are connected after A-n or C-n, respectively.
In contrast to this, during simultaneous broadcast communication, the jobs are connected in the order in which they are completed, so the order in the broadcast may change.

When step 420 is answered in the negative, Re
It is determined whether all the ady-linked CPB sequences have ended (step 424), and in the case of a positive determination,
If the communication operation is completed and the determination is negative, step 41
Returning to step 2, similar processing such as securing line resources and searching CPB is performed.

Next, a concrete example in the case where the parent job stop instruction is given from the operator during the broadcast will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a state diagram of PPB and CPB when communication is activated under the same conditions as in FIG.
The case where the operator gives an instruction to stop the parent job in step 404 is handled.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the parent job stop instruction is issued in step 404, the C linked to the parent PPB1 is first sent.
PB2 is deleted (step 430).

In this case, the parent PPB1, the child PPB2, and the child P
Since the PB3 has the same process identification number, the operation of the child job is stopped along with the operation of the parent job. However, in this example, in step 404, the child PPB
2. Since the child PPB3 is in the Run state (during job execution), the child PPB2 and child PPB3 are CPB after the job is completed.
1 and CPB3 are deleted (step 432).
At this time, the parent PPB1 is also deleted.

The above example of the stop instruction is an example in which when the stop instruction is given to the parent job, the jobs to all the destinations linked to the parent PPB are stopped. But,
Even if the child job to the instructed destination is instructed to stop, the other child job or the parent job to which the child job belongs can be stopped. An example of such a stop instruction is shown in FIG.

Similarly to FIG. 14, FIG. 15 is also a state diagram of PPB and CPB when communication is activated under the same conditions as in FIG. 11, and in step 404, a child job stop instruction from the operator to destination 3 is issued. Handle the case.

As shown in FIG. 15, when the child job stop instruction is issued in step 404, first, CPB3 connected to the parent PPB1.
Is deleted, and the child PPB3 is also deleted (step 43).
4).

Next, a stop instruction is issued to another running child job having the same process identification number. That is, the CPB1 connected to the parent PPB1 is deleted and the child PPB2 is also deleted (step 436).

The parent P having the same process identification number
The pending CPB2 connected to PB1 is deleted, and finally the parent PPB1 is deleted (step 43).
8).

It is also possible to stop only the child job for the designated destination as shown in FIG.

From FIG. 16, when the operator gives a job stop instruction to the destination 3 in step 404, the parent P
CPB3 connected to PB1 is deleted and child PPB3 is also deleted (step 434). However, after that, the same process stop processing is not performed as in FIG. 15, the parent PPB1 to which the CPB2 is connected is in the Ready state, and the destination CPB
The child PPB2 to which 1 is connected remains in the Run state (step 440).

The above is the first embodiment, but is not limited to the above-mentioned example. For example, the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 1 and the input / output flow thereof, the configuration of the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2, and the like can be arbitrarily changed. The order of the PPB and CPB information arrays shown in FIG. 3 does not matter. (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the job is divided into parent / child /
Although the generated child job is dependent on the parent job, it is also possible to perform communication control by a procedure of generating jobs of the same level as the number of destinations and allocating to a free line. Such communication control will be shown below as a second embodiment.

The circuit configuration and functional block diagram in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, but the job generator 68 generates jobs for controlling the communication modules for the number of destinations.

FIG. 17 shows a specific flow of processing of the image communication apparatus according to the second embodiment. Note that FIG. 17 shows the job control under the same conditions as the conditions of FIG. 10 in the first embodiment.

Further, PP for each step in FIG.
FIG. 18 is a state diagram showing B and CPBs connected to the PPB in the Ready state and the Run state (during job execution). The meaning of each symbol in FIG. 18 is the same as in FIG.

From FIG. 17, in response to the broadcast instruction, the job generator 68 generates as many module control jobs as the number of destinations (three in this case) (step 442). Step 442 of FIG. 18 is PPB1 for destination 1 and its CP.
B1, PPB2 for destination 2 and its CPB2, destination 3
Shows a state in which the module control jobs of the PPB3 and the CPB3 for the same are linked to the Ready-Link.

Next, the resource information judgment unit 66 judges that the line can be secured for the destination 1, the job control unit 70 allocates the job 1 of the destination 1 to the G3 line, and the job activation is executed (step 444). . In step 444 of FIG. 18, job 1 (PPB1 and its CPB1) is R
It shows the state that the state is changed to the un state.

The resource information judgment unit 66 searches for an empty line for the destination 2 even while the job 1 is being executed, but since there is only one G3 line, it is judged that the destination 2 cannot be currently secured (step 446). Further, the resource information judging unit 6
6 searches for an empty line for the destination 3, and determines that the destination 3 can secure the line because the G4 line is free. Then, the job control unit 70 allocates the job 3 to the G4 line for the destination 3 and activates the job 3 (step 4
50). In step 450 of FIG. 18, the job 1 (PPB
1 and its CPB1) and job 2 (PPB2 and its CP)
B2) shows a state in which the state is changed to the Run state.

When the communication to the destination 1 is completed, the job 1 is deleted, and the PPB1 related to the destination 1 is deleted together with the CPB1 connected to it (step 44).
8). Step 448 in FIG. 18 shows a state in which job 1 in the Run state has been deleted and disappeared.

Since the G3 line is free, the resource information judgment unit 66
Accordingly, it is determined that the G3 line can be secured for the destination 2, and the job control unit 70 allocates the job 2 to the vacant G3 line and activates the job (step 450). Figure 1
Step 450 of 8 indicates a state in which all the jobs have transitioned from the Ready state and the jobs 2 and 3 excluding the job 1 which has already completed the communication are in the Run state.

The second embodiment has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example. For example, the communication cancellation process shown in the first embodiment is also applicable.

[0161]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By managing the use states of a plurality of communication modules and sequentially allocating jobs to the communication modules that are determined to be usable, there is an effect of improving the line use efficiency in the broadcast communication operation. In addition, there is an effect of preventing the memory capacity from being pressed due to job generation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an image communication device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image communication apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a data configuration diagram of a PPB management area,
(B) is a data structure diagram of PPB, (c) is a data structure diagram of CPB.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of communication control processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of job activation determination processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of a child job activation process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of line resource check processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of job end processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of communication cancellation processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 manages line resources under specific conditions,
9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for generating and allocating a job for an empty line.

FIG. 11 manages line resources under specific conditions,
FIG. 9 is a state diagram of PPB and CPB in a procedure of generating and allocating a job to an empty line.

FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a search flow of jobs to be allocated to line resources in the simultaneous broadcast system, and FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a search flow of jobs to be sequentially allocated to line resources in the broadcast system. is there.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of communication operation in the case of a sequential broadcast system.

FIG. 14: PPB and CP when communication is started under specific conditions and a parent job stop instruction is issued from the operator
It is a state diagram of B.

FIG. 15 is a state diagram of PPB and CPB when communication is started under a specific condition, a child job stop instruction is given to the destination 3 from an operator, and the operation of all child jobs belonging to the same parent job is stopped. is there.

FIG. 16: PPB and CPB in the case where communication is started under a specific condition, a child job stop instruction is given to the destination 3 from the operator, and only the operation of the child job is stopped
FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a specific flow of processing of the image communication apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a state diagram of PPB and CPB under specific conditions of the image communication apparatus according to the second example.

[Explanation of symbols]

60 Communication control unit 66 Resource Information Judgment Department 68 Job generator 70 Job control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-245012 (JP, A) JP-A-7-23162 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/32-1/36

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image communication apparatus comprising a plurality of communication modules for performing communication using a plurality of lines, wherein information necessary for a communication operation using the communication modules is stored .
Based on the destination information held by the first job generating means for generating the first job held by the first job , the communication mode
Whether the second job for controlling the module is the first job
Second job to copy and generate the information required to start a job
A job generation means, a line resource judging means for managing the use states of the plurality of communication modules, and judging whether each communication module can be used for job-based communication control, and the line resource judging means. A job assigning unit that assigns the second job to the communication module that is determined to be usable, and a job that controls the communication module based on the second job assigned by the job assigning unit to perform a communication operation An image communication apparatus comprising: a control unit. 2. The second job generating means is configured to execute the second job.
Information from the first job to start the job.
It is unnecessary for the second job of the copied information.
The image communication device according to claim 1, wherein the image communication device is generated by initializing various information . 3. The second job generation means deletes the second job assigned to the communication module when the communication control by the second job assigned to the communication module is completed, and the communication The image communication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a unit that divides and generates the next second job assigned to a module based on the information that the first job has. 4. The first job is a second divided and generated second job.
The management information for managing the job and the communication module control information necessary for the communication operation are held, and the second job is stored in the information held by the first job.
Any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that to hold the copied said communication module control information copied from the management information and the information held in the first job second managing job itself 1 The image communication device according to item . 5. The product of the first job and the second job generating unit generated by the first job generating means
A stop instruction means for inputting an operation stop instruction from an operator for the second job , and an operation stop instruction by the stop instruction means,
Image communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that and a job stopping means for stopping the job operation. Wherein said job stopping means, wherein said when a stop instruction to the second job being executed by the stop instruction means, and wherein the stopping only the operation of the second job in the execution Item 5. The image communication device according to item 5 . 7. The job stopping means, when the stop instruction means gives a stop instruction to a second job being executed, together with the second job being executed, the second job being executed.
The image communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the operations of the first job that manages the job and all other second jobs that are divided and generated from the first job are stopped. 8. The job stopping means, when the stop instruction is given to the first job by the stop instructing means, together with the first job, all other second jobs generated by division from the first job. The image communication apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the operation of is stopped. 9. At least one communication module of the plurality of communication modules has a network control means capable of selecting and connecting at least two or more circuit networks among ISDN, CSDN and general public network. In addition, the line resource determining means includes means for determining a use state of a line network connectable by the network control means, and the job allocation means is determined to be usable by the line resource determining means. image communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein further comprising a means for allocating the second job in any of network, characterized by.