JP3564017B2 - Data communication method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data communication system that uses an existing subscriber telephone line, allows a telephone to be received without ringing, and can coexist with a communication service that has already been implemented.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It is desirable to use a dedicated line for computer communication (data communication). This is because when a dedicated line is used, outgoing and incoming calls can be arbitrarily made when data to be transmitted is generated, and stable communication with required transmission capability can be achieved. However, communication using a dedicated line has a high communication cost in consideration of convenience and ability. Even if the cost of the leased line service is unacceptable, if the amount of data is small and the transmission capacity may be low, a modem (modem / demodulator) is installed on the subscriber telephone line where the idle time for telephone use is relatively large. Communication is taking place.
[0003]
The problem with using this subscriber telephone line is that if the data to be transmitted is generated on the other side and the other side transmits at any time, the bell of the receiving side telephone rings. In order to prevent this, an automatic answering function can be added to the modem so that the telephone bell does not ring every time communication is performed, but when the incoming call is received, The purpose of can not be achieved. When the purpose of data communication is remote meter reading performed by businesses such as electricity business, water business, gas business, etc. for homes or companies where telephones are installed, or remote control performed by businesses such as vending machines , Especially the problem.
[0004]
Therefore, the method currently used is dial-up. This is because each subscriber sends a call when the phone is free, and connects to the other party's computer, data terminal (computer that performs a specific purpose service, management center, Internet provider, etc.) In this method, it is confirmed whether there is data to be transmitted to the subscriber on the other side, and if there is data, transmission to the subscriber is performed. The disadvantage of this method is that even when there is no data to be transmitted, communication is performed by the subscriber (calling operation) and for confirming the presence or absence of data to be transmitted from the other party. It is useless. If the data communication center or the other party tries to obtain the data immediately after the occurrence of the data (or situation) to be transmitted, the dial-up frequency is set according to the purpose and request, for example, 30 minutes. Although it will be increased to 10 minutes and 5 minutes, the influence on the original telephone communication, the communication cost, the communication processing capability of the partner center side computer, etc. will become problems.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem of data communication by the conventional dial-up connection method in an existing telephone network (public telecommunication network), and to make an arbitrary incoming call (transmission has conventionally been performed without using a dedicated line). It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system that enables communication during idle time as in the case of modem communication.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a plurality of telephone sets and at least one exchange to which these telephone sets are connected, and predetermined pre-call notification information to be notified to a predetermined telephone set before a call. In a telephone network having a pre-call information notification function for notifying the mobile phone, at least two controllers that monitor the pre-call notification information and control connection / disconnection with the exchange are provided above the predetermined telephone line. Connected in series, a data transmission / reception terminal is connected to each of the controllers in parallel with its lower line, and when an incoming call is received on the line of the predetermined telephone, the exchange is connected to the line on the called side. The lowermost controller on the incoming line detects the activation signal, disconnects the telephone on the lower line, and sends a primary response signal to the exchange. And when the exchange receives the primary response signal, it sends out pre-call notification information to the line on the receiving side, and the controller receives the pre-call notification information, respectively, The controller sends an information reception completion signal to the exchange, and the incoming line controller is based on a call made by a data communication terminal device in which the pre-call notification information is connected to another line. The data transmission / reception terminal connected to the controller is connected to the switch and the call signal sent in response to the information reception completion signal is received by the data transmission / reception terminal from the switch. However, when the pre-call notification information is other than that, the data communication system is characterized in that the lower line of the controller is connected to the exchange. Than it is.
[0007]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also comprises a plurality of telephones and at least one exchange to which these telephones are connected, and is to be notified to a predetermined telephone before a call. In a telephone network having a pre-call information notification function for notifying notification information, a data transmitting / receiving device is connected to at least one line of the predetermined telephone, and the pre-call is placed above the other line of the predetermined telephone. At least two controllers that monitor notification information and control connection / disconnection with the exchange are connected in series, and each of the controllers is connected in parallel with a data transmission / reception terminal to its lower line, When an incoming call arrives on the predetermined telephone line based on the start of operation of the data transmitting / receiving apparatus, the exchange sends an activation signal to the incoming call line, The lowest level controller detects the activation signal, disconnects the lower level line from the telephone and sends a primary response signal to the switch, and the switch receives the primary response signal. At the same time, the pre-call notification information is sent to the incoming call line, the controllers respectively receive the pre-call notification information, and the lowest-order controller sends an information reception completion signal to the exchange. In this way, the controller of the line on the receiving side selects the controller or the data transmitting / receiving terminal connected thereto based on the start of the operation of the data transmitting / receiving device as the pre-call notification information. The data transmission / reception terminal connected to the controller is connected to the exchange, and a call signal sent in response to the information reception completion signal is sent from the exchange to the data transmission / reception terminal. Although is received, when the call before the notification information is of other than it, in which the lower line of the controller to configure a data communication system, characterized in that it has to be connected to the exchange.
[0008]
The system of the present invention can be additionally implemented while leaving the conventional pre-call information notification system as it is. In that case, the controller of the present invention is installed above the device added to the terminal telephone, for example, the number display, but this does not disturb the operation of the existing system, and does not disturb the present system. The inventive scheme is operable.
[0009]
The data transmission / reception device or the transmission data transmission / reception terminal is, for example, a computer such as a meter reading or control center of a business operator of electricity, water, gas, vending machine, a public information center of a public organization, etc. Is a computer attached to a meter installed in, for example, a place where electricity, water, or gas is demanded, a factory, a business office, or a home. The pre-call notification information is, for example, a telephone number of each telephone or a selection signal of each controller, and this selection signal is a designation or identification number (including symbols) of each controller or data transmission / reception terminal.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, 1 is a telephone network, 2 is an exchange having a pre-call information notification function, T is a number of terminal telephones connected to the exchange 2, L is a line of each telephone, and A is a predetermined one of these telephones T. A controller TA according to the present invention, which is inserted and connected to the telephone line L above the telephone, is a data transmission / reception terminal connected to each controller A in parallel with the telephone T.
[0011]
Now, assume that one of the telephones T (calling telephone) calls (calls) another telephone (calling telephone). In this case, even if there is a controller A on the line L of the calling telephone, it is not involved in the calling operation. It is assumed that a controller A exists on the line L of the incoming telephone. By this call, the exchange 2 transmits an activation signal for activating the controller A of the line of the called telephone. In response to the activation signal, the controller A of the incoming call telephone disconnects the incoming call telephone and transmits a (primary) response signal to the exchange 2. When the exchange 2 receives this response signal, it sends a calling telephone number (pre-call notification information) to the controller A of the called telephone. For each controller A, this information from the exchange 2 selects each own controller or a data transmission / reception terminal TA connected to each own controller (that is, the data transmission / reception terminal should be connected to the exchange). A function for identifying whether or not the notification information is specific pre-call notification information is provided. In this case, since the pre-call notification information is the telephone number of the calling telephone to be communicated with the called telephone, the controller A monitors the pre-call notification information itself or its data transmitting / receiving terminal. Recognizing that it is not the specific pre-call notification information for selecting the machine TA, the calling telephone is connected to the incoming telephone instead of the data transmission / reception terminal TA of the controller (ie, the controller And a pre-call notification information reception completion signal is sent to the exchange 2. In response to this completion signal, the exchange 2 transmits a ringing signal to the called telephone and rings it. When an off-hook operation (secondary response) is performed in the called telephone, a normal call is performed with the calling telephone thereafter. For calls between telephones that do not have a controller A on the line, the exchange 2 performs the conventional operation.
[0012]
One of the data transmission / reception terminals TA (outgoing data transmission / reception terminal), for example, a computer in the meter reading center of a gas company is another data transmission / reception terminal TA (incoming data transmission / reception terminal), for example, an automatic meter meter for a home gas meter. When data transmission / reception terminal TA (computer of meter-reading center) transmits data to a specific incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA (home gas meter automatic meter), exchange 2 receives the incoming data transmission / reception terminal. An activation signal is transmitted to the TA controller A (incoming controller). In response to the activation signal, the incoming call controller A once disconnects the lower telephone T and sends a (primary) response signal to the exchange 2. When the exchange 2 receives this primary response signal, it sends a selection signal or a designated number or identification number (pre-call notification information) of the incoming call controller A or incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA and gives it to the incoming call controller A. As described above, the controller A has the function of identifying the specific pre-call notification information, that is, the selection signal of the incoming call controller A or the designation or identification number of the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA. In response to this specific pre-call notification information (without connecting to the lower level of the line), the data transmission / reception terminal TA is connected to the line, and an information reception completion signal is sent to the exchange 2 to exchange 2 In response to this signal, sends a call signal to the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA. When the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA responds (secondary) to this call signal, data transmission / reception is performed between the outgoing data transmission / reception terminal (meter reading center computer) and the incoming data transmission / reception terminal (home gas meter automatic meter reading device). Is called.
[0013]
The data communication described above can be performed simultaneously or sequentially between one outgoing data transmission / reception terminal (meter reading center computer) and many incoming data transmission / reception terminals (home gas meter automatic meter reading equipment).
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows an example in which two controllers, that is, an upper controller B similar to the lower controller A is connected to a predetermined same line. Each TB is a data transmission / reception terminal connected to the controller B, for example, an automatic meter meter for a home electric meter. In FIG. 2, the same symbols as those in FIG. 1 denote corresponding elements.
[0015]
Also in FIG. 2, a call between the telephones T is performed in the same manner as in FIG. That is, when one of the telephones T (calling telephone) calls the telephone (calling telephone) on the line L to which the upper controller B and the lower controller A are connected, the exchange 2 becomes the incoming telephone line. In response to this, a start signal is transmitted. The host controller B is configured not to respond to the activation signal, and the lower controller A responds to the activation signal and temporarily disconnects the lower-level telephone and transmits a primary response signal. When receiving the response signal, the exchange 2 transmits a calling telephone number (pre-call notification information). The upper controller B and the lower controller A receive this information. As described above, both controllers have a function of identifying whether the pre-call notification information is specific pre-call notification information for selecting the respective controllers A and B or their data transmitting / receiving terminals TA and TB. . In this case, both the controllers A and B recognize that the pre-call notification information monitored by the controllers A and B is not the specific pre-call notification information for selecting the individual or its data transmission / reception terminal, and send / receive data to / from the calling telephone T. The subordinate controller A sends a pre-call notification information reception completion signal to the exchange 2 while connecting to the incoming telephone T without connecting to either the terminal TA or TB. The subsequent operation is the same as in FIG.
[0016]
For the data transmission / reception terminals TA (for example, home gas meter automatic meter reading device) and TB (for example, home electric meter automatic meter reading device) of the upper controller B and the lower controller A connected to the same line When performing data communication, when a transmission data transmission / reception terminal TA (for example, a computer at a gas meter reading center) transmits data to an incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA (a home gas meter automatic meter reading device), an activation signal from the exchange 2 is displayed. The host controller B on the telephone line does not respond, and the lower controller A responds to disconnect the connection to the telephone T on the line and sends a primary response signal. In response to the primary response signal, the exchange 2 selects the subordinate controller A or the designated number or identification number of the incoming data transmission / reception terminal (gas meter automatic meter detector) TA (subordinate controller A or incoming data transmission / reception terminal (gas meter). Automatic meter-reading device) Pre-call specific notification information) for TA is transmitted and given to controllers B and A. The host controller B does not identify this information because it is not its own selection signal or a designation signal or identification number (notification information before specific call) of its data transmission / reception terminal TB (electric meter automatic meter detector). Since the connection to the line A is maintained, the subordinate controller A uses this selection signal or the designated number or identification number (notification information before specific call) of the incoming data transmission / reception terminal (gas meter automatic meter detector) TA. Recognizing that there is a connection (without connecting to the lower part of the line), the data transmission / reception terminal TA is connected to the line, and an information reception completion signal is sent to the exchange 2, and the exchange 2 responds to this signal. A call signal is sent to the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA. When the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TA makes a secondary response to the calling signal, data transmission / reception is performed between the two data transmission / reception terminals (the gas meter reading center computer and the home gas meter automatic meter reading device).
[0017]
Another one of the data transmission / reception terminals TA (other transmission data transmission / reception terminals other than the above-mentioned data transmission / reception terminals), for example, the computer of the electric meter meter reading center is connected to another data transmission / reception terminal TB (home The automatic controller B) responds to the start signal from the exchange 2 without the controller B responding, the controller A responds, disconnects the line to the telephone T, and transmits the primary response signal. To do. (The lowest level controller always responds to the activation signal from the exchange 2. When a number display (number indicator) is connected to the controller, the indicator responds as will be described later.) In response to the primary response signal, the exchange 2 transmits a selection signal of the controller B or a designation signal or identification number (notification information before specific call) of the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TB and gives it to the line. The host controller B recognizes this specific pre-call notification information (the own selection signal or the designation or identification number of the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TB), disconnects the line to the lower controller A and transmits / receives incoming data to / from the relevant line. The terminal TB (electric meter automatic meter reading device) is connected and an information reception completion signal is sent to the exchange 2, and the exchange sends a call signal to the incoming data transmission / reception terminal TB in response to this signal. When the receiving terminal TB makes a secondary response to the calling signal, data is transmitted and received between both terminals TA and TB (electric meter meter reading center computer and home electric meter automatic meter reading device).
[0018]
1 and 2, the outgoing data transmission / reception terminal (computer in the meter reading center in the above example) does not require the controllers A and B for its operation, and therefore has the initiative to start such data communication. The data transmitting / receiving apparatus can be directly connected to the line L without using a controller as indicated by C in FIGS. In this case, the line L may be an ISDN line. The operation of the system of FIGS. 3 and 4 is the same as that of FIGS.
[0019]
FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples in which a pre-call notification information display D of a conventional pre-call notification information service is attached to the telephone T in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In this case, the pre-call notification information is, for example, a calling telephone number, a reason for not calling the calling telephone number, an incoming dial-in number, a transfer source telephone number, and the like. The display D may be integrated with the telephone T.
[0020]
5 and 6, when one of the telephones T (calling telephone) calls another one (called telephone), the exchange 2 transmits an activation signal. Controllers A and B above the line of the incoming call telephone are configured not to respond to this activation signal, and the lowest display D responds to this and disconnects the line to the telephone T and sends a primary response signal. send. When receiving the response signal, the exchange 2 transmits a calling telephone number (pre-call notification information). As described above, the upper controller B and the lower controller A have a function of identifying whether the pre-call notification information is specific pre-call notification information for selecting each controller or its data transmitting / receiving terminal. . In this case, since the pre-call notification information monitored by both controllers is not the specific pre-call notification information for selecting each or its data transmission / reception terminal, the line to the display D is maintained. The call telephone number (pre-call notification information) is displayed on the display D. When the display D sends a pre-call notification information reception completion signal to the exchange 2, the exchange 2 transmits a ringing signal to the incoming telephone T in response to the completion signal. When an off-hook operation (secondary response) is performed at the called telephone T, a normal call is subsequently performed with the calling telephone.
[0021]
Data communication is performed between a single data transmission / reception terminal TA in FIG. 2 or a single data transmission / reception apparatus C in FIG. 4 and incoming data transmission / reception terminals TA and TB on the same or different lines. You can also. For example, a single data transmitter / receiver C can function as an electric and gas meter reading center. In the illustrated embodiment, two controllers are installed on the same line, but it is also possible to provide three or more controllers, and hence data transmission / reception terminals, on the same line.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
Since the data communication method of the present invention can be received by the data transmission / reception terminal without ringing the terminal telephone, the data communication is efficiently performed using the idle time without disturbing the telephone call. This can be done without requiring much additional capital investment. In addition, the method of the present invention can be applied to existing communication services via a telephone line, for example, no ringing communication service, number display service, modem dial-in service, off-talk communication (a signal having a frequency far higher than the voice frequency band of a telephone is a voice signal) And the like used for cable broadcasting).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scheme according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scheme according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a scheme according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a scheme according to still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a scheme according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Telephone network 2 Switch T Telephone A Controller B Controller TA Data transmission / reception terminal TB Data transmission / reception terminal C Data transmission / reception apparatus D Display

Claims (3)

It comprises a plurality of telephones and at least one exchange to which these telephones are connected, and has a pre-call information notification function for notifying a predetermined telephone of predetermined pre-call notification information to be notified before a call. In the telephone network,
At least two controllers that monitor the pre-call notification information and control connection / disconnection with the exchange are connected in series above the predetermined telephone line;
Each of the controllers is connected in parallel to a data transmission / reception terminal with its lower line,
When there is an incoming call to the predetermined telephone line, the exchange sends an activation signal to the incoming line, and the lowest level controller in the incoming line detects the activation signal, and Disconnect the lower line from the telephone and send a primary response signal to the exchange. When the exchange receives the primary response signal, it sends pre-call notification information to the incoming line. Each of the controllers receives the pre-call notification information, and the lowest controller sends an information reception completion signal to the exchange,
When the pre-call notification information is based on a call from a data communication terminal device connected to another line, the incoming line controller is configured to connect the data transmitting / receiving terminal connected to the controller. While connecting to the exchange and causing the data transmission / reception terminal to receive a paging signal sent in response to the information reception completion signal from the exchange, when the pre-call notification information is other than that, A data communication system characterized by connecting a lower line of a controller to the exchange. It comprises a plurality of telephones and at least one exchange to which these telephones are connected, and has a pre-call information notification function for notifying a predetermined telephone of predetermined pre-call notification information to be notified before a call. In the telephone network,
Connecting a data transmitting / receiving device to at least one line of the predetermined telephone, and monitoring the pre-call notification information above the other line of the predetermined telephone to control connection / disconnection with the switch Two controllers are connected in series,
Each of the controllers is connected in parallel with a data transmission / reception terminal to its lower line,
When an incoming call arrives on the predetermined telephone line based on the start of operation of the data transmitting / receiving apparatus, the exchange sends an activation signal to the incoming line, and the lowest controller in the incoming line is The activation signal is detected, the connection to the telephone of the lower line is disconnected and a primary response signal is transmitted to the exchange. When the exchange receives the primary response signal, the incoming line Sending notification information before a call, each of the controllers receives the notification information before a call, and the lowest-order controller sends an information reception completion signal to the exchange,
The line controller on the receiving side selects the controller or the data transmitting / receiving terminal connected thereto based on the start of operation of the data transmitting / receiving apparatus when the pre-call notification information is selected. The connected data transmission / reception terminal is connected to the exchange, and the data transmission / reception terminal receives a call signal transmitted from the exchange in response to the information reception completion signal. In other cases, a data communication system characterized in that a lower-order line of the controller is connected to the exchange. 3. The data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the pre-call notification information includes a telephone number of the telephone or an identification number or a symbol of the controller or the data transmission / reception terminal.

Images