JP4862520B2 - Image processing apparatus and network communication method of image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a network communication method for the image processing apparatus , and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having a FoIP function or a VoIP function using an IP network, and a network communication method for the image processing apparatus .

  FoIP [FAX over IP] using an IP network is increasing using a corporate intranet. Recently, there is a problem that communication quality deteriorates due to the occurrence of network congestion due to increased use of VoIP [Voice over IP] or FoIP.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, for example, priority control in the IP network is executed according to the priority set for each terminal accommodated in the exchange, and the priority of the network that provides the communication quality according to the priority. There is a control method (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-308925 A

  However, since a facsimile communication apparatus having FoIP exclusively occupies an IP port and is connected to an IP network, in a device having a network function such as an MF [MultiFunction] machine having a plurality of functions such as a printer / scanner. When a dedicated IP port is prepared for the FoIP function, a port is prepared in addition to the conventional printer / scanner LAN port, which causes a problem of complicated network management and network cable wiring. Since a single device has a plurality of IP addresses, there is a problem that securing and managing IP addresses becomes complicated.

  Even if the IP port is shared with the printer / scanner, the real-time property is required in FoIP. Therefore, if the amount of communication other than FoIP increases, the real-time property of FoIP may be impaired and communication may be interrupted. is there.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and a network communication method for the image processing apparatus that do not interrupt FoIP communication due to the influence of the communication amount due to the network function even if the IP port is shared with the network function. To do.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the invention, via a network connection means for connecting the network, to convert the audio signal into a digital signal and transmitted via the network connection unit, or the network connection means Communication processing means for performing communication processing for converting the received digital signal into an audio signal, job processing means for processing a print job or scan job transmitted / received via the network connection means, and the state of the network, Communication processing priority means for prioritizing the communication processing by the communication processing means.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the communication processing priority unit measures the communication amount of the network connection unit, and if the measured communication amount is larger than a preset value, the job The transmission / reception of the job by the processing unit is stopped.

The invention of claim 3 is the case of the invention of claim 1, wherein the communication processing priority unit measures a response time from the other party of the communication processing, and the measured response time is longer than a preset time. The transmission / reception of the job by the job processing means is stopped.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1, wherein the communication process is characterized a voice call der Turkey by facsimile communication, or VoIP function by FoIP function.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the network communication method of an image processing apparatus having a network function, a communication process for converting an audio signal into a digital signal and transmitting the digital signal via the network interface, or receiving via the network interface When performing communication processing for converting a digital signal into an audio signal, when processing a print job or scan job transmitted / received via the network interface, the communication processing is prioritized based on the state of the network. And

The invention of claim 6 is the invention of claim 5, wherein the communication amount of the network interface is measured, and when the measured communication amount is larger than a preset value, transmission / reception of a print job or a scan job is stopped. It is characterized by that.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 5, wherein the response time from the communication processing partner is measured, and if the measured response time is longer than a preset time, a print job or a scan job The transmission / reception is stopped.

The invention of claim 8 is the invention of claim 5, wherein the communication process is characterized a voice call der Turkey by facsimile communication, or VoIP function by FoIP function.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an efficient and stable FoIP function and VoIP function without performing troublesome operations such as extra LAN wiring and address assignment as a device.

Embodiments of an image processing apparatus and a network communication method for the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a multifunction device 1 to which the present invention is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function apparatus 1 includes a multi-function control unit 2, a printer module unit 3, a scanner module unit 4, and a facsimile module unit 5, and includes a printer module unit 3 and a scanner module unit 4. The facsimile module unit 5 is connected to the multifunction control unit 2 by an interface (hereinafter referred to as I / F) 6.

  The multi-function control unit 2 controls each module unit efficiently and also controls the network print function and the network scanner function. Specifically, the CPU 71 for control, the ROM 81 / RAM 91 for storing the operation program of the CPU 71, the LAN interface 10 for connecting to a network such as an IP network / LAN, and the data storage for storing input / output data And a memory 11, which are connected to each other via a system bus 121.

  The printer module unit 3 prints data stored in the data storage memory 11 of the multifunction control unit 2 on a sheet.

  The scanner module unit 4 optically reads a document, and stores the read image data in the data storage memory 11 of the multifunction control unit 2.

  The facsimile module unit 5 controls the facsimile communication function via a telephone line and the facsimile communication function via a network (hereinafter referred to as FoIP) in cooperation with the multifunction control unit 2. For FoIP, ITU-T recommendation T.30. No. 30-compliant IP-FAX communication, ITU-T recommendation T.30 Including IP-FAX communication of a communication system conforming to T.30.

  Specifically, the image read by the CPU 72 for controlling the facsimile module unit 5, the ROM 82 / RAM 92 for storing the operation program of the CPU 72, the network control unit 13 for transmitting and receiving voice signals via the telephone line, and the scanner module unit 4. FAX Modem 14 that performs processing for converting data into audio signals, and processing for converting audio signals received by network control unit 13 into image data, and audio signals converted from image data by FAX Modem 14 when performing deemed IP-FAX transmission. A codec unit 15 that performs a process of encoding and converting to a packet signal, and a process of decoding a packet signal received by the LAN interface 10 of the multi-function control unit 2 and converting the packet signal to a voice signal when receiving the assumed IP-FAX. This is composed of They are connected to each other via a system bus 122.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the multifunction device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-function device 1 stores image data read by the scanner module unit 4 or image data received via the network 25 (foIP image data, print job image data). An image storage unit 16; a communication image processing unit 17 that converts the resolution, size, coding rule, and the like of image data in accordance with the other party's ability at the time of transmission by FoIP; T30 control unit 18 for controlling 30 protocols, Modem unit 19 for processing by FAXModem 14, voice call unit 20 as a handset, voice conversion unit 21 for processing by Codec unit 15, RTP [Real-time Transport Protocol], etc. A real-time transfer control unit 22 that controls a real-time transfer protocol, a TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 that controls a network layer transport layer and a network layer, and an ITU-T recommendation T38 control unit 24 for controlling the 38 protocol, session connection control via PtP via the network 25 (for example, print job / scan job input / output control, H.323 for FoIP, SIP protocol, etc. A session connection control unit 26 that performs control) and a traffic monitoring unit 27 that monitors the packet traffic on the LAN interface 10.

  The processing order when performing deemed IP-FAX transmission is as follows: scanner module unit 4 → image storage unit 16 → communication image processing unit 17 → T30 control unit 18 → Modem unit 19 → voice conversion unit 21 → real time transfer control unit 22 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → LAN interface 10. The processing order in the case of performing deemed IP-FAX reception is as follows: LAN interface 10 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → real time transfer control unit 22 → voice conversion unit 21 → Modem unit 19 → T30 control unit 18 → communication image processing unit 17 → Image storage unit 16 → Printer module unit 3

  The processing order in the case of IP-FAX transmission is as follows: scanner module unit 4 → image storage unit 16 → communication image processing unit 17 → T30 control unit 18 → T38 control unit 24 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → LAN interface 10. is there. The processing order in the case of IP-FAX reception is LAN interface 10 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → T38 control unit 24 → T30 control unit 18 → communication image processing unit 17 → image storage unit 16 → printer module unit 3. is there.

  The processing order when scan data transmission is performed is: scanner module unit 4 → image storage unit 16 → session connection control unit 26 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → LAN interface 10.

  The processing order when receiving print data is: LAN interface 10 → TCP / UDP / IP control unit 23 → session connection control unit 26 → image storage unit 16 → printer module unit 3.

  When the multifunction device 1 performs communication by FoIP, the communication amount monitoring unit 28 monitors the network communication amount. If the network communication amount is larger than a preset value (changeable by the user), communication other than FoIP is performed. (Print job, scan job, etc.) is interrupted, and communication by FoIP is guaranteed by giving priority to communication by FoIP.

  Next, the procedure of communication processing based on the network traffic performed in the multi-function device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The presence or absence of a FoIP job is monitored (step S301). If there is a FoIP job (YES in step S301), the process proceeds to step S302. If there is no FoIP job (NO in step S301), the process proceeds to step S305.

  If there is a FoIP job (YES in step S301), the traffic monitoring unit acquires the network traffic (step S302), the session connection control unit compares the network traffic with the set value (step S303), and network communication. If the amount is larger than the set value (YES in step S303), the process proceeds to step S304. If the network communication amount is smaller than the set value (NO in step S303), the process proceeds to step S306.

  If the network traffic is larger than the set value (YES in step S303), session connection other than FoIP is interrupted (step S304), and the process proceeds to step S301 to loop the communication processing procedure.

  If there is no FoIP job in step S301 (NO in step S301), it is checked whether session connection other than FoIP is interrupted (step S305), and if session connection other than FoIP is interrupted (YES in step S305). ), The process proceeds to step S306, and if the session connection other than FoIP is not interrupted (NO in step S305), the process proceeds to step S301 to loop the communication processing procedure.

  If the network traffic is smaller than the set value in step S303 (NO in step S303), or if session connection other than FoIP is interrupted in step S305 (YES in step S305), cancel the interruption of session connection other than FoIP. (Step S306), the process proceeds to Step S301, and the communication processing procedure is looped.

  If a delay occurs during deemed IP-FAX communication, a timeout may occur and the communication may be interrupted. Also, if a delay occurs for 200 msec or more even in a deemed voice call, the quality of the call is felt to be poor.

  Therefore, when the multifunction device starts communication by FoIP, it transmits a Ping command to the communication partner, measures the response time from the partner, and sets the response time to a preset time (200 msec is reasonable). If it is longer, the communication other than FoIP (print job, scan job, etc.) is interrupted, and the real time property of communication by FoIP is guaranteed by minimizing the delay.

  Next, a communication processing procedure based on the delay time performed in the multi-function device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When communication by FoIP is started (step S401), a connection operation according to a connection procedure (SIP / h323, etc.) with a partner is performed to acquire a partner address (step S402), and Ping is transmitted to the partner address (step S402). S403) Measure the response time of the other party (step S404), compare the measured response time with the set time (step S405), and if the response time is longer than the set time (YES in step S405), go to step S306 If the response time is shorter than the set time (NO in step S405), the process proceeds to step S309.

  If the response time is longer than the set time (YES in step S405), it is determined that there is a delay (step S406), whether or not there is a job other than FoIP (step S407), and if there is a job other than FoIP (in step S407). If YES, the process proceeds to step S408, and if there is no job other than FoIP (NO in step S407), the process proceeds to step S409.

  If there is a job other than FoIP (YES in step S407), session connection other than FoIP is interrupted (step S408), and the process proceeds to step S409.

  Then, when the process proceeds to step S409, communication by FoIP is executed (step S409), and the communication processing procedure is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the process of interrupting communication other than FoIP when performing communication using FoIP has been described. However, the process of interrupting communication other than VoIP when performing a voice call regarded as VoIP is performed. It is also possible.

  In the above-described embodiments, the multi-function device is exemplified as the network communication device according to the present invention. However, the multi-function device may be applied to a terminal having a VoIP function (for example, a PDA) other than the multi-function device. Is possible.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the multifunction apparatus 1 to which this invention is applied. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a multi-function device 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the communication processing based on the network communication amount performed with a multifunction apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the communication process based on the delay time performed with a multifunction device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction apparatus 2 Multifunction control part 3 Printer module part 4 Scanner module part 5 Facsimile module part 6 I / F
71, 72 CPU
81, 82 ROM
91, 92 RAM
10 LAN Interface 11 Data Storage Memory 121, 122 System Bus 13 Network Control Unit 14 FAX Modem
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Codec part 16 Image storage part 17 Communication image process part 18 T30 control part 19 Modem part 20 Voice call part 21 Voice conversion part 22 Real-time transfer control part 23 TCP / UDP / IP control part 24 T38 control part 25 Network 26 Session connection control 27 Communication volume monitoring unit

Claims (8)

A network connecting means for connecting the network,
A communication processing means for performing a communication process for converting an audio signal into a digital signal and transmitting it through the network connection means, or converting a digital signal received through the network connection means into an audio signal;
Job processing means for processing a print job or scan job to be transmitted / received via the network connection means ;
An image processing apparatus comprising: communication processing priority means that prioritizes the communication processing by the communication processing means based on the state of the network. The communication processing priority means
Measure the traffic of the network connection means,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the measured communication amount is larger than a preset value, the job processing unit stops transmission / reception of the job. The communication processing priority means
Measure response time from the other party of the communication processing,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the measured response time is longer than a preset time, transmission / reception of the job by the job processing unit is stopped. The communication process includes
Facsimile communication by FoIP function, or VoIP functions image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the Ru voice der by. In a network communication method of an image processing apparatus having a network function,
When performing communication processing for converting an audio signal into a digital signal and transmitting it through a network interface, or performing communication processing for converting a digital signal received through the network interface into an audio signal, transmission / reception is performed via the network interface. When processing a print job or scan job
A network communication method for an image processing apparatus , wherein priority is given to the communication processing based on the state of the network. Measure the traffic of the network interface,
6. The network communication method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein transmission / reception of a print job or a scan job is stopped when the measured communication amount is larger than a preset value. Measure response time from the other party of the communication processing,
6. The network communication method for an image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein transmission / reception of a print job or a scan job is stopped when the measured response time is longer than a preset time. The communication process includes
Network communication method of an image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the Ru voice der by facsimile communication, or VoIP function by FoIP function.

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