JP5691606B2 - Communication terminal device and transmission method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a communication terminal device that is connected to a communication line and communicates with another communication terminal device, and performs communication corresponding to charging for communication via the communication line.

  In recent years, services of NGN networks (NEXT GENERATION NETWORK) based on the Internet protocol as communication lines have been started. For example, data connection services of the NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) group have started.

This service is a service for transferring real-time-oriented data such as voice, video, or image over a public line network. For example, IP-FAX that has been used only for an intranet so far is used for this public line. By connecting to other networks, other IP-FAXs on the network can be connected in the same manner as G3-FAX.
In this network service, a plurality of communication speeds are prepared, and the user can arbitrarily select which communication speed to use.

  A billing method for such network service communication is billing in units of communication time, and a predetermined amount (hereinafter referred to as “unit price”) is charged for communication for a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as “unit time”). It has become. This unit price varies depending on the communication speed, and is set so that the unit price increases as the communication speed increases.

  In the conventional network service charging method, a communicable time is set for a predetermined amount, and the communicable time is set to be shorter as the distance to the transmission destination is longer.

  Therefore, conventionally, in order to reduce the charged amount and reduce the communication cost, it has been a problem to increase the communication speed and shorten the communication time, and technical development for this purpose has been performed.

  However, if the unit price is imposed on communication within a unit time as in the above network service billing method, or if the unit price varies depending on which communication speed is selected, Shortening the communication time alone cannot solve the communication cost reduction.

  In order to deal with such a problem, in Patent Document 1, when there are a plurality of transmissions to the same place, in order to use the communicable time without waste, a plurality of data to be transmitted are stored in the time required for the call. There is described a facsimile apparatus which can be transmitted by one communication procedure as a single communication as a result of analysis.

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that transmission delay is caused by processing a plurality of transmissions as a single communication. However, this technique is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Is not taken into account.

In addition, as described above, a plurality of communication speeds are prepared, and the unit price for charging is set differently depending on the communication speed, and the communication cost varies depending on which communication speed is used. This is not described in the technique described in 1.
Thus, the conventional technique has a problem regarding transmission delay. In the conventional technology, there is a problem about reduction of communication cost.

  The present invention copes with such a transmission delay and enables processing reflecting the priority of transmission. The present invention also enables processing that reflects the reduction in communication costs.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a communication terminal device connected to a communication line using a plurality of communication speeds, and transmission limit data for each communication speed based on the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time at each communication speed. A transmission limit data amount setting means in which the amount is set, and a transmission process that uses any one of the plurality of transmission speeds in correspondence with the priority of transmission information. However, for one transmission timing priority, the transmission limit data amount is set to be smaller than or equal to the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority lower than the transmission timing priority, or the same communication speed is set. A transmission processing setting means for setting the same communication speed as the transmission limit data amount is larger than the transmission processing for a higher transmission timing priority, and each transmission information is assigned a priority of the transmission information. Accordingly, any one of the communication speeds set in the transmission processing setting means is selected, and the distribution means that distributes to the communication speed, and each transmission information that is distributed by the distribution means is associated with the distributed communication speed. Of the transmission information stored in the storage means and the transmission information of the same destination associated with the same communication speed among the transmission information stored in the storage means reaches the transmission limit data amount of the communication speed. And a transmission timing determining means for determining that transmission information of the same destination associated with the same communication speed is to be transmitted as one transmission to the destination at the communication speed. It is.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a communication terminal device connected to a communication line, wherein a plurality of transmission limit data amounts are set based on the transmittable data amount per unit time at the communication speed of the communication line. A data amount setting means for setting a transmission process using any one of the transmission limit data amounts in correspondence with the priority of transmission information among the plurality of transmission limit data amounts, For the transmission timing priority, the transmission limit data amount is set smaller than or equal to the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority lower than the transmission timing priority, and the transmission speed higher than the transmission timing priority is set. Transmission processing setting means for setting the same communication speed as the transmission limit data amount is larger than the transmission processing for the timing priority, and each transmission information according to the priority of the transmission information Select any one of the transmission limit data amounts set in the transmission processing setting means, and distribute the distribution limit data amount to the transmission limit data amount, and each transmission information distributed by the distribution unit to the distributed transmission limit data amount And the total data amount of the transmission information of the same destination associated with the same transmission limit data amount among the transmission information stored in association with the transmission means is the transmission limit data amount. A communication terminal apparatus comprising: a transmission timing determining unit that determines that transmission information of the same destination associated with the transmission limit data amount is transmitted as one transmission to the destination when the transmission limit data amount is reached. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the storage is further configured to set a storage time limit for transmission information stored in the storage means and manage the passage of this time. And a transmission time determining unit that determines to transmit the transmission information when the accumulation time of any transmission information exceeds the accumulation limit time. It is a terminal device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the communication terminal device according to the first or third aspect of the present invention, the storage is further configured to set a storage time limit of transmission information stored in the storage means and manage the passage of this time. The transmission timing determining means includes a time limit management means, and when the transmission information storage time exceeds the storage limit time, the transmission timing determination means has the same communication speed as the transmission information stored in the storage means. The communication terminal apparatus is characterized in that it determines that other transmission information associated with the same destination is transmitted as one transmission to the destination at the communication speed together with the transmission information.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of communication terminal apparatuses according to any one of the first to fourth aspects are connected to an intra network, and transmission information having a predetermined priority is transmitted to one of the communication terminal apparatuses. Transmission from a communication terminal device to another predetermined communication terminal device via an intra network, and transmission processing via the communication line to the destination of transmission information of the predetermined priority is performed in the predetermined communication terminal device This is a transmission method characterized by the above.

  According to the present invention, one or two or more pieces of transmission information of the same destination are transmitted as one transmission that is completed within one or a plurality of times of the unit time of the communication line, and transmitted at different transmission timings. Since it is possible to select and transmit one of these processes, it is possible to control the priority of the transmission information transmission timing, etc. It can be done.

It is a figure which shows the example of the accounting form applied to embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the 1st example of the transmission process set in the transmission process setting part. It is a figure which shows the transmission limit data amount corresponding to communication speed, and accumulation | storage box of an accumulation | storage part. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of the transmission process set in the transmission process setting part. It is a figure which shows the standard of the data amount of transmission information. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of the transmission process set in the transmission process setting part. It is explanatory drawing explaining the process in the case of accumulating transmission information in a transmission process. It is a figure which shows until it transmits transmission information by a distribution part, and is accumulate | stored in a memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the flowchart until it transmits the transmission information accumulate | stored in the memory | storage part. It is a figure shown about the case where the transmission processing which concerns on embodiment of this invention is applied to a wide area intra network.

≪Example of billing form≫
FIG. 1 shows an example of a billing form that is actually used commercially.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described below, a case where the accounting form shown in FIG. 1 is applied will be described.

  In the charging mode example shown in FIG. 1, three types of communication speeds of 64 Kbps, 512 Kbps, and 1 Mbps are prepared, and the user can arbitrarily select a communication speed to be used for each communication. Can do.

  For each of these communication speeds, a unit price is charged for communication per unit time. That is, the unit price is charged if the communication time is within the unit time, and the multiple of the unit price is charged if the communication time requires a plurality of unit times.

  In this example, the unit time is 30 seconds, and the unit price is 1.0 yen for a communication speed of 64 Kbps, 1.5 yen for 512 Kbps, and 2.0 yen for 1 Mbps.

  Thus, the unit price varies depending on the communication speed, and the unit price is set higher if the communication speed is higher. Although not shown in this table, the unit time may be set longer as the communication speed increases. For example, when the communication speed is 2.6 Mbps, the unit time is set to 3 minutes and the unit price is set to 15 yen.

FIG. 1 shows the unit price, the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time, the number of transmissions of an ordinary document per unit time, and the charge amount per ordinary document for each communication speed.
As shown here, in this billing mode, a high communication speed is used when the amount of data to be transmitted is small, and conversely, a low communication speed is used. Thus, the communication cost varies depending on the communication speed.

<< Hardware Configuration of Embodiment >>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 that controls the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus 1, and a ROM 12 (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs of the facsimile apparatus 1. ), A RAM 13 (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU 11, and an HD (Hard Disk Memory) 14 for storing various data such as image information and setting values used for various processes.

  The facsimile apparatus 1 further includes a scanner 15, a plotter 16, operation buttons 17, a display 18, and a network interface 19. Reference numeral 20 denotes a bus line such as an address bus and a data bus for electrically connecting these components, and reference numeral 30 denotes a network which is a communication line.

  The scanner 15 scans a document image and converts it into image information, and the plotter 16 prints an image such as received image information on paper.

  The operation button 17 is used by the user to operate the facsimile apparatus 1 such as destination input and transmission conditions, and the display 18 displays a status when operating the facsimile apparatus 1 and an operation state.

  The network interface 19 is an interface for performing communication such as data transmission with another facsimile apparatus 1 via the network 30.

  The HD 14 is not limited to the HD, and other memories such as a flash memory may be used as long as they are nonvolatile.

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the facsimile machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 41, a scanner unit 42, a plotter unit 43, an operation display unit 44, a storage unit 45, a network control unit 46, an encoding / decoding unit 47, and a transmission processing unit. 48.

Each of these units is a function or means realized by any one of the components shown in FIG. 2 operating according to a command from the CPU 11 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 12.
Each of these parts will be described.

  The system control unit 41 performs overall control as the facsimile apparatus 1.

  The scanner unit 42 and the plotter unit 43 are executed by the scanner 15 and the plotter 16, and convert a document image into image information and print the image information on paper.

    The operation display unit 44 is executed by the operation buttons 17 and the display 18, and among the operations of the transmission conditions performed by the user, the priority of the image information to be transmitted, for example, the transmission time or the communication cost is prioritized. Includes degree input.

  The storage unit 45 includes transmission information to be transmitted, bibliographic information such as destination information attached to the image information, information on the data amount of the transmission information, information on the transmission process set by the transmission process setting unit 481, and a priority described later. Information, communication speed information to be used, and the like are stored, and RAM 13 and HD 14 are used.

  The network control unit 46 exchanges data with the network 30 side, such as transmitting image information packetized via the network interface 19 to the network 30 or receiving image information packetized from the network 30.

  The encoding / decoding unit 47 is a T.264 of ITU (International Telecommunication Union). In accordance with the method defined in Recommendation 4, the image information to be transmitted is subjected to data compression by encoding, and the received image information is decoded to reproduce the original image information.

  The transmission processing unit 48 performs transmission processing corresponding to the priority of each transmission information requested to be transmitted. Specifically, the transmission processing unit 48 transmits the transmission information immediately, or one or more transmission information of the same destination A plurality of transmission processes corresponding to the priority of transmission are performed, such as transmission of transmission as one transmission in which transmission is completed within one or a plurality of charging unit times at the same communication speed.

  The transmission processing unit 48 includes a transmission processing setting unit 481, a distribution unit 482, a storage unit 483, a stored data amount management unit 484, a transmission information data amount detection unit 485, a transmittable data amount setting unit 486, a transmission limit data amount setting unit. 487, a transmission timing determination unit 488, and an accumulation limit time management unit 489.

  The transmission process setting unit 481 sets a plurality of transmission processes corresponding to the priority of each image information. As the transmission process, a plurality of transmission processes with different arrival frequencies of transmission timing when one or more transmission information of the same destination is transmitted as one transmission, and the data amount of transmission information transmitted as one transmission is different. There is a transmission process for setting the transmission process.

  The distribution unit 482 selects one of the transmission processes set by the transmission process setting unit 481 corresponding to the priority of the transmission information, and distributes each transmission information to the transmission process. is there.

  The accumulation unit 483 is a part of the function of the storage unit 45, and stores and accumulates transmission information when transmission information is accumulated and transmitted. In addition to transmission information, destination information associated with the transmission information, and the like Bibliographic information, priority information, communication speed information to be used, and the like are stored. The storage unit 483 can collectively manage the same communication speed and the same destination.

  The accumulated data amount management unit 484 grasps and manages the total data amount of transmission information of the same communication speed and the same destination accumulated in the accumulation unit 483.

  The transmission information data amount detection unit 485 detects the data amount of transmission information after data compression is performed on information read from a transmission original or information directly input to the apparatus.

  The transmittable data amount setting unit 486 sets the transmittable data amount per unit time for charging at each communication speed.

  The transmission limit data amount setting unit 487 sets the transmission limit data amount per unit time for charging at each communication speed. The transmission limit data amount is a fixed amount of data amount with respect to the “transmittable data amount”, and a plurality of transmission rate data amounts can be provided at different communication speeds.

  The transmission timing determination unit 488 determines the timing for transmitting the transmission information based on a predetermined condition. When the transmission information is accumulated and transmitted, the same communication speed among the transmission information accumulated in the accumulation unit 483 is transmitted. In addition, transmission is determined when a predetermined data amount per unit time at each communication speed used by the total data amount of the same destination reaches, for example, a transmission limit data amount.

  Further, the transmission timing determination unit 488 determines that transmission is performed when the accumulation time of transmission information accumulated in the accumulation unit 483 has elapsed, that is, when a timeout has occurred.

  The accumulation limit time management unit 489 manages whether or not the accumulation limit time which is the predetermined time has elapsed.

  Information on various settings in the transmission processing unit 48 is stored in the storage unit 45.

<< Transmission Process of Embodiment >>
Here, the transmission process set in the transmission process setting unit 481 will be described.

  The plurality of transmission processes set in the transmission process setting unit 481 can be broadly divided into a process for immediate transmission and a transmission request for the same destination after that, and a plurality of pieces of transmission information for the same destination are collectively transmitted as one transmission. There is a process (hereinafter referred to as “carpool transmission”).

The plurality of transmission processes are set so as to correspond to the priority set for each transmission information. The priority is input by the user on the operation display unit 44 and stored in the storage unit 45 in association with each piece of transmission information.
In this embodiment, there are a transmission time priority that prioritizes the transmission time and a communication cost priority that prioritizes lowering the charge amount.
FIG. 4 shows an example of transmission processing (first example) set in the transmission processing setting unit 481. This information is stored in the storage unit 45.

  The transmission process shown in FIG. 4 shows a process in which four transmission processes with different transmission information and different transmission speeds are set corresponding to the transmission information transmission timing priority.

  In this transmission process, there are four types of transmission timing priorities: “highest”, “high”, “medium”, and “low”.

  In FIG. 4, regarding the presence / absence of accumulation, only “highest” is set to “not accumulate”, that is, immediate transmission, and the others are set to “accumulate”.

  The communication speed is set to 1 Mbps, which is a high communication speed for “highest”, is set to 64 kbps, which is a low communication speed for priority “high”, and is set to medium for priority “medium”. A communication speed of 512 Kbps is set, and for the priority “low”, a high communication speed of 1 Mbps is set.

In the transmission process for accumulating the transmission information, that is, the transmission process for the shared transmission, the transmission information is stored in the accumulation unit 483.
In this case, communication speed information and destination information used together with each transmission information are stored.
As a result, the storage unit 483 can collectively manage the same communication speed and the same destination, and can grasp the total data amount or read and transmit them collectively.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 483 is configured such that the storage speed and destination can be identified by a single storage device in terms of hardware, but a plurality of storage devices are provided for each communication speed. You may do it.

  In this way, when transmission information is stored, transmission information of the same communication speed and the same destination can be grasped collectively, and this can be transmitted as one transmission.

The total data amount of one transmission of the same communication speed and the same destination is determined in accordance with the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time of charging, and the total data amount of the same communication speed and the same destination stored in the storage unit 483 is used. If transmission is performed when the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time at the communication speed is reached, it is possible to prevent vacancy in the transmission time within the unit time.
Therefore, if this is done, the maximum amount of data can be transmitted within the unit price of billing, and no waste occurs, so communication costs can be kept low.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transmittable data amount per unit time is small when the communication speed is low, and large when the communication speed is high.

On the other hand, the unit price is cheap when the communication speed is slow and high when the communication speed is high.
From the viewpoint of the amount of data that can be transmitted within a unit time, if a high communication speed is used, the amount of data that can be transmitted is large, and the communication cost is reduced.

  Therefore, when transmission information having the same communication speed and the same destination is collectively transmitted as one transmission, the communication cost with respect to the transmission data amount is lower when a higher communication speed is used from the viewpoint of communication cost.

  However, in the case of a high communication speed, the amount of data that can be transmitted within a unit time is larger than that in the case of a low communication speed. The time required for the total data amount of the destination transmission information to reach the transmittable data amount per unit time is longer than in the case of the low communication speed.

  Transmission of transmission information is performed when the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time at each communication speed used by the same data rate and the total data amount of the same destination is reached. It depends on how long it takes to reach the amount of data that can be sent.

  That is, when a high communication speed is used, it takes a long time for the total data amount to reach this transmittable data amount, so the arrival frequency of the transmission timing is low, and when a low communication speed is used Since the time until the total data amount reaches the transmittable data amount is shortened, the arrival frequency of the transmission timing is increased. As described above, the arrival frequency of the transmission timing varies depending on the transmission processing depending on which communication speed is used.

  Therefore, when transmitting transmission information of the same communication speed and the same destination as one communication, from the viewpoint of transmission time priority, it is possible to make the transmission time earlier by using a lower communication speed, It matches the transmission time priority.

  Thus, in order to reduce communication costs, that is, to increase communication cost priority, it is better to use a higher communication speed, and to increase transmission time priority, it is better to use a lower communication speed. become. In this embodiment, the communication speed is selected and set depending on which of the two is prioritized.

  Note that the above description is a principle description, and is described by using the “transmittable data amount” per unit time of charging. I try to have room.

  That is, instead of the “transmittable data amount” itself, the “transmission limit data amount” is used at a fixed rate, for example, 80% of the “transmittable data amount”.

To determine the ratio of “Transmission limit data amount” to “Transmitted data amount”,
The viewpoint of keeping the communication cost as low as possible so that there is no vacancy in the transmission time within the unit time, and the total data amount of the same communication speed and the same destination transmitted as one transmission when the transmission limit data amount is reached However, considering the viewpoint of whether the transmission is completed by transmission per unit time without exceeding the “transmissible data amount”, it is specifically determined according to the embodiment.

  Of course, in this case, the “transmission limit data amount” may be the same as the “transmittable data amount” (that is, 100% with respect to the “transmittable data amount”).

  For this reason, in this description, “transmissible data amount” includes “transmission limit data amount” unless “transmissible data amount” is used separately from “transmission limit data amount”. It shall be used.

  A method for transmitting total data of the same communication speed and the same destination as one communication will be described, for example, as follows.

1) When the total data amount of transmission information with the same communication speed and the same destination of the stored transmission information reaches the transmission limit data amount per unit time at each communication speed to be used, all of the stored transmission information is The transmission information of the same communication speed and the same destination is emptied.
In this case, as a result of accumulating the data of the last transmission information, the data amount to be transmitted may exceed the transmittable data amount. That is, the communication time exceeds the unit time, and the communication cost may not be suppressed.

To cope with this, it is conceivable to set the transmission limit data amount with a margin.
This method has an advantage that the configuration is simple because the transmission processing collectively handles the accumulated transmission information.

  2) When the total data amount of the same transmission speed and the same destination of the stored transmission information reaches the transmission limit data amount or the transmittable data amount per unit time at each communication speed to be used, The transmission information corresponding to the range of the transmittable data amount per unit time is transmitted, and the remaining transmission information is sent to the next transmission.

  In this case, since the amount of data to be transmitted does not exceed the amount of data that can be transmitted, the communication cost can be surely reduced, but on the other hand, the accumulated transmission information is collectively processed. In comparison, there is a disadvantage that the configuration becomes complicated.

In carrying out, either 1) or 2) above may be used.
In this embodiment, the method 1) is performed, but the method 2) may be used.

As described above, when the “transmission limit data amount” of a predetermined ratio with respect to the “transmissible data amount” per unit time of charging at the communication speed to be used is used as the data amount of transmission information transmitted as one transmission, “ It is possible to provide a margin for the “transmissible data amount”, and it is possible to handle according to the actual situation of the transmission data amount.
In FIG. 4, transmission processing is set in consideration of the above description.

  That is, the transmission processing shown in FIG. 4 is set differently in terms of the arrival frequency of the transmission timing and the communication cost, and the arrival frequency of the transmission timing is shortened with respect to the transmission timing priority, For the priority, a communication speed with a low communication unit price is used and the above-mentioned carpool transmission is performed.

In FIG. 4, the communication speed for the high transmission timing priority is set to a communication speed with a small amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time.
At communication speeds where the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time is small, the amount of transmission limit data that accumulates transmission information before transmission is small, and the interval that satisfies this transmission limit data amount by transmission information is shortened. The arrival frequency becomes high. That is, the smaller the transmission limit data amount, the shorter the waiting time until transmission, and the earlier transmission can be performed.

  When the unit time for charging is the same at each communication speed as in the charging mode applied to the present embodiment, the lower the communication speed, the smaller the transmission limit data amount. The frequency of arrival becomes higher and the waiting time until transmission becomes shorter, so that transmission can be performed earlier.

In addition, in FIG. 4, a communication speed having a low communication unit price with respect to the communication cost priority is used. Specifically, when the data amount of transmission information to be transmitted as one transmission is large,
There may be a case where the charge unit price per unit data amount is low in the data amount of transmission information transmitted as one transmission. In the transmission process shown in FIG. 4, as is apparent from FIG. By doing so, it is possible to set the transmission process suitable for the communication cost priority.

FIG. 5 shows an accumulation BOX of the accumulation unit 483 that accumulates the transmission limit data amount corresponding to the communication speed and the transmission information. This transmission limit data amount is set to 80% of the transmittable data amount. The transmission limit data amount is used in the transmission process of FIG.
The storage BOX is a storage BOX that is conceptually divided into storage units 483 when transmitting information is stored. This will be described later.

  In the transmission processing of FIG. 4, a high speed of 1 Mbps is set for the priority “highest”, but “highest” is transmitted without accumulating, so there is no need to consider the limit data amount described above and communication. The speed can be chosen arbitrarily.

In this embodiment, 1 Mbps is set. However, even when the data amount of “highest” transmission information is large, transmission can be completed within a unit time, and the “highest” billing amount is high. It is trying not to become.
Therefore, if the data volume of the “highest” transmission information is small, the billing amount can be reduced by setting the lowest transmission speed among the transmission speeds where the data volume is within the transmittable data volume per unit time. Can do.
In this embodiment, there are a transmission time priority that prioritizes the transmission time as a priority, and a communication cost priority that prioritizes lowering the charge amount. The relationship between the two priorities will be described. .

  In the case of carpool transmission, the relationship between the transmission time priority and the communication cost priority is such that when one is determined, the other is determined by it.

  Note that the transmission time priority “highest” is an immediate communication that is transmitted without accumulating, and the communication speed can be selected arbitrarily, and the communication cost is determined by the selected communication speed. It is not determined by the relationship.

Therefore, in the case of carpool transmission, a balance is achieved depending on which priority of transmission timing or communication cost is given priority over the other.
For example, in the priority shown in FIG. 4, only the transmission time priority is shown as the priority, but the communication cost priority is opposite to the transmission time priority. That is, when the transmission time priority of FIG. 4 is “high”, the communication cost priority is “low”, and when the transmission time priority is “low”, the communication cost priority is “high”. .

  When balancing the transmission time priority and the communication cost priority, if the transmission time priority is set to “medium”, the communication cost priority is also set to “medium”. .

Since this priority level can be provided as appropriate, both the transmission time priority and the communication cost priority can be set more finely.
For this reason, when the user selects a priority, either a transmission time priority or a communication cost priority may be selected.

  In the above transmission processing mode, when one or more transmission information of the same destination is transmitted as one transmission that is completed within one or a plurality of times of the unit time of the communication line, different transmission timings are used. Since it is possible to set and select and transmit one of these, it is possible to control the transmission timing of the transmission information, and to give priority to the transmission information and perform transmission processing corresponding to it.

  In addition, the priority of the transmission time and the priority of the communication cost are provided as the priorities, and the transmission process considering both of these priorities can be performed.

  As for the correspondence to the communication cost priority, it is possible to set a transmission process suitable for the amount determined by the billing method such as the amount of communicable data, unit time, and unit price.

  FIG. 6 shows another example (second example) of transmission processing set in the transmission processing setting unit 481.

  In the transmission process shown in FIG. 6, in addition to the transmission time priority shown in FIG. 4, the presence / absence of transmission information and the transmission speed are set in consideration of the data amount of the transmission information.

  The data amount of the transmission information is a data amount after the transmission original is read by the scanner unit 42 or the data is compressed in order to transmit information input directly to the apparatus. This data is transmitted by the transmission information data amount detection unit 485. Detected.

  6 is stored in the storage unit 45 in the same manner as in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, there are four types of transmission timing priorities, “highest”, “high”, “medium”, and “low”, similar to those shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the data amount of the transmission information is divided into three types, “small”, “medium”, and “large”.

  FIG. 7 shows an indication of the data amount of “small”, “medium”, and “large”. The data amount of “small”, “medium”, and “large” is different from the number of bytes in the line density. This is indicated by the number of three types of documents.

  The transmission data has a linear density, usually a small letter, or a fine letter, and is selected by a user input or automatically selected by a device.

  Here, the data amount of “small”, “medium”, and “large” is matched with the transmittable data amount per unit time of each communication speed shown in FIG.

That is, the data amount “small” is set within a range of less than 1.9 Mbytes that can be transmitted at a communication rate of 64 Kbps, and the data amount “medium” exceeds 1.9 Mbytes of the transmittable data amount at a communication rate of 64 Kbps. The possible data amount is set to a range less than 30.0 Mbytes, and the data amount “large” is set as a range exceeding the transmittable data amount 30.0 Mbytes at a communication speed of 1 Mbps.
The range of data amount “medium” includes a transmittable data amount of 15.4 Mbytes at a communication speed of 512 Kbps.

  The transmission process shown in FIG. 6 will be described.

In FIG. 6, when the data amount of the transmission information is “small”, the same communication speed as that shown in FIG. 4 is set except that the transmission time priority is “highest”. That is, “high”, “medium”, and “low” in the case of “accumulate” are handled in the same manner as in FIG.
When the data amount of the transmission information is “small” and the transmission time priority is “highest”, the data is transmitted immediately without accumulating, but since the data amount is less than 1.9 Mbytes, the data amount is small. Since it is within the transmittable data amount per unit time of 64 Kbps at low speed and transmitted within the unit time, it is set to 64 Kbps.

In addition, when the data amount of the image data is “medium”, the data amount is more than 1.9 Mbytes of the transmittable data amount at the communication speed of 64 Kbps, and less than 30.0 Mbytes of the transmittable data amount at the communication speed of 1 Mbps. When the degree is “highest”, if the communication speed is 1 Mbps, the data amount of the image data falls within the transmittable data amount per unit time and is transmitted within the unit time.
Accordingly, since the communication cost is lower overall, the priority is set to 1 Mbps, which falls within the transmittable data amount per unit time, for the “highest” priority.

  On the other hand, when the data amount of the image data is “medium” and the communication speed is 512 Kbps, which is the medium speed, the data amount of the image data falls within the transmittable data amount of 15.4 Mbytes per unit time of 512 Kbps. There is a possibility that the next unit time may be charged beyond the unit time, but the transmission timing is conversely faster than when the communication speed is 1 Mbps.

This means that when the communication speed is a medium speed of 512 Kbps, the communication cost is higher than that when the communication speed is 1 Mbps, but the transmission timing is advanced.
Considering this point, when the data amount of the image data is “medium”, for the transmission timing priority “high” and “medium”, the communication speed with the transmission timing prioritized over the communication cost is set to 512 Kbps. Is set.

  On the other hand, when the transmission time priority is “low”, the communication cost is prioritized to be within the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time, and the transmission data cost is set to 1 Mbps.

  When the amount of image data is “Large”, the amount of data exceeds the transmittable data amount of 30.0 Mbytes with a communication speed of 1 Mbps. Therefore, when the transmission time priority is “highest”, the communication speed is The communication cost is lowest at 1 Mbps. Therefore, for “highest”, the communication speed is set to 1 Mbps.

Similarly, when the communication speed is 512 Kbps at the medium speed or 64 Kbps at the low speed, there is no merit because the transmission time spans a plurality of unit times and the transmission timing is not advanced. .
Accordingly, when the data amount of the image data is “large”, the communication speed is set to 1 Mbps regardless of the transmission time priority.

Thus, in addition to the transmission information transmission time priority request, the transmission information accumulation amount and the transmission speed are set in consideration of the data amount of the transmission information, so that the transmission time priority and the communication cost priority are set. For this, it is possible to perform more suitable transmission.
For each communication speed in the transmission process shown in FIG. 6, similarly to the case of FIG. 4, the storage BOX that stores the transmission limit data amount and transmission information set in FIG. 5 is used.

  However, the description shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 has been described using the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time for charging, and when implemented in this way, the transmission limit data amount in FIG. The amount is changed to the same amount, that is, changed to 100% with respect to the transmittable data amount.

  Further, when the transmission limit data amount of FIG. 5 is used, the transmission limit data amount is set to 80% of the transmittable data amount in FIG. ”,“ Large ”data amount is changed to 80% of the amount and used.

  FIG. 8 shows another example (third example) of transmission processing set in the transmission processing setting unit 481.

  In the transmission process shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, the presence or absence of transmission information and the communication speed to be used are set for each priority corresponding to the transmission time priority of the transmission information. In the processing, when the communication speed is the same, the transmission processing is set so that the transmission limit data amount is different corresponding to the transmission time priority.

  That is, the transmission limit data amount is set without accompanying the communication speed.

  In FIG. 8, there are four types of transmission timing priorities, “highest”, “high”, “medium”, and “low”, as in the case of FIGS. Are used in common for each transmission time priority, and different transmission limit data amounts are set for each transmission time priority.

  In this case, the transmission limit data amount is set differently by changing the ratio to the transmittable data amount.

  That is, the transmission limit data amount is set to 4.6 Mbytes (30% of the transmittable data amount) for the priority “high”, and 9.2 Mbytes (transmittable data amount) for the priority “medium”. 60%), and 13.9 Mbyte (90% of the transmittable data amount) is set for “low”. No transmission limit data amount is set for transmission time priority “highest” because no accumulation is performed.

  Since transmission is performed when the total data amount of the same communication speed and the same destination reaches the set transmission limit data amount, the arrival frequency of the transmission timing becomes high when the transmission limit data amount is small, When the transmission limit data amount is large, it becomes low.

  Therefore, when the transmission timing priority is “high”, the arrival frequency of the transmission timing is high, and transmission processing corresponding to the transmission timing priority “high” is performed.

  Conversely, when transmission is performed within a unit time, the charge amount is the same as the unit price for any transmission limit data amount, but if the transmission limit data amount is small, one transmission is performed. As the amount of data decreases and becomes expensive, the possibility of requiring a plurality of unit times as the transmission time increases, and in this case, the amount becomes a multiple of the unit price and increases.

  Thus, even in the case of the same communication speed, from immediate transmission to a plurality of transmission limit data amounts can be set stepwise as necessary, and communication processing with priority can be performed.

  FIG. 8 shows an accumulation BOX of the accumulation unit 483 that accumulates the transmission limit data amount corresponding to the communication speed and the transmission information. This storage BOX will be described later.

  The example of the transmission process shown in FIG. 8 shows the case where the communication speed is the same, but this process is applied when there are a plurality of communication speeds as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. If a plurality of transmission limit data amounts are further set for, detailed transmission processing can be set.

<< Processing and Operation of Embodiment >>
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process when transmission information is accumulated in the transmission process.
FIG. 9 shows a distribution unit 482, an accumulation unit 483, and a transmission timing determination unit 488.

  The storage unit 483 stores each piece of transmission information, communication speed information used for the transmission information, and destination information, and the same communication speed and the same destination are collectively managed. In FIG. 9, for the purpose of explanation, when the transmission information is stored, the storage unit 483 is conceptually divided and indicated as a storage BOX. That is, the storage unit 483 shows a storage BOX that presumes that another hardware unit is used for each processing unit such as a communication speed.

  This storage BOX is provided for each transmission process. For example, the transmission process shown in FIG. 4 or 6 is provided for each communication process. In the transmission process shown in FIG. 8, it is provided for each transmission limit data amount.

  That is, in the case of FIG. 4 or FIG. 6, the storage BOX 1 is provided for a communication speed of 64 Kbps, the storage BOX 2 is provided for a communication speed of 512 Kbps, and the storage BOX 3 is provided for a communication speed of 1 Mbps.

  In the case of FIG. 8, the storage BOX has a transmission limit data amount of 4.6 Mbytes (30% of the transmittable data amount) and the storage BOX1 of 9.2 Mbytes (60% of the transmittable data amount). The storage BOX 3 is provided for the storage BOX 2 and 3.9 Mbytes (90% of the transmittable data amount).

  In each storage BOX, transmission information of the same destination is further collected and managed as a destination list for each destination.

  As the destination list, a list of destination A and a list of destination B are created in the storage BOX1, a list of destination A is created in the storage BOX2, and a list of destination B is created in the storage BOX3.

  The transmission information in the destination A list of the storage BOX 1 and the transmission information in the destination A list of the storage BOX 2 are of the same destination, but are transmitted at different timings because the transmission timing priorities are different.

  When there is transmission information of a new destination in each stored BOX list, the destination list is newly created, and when all transmissions in the list are completed and become empty, the list is deleted.

  When transmission processing is started and transmission information with data compression is input to the distribution unit 482, the distribution unit 482 refers to the transmission time priority assigned to the transmission information, and the transmission in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, or FIG. The transmission information is distributed to the storage BOX corresponding to the transmission timing priority of the process. The distributed transmission information is stored in the distributed storage BOX. The stored transmission information is managed by being bundled into a destination list in the storage BOX.

  For each transmission information, the data amount after data compression is detected by the transmission information data amount detection unit 485, and this data amount is stored in each storage BOX together with the transmission information, and the transmission information in each destination list of each storage BOX The accumulated data amount management unit 484 manages the total data amount.

  The transmission timing determining means determines that transmission is performed when the total data amount of transmission information in each destination list reaches the transmission limit data amount of the communication speed of the storage BOX, and all the data in the destination list is output. Then, it is transmitted as one transmission by the network control unit 46.

  Next, execution of transmission processing will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 10 shows a flowchart up to the point where the transmission information is sorted by the sorting unit 482 and stored in the storage BOX of the storage unit 483.

  The flowchart of FIG. 10 shows the processing for the cases of FIGS.

  First, at the time of transmission, input of a transmission destination such as a transmission destination, a line density, and a transmission time priority from the user is received by the operation display unit 44 (step S1). This information is stored in the storage unit 45.

Next, the transmission document is scanned by the scanner unit 42 and converted into image information in accordance with the transmission conditions. The image information is encoded and encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 47, and the compressed transmission information is stored in the storage unit 45 . Remember. At the same time, the data amount of the transmission information compressed is detected by the transmission information data detection unit, and this information is stored in the storage unit 453 (step S2).

  The transmission information is stored in the storage unit 45 with a transmission destination and a data amount attached.

  Next, the distribution unit 482 selects a transmission process to be used from the transmission conditions, the transmission timing priority, the transmission information, and the like input in Steps S1 and S2 (Step S3).

Since the processing in step S3 differs depending on the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, each will be described.
(1) In the case of FIG. 4, the distribution unit 482 refers to the transmission process of FIG. 4 set by the transmission process setting unit 481, and transmits the transmission corresponding to the transmission time priority input in step S1. Select a process.
(2) In the case of FIG. 6, the distribution unit 482 refers to the transmission process of FIG. 6 set by the transmission process setting unit 481 and the data amount guideline of FIG. 7, and is input in step S1. A corresponding transmission process is selected from the transmission time priority and the data amount of the transmission information detected in step S2.
(3) In the case of FIG. 8, the distribution unit 482 refers to the transmission process of FIG. 8 set by the transmission process setting unit 481, and transmits the transmission corresponding to the transmission time priority input in step S1. Select a process.

  Next, the distribution unit 482 determines whether or not the selected transmission process is stored (step S4).

  When the presence / absence of accumulation in step S4 is “not accumulated” (YES in step S4), the network control unit 46 makes a call and transmits the transmission information stored in the storage unit 45 (step S5).

  When the presence / absence of accumulation in step S4 is “accumulate” (NO in step S4), the distribution unit 482 corresponds the transmission information, transmission destination, and data amount stored in the storage unit 45 to the selected transmission process. The storage boxes are sorted and stored (step S6).

The processing in step S6 is as follows for each of FIGS.
(1) In the case of FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, referring to FIG. 5, the transmission process storage BOX corresponding to the transmission speed of the transmission process selected in step S3 is selected.
(2) In the case of FIG. 8, the storage BOX corresponding to the transmission limit data amount is selected from the transmission limit data amount of FIG.

  In each storage BOX, transmission information of the same destination is collectively managed as a destination list for each destination.

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for determining the transmission timing by the transmission timing determination unit 488 and transmitting the transmission information stored in the storage BOX.

  FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for each storage BOX, and the processing is performed for each storage BOX.

  The flowchart of FIG. 11 shows the processing for the cases of FIGS.

  First, the transmission timing determination unit 488 monitors whether or not new transmission information is accumulated for the accumulation BOX at regular intervals (step S11).

  When new transmission information is accumulated (YES in step S11), the accumulated data amount management unit 484 updates the latest data of the total data amount of the transmission information in each destination list of the accumulation BOX, that is, the transmission information of the same destination. A cumulative value is obtained (step S12).

  Specifically, the accumulated data amount management unit 484 adds the data amount of the new transmission information to the current accumulated value of the transmission data of the same destination in the accumulation BOX, and the accumulated value of the total data amount Update.

  The accumulated data amount management unit 484 monitors the accumulated value of the total data amount, and confirms whether or not the total data amount has reached the transmission limit data amount (step S13).

  When the total data amount reaches the transmission limit data amount (YES in step S13), the transmission timing determination unit 488 determines to transmit, and all data of the same destination stored in the storage BOX is stored. The data is output from the storage BOX, is called by the network control unit 46, and is transmitted to the destination as one transmission. All the data output at the same time is deleted from the storage BOX (step S14).

  If the total data amount has not reached the transmission limit data amount (NO in step S13), the process returns to the beginning and the process in step S11 is performed.

  If no new transmission information is accumulated in step S11 (NO in step S11), the transmission timing determination unit 488 determines whether any accumulation time of the transmission information accumulated in the accumulation BOX has elapsed for a predetermined time, That is, it is confirmed whether the accumulation time has timed out (step S15).

  If the accumulation time has timed out (YES in step S15), the transmission timing determination unit 488 determines to transmit, and performs the process in step S14.

  If the accumulation time has not timed out (NO in step S15), the process returns to the beginning and the process in step S11 is performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, transmission information may be transmitted as one transmission in which one or more transmission information of the same destination is completed within one or more times of unit time of the communication line. Since different transmission timings can be set and any one of them can be selected and transmitted, the transmission timing of transmission information can be controlled.

  Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to select a communication process with a low charge unit price corresponding to the charge form of the communication line, so that the communication cost of transmission information can be controlled.

  In the present embodiment, since various transmission processes are set in the transmission process setting unit, and a transmission process to be used is selected from among the various transmission processes, for example, when the communication speed of the communication line is one or more Transmission can be performed by setting various transmission processes such as a transmission process and a transmission process reflecting the data amount of transmission information.

  In this embodiment, the transmission information stored in the storage unit is transmitted when the storage time has passed the storage limit time. In this case, all the data stored in the same destination is output, and the network Since the control unit 46 makes a call and transmits the transmission as one transmission to the destination, it is possible to prevent transmission information from being transmitted for a long time, and to perform efficient transmission considering communication cost.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, transmission processing is selected according to the priority of transmission information, and transmission can be performed at a transmission time or communication cost corresponding to the priority.

<< Mode in which the transmission process of the embodiment is applied to an intra network >>
FIG. 12 shows a case where the transmission processing according to the above embodiment is applied to a wide area intra network.

  In FIG. 12, reference numeral 50 denotes a company intra network, to which a facsimile machine 151 at a geographically distant Osaka branch, a facsimile machine 152 at a Tokyo branch, and a distribution server 53 at the head office in Tokyo are connected. .

  Reference numeral 60 denotes an external network, for example, an NGN network, which is connected to those of different network service companies to form one network.

  The facsimile machines 151 and 52 and the distribution 53 server connected to the in-house intra network 50 are also connected to the external network 60.

  The facsimile machines 151 and 52 are the facsimile machine 1 having the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the distribution server has a hardware configuration and a functional configuration for executing functions related to the transmission processing unit 48 of the facsimile machine 1 of the above-described embodiment. It is what you have.

  In this configuration, in the facsimile apparatus 151 or 52, when the destination is outside the company and the transmission timing priority is “highest”, that is, in the case of immediate transmission, each facsimile apparatus 151 or 52 is indicated by an arrow A as shown in FIG. Transmission is performed via the external network 60.

  When the transmission time priority is other than “highest”, that is, when transmission information is stored, the transmission information is sent to the distribution server 53 via the intra network 50 as indicated by an arrow B together with the priority information and the destination information. The processing stored in the distribution server 53 and shown in the above embodiment is performed, and transmission is performed from the distribution server 53 via the external network 60.

  In this way, the transmission server collects transmission information when storing transmission information from the 53 facsimile machines 151 and 52 in the distribution server, and the amount of transmission processing to be handled increases, so the arrival frequency of transmission timing also increases. In addition, since the degree of transmission of the same destination is increased, the effects of the transmission timing and the communication cost are improved.

1 Fax machine 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM 13
14 HD
15 Scanner 16 Plotter 17 Operation Button 18 Display 19 Network Interface
20 Bus line 30 Network 41 System control unit 42 Scanner unit 43 Plotter unit
44 Operation display unit 45 Storage unit 46 Network control unit 47 Coding / decoding unit 48 Transmission processing unit 481 Transmission processing setting unit 482 Distribution unit 483 Storage unit 484 Storage data amount management unit 485 Transmission information data amount detection unit 486 Transmittable data amount Setting unit 487 Transmission limit data amount setting unit
488 Transmission timing determination unit 489 Storage limit time management unit 50 Intranetwork 51, 52 Facsimile device 53 Distribution server 60 External network

JP-A-5-292292

Claims (5)

A communication terminal device connected to a communication line using a plurality of communication speeds,
A transmission limit data amount setting means in which the transmission limit data amount of each communication speed is set based on the transmittable data amount per unit time at each communication speed;
A transmission process using any one of the plurality of transmission speeds corresponding to the priority of transmission information is set, and the setting of the transmission process is related to one transmission time priority. The transmission limit data amount is less than or equal to the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority lower than the transmission timing priority, and the transmission speed is set higher than the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority higher than the transmission timing priority. Transmission processing setting means for setting the same communication speed with a large limit data amount,
According to the priority of the transmission information for each transmission information, select any one of the communication speeds set in the transmission processing setting means, and a distribution means that distributes the transmission information to the communication speed;
Storage means for storing each transmission information distributed by the distribution means in association with the distributed communication speed;
When the total data amount of the transmission information of the same destination associated with the same communication speed among the transmission information stored in the storage means reaches the transmission limit data amount of the communication speed, the same communication A communication terminal apparatus, comprising: a transmission timing determining unit that determines that transmission information of the same destination associated with a speed is transmitted as one transmission to the destination at the communication speed. A communication terminal device connected to a communication line,
A transmission limit data amount setting means in which a plurality of transmission limit data amounts are set based on the transmittable data amount per unit time at the communication speed of the communication line;
A transmission process using any one of the transmission limit data amounts is set corresponding to the priority of transmission information among the plurality of transmission limit data amounts, and the transmission process setting is set to one transmission timing priority. On the other hand, the transmission limit data amount is set to be less than or equal to the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority lower than the transmission timing priority, and the transmission processing for the transmission timing priority higher than the transmission timing priority is set. A transmission processing setting means for setting the same communication speed with a larger transmission limit data amount than,
According to the priority of the transmission information, according to the priority of the transmission information, any one of the transmission limit data amounts set in the transmission processing setting unit, and a distribution unit that distributes the transmission information to the transmission limit data amount;
Storage means for storing each transmission information distributed by the distributing means in association with the distributed transmission limit data amount;
Among the transmission information stored in the storage means, when the total data amount of the transmission information of the same destination associated with the same transmission limit data amount reaches the transmission limit data amount, the transmission limit data amount A communication terminal apparatus comprising: a transmission timing determination unit that determines that transmission information of the same destination associated with is transmitted to the destination as one transmission. In the communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
Furthermore, it has a storage limit time management means for setting a storage limit time of transmission information stored in the storage means and managing the passage of this time,
The transmission timing determining means determines that the transmission information is transmitted when the accumulation time of any transmission information exceeds the accumulation limit time. In the communication terminal device according to claim 1 or claim 3,
Furthermore, it has a storage limit time management means for setting a storage limit time of transmission information stored in the storage means and managing the passage of this time,
The transmission timing determining means, when the accumulated time of any transmission information exceeds the accumulation limit time, is different from the same destination associated with the same communication speed as the transmission information accumulated in the accumulation means. The transmission terminal apparatus decides to transmit the transmission information as one transmission to the destination at the communication speed together with the transmission information.   A plurality of communication terminal apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 4 are connected to an intra network, and transmission information having a predetermined priority is transmitted from one communication terminal apparatus to another predetermined communication terminal apparatus. Transmission to a communication terminal device via an intra network, and transmission processing via the communication line to the destination of transmission information of the predetermined priority is performed in the predetermined communication terminal device Method.

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