JPH01170160A - System for controlling facsimile output - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lighten the load of a host computer and to improve processing efficiency by providing an output controller to store output data from the host computer and to output them to a facsimile. CONSTITUTION:At the time of outputting the data stored in the external storage device 2 of a host computer 1 to the facsimiles 4-i (i=1-n), the communicating means 5 of the computer 1 outputs all data, which have to be outputted, to the data receiving means 7 of an output controller 3. The controller 3 stores the data into a data storing means 8. Next, the computer 1 and facsimile 4-1 transmit and receive the control information of a line velocity, etc., through an output processing means 9. When the facsimile 4-i is a data receiving standby condition, the output processing means 9 transmits the data stored in the data storing means 8 to the facsimile. Since the computer 1 does not need to execute a data transmission to be matched with the condition of the facsimile, the processing efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for controlling the output of file data from a host computer to a plurality of facsimile machines connected to the host computer via a communication line.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in this type of file output control method, when performing data output processing from a host computer to a facsimile machine, communication control information is first sent and received between the host computer and the facsimile machine, and then the facsimile side A control method was used in which the host computer only started sending output data to the facsimile machine after all reception preparations had been completed and the facsimile machine was in a data reception waiting state.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional facsimile output control method described above, the host computer starts transmitting output data after all reception preparations on the facsimile side have been completed and the facsimile machine is in a data reception waiting state. Since this is a control method, the host computer side is affected by the processing monitoring time limit on the facsimile side, and as soon as the host computer side receives the information that reception preparation is complete from the facsimile machine, it is necessary to immediately send data to be output to the facsimile machine.

In addition, response and output processing on the host computer side is subject to severe restrictions, such as the need to continue sending without delay until the end of facsimile output, and trying to adhere to these restrictions would place an excessive load on the host computer. There is a problem that processing efficiency deteriorates.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the facsimile output control method provided by the present invention is applicable to a system in which a host computer and a plurality of facsimile machines are connected via an output control device. , a method for controlling data output from the host computer to the facsimile machine, wherein communication control information between the host computer and the facsimile machine and output data in a data file stored in an external storage device are controlled by the output control method. The host computer includes a facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving between the apparatus and the host computer, an output data receiving means for receiving the output data from the facsimile communication means, and an output for storing all data received by the output data receiving means. The output control device is characterized in that the output control device includes a data storage means and an output processing means for transmitting output start information to the facsimile machine and outputting the data to the facsimile machine after the data is stored by the output data storage means.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile output control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a host computer, 2 is an external storage device, and 3 is a host computer.
4-1 to 4-n are output control devices, 4-1 to 4-n are facsimile machines, 5 is a facsimile communication means, 6 is a data file, 7 is an output data receiving means, 8 is an output data storage means, and 9 is an output processing means.

The facsimile output control system of this embodiment is configured by connecting a host computer 1 and a plurality of facsimiles 4-1 to 4-n via an output control device 3.

When outputting the data of the data file 6 stored in the external storage device 2 of the host computer 1 to the facsimile 4-i, the facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1 transmits data to the output data receiving means 7 of the output control device 3. After that, send the output start information to the
All the data of the data file 6 to be output to -i is transmitted to the output data receiving means 7.

Upon receiving the output start information from the facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1, the output data receiving means 7 of the output control device 3 receives the output data sent from the facsimile communication means 5, and stores the output data in the output data storage means. 8
Store in. Further, when the output data receiving means 7 has finished receiving all the output data from the facsimile communication means 5,
The output processing means 9 is notified of the output start information previously received from the facsimile communication means 5. When the output processing means 9 receives output start information from the output data receiving means 7,
Output start notification is sent to the output light facsimile 4-i.

Thereafter, the facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1 and the facsimile machine 4-i set functions for facsimile output and transmit and receive control information such as line speed and output mode via the output processing means 9. Facsimile 4-i
When the apparatus enters the output data reception waiting state, the output processing means 9 transmits the output data stored in the output data storage means 8 to the facsimile 4-i.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the output request receiving unit 51 receives a request to output the data of the data file 6 stored in the external storage device 2 to the file 4-i, the output data transmitting unit 52 transmits the data to the output control device. The output start information is transmitted to the output data receiving means 7 of No. 3, and then all of the data in the data file 6 is transmitted to the output data transmitting means 7.

When the output data transmitter 52 finishes transmitting all the data of the data file 6 to be output to the output data receiver 7, the control information receiver 53 sends the output light from the output processing means 9 of the output control device 3 to the facsimile. When the control information receiving section 53 waits for the information of the output light facsimile 4-1 to be sent from the output processing means 9, the control information receiving section 53 transmits the control information in response thereto to the control information transmitting section 54. from there to the output processing means 9.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output data receiving means 7 of the output control device 3 of FIG. 1.

The output data receiving section 71 receives output start information and subsequent output data from the facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1, and the output data storage section 72 stores the data received by the output data receiving section 71 as output data. The information is stored in means 8. When all the data have been stored in the output data storage means 8, the output data storage section 72 notifies the output processing means a9 of the output start information previously received by the output data reception section 71 from the facsimile communication means 5.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output processing means 9 of the output control device 3 of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4, when the output data receiving means 7 notifies the output start information, the output control section 91 requests the facsimile communication section 93 to notify the facsimile 4-i of the output start information. Facsimile communication 993 is
When this request is received, an output start notification is sent to the facsimile 4-i.

A response from the facsimile 4-i that received the output start notification is received by the facsimile communication section 93, and is sent to the output control section 91. The facsimile communication means 5 of the host computer 1 is notified via the host communication unit 92. Conversely, a response from the facsimile communication means 5 is received by the host communication section 92, and the output control section 91. The notification is sent to the facsimile 4-i via the facsimile communication section 93.

Through this process flow, the host computer 1
and facsimile 4-i transmit and receive communication control information,
Function settings for facsimile output, line speed, output format, etc. are set, and the facsimile 4-1 is ready to output.

When the facsimile 4-i completes the output preparation and enters the output data reception waiting state, the output control section 91 transfers the output data of the output data storage means 8 to the facsimile communication section 93.
and starts outputting the data to facsimile 4-i. Furthermore, when the data output to the facsimile 4-i is completed or when an abnormality occurs during the data output, the facsimile communication section 93 receives a notification to that effect, and the output control section 91
The host computer 1 is notified by transmitting the information to the facsimile communication means 5 via the host communication unit 92.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention stores all output data on the output control device before transmitting the output start information from the host computer to the facsimile machine, and then transmits the output start information. Since we will start output processing to
Processing on the host computer side is not affected by processing time limitations on the facsimile side, and processing efficiency can be improved by installing a dedicated output control device to perform output processing in place of the host computer, which is likely to be overloaded. It has the effect of being able to improve.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile output control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile communication means of the host computer in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is the block diagram shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output data receiving means of the output control device of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the output processing means of the output control device of FIG. 1... host computer, 2... external storage device,
3... Output control device, 4-1 to 4-n... Facsimile, 5... Facsimile communication means, 6... Data file, 7... Output data receiving means, 8... Output data Storage means, 9... Output processing means, 51... Output request receiving section, 52... Output data transmitting section, 53...
- Control information receiving section, 54... Control information transmitting section, 71.
... Output data receiving section, 72... Output data storage section,
91... Output control unit, 92... Host communication unit, 93
...Facsimile Communication Department.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A system for controlling data output from the host computer to the facsimile machines in a system in which a host computer and a plurality of facsimile machines are connected via an output control device, the system comprising: The host computer includes a facsimile communication means for transmitting and receiving communication control information between the output control device and the host computer and output data in a data file stored in an external storage device, and from the facsimile communication means. output data receiving means for receiving the output data; output data storage means for storing all data received by the output data receiving means; and output start information being sent to the facsimile machine after the output data storage means has stored the data. 1. A facsimile output control method, characterized in that said output control device includes an output processing means for outputting data to said facsimile machine.