JPH02292944A - Data communication terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the telephone communication by switching a data communication mode to a telephone communication mode and announcing the result to the remote side when a communication carrier disappears. CONSTITUTION:When a telephone receiver of a set telephone PHONE is hooked off during the transmission of data with use of a telephone LINE, a switch means CC switches the data communication to the telephone communication. At the same time, a receiver off-hook detecting circuit detects a signal current and this detection signal is inputted to a MODEM control circuit for execution of said switch of communication modes. Thus the telephone communication is available with use of the circuit LINE and the communication carrier of the remote side disappears. Under such conditions, an announcement means ACK announces that the switch is turned over to the remote side via a monitor speaker MS and/or a display terminal. Then the data communication is switched to the telephone communication so that the necessary talks can be carried out after a off-hook state of the remote side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a data communication terminal device capable of data communication using a telephone line.

<Prior Art> In general, in a data communication terminal device that transmits data using a telephone line, such as a facsimile machine, during data communication via a modem (MODEM), the sender communicates with the operator at the other end of the communication. It may be necessary to have a conversation in your own voice. Furthermore, it would be very convenient if such a data communication device could have a conversation with the other party using a telephone during or after data communication.

However, since the modem normally monopolizes the telephone line during data communication by the modem, the line cannot be easily transferred to the telephone.

Examples of such conventional data communication terminal devices include the following devices.

In this device, when the sender picks up the handset of the attached telephone during data communication, the modem is disconnected from the line and the line is transferred to the telephone. That is, it detects that the receiver on the transmitting side goes off-hook and switches from data communication mode to conversation mode. Also, in this conversation mode, the communication carrier for data communication is disconnected. In this case, the communication carrier detection signal (DCD signal) becomes inactive. At this time, a message indicating that the receiver is off-hook is displayed on the display screen of the terminal device on the transmitting side.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, with such conventional data communication terminal devices, even if you take the receiver off-hook when you want to talk to the other party using the telephone during data communication, the other party during data communication It was not possible to notify the other party of the switch from communication mode to conversation mode.

Furthermore, once the sender takes the handset off-hook during data communication, data communication cannot be performed again even if conversation with the other party is not possible after going off-hook.

Furthermore, in conventional data communication terminal devices, a communication carrier detection signal (DCD signal) is turned ON/OFF (active/inactive) depending on the presence or absence of a communication carrier. Therefore, in conversation mode etc., DCD
When the signal is inactive, the data communication terminal device could be reset (hanged up) by an application program running on the data terminal device (eg, a personal computer).

As a result, in order to run the software again, it is inconvenient that the system must be started and run from the beginning.

Therefore, the present application provides, firstly, a data communication terminal device that is capable of notifying the other party of switching to a conversation mode during data communication and making it possible to make a call; Thirdly, a data communication terminal device capable of returning to a data communication mode when a call cannot be made.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data communication terminal device that prevents a hang chip of a communication application program being executed when switching from a data communication mode to a conversation mode.

Means for Solving the Problem> As shown in FIG.
A data communication terminal device that is connected between a data terminal device DTE and a telephone line LINE to perform data communication using INE, and has a monitor speaker MS and/or a display terminal DPY, and is connected during data communication. switching means C for switching data communication to telephone communication when the handset of the attached telephone PHONE is off-hook;
C, and notification means ACK for notifying that data communication has been switched to telephone communication by monitor speaker MS and/or display terminal DPY when the communication carrier from the other party disappears. be.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second invention of the present application is that the data communication terminal device is provided with a return means RCV for automatically returning to data communication if telephone communication is not performed within a certain period of time after notification. It is a data communication terminal device.

The third invention of the present application, as shown in FIG.
In a data communication terminal device connected between the data terminal device DTE and the telephone line LINE to perform data communication using INE, when a request for telephone communication is made during data communication, the data communication is changed to telephone communication. This data communication terminal device includes a switching means CC for switching, and a carrier holding means CM for actively holding a signal indicating that data communication to the data terminal equipment DTE is in progress in response to the switching.

<Operation> In the first invention of the present application, in the data communication terminal device, when the handset of the attached telephone PHONE goes off-hook during data communication using the telephone line LINE,
The data communication is switched to telephone communication by the switching means CC. As a result, telephone communication becomes possible using the telephone line LINE, and the communication carrier disappears. and,
Notification method A when the communication carrier from the other party disappears
CK announces a switch from data communication to telephone communication by both the monitor speaker MS and the display terminal DPY, or at least by one of them.

In the second invention of the present application, in the data communication terminal device, after the monitor speaker MS and/or the display terminal DPY announces that the data communication has been switched to telephone communication, the telephone communication is stopped within a certain period of time. If not, the return means RCV automatically returns from telephone communication to data communication.

In the third invention of the present application, in the data communication terminal device, when a request for telephone communication is made during data communication, the switching means CC switches data communication to telephone communication. Further, in response to this switching, the carrier holding means CM actively holds a signal indicating that data communication is in progress to the data terminal equipment DTE, for example, a communication carrier detection signal.

That is, the data terminal equipment DTE does not detect that the data communication has ended and is maintained in a state where it is determined that the data communication is in progress.

Embodiments> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fourth
7 to 7 are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a general data communication device using a modem. In other words, each modem is connected to the telephone line L.
Connected via INE.

Communication mode γ that performs data communication using the telephone line LINE
If the data terminal equipment DTE is connected to a modem, these modems, telephone lines
Data communication is performed between one data terminal equipment DTE and the other data terminal equipment DTE via the data terminal equipment DTE.

Note that the data terminal equipment DTE and the modem are each connected through an interface (such as RS232C).

In the conversation mode, the modems are connected to each other via the telephone line LINE, but the modems are switched and connected to their respective telephones.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a data communication terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, the receiving side signal line IL connected to the telephone line LINE branches into two signal lines Ll and L2, and one signal line L1 is connected to a telephone set via a handset off-hook detection circuit 11 and a relay 2. connected to the terminal. Further, the other signal line L2 is connected to the analog hybrid circuit 13. 14 is a telephone (handset) connected to a telephone connection terminal.

The handset off-hook detection circuit 11 is configured using a photocoupler, and detects the signal current flowing through the signal line L1 to the handset 14 to detect whether the handset 14 is off-hook or on-hook. The signal is input to the modem control circuit 15 as a signal.

Relay 2 is opened and closed by a relay 2 control signal from modem control circuit 15. That is, the relay 2 has, for example, a normal connect type configuration, and is turned off by the relay 2 control signal.

On the other hand, the signal line OL on the sending side to the telephone line LINE is branched into two signal lines L3 and L4, similar to the receiving side.
On the other hand, L3 is connected to the analog hybrid circuit 13 via the relay 1. Also, the other signal line L
4 is connected to a telephone receiver l4.

The relay 1 connects and disconnects the modem control circuit 15 and the telephone line LINE, and is controlled by a relay 1 control signal from the modem control circuit 15.

The analog hybrid circuit 13 is a modem control circuit 15
It is connected to the. This analog hybrid circuit 13
Inside, it is electrically separated from the telephone line LINE using a transformer.

The analog hybrid circuit l3 is the modem control circuit 15
The signal level of the output signal sent from the telephone line LINE to the telephone line LINE is adjusted, and the signal level of the human input signal from the telephone line LINE is also adjusted.

Although not shown, the modem control circuit 15 mainly includes a well-known modem IC, a modem control CPU, and a ROM for modem firmware.

The modem control circuit 15 is also connected to a DTE (data terminal equipment) interface circuit 17. D
The TE interface circuit 17 is a circuit that controls input/output between the modem control circuit 15 and data terminal equipment (DTE), such as a personal computer or host computer.

The ring detection circuit 19 is connected to signal lines L2 and L3 between the telephone line LINE and the analog hybrid circuit 13. This ring detection circuit 19 is constructed using a photocoupler or the like, and detects a change in the voltage applied to the telephone line LINE and inputs it to the modem control circuit 15 as a ring detection signal.

Further, the loudspeaker circuit 21 controls a monitor loudspeaker 23 built into the device, and is controlled by the modem control circuit 15 in response to a monitor loudspeaker control signal.

Note that a display terminal in the terminal device is not shown.

In the data communication terminal device having the above configuration, for normal data communication, the modem control circuit 15 turns the relay 2 off.
F (open) and relay 1 is turned on (closed). As a result, the handset 14 is disconnected from the telephone line LINE. Then, the modem control circuit 15 transmits the data transmitter carrier (communication carrier) to the other party via the signal lines L2 and L3 and the telephone line LINE, and also transmits the data transmitter carrier (communication carrier) to the other party via the telephone line LINE and the signal line L2.
, is receiving the communication carrier from the other party via L3.

Since the present data communication terminal device is equipped with a function that enables switching between conversation mode and data communication mode, which will be described later, modem control circuit 15 turns on relay 2 (connected state). As a result, the handset off-hook detection circuit 1l can detect when the handset l4 is taken off-hook (picked up).

In this way, the conversation mode/data communication mode switching function is set on the sending terminal device, and the other party's (
Since the terminal device on the receiving side is also set to have a conversation mode/data communication mode switching function, it is possible to shift to the conversation mode during data communication. That is,
During data communication, the switching side takes off the receiver 14 and announces through the monitor speaker of the other party (switching passive side) that it desires to shift to conversation mode. For example, it prompts the other party to go off-hook (pick up) the receiver attached to the phone.

Then, if the receiver of the telephone attached to the other party is taken off-hook, the mode shifts to conversation mode and conversation becomes possible.

If there is no response from the handset due to the fact that the other party is not near the terminal device, etc., the switching operation side waits for a certain period of time and then puts the handset on the hook after inputting the command. As a result, the modem control circuit 15 on the switching operation side, which has once shifted from the data communication mode to the conversation mode, returns from the conversation mode to the data and evening communication mode. The passive switching side automatically transmits the answer tone and the communication carrier again after a certain period of time has elapsed. This allows data communication to be resumed.

Furthermore, even if the communication carrier is disconnected (disappeared) when switching to the conversation mode, the communication carrier detection signal (DCD signal) from the DTE interface circuit 17 to the DTE remains active in this device. I'll keep it.

As a result, even if both data terminal devices are running a certain communication program, the data terminal devices will not be reset by that program. This is because, according to this program, if the DCD signal indicating disconnection of the communication carrier becomes inactive, the terminal device itself may be reset. DTH is activated by keeping the DCD signal active while in conversation mode and the handset is talking.
This causes the application software to mistakenly believe that data communication is in progress. Avoidance of reset by software. Even if the communication mode is temporarily shifted to the conversation mode in this way, if the communication software has the terminal mode, the data communication state can be maintained, and the data communication mode can be returned to by inputting a command.

Note that this DCD signal becomes inactive when the connection with the telephone line LINE is disconnected in both conversation mode and data communication mode.

The modem CPU of the modem control circuit 15 controls the transition from data communication to conversation mode. FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing processing by the modem CPU in the modem control circuit 15 of the terminal device. This will be explained below.

That is, as shown in the control program on the switching operation side in FIG. 6, in step S1, data communication processing is performed with the line connected to the DTE and relays 1 and 2 both on. This data communication process is a subroutine process. In this case, relay 1 and relay 2 are both turned on (connected).

In step S2, the data carrier detection signal (DCD signal) is held at "H" (active).

This is subroutine processing.

In step S3, it is determined whether the off-hook detection signal from the handset off-hook detection circuit 11 is rHJ. If the handset 14 on the switching side is off-hook (“H”
), proceed to step S4.

If it is on-hook (“L”), the process returns to step S1.

This is because it is determined that the user does not wish to switch to conversation mode. If switching to the conversation mode is requested, in the next step S4, the relay 1 is turned off (opened) to disconnect the modem control circuit 15 and the telephone line LINE. In addition,
If the DTE is in terminal mode, an off-hook display may be displayed on the monitor screen.

Then, the process proceeds to step S5, and transmission by the communication carrier is stopped. Furthermore, in step S6, the modem control circuit 15 switches from the data communication mode (online mode) to the command mode (offline command mode).

Next, the process advances to step S7, and a message is sent to the other party's data terminal equipment DTE to the effect that the passive side wants to take off-hook the telephone receiver (transition to conversation mode). For example, a message indicating that the receiver should be taken off-hook is emitted from the monitor speaker on the passive side. At the same time, a message indicating that the handset should be taken off-hook is displayed on the display section of the terminal device on the passive side of the switching. That is, when the communication carrier from the switching operation side disappears, the notification means notifies the switching passive side through the monitor speaker and display terminal that data communication has been switched to telephone communication.

In this case, if the operator on the other party's side (switching passive side) takes the receiver off-hook, both operators are in conversation mode and can talk using the telephone line LINE.

If there is no conversation due to the other party's absence (if the other party does not go off-hook within a certain period of time),
The switching operation side selects whether to return to the data communication mode or terminate the process. To end the call, press the receiver 14.
on-hook. When the call with the other party ends, the user goes on-hook in the same way.

On the other hand, when returning to the data communication mode, the off-hook state is maintained and a command for calling operation is manually entered from the keyboard of the DTE on the switching operation side. Further, even in the DTE on the switching passive side, a response operation command is input to the modem control circuit.

In this case, both parties perform each operation at appropriate timing. In addition, if a telephone conversation is not carried out due to the absence of the operator on the passive side of switching, etc., data communication is resumed after a certain period of time and the automatic response operation described below (7.
Steps S37, S40, and S41 of the flowchart in the figure
).

To explain the above operation using a flowchart, in step S8, it is determined whether or not there is a switching command input from the switching operation side DTE. If there is no command input (No in step S8), the process advances to step S9, and it is determined whether the off-hook detection signal of the handset on the switching operation side has become "L". If it is not “L” (off-hook state), the process returns to step S8, and step S
The process proceeds to step S12 in the same way as in the case where a switching command is input in step S8.

In step S9, if the off-hook signal is rLJ, it means that the handset is on-hook. Therefore, if the conversation ends without returning to data communication after both parties finish the conversation as described above, or the other party does not take the handset off-hook. This is the case when a conversation is not possible and the data communication does not return.

Therefore, in this case, step SIO, step Sl
Proceed to l and this program will end. In step SIO, the DCD signal is made inactive rLJ,
In step Sll, a line disconnection message is sent to the other party's DTE.

On the other hand, if it is desired to return to data communication in step S8, there is a switching command input from the DTE on the switching operation side (the off-hook signal is rHJ), so the process proceeds to steps Sl2 to step 514. In step S12, a calling operation is performed in response to an operation of inputting a command to start a calling operation using the keyboard of the DTE on the switching operation side.

Subsequently, in step S13, the relay 1 that was turned off in step S4 is turned on (connected). Modem control circuit 15
is connected to the telephone line LINE. In step S14, transmission of the communication carrier is restarted.

As a result, data communication is resumed.

Note that while transmission of the communication carrier is interrupted during the transition to the conversation mode, the DCD signal from the DTE interface circuit 17 to the DTE (for example, the DSR signal may be a signal indicating that data communication to the DTE is in progress). The signal (which may be a data set ready signal) is held active. This DCD signal becomes inactive only after the line is disconnected in step SIO.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, on the passive switching side of data communication, data communication processing is performed in which relays 1 and 2 are both turned on in step S21, and the DCD signal is turned off in step S22. It is set to active "H".

This DCD signal may be a DSR signal, for example. In step 523, it is determined whether the communication carrier from the other party has been disconnected (disappeared).

If the communication carrier is not disconnected, step S21
Return to step S6 of the flowchart in FIG.
If the carrier is disconnected, the process advances to step S24. In this step S24, transmission of the communication carrier from the switching passive side is stopped, and the process proceeds to step S25. In this step S25, the modem control circuit enters the offline command mode.
Set 5. Then, in step 826, the monitor speaker built into the terminal device is turned on and stands by.

In step S27, a message is sent to the DTE (on the passive side). It not only displays a message asking you to take the receiver off-hook, but also issues a similar message from the monitor speaker.

Upon receiving this message, the passive switching side can take off-hook from the receiver and have a conversation with the switching active side (data communication transmitting side). If there is no conversation due to absence or other reasons, the handset off-hook signal is rLJ.

Therefore, in step 328, it is determined whether the off-hook detection signal becomes "H" within a certain period of time. If it is rHJ, it is necessary to switch to conversation mode, so the process advances to steps S29 and S30. Step S2
9, relay 1 is turned off (disconnected) and modem control circuit l5
disconnect from the telephone line. In step S30, the monitor speaker is turned off.

Next, in step S31, it is determined whether or not there is a switching command input from the DTE on the switching passive side to the data communication mode. If it is rNOJ, the process advances to step S32, and it is determined whether the off-hook detection signal of the handset is rLJ. If "L", it is assumed that the conversation has ended and the process proceeds to steps S33 and S34. The DCD signal is made inactive rLJ and the line is disconnected.

If the result in step 531 after step 530 is YES, or if the off-hook signal is not rLJ in step S32 and YES in step S31, the off-hook detection signal is ``H'' and data communication is performed after conversation. Therefore, in step S35, an operation is performed in response to the calling operation (step S12 above) from the switching operation side. The response operation is performed in response to a command to start response operation from the switching passive side. In step S36, relay 1 is turned on, and in step S37, transmission of the communication carrier is started. Then return to the start.

On the other hand, if the off-hook detection signal is "L" in step S328, the process advances to step S38. In this step S38, it is determined whether the automatic response operation was successful. This automatic response operation includes sending out an answer tone, returning from command mode to data communication mode, and the like.

The response action was successful. If not, the line to the DTE is disconnected (step S39), and the DCD signal is set to inactive "L" (step S40), and the process ends. If the automatic response operation is successful, turn off the monitor speaker.
(step S41), and resumes carrier transmission (
Step S42). Then, the mode returns to the data communication mode.

Effect of the invention> As explained above, according to the first invention of the present application,
In a data communication terminal device, switching to a conversation mode can be clearly notified to the other party during data communication, and a conversation can be made with the other party.

Furthermore, according to the second invention of the present application, even if the receiver is off-hook and switched to conversation mode during data communication, if the call cannot be made due to the absence of the other party, etc., it is easy to It is possible to return from conversation mode to data communication mode, and data overconfidence can continue.

Furthermore, according to the third invention of the present application, when the data communication terminal device is switched from the data communication mode to the conversation mode, even though the communication carrier is down,
It is possible to prevent an application program being executed in a data terminal device from hanging up.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration according to the first invention of the present application, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration according to the second invention of the present application, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration according to the second invention of the present application. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a program diagram showing a configuration of a modem control circuit according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control program for switching operation of the modem CPU in the first embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control program for passive operation. DTE・・・・・・Data terminal equipment, LIN
E...Telephone line, PHONE...Telephone, CC ・ ・ ACK ・ MS ・ ・ DPY ・ RCV ・ CM-- ・・Switching means, ・・Notification means, ・・Monitor Speaker, ... display terminal, ... return means, ... carrier holding means.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A data communication terminal device that is connected between a data terminal device and a telephone line in order to perform data communication using a telephone line, and has a monitor speaker and/or a display terminal, and which is connected during data communication. A switching means for switching from data communication to telephone communication when the handset of the attached telephone goes off-hook, and a switching means for switching from data communication to telephone communication by a monitor speaker and/or display terminal when the communication carrier from the other party disappears 1. A data communication terminal device comprising: a notification means for notifying the user. (2) In the data communication terminal device, if telephone communication is not performed within a certain period of time after notification by the notification means,
The data communication terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a return means for automatically returning to data communication. (3) In a data communication terminal device that is connected between a data terminal device and a telephone line in order to perform data communication using a telephone line, when a request for telephone communication is made by an attached telephone during data communication. A data communication terminal comprising switching means for switching communication to telephone communication, and carrier holding means for actively holding a signal indicating that data communication is in progress to a data terminal device in response to the switching. Device.