JPH0232669A - Facsimile communication adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform facsimile transmission in real time even when the throughput of a host terminal is low by delaying a time when a facsimile communication control part enters a data transmission phase to an opposite facsimile terminal until a terminal communication control part receives image data from the host terminal. CONSTITUTION:The maximum time width in no communication between the terminal communication control part 12 and the host terminal 2 before entering the data transmission phase is set by indication from the host terminal 2 prior to facsimile communication. The time when the facsimile communication control part 14 enters the data transmission phase to the opposite facsimile terminal 4 is delayed until the terminal communication control part 12 receives the image data from the host terminal 2 within set maximum time width. In such a way, it is possible to transmit the image data in real time to the opposite facsimile terminal 4 even when the throughput of the host terminal 2 is low.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial application field> The present invention relates to a facsimile communication adapter.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, facsimile communication adapters receive and receive image data or compressed image data from a higher-level terminal that is an information processing terminal such as a computer, and the image data is converted into MH code as defined by CCITT. There is a system in which the image data is compressed using a fax or MR code, and the compressed image data is transmitted as is to the other party's facsimile terminal.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> By the way, in the conventional facsimile communication adapter described above, when image data is compressed and transmitted, the compressed data is temporarily stored in a buffer memory, etc.
A so-called code buffer method has been adopted in which the data stored in this buffer memory is then transmitted, but this method has the problem that the amount of data that can be transmitted is limited by the size of the buffer memory. Therefore, it is conceivable to import image data from a host terminal, perform code compression processing, and transmit it in real time, but if the processing capacity of the host terminal is low, some delay processing may be performed on the facsimile communication adapter side. There is a need to do.

In addition, even if the upper terminal performs image data compression processing and transfers the compressed data to the facsimile communication adapter, and the facsimile communication adapter concentrates on transmitting the compressed data that has been sent, the upper terminal (main terminal) If the processing capacity is low, it is necessary to perform some kind of delay processing on the facsimile communication adapter side.

Conventionally, such delay processing involves adding a FILL bit immediately before the line termination code in order to guarantee the minimum transmission time stipulated by CCITT. However, since this delay processing can only be used during the data transmission phase, there is a problem in that real-time transmission is not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication adapter that can transmit image data to a destination facsimile terminal in real time even when the processing capacity of the host terminal is low.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a terminal communication control unit that receives image data from a host terminal, a data compression unit that compresses the image data, and a data compression unit that compresses the image data. and a facsimile communication control unit that transmits the data to the other party's facsimile terminal via a telephone line, wherein the terminal communication control unit, in response to an instruction from the higher-level terminal, transmits the data to the higher-level terminal before entering the data transmission phase. A maximum time width of no communication between the terminal and the terminal is set prior to facsimile communication, and during the maximum time width set, until the terminal communication control unit receives image data from the higher-level terminal, The present invention is characterized in that the facsimile communication control section delays the time it takes to enter the data transmission phase to the other party's facsimile terminal.

Operation> The terminal communication control unit sets the maximum time period of no communication with the above-mentioned above-mentioned above-mentioned above-mentioned terminal before entering the data transmission phase in accordance with instructions from the above-mentioned above-mentioned terminal, prior to facsimile communication. During the maximum time width, the facsimile communication control section delays entering the data transmission phase to the other party's facsimile terminal until the terminal communication control section receives the image data from the higher-level terminal. Therefore, even if the processing capacity of the higher-level terminal is low, image data can be transmitted to the other party's facsimile terminal in real time.

<Example> Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a facsimile communication adapter of the present invention. The facsimile communication adapter (hereinafter referred to as adapter) in this example is 8
It is connected to a host terminal (hereinafter referred to as the terminal) 2, which is an information processing terminal with low processing power such as a BIT personal computer, and is also connected to a facsimile terminal 4 via a public telephone line 3, and is a CCITT Group 3 facsimile terminal. It is now ready to send. This adapter l includes a main control section 11 that controls the entire adapter, a terminal communication control section 12 that realizes communication with the terminal 2, a compression section 13 that encodes and compresses image data, and realizes facsimile transmission by facsimile transmission. The facsimile communication control section 14 performs the operations shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In step Sl in FIG. 2, the terminal 2 notifies the adapter 1 of the maximum time width T3 of no communication between the terminal 2 and the adapter 1 before entering the data transmission phase. Next, in step S2, the facsimile communication control unit 14 performs call setting and line establishment, which is the operation of phase A, and in step S3, the operation of phase B, which is checking the status of the other party's facsimile terminal, transmission path, etc., and controlling the facsimile terminal. Do the sequence for. Then, proceeding to step S4, the terminal communication control unit 12 resets the timer IAT for monitoring the maximum time width T of no communication notified from the terminal 2, and the timer T for monitoring the data arrival time. and start each timer.

Next, the process advances to step S5 to check whether data from terminal 2 has been transferred. If the data is transferred by the time the timer T reaches T, (3 seconds), the process proceeds from step S5 to step 316, where the operation of phase C for data transfer is performed, and then, in step S17, the phase Confirm reception, which is operation D. Next, the process advances to step 91B, where it is determined whether the page has ended or not. If the page has not ended, the process returns to step S4 and waits for the next page to arrive from the terminal 2.

On the other hand, Step S! If the page has ended in step S19, the process advances to step S19, phase E, and the line is disconnected.

On the other hand, step S5. In S6, timer T is T, (
If no data has been transferred by the time 3 seconds have elapsed, the process advances to step S7 and the timer T is reset. Next, the process advances to step S8, and the terminal communication control unit 12 stores the line termination code (E) in the transmission buffer of the facsimile communication control unit 14.
OL) and the MH code of the following long white run. This length is the number of pixels per scanning line, and A
1,728 for 4, 2,048 for B4, A3
In the case of , it is 2,432. Next, the process proceeds to step S9, and after notifying the transmitter of the facsimile communication control section 14 of a transmission start signal, the process waits for a transmission end signal from the transmitter in step SIO.

When the transmitter receives the start signal in step S20, the process proceeds from step S21 to 822, and after transmitting all the data set in the transmit buffer, the process proceeds to step S23, and transmits the transmit end signal to the terminal communication controller 12. to notify. Then, the process proceeds to step S25, and if the transmission stop signal from the terminal communication control unit 12 is not received, the process proceeds from step S21 to step S24, where a fill bit is transmitted, and the fill pit is continued until the transmission stop signal is received. Keep sending.

When the terminal communication control unit 12 receives the transmission end signal, it proceeds from step SIO to Sll and Si2, and checks again whether data has been transferred from the terminal 2. If the data is transferred by the time the timer T reaches T2 (5 seconds), the process advances to step 916 and the data is transmitted.

On the other hand, if no data has been transferred by the time T2 elapses, the process proceeds to step S13, where the timer T is reset, and then the process proceeds to step S14, where it is checked whether or not the timer IAT has elapsed.

Then, if the timer (AT) has not passed T3, a transmission stop signal is sent to the transmitter, and the process returns to step S8, and the EOL and the following white run MH code of length L are set in the transmission buffer again. Proceeding to step S9, a transmission start signal is notified to the transmitter.This step S8
The sequence from ST to S1'4 is completed when data is transferred from terminal 2 or timer IAT is set to T.
Repeat until step 3 has passed. Then, when the timer IAT passes T3 without data being transferred from the terminal 2, the process proceeds to step S19, phase E for disconnecting the line, where the facsimile communication control unit 14 disconnects the line, and the terminal communication control unit 12 notifies terminal 2 that data transmission from terminal 2 has failed.

In this way, the terminal communication control unit 12 sets the maximum time width T of no communication with the terminal 2 according to an instruction from the terminal 2, and receives data from the terminal 2 during this maximum time width. Until then, the time to enter data transmission phase C is delayed, so real-time facsimile communication is possible.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above, in the facsimile communication adapter of the present invention, the terminal communication control unit, in response to an instruction from the higher-level terminal, prevents communication with the higher-level terminal before entering the data transmission phase. A maximum time width is set prior to facsimile communication, and during the maximum time width set above, the facsimile communication control unit does not operate until the terminal communication control unit receives image data from the higher-level terminal. Since the time to enter the data transmission phase to the other party's facsimile terminal is delayed, real-time facsimile transmission is possible even when the processing capacity of the higher-level terminal is low.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above embodiment. l...Facsimile communication adapter, 2...Upper terminal, 3...Public telephone line, 4...Facsimile terminal,
11... Main control unit, 12... Terminal communication control unit,
13... Compression section, 14... Facsimile communication control section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A terminal communication control unit that receives image data from a host terminal, a data compression unit that compresses the image data, and a facsimile communication control unit that transmits the compressed image data to the other party's facsimile terminal via a telephone line. In the facsimile communication adapter, the terminal communication control unit, in response to an instruction from the higher-level terminal, sets the maximum time period of no communication with the higher-level terminal before entering the data transmission phase prior to facsimile communication. and during the maximum time width set above, the facsimile communication control unit enters the data transmission phase to the other party's facsimile terminal until the terminal communication control unit receives the image data from the higher-level terminal. A facsimile communication adapter characterized by a delay.