JPH03151759A - Communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To utilize the resource of the communication system efficiently by rearranging the order of multiple address communication of registered opposite stations for each group of opposite stations making the communication in the same communication mode through the communication mode of the opposite stations as key information and executing the multiple address communication. CONSTITUTION:The research processing to the contamination mode of the registered multiple address destination is implemented, a telephone number data of a one-touch key number pointed out by a current pointer and its opposite station is dialed by entering the data to a selection number transmission section 5. When the communication mode of the opposite station or the coding mode is discriminated, a pointer pointing out a multiple address registration buffer is incremented. Then the order of multiple address communication is decided by sorting the destination stations of the multiple address communication by using the communication mode or the coding mode as key information. The order of multiple address communication decided by the sort processing is the sequence of opposite stations arranged in the order of communication whose communication mode or coding mode is the same, and the sorted order of multiple address communication is outputted from a recording section 10 to allow the user to confirm the order of the multiple address communication.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a communication device, and particularly to a communication device that sequentially broadcasts predetermined communication data to a plurality of partner stations communicating in different communication modes. be.

[Prior Art] Facsimile machines that perform broadcast communication have been known in the past. The facsimile machines currently in use include
2. There are devices that communicate in different communication modes such as G3.64, and the encoding method used for communication is also M.
Various methods such as H, MR, and MMR are used. Even in the case of broadcast communication, the communication mode or encoding method of the broadcast destinations is not constant, and there are various devices that use combinations of the above-mentioned methods.

However, in the past, the order of broadcasting was the same as the order registered by the user. For example, it was sent to a partner station in G2 mode, then to a partner station in G3, and then returned to G2 mode and sent to another station. The communication mode or encoding method must be changed for each partner station, such as transmitting to the other station.

Furthermore, the encoding method must match the encoding method that the other station can use, so in the past, image data was first encoded using an appropriate encoding method and stored in the image memory, and then this encoded data was used during communication. The data is read out and further encoded and converted using a method adapted to the encoding method of the other station.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] The above-mentioned conventional technology has a problem in that it may be necessary to repeatedly perform the same encoding conversion many times, resulting in very poor system usage efficiency. For example, MH, MR, M
While communication is performed using MR encoding, the image data in the memory must be encoded and converted many times because communication is performed in G2 mode without encoding according to the order of user registration.

Another possible method is to prepare all the data encoded by each encoding method in the image memory in advance, but in this case there is a problem that an extremely large capacity image memory is required.

Regarding encoding conversion, in the past, data stored in image memory using an appropriate high-compression encoding method was converted to the corresponding encoding method after the other station, that is, the encoding mode, was determined, so real-time processing was slow. cannot keep up with the other party, resulting in inconveniences such as having to communicate with the other station at a communication speed considerably lower than the maximum speed that can be used, or communication being impossible at all.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a device that can efficiently utilize the resources of a communication system regarding communication modes and coding conversion.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a communication device that sequentially broadcasts predetermined communication data to a plurality of partner stations communicating in different communication modes. , means for registering and setting a partner station to which a plurality of broadcasts are to be performed; means for recognizing the communication mode of the partner station registered by the registration setting means; and a broadcast order for the partner stations registered by the registration setting means. A sorting means is provided for sorting the communication mode of the partner station recognized by the recognition means as key information for each group of partner stations communicating in the same communication mode, and according to the broadcast order determined by the sorting means. A configuration is adopted in which predetermined communication data is broadcast to each registered partner station.

[Function 1] According to the above configuration, broadcasting can be performed after sorting the broadcast order of each partner station so that the same communication mode is continuously used.

[Example J] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a facsimile machine employing the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a CPU consisting of a microprocessor or the like, and in this embodiment, this block also includes a DMA controller. Each of the illustrated components is connected to the CPU bus, and the CPU performs facsimile communication by controlling the data output within each block under its own control or through the control of the DMA controller. Each component connected to the CPU bus will be described below.

The operation unit 2 is composed of a keyboard such as a known numeric keypad and function keys, and a display device such as an LCD panel, and is used as a user interface. Codes 3 to 6 are interface means with line N, and modem 3
, tonal counter 4, selection signal sending unit 5, and NC
It consists of 6 U (network control units). The modem 3 modulates and demodulates procedure signals and image signals, and transmits tonal signals. The tonal counter 4 measures the frequency of the tonal signal input manually from the line N, and is used for analyzing the tonal signal. The selection signal transmitter 5 is used to call a partner station by transmitting a dial signal such as a dial pulse or a dial tone. The NCU 6 is used to maintain a loop during communication or to exchange connections with an attached telephone 6a.

Reference numeral 7 is a ROM that stores a CPU control program (described later), and I'lii 8 is a RAM used as a work area for C1). Image data input/output is performed by the reading section 9 and the recording section 10.

The reading section 9 is composed of a CCD line sensor, a document conveyance system, and the like, and is used to read document images to be broadcast simultaneously.

The recording unit 1O is composed of a thermal recording head, a recording paper conveyance system, and the like, and is used to record received images or images read by the reading unit 9 during original copying.

The reading system and the recording system are provided with a sensor group 12 consisting of known document or recording paper sensors, and the operation of the drive system 11 of the reading section 9 or the recording section 10 is controlled according to the detection results of these sensors. Controlled by CPU 1.

Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote RAMs, respectively, which are used for broadcast control related to the present invention. The RAM 13 is used as a work area for storing or encoding the broadcast image data read by the reading section 9. The RAM 14 is for storing image data that is encoded and converted using a method corresponding to the encoding method of the other station, which is actually used for transmission. RAM13.14 is managed by a suitable memory management method and used for encoding conversion described later, but these do not need to be constructed from separate hardware.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

2 to 4 show the control procedure of the CPUI, and it is assumed that the illustrated control procedure is stored in the ROM 7 in advance as a program executable by the CPU 1.

The process to be performed is determined by detecting an operation on the operating unit 2 and detecting a call from the line.

Step Al-A4 detects the operation of the operation unit 2,
In step Al, it is determined whether one-touch dialing has been selected.

In step A2, it is determined whether registration of a broadcast destination has been selected.

In step A3, it is determined whether starting broadcast communication has been selected.

In step A4, it is determined whether the communication time specified at the time of broadcast registration has arrived, based on time measurement data such as a timer (not shown).

The operating method in step Al-A4 is completely the same as the conventional one, and it is assumed that the operating section 2 is provided with operating means for issuing these commands.

If the one-touch dial is operated, step 86
, a call is made to the partner station registered in the one-touch key, and transmission or polling processing is performed.

When the broadcast registration process is selected in step A2, the setting of the partner station to which the broadcast should be broadcast is accepted in step A7.

If real-time broadcast communication is specified in step A3, or if it is confirmed by timer timing that the broadcast communication time has arrived, broadcast communication processing, which will be described later, is performed in step A8.

In step A5, the tonal counter 4 detects a calling signal (CI) from the line N, and when the calling signal is detected, automatic reception is performed in step A9.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 3(A) to 3(E) and FIG. 4, the above-mentioned Kaji broadcast registration process and broadcast communication process will be described in detail.

FIG. 3(A) shows the broadcast registration process of step A7 in FIG. Here, in step Bl, a broadcast registration operation from the operation panel is accepted or accepted.

0 Various methods can be used to register this broadcast destination, but for the sake of simplicity, we will explain how to register the broadcast destination by sequentially pressing one-touch keys that are associated in advance with the phone number of the specified partner station. shall specify the partner station.

This designation order may be any order specified by the user, as in the past.

In this embodiment, the broadcast order is determined by the communication mode or encoding method of the partner station, but at this time, the communication mode or encoding mode of the partner station is registered and the user is asked to confirm it.

In step B3, a research process is performed for the communication mode of the registered broadcast destination. In this embodiment, this research process means to check the communication modes that can be used by the specified broadcast destination and check the characteristics of RAII/18. It is stored in the data area shown. This research process will be described later.

When the research process in step B3 is completed, since the communication mode or encoding mode of the other station is known, the broadcast order is determined by sorting the broadcast destinations using the communication mode or encoding mode as key information. This sorting process will also be described later.

The broadcast order determined by the sorting process is a state in which partner stations with the same communication mode or encoding mode are lined up in the communication order, and in step B5, this sorted broadcast order is output by the recording unit IO and sent to the user. Let me confirm. The recording and outputting processes in steps B2 and B5 do not necessarily have to be performed.

Next, FIG. 3(B) shows the procedure of the research process in step B3. Information indicating destination stations to be broadcast by one-touch key numbers is stored in the order of user registration, such as "Predetermined end code" in Stella 90 in FIG. 3(A). The illustrated broadcast registration buffer has a capacity sufficient to broadcast broadcasts to 1 to 49 partner stations.

1 2 At step CI in FIG. 3(B), a pointer pointing to the broadcast registration buffer set in the internal register or RAMB of the CPU 1 is initialized and set to point to the first one-touch key number. It is assumed that there are 100 one-touch keys from 1 to 100 here.
Assume that each of these is stored in association with the telephone number of the other party, as shown in FIG. 6(A). It is assumed that the communication mode data on the right side of FIG. 6(A) has not yet been registered at this stage.

In step C2, the telephone number data of the one-touch key number currently pointed to by the pointer is retrieved, and the selection signal transmitter 5 is manually operated to make a call to the other party's station. This call is a registered call shown in step C3, and is repeated until a connection with the other party is established (redial detection process in step C4).

If this registration call processing is to perform actual communication, the pointer pointing to the broadcast registration buffer is incremented in step C5, and it is determined in step C6 whether the pointer points to a valid one-touch key number. do.

Unless a predetermined termination code is confirmed in the broadcast registration buffer in step C6, the processing from step C2 is repeated, and data regarding the communication mode and encoding method of the other station are sequentially acquired as described above, and as shown in FIG. Communication mode, encoding mode and ECM (error correction mode) corresponding to each one-touch key as shown in (A)
The presence or absence of is registered.

In step C7, the communication mode and encoding mode characteristics of the partner station obtained through the registered call are recorded and outputted by the recording unit IO. As this format, the format illustrated in FIG. 6(A) can be used. This recording output process is also for user confirmation and does not necessarily need to be performed.

3 4 Next, the procedure of the registration call processing in step C3 above is shown in FIG. 3(C).

In step D1 of FIG. 3(C), the CML relay of the NCU 6 is turned on and the line N is switched from the telephone 6a side to the facsimile machine side, and in step D2, the tonal counter 4 is used to check whether the exchange can be accessed. Detects a dial tone. If the dial tone can be detected, the process moves to step D3; if not, the process moves to step D8.

In step D3, a selection signal is sent out using the modem 3 or the selection signal sending unit 5. The dial number used at this time is the telephone number registered in the one-touch key number indicated by the pointer.

Subsequently, the state of line N is detected in a loop of steps D4 to D7. First, in step D4, it is determined whether a predetermined time period for executing the loop up to step D7 has elapsed, and if the time has elapsed in step D4, the process moves to step D8. In step D5, a busy tone is detected. If a busy tone is detected, the process advances to step D8.

In step D6, the DIS signal is detected. This detection is
This is done using modem 3. The DIS signal is an initial identification signal used in the G3 mode, and its facsimile field stores information regarding the communication speed or communication mode. When this signal is detected, the process moves to step DI2.

In step D6, a GI2 signal specific to the G2 mode is detected using the tonal counter 4, and when the GI2 signal is detected, the process moves to step D14.

In step D8, it is determined whether or not dialing has been performed a predetermined number of times, based on a counter value or the like. If the predetermined number of dials has been performed, an error flag is set in step DIO, the redial counter is cleared, and step C4 in FIG. 3(B) is performed.
to return to. If you have not redialed the specified number of times,
5 6 Increment the dial counter and return to the above step.

In step C4 of FIG. 3(B), it is determined whether redial is to be performed in accordance with the error flag set in step D10 or the value of the re-dial counter.

In step DI2, since the DIS signal has been received, the content of the facsimile information field (PIF) is analyzed and the information to be used therein is stored in the memory. In this storage, it is detected which encoding method can be used and the presence or absence of ECM, and the corresponding flag area in the one-touch dial list shown in FIG. 6(A) is set.
For example, in the case of the partner station using the one-touch key number 3 in Figure 6 (A), it is possible to use G3 mode and G2 mode, and in G3 mode, all encoding methods can be used, and ECM can also be used. It turns out it's possible.

After step DI2, in step D13, a DCN signal is sent to cut off the line connection, and in step D15, the CML relay is cut off to end the communication.

In step D16, a registration flag is set in a predetermined area of the one-touch dial list of the partner station that registered and made the call, and the process returns to the current routine.

The registration flag is set for the partner station that has made one registration call, and in order to simplify the explanation, in the process shown in Figure 3 (C), the registration flag is set for all specified broadcast destinations. Although it has been explained that a call is made, it is also possible to check the state of this registration flag before starting a registered call and to prevent a registered call from being made to a partner station whose data has already been registered.

FIG. 3(D) shows the sorting process in step B4 of FIG. 3(A). In this embodiment, the partner stations are sorted by groups of partner stations that can use the MMR encoding method, partner stations that can use the MR encoding method, partner stations that can use the MH method, and partner stations that use the G2 mode. Calls are made continuously to broadcast destinations using encoding mode or communication mode.

Therefore, the one-touch key numbers stored in the broadcast registration buffer of FIG. 6(B) are sorted for each mode and rearranged as shown in FIG. 6(C). 6th
Figure (C) shows the MMR, MR, MH, and G2 mode groups in order from the top, and the memory areas corresponding to these groups are stored in the broadcast registration buffer as shown on the right side of the figure. One-touch key numbers are stored in the order they are discovered.

Actually, as shown in FIG. 3(D), step Elf,
MMRlMR, MH, G in the order of E12, E13, E14
Find the partner station that supports each mode in 2, and
) in the corresponding area of the broadcast registration list.

As an example of the process of searching for a partner station compatible with each mode, FIG. 3(E) illustrates the process of searching for a partner station compatible with the MMR system in step Ell above.

In step Fl of FIG. 3(E), a pointer pointing to the broadcast registration buffer of FIG. 6(B) is set at the beginning of the buffer, and in step F2, a one-touch key number is registered at the position pointed to by the pointer. Determine whether there is. If there is no one-touch key number, the process moves to step F6, but if it exists, the process moves to step F3, where the one-touch key number is referenced in the one-touch dial list shown in FIG. 6(A), and the MMR mode flag is set. Determine whether the If the MMR flag is set, step F
In step F5, the one-touch key number is stored in a vacant area of the MMR group in the broadcast registration list shown in FIG. 6(C), and in step F5, the one-touch key number is deleted from the broadcast registration buffer.

If step F2 or F3 is negative, the process moves to step F6. In step F6, the pointer pointing to the broadcast registration buffer is incremented, and in step F6, the pointer pointing to the broadcast registration buffer is incremented.
At step 8, it is determined whether the pointer points to the end code or not. If it is not the end code, the process from step F2 is repeated, and if it is the end code, the process is ended and the process returns to the current routine.

90 FIG. 4 shows the flow of the broadcast communication process in step A8 of FIG. 2.

In step Gl in FIG. 4, image data is read from the reading section 9, converted into an MMR code, and stored in the RAM 14. Step Gl in FIG. 4 is for when broadcasting is performed by real-time processing, but in the case of time-specified broadcasting, image data that is read in advance and encoded using a predetermined encoding method is stored in the RAM 13. This image data is encoded into MMR format and stored in the RAM 14.
shall be stored in .

In step G2, broadcasting is performed sequentially to the MMR groups. In other words, when a broadcast registration list is created as shown in Figure 6(C), one-touch keys 3 and 1 are pressed.
The partner stations No. 0, No. 16, and No. 17 are compatible with the MMR encoding system, and broadcasting is performed sequentially to these four stations.

Next, in step G3, the MMR encoded broadcast data in RAM1J is converted into MR code, and in step G4, the MR encoded broadcast data is converted into MR code.
Broadcast to the group. In this encoding conversion, RA
MR encoded data is created by using M13.14 depending on an appropriate memory management method. In the case of Figure 6(C),
The MR group is the partner stations corresponding to one-touch keys No. 1, 4, and 12, and broadcasts are sequentially made to these partner stations.

The same goes for steps G5 and G6; here, from the MR code to M
Encoding conversion to H code is performed, and broadcasting to the Mf groups is performed sequentially in step G6. Further step G7
, G8, the MH code is converted into raw data, and in step G8, broadcasting is sequentially performed to 62 groups of partner stations.

According to the above embodiment, the broadcast partner stations registered in random order according to the encoding mode or communication mode are sorted into groups that use the same encoding mode or communication mode, and in that order they are shown in FIG. Broadcasting is performed for each group as shown. As shown in the figure, the encoding mode is sequentially converted from one with high efficiency to one with low efficiency, and as in the past, after using one mode, it is converted to another mode, and then again. This eliminates the need for inefficient processing such as encoding conversion into the mode, enabling high-speed communication and reducing communication costs.

In the above, we have shown a method in which the encoding method is converted from a high compression code to a low compression code in order, but as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to hold the data and directly convert this MMR code data into MR, Mf-1 or raw data to make a call to each group.

Figure 7 shows the broadcasting procedure, step H1 in Figure 7.
- In H4, it is determined whether to make a call to each group of MMR, MR, MH, and G2. When broadcasting to an MMR group is detected in step H1, image data is read from the reading unit 9 in step H5 and converted into an MMR code, and broadcasting is sequentially performed to the MMR groups in step H6. In step H7, the start time of the call to the subsequent <MR group is set to 10 minutes later. This time setting is performed by setting a timer or the like (not shown).

When a call to the MR group is detected in step H2, the MMR code is converted to an MR code in step H8, a broadcast is performed to the MR group in step H9, and the call continues in step HIO. Set the start time. The following procedure is the same, and then broadcasting is performed sequentially to the MH group and the G2 group. 7th
FIG. 8 shows the flow of broadcast processing according to the procedure shown in the figure. The multicast destination registration process in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as described above.

According to the above method, there is an advantage that the memory capacity for holding image data between groups having the same encoding mode or communication mode is small.

In the above, a configuration has been considered in which image data is read at the start of broadcast communication, but a configuration in which broadcast images are read in advance at the time of registration is also conceivable.

Furthermore, although a facsimile machine has been exemplified above, it goes without saying that similar broadcast control can be performed on devices that broadcast communication data in different formats.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in a communication device that sequentially broadcasts predetermined communication data to a plurality of partner stations communicating in different communication modes,
means for registering and setting partner stations to which multiple broadcasts should be made;
A means for recognizing the communication mode of the partner station registered by the registration setting means, and a broadcast order for the partner station registered by the registration setting means, using the communication mode of the partner station recognized by the recognition means as key information. A configuration in which sorting means is provided for sorting by group of partner stations communicating in the same communication mode, and predetermined communication data is broadcast to each registered partner station in accordance with the broadcast order determined by the sorting means. Because it uses the same communication mode, it is possible to sort the broadcast order of each partner station before broadcasting, so that the same communication mode is used continuously, and there is no need to repeat unnecessary encoding or communication mode conversion. Broadcast communication can be performed at high speed and at low cost, and even if the hardware processing speed is the same as before, faster processing can be performed at the same hardware cost, and cost performance can be significantly improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus adopting the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 (A) to (E), and FIG. The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the broadcast operation of the device in Figure 1, and Figures 6 (A) to 6.
(C) is an explanatory diagram of the memory configuration of the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a flowchart diagram showing different broadcasting procedures, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the broadcasting operation according to the procedure of FIG. 7. . ■... CPU 2... Operation unit 3... Modem 4-... Tonal counter 5... Selection signal sending unit 6... NCU7... ROM 8.13.14... RAM 9.・-Reading section 10...Recording section 5 6 1...Drive system 2--Sensor group 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) In a communication device that sequentially broadcasts predetermined communication data to a plurality of partner stations communicating in different communication modes, means for registering and setting a plurality of partner stations to which multiple broadcasts are to be made. and a means for recognizing the communication mode of the partner station registered by the registration setting means; and a means for recognizing the communication mode of the partner station recognized by the recognition means to determine the broadcast order for the partner station registered by the registration setting means. A sorting means is provided for sorting by group of partner stations communicating in the same communication mode as information, and predetermined communication data is broadcast to each registered partner station according to the broadcast order determined by the sorting means. A communication device characterized by: 2) the communication data is facsimile image data;
2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the different communication modes of the partner station are different facsimile communication modes, or encoding modes or image transmission modes used in the facsimile communication modes.