JPH03270437A - System for connection between different types of machines in mail center equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve service to a subscriber by providing a means to discriminate a service requirement to a second mail center and other center cooperating means in a first mail center. CONSTITUTION:When the service requirements are received from FAXs 1-3 of a system 1 and the service is required to a system 2 as the different type of the system by the FAX 2, the first mail center 1 identifies this requirement by a service discriminating means 10 and registers the requirement together with facsimile data. The first mail center 1 calls the second mail center 3 and the second mail center 3 corresponds with the first mail center 1 as one FAX terminal. In respect to this operation, the first mail center 1 requires the service required from the FAX 1 to the second mail center 3 and registers the requirement while including the data by operating another center cooperating means 11. Then, the second mail center 3 executes the service required from the first mail center 1 to the FAXs 4-6 in the present system. Thus, the service can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A first mail center device having different protocols;
Regarding a heterogeneous connection method for connecting between a second mail center device and a second mail center device.

The purpose of this service is to enable mail centers of different models to mutually accept service requests and cooperate with each other, thereby improving the service quality for each subscriber.

The first mail center includes means for determining a service request to the second mail center and means for coordinating with other centers.
When the mail center detects a service request for the second mail center, it activates the other center cooperation means and sends the request to the second mail center.
and in response to a response and input instruction from the second mail center, the other center cooperation means generates a request signal and transmits information, and the second mail center receives the cough request. and configure the corresponding service to run.

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a heterogeneous connection method for connecting a first mail center device and a second mail center device having different protocols and connected via a communication network.

In recent years, various services (such as transmission at a specific time, broadcasting to multiple recipients, etc.) have come to be performed by requesting a mail center device to transmit a factor ξ from a facsimile terminal.

[Conventional technology] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

Figure 7A shows the bottom of the system tank.

FAX (represents a facsimile terminal) l to FAX3 connected to the network (public network or private branch exchange #i4)
is connected to a mail center 1 that provides mail services. The mail center 1 constitutes a system 1 in which a stand-alone type (device provided independently in one network composed of a specific model of FAX) center device is provided.

On the other hand, FAX4 to FA connected to network 70
The mail center 2 that provides services for the X6 is compatible with a standard protocol common to each manufacturer. A system 2 is configured by providing a mail center 2 using this standard protocol.

Generally, mail centers of the same type often have their own dedicated protocols, and in the case of different models, their dedicated protocols may differ. In particular, stand-alone models may only have this dedicated protocol.

Connections between different types of devices are difficult. On the other hand, network types support standard protocols, making it easy to connect them.

Note that the standard protocol is the same for all manufacturers (all over the world), whereas the proprietary protocol is the same for all manufacturers.

This is a protocol with different commands and procedures depending on the manufacturer and model.

Figure 7B shows the procedure for receiving facsimile mail service using a conventional stand-alone mail center.
, first, a telephone or fax user dials to call a mail center.

With this dial, a call is received at the mail center via a network (public network, etc.). The mail center provides voice guidance for this incoming call. Following this guidance, commands are sent to indicate the desired service. This command is expressed by a push-button dial signal of double frequency PB signal indicating the type of service (broadcast, delivery at a specified time), and necessary information such as the 0 time of the facsimile destination. The signals are sequentially transmitted to the mail center.

The mail center decodes the received command and identifies the requested service.Facsimile signals sent from the nine terminals are then stored in the mail center, and the mail center executes the requested service.

[Invention tries to solve! IN] In the conventional method described above, since mail center 1 and mail center 2 are of different models, it is not possible to receive services that extend between systems 1 and 2, for example, mail service from FAX 1 to FAX 4.
There was a problem in that the FAX subscriber of 2 and the FAX subscriber of the mail center 2 could not mutually receive the mail center's services.

Similarly, there was a problem in that stand-alone mail centers supporting different models could not be linked together.

An object of the present invention is to enable mail centers of different models to mutually accept service requests and cooperate with each other, thereby improving service to each subscriber.

[Means for Solving the Problem] When a service is requested between mail centers corresponding to different models, the mail center requesting the service operates as a fax terminal of the other model for the other mail center. By providing a structure to do this, it is possible to register the service with other mail centers.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention, and FIG. 1A.

B represents the communication state from the FAX 1 of the system 1 to the first mail center 1, and B represents the communication state from the first mail center 1 to the second mail center 3.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a first
2 is a network, 3 is a second mail center that operates according to a second protocol, and 4 is a plurality of facsimile terminals (FA) connected to the first mail center.
X 1-FAX3), 5 indicates multiple facsimile terminals (FAX4-FAX3) connected to the second mail center
6).

10.1 in the first and second mail centers 1.3.
30 represents a service determination means, and 11.31 represents an other center cooperation means.

In addition, the first mail center 1 and FAX 1 to FAX 3 constitute a system l, and the second mail center 3 and FAX
A system 2 is configured by X4 to FAX6.

[Effect] In FIG. 1A, the first mail center l is.

Accepts service requests from FAX 1 to FAX 3 of system 1. When FAX 1 in System 1 requests a service from System 2, which is a heterogeneous system,
The first mail center 1 receives this request from the service determining means l.
It is identified in O and registered together with the facsimile data.

The first mail center 1 then calls a second mail center 3, similar to one FAX terminal belonging to the system 2, as shown in FIG. 1B.
mail center 1 as one FAX terminal.

In contrast, the first mail center 1 is able to send the above-mentioned FAX by the operation of the newly provided other center cooperation means 11.
The service requested from 1 is sent to the second mail center 3.
to register including the data.

The second mail center 3 transmits the service requested from the first mail center 1 to the FAX 4 to FAX 6 in its own system.
Execute against.

A service request from the second mail center 3 to the first mail center 1 is made in the same manner as in the above case.

Service determination means 30. This is executed using the other system cooperation means 31.

[Example] Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a mail center, Fig. 3 is a processing flow diagram of an embodiment, Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an input method for command information, Fig. 5 is an example of a system configuration, and Fig. 6 is an example of a system configuration. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of services between different types of centers.

In FIG. 2, 20 is a mail center, 21 is a service control section, 22 is a PB receiving section, 23 is a voice encoding/decoding section, 24 is a FAX procedure control section, 25 is a PB transmitting section, 26
2 represents a line control unit, and 27 represents a network.

The service control unit 21 in FIG. 2 includes a determination unit 211 that determines whether a service request is for the own center or another center, a own center service unit 212, and another center cooperation unit 213.

The operation of the embodiment will be explained using the processing flow shown in FIG.

First, dial your own center from a FAX (FAX terminal, hereinafter referred to as FAX), and once the line is connected (Fig.
)1 Connected to the line control unit 26, the own center service unit 212 of the service control unit 21 is activated and audio guidance is sent to the FAX (31) Next, the PB signal sent as a command from the FAX is received. Take it (same 3
2).

The PB signal is received by the PB receiving section 22, and the PB signal is sent to the service control section 2.
It is output to the discrimination unit 211 of No. 1 and discriminated.

That is, it is determined whether the service is requested by the own center or by another center (33).

Corresponding PB multiplication signals are determined in advance for the requests from the own center and other centers, and are determined based on the PB multiplication signals sent first.

When it is determined through this determination operation that the service of the own center is requested, the requested service such as fax relay is executed by the own center service unit 212 (see 34
).

When it becomes clear that the request is for a service center,
The other center cooperation unit 213 is activated to decode the service requested from the center input from the PB double signal, and when data such as FAX content and control information is sent, the FAX procedure control unit 24 is activated. Then, after communication with the FAX is completed, the first line control unit 26 is activated and communication with the processing center via the network 27 is started (see 36). .

When connected to the conversion center, the PB signal transmitting unit 25 transmits a PB double signal requesting a service to the conversion center under the control of the other center cooperation unit 213 of the service control unit 21.
7) Next, drive the FAX procedure control unit 24 to first
Sends data such as FAX data received and stored from AX to the processing center (3B).

With the above-described processing flow, the mail center can process both requests for services within its own center and requests for services to the computerized center.

Next, a command information input method will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4A is an example of a PB double signal when sending a command from a FAX to a center, and is marked with numbers O to 9 and symbols representing other delimiters (such as #9). A delimiter is a signal that separates signals, and without it commands cannot be sent.However, older models of mail centers do not.

There are also devices that cannot transmit PB multiple signals other than O to 9.

In order for such centers to coordinate between different types of centers, the present invention transmits a delimiter.

A method as shown in FIG. 4B is used.

In this case, instead of transmitting a delimiter, a silence state of 4 seconds or more is generated between numerical information. When the other party's center detects such a silent state, it processes this state as a pre-event.

Next, an example of the system configuration is shown in FIG. 5, and the sequence of services between different types of centers according to the present invention using this configuration will be explained using FIG. 6.

Mail center 1 connected to FAX1 to FAX3 in Fig. 5, and mail center 2 connected to FAX4 to FAX6
has a different protocol.

Fax 1 to JiHJl calls mail center l by dial ■, and mail center responds and provides voice guidance. Correspondingly, a command is sent by PB signal ■, and fax data etc. ■ are sent to mail center l.
and stored in the mail center 1.

At this time, if the service requested from FAX 1 is a request for mail center 2, which is a communication center, FAX
After the connection with the mail center 1 is completed, the mail center 1 dials the mail center 1 and performs communication using the operations described in the description of the above embodiment (FIGS. 2 and 3). Mail center 2
mail center 1 in response to a call from mail center 1.
as one FAX terminal and responds with guidance.

In response, the mail center 1 transmits a corresponding command to the mail center 2 using the PB signal ■ under the control of the other center cooperation section (213 in FIG. 2). At this time.

If there is no function to send #, *, etc., the method shown in FIG. 4B is used.

Mail center] to PB double signal followed by control data and FA
When the X data ■ is sent to the mail center 2, communication between the mail center I and the mail center 2 ends.

After this, the mail center 2 starts the requested service (in this case, sending to FAX 4 according to a specified condition such as 9 hours) when the specified condition is met, similar to the service within its own system. . This service is executed in the mail center 2 in the same way as for FAX in the normal system, and the FAX is sent by dial
4 is called and FAX data ■ is sent.

If it were possible to connect mail centers of different models in this way, for example, mail center 1 is located in Tokyo.

If the mail center is located in Osaka, FAX 1 belonging to mail center 1 to FAX 4 to F belonging to mail center 2
When broadcasting to AX6, from FAXI to each FAX4~F
Rather than sending in order to AX6.

A service request can be made to mail center 1, and from there a request can be made to mail center 2 to realize the service.

It can save time and money.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, when a stand-alone mail center that does not support the standard inter-center protocol and a network mail center that supports the standard inter-center protocol cooperate, or when different models It is possible to coordinate between stand-alone mail centers. In that case.

There is no need to support a stand-alone protocol exclusive to the own center, so there is less need to modify stand-alone software, and network software can be modified less.

In addition, by modifying only 5 new centers to link with other centers, it becomes possible for new subscribers to send e-mails to subscribers of already operating centers (existing centers). By modifying the center to cooperate with other centers, it becomes possible to send mail from both directions.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of Mail I Go Center, and a processing flow diagram of the third ginsa embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a command information input method. FIG. 5 is a system configuration example, FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of services between different types of centers, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example. In Figure 1. 1: First mail center 2: Network 3: Second mail center 4: Multiple facsimile terminals FAX 1-FAX 1-FAX 1-FAX 35: Multiple facsimile terminals FAX 4 to FAX 6 that operate based on the second protocol 10 .30: Service discrimination means tl, 3t: Other center cooperation means

Claims (1)

[Claims] A first mail center having different protocols, and a second mail center having different protocols.
In a heterogeneous connection method for connecting mail centers with a first mail center, the first mail center is equipped with a means for determining a service request to the second mail center and a means for coordinating with other centers; , upon detecting a service request to the second mail center, activates the other center cooperation means to connect with the second mail center, and in response to the response and input instruction from the second mail center, the other center cooperation means 1. A method for connecting different types of mail center devices, characterized in that: a request signal is generated to transmit information; and upon receiving the request, a second mail center executes a corresponding service.