JPH0379143A - Communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a secure recovery from an error state such as a hangup under remote control by detecting a specific control signal on a communication path by a detecting means which is provided independently of the control part of the device and initializing the setting of the whole device according to the reception of the control signal. CONSTITUTION:When detecting a specific reset command from a line N, a received data decision circuit 21 actuates a reset circuit 22 to turn off the main power source 28 of the device and turn it on again a specific wait time later. Therefore, the reset command of specific frequency is sent from a remote place through the line N to turn on and off the main power source through a received data decision circuit 21 and a reset circuit 22, thereby resetting the whole device consisting of a main device part and a communication controller 14. Consequently, the secure recovery from the error state such as the hangup can be made with the control signal from the remote place.

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 performs communication based on a predetermined communication method via a predetermined communication path.

[Prior art 1] Conventionally, facsimile machines have been known that use a CPU, such as a microprocessor, to control the entire device, including image output, compression/decompression, user interface, etc., and to perform communication control. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, like various electronic devices that use a microprocessor or the like as a control device, in the above-mentioned facsimile machines, the CPU in the main unit hangs up due to runaway programs or destruction of RAM contents. (stop), it was impossible to detect this and automatically recover.

In the case of a hang-up like this, conventionally there was no way to recover from the error other than manually turning the power switch off and on, or using the reset switch if the model was equipped with a reset switch. . Therefore, if the CPU or the like hangs up when the device is operated unattended, there is a problem in that communication becomes completely impossible thereafter.

In view of this, a method has been considered in which a predetermined command is sent from a remote location via a line and the CPU is reset by software means.

However, it would be fine if the CPU could detect such a reset command, but if the CPU in the main unit has not loaded the program for this reset control into the main memory, or if the program hangs due to a bug, etc. The problem was that it couldn't parse commands and couldn't perform remote resets.

The above problem is common to communication devices having a similar configuration, regardless of the facsimile device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that solves the above problems and can reliably recover from an error state such as a hang-up by remote control.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, in a communication device that performs communication based on a predetermined communication method via a predetermined communication path, a predetermined a detection means provided independently of the control section of the device to detect the control signal of the device, and initializing the settings of the entire device when the predetermined control signal is received from the communication path based on the output of the detection means. We adopted a configuration that includes a control means to

[Function] According to the above configuration, a predetermined control signal on the communication path is detected by the detection means provided independently of the control section of the device,
Based on the reception of this control signal, the settings of the entire device can be initialized.

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

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a facsimile machine employing the present invention. In FIG.

CPUI 1 consists of a microprocessor, etc.
Programs stored in ROM12 and RAM13
The entire device is controlled according to the program loaded into a predetermined program area of the device.

All of these programs may be stored in a ROM, or may be used by loading them into a predetermined area of the RAM 13 as described above. This program is stored in an external storage device 15 composed of a magnetic disk device or the like. The external storage device 15 is also used as a buffer for transmitted and received image data.

A system bus B consisting of a data bus, an address bus, a control line, etc. of the CPU II is connected to a keyboard 17 and a display via an input/output interface circuit 16 consisting of a known programmable input/output board in addition to the above-mentioned memory and disk drive. 18, printer 19
, reader 20 are connected.

The keyboard 17 includes a known numeric keypad, one-touch keys, and the like, and is used to input commands from the user.

Further, the display 18 is used for displaying the current time, operating status, and the like. Printer 19j5 and reader 2
0 is for inputting and outputting image data, the printer 19 is a thermal printer, a laser beam printer, etc., and the reader 20 is a known document transport system, optical reading device, etc. Each part of the device includes a switching power supply circuit, etc. It is driven by a main power supply 28 consisting of. The main power supply 28 is controlled by a reset circuit 22, which will be described later.

Next, the configuration of the CC0 section will be shown. The CC0 unit is composed of a communication control device l4. The communication control device 14 performs input/output of image data or procedure signals, control of incoming and outgoing calls, etc. with a communication line N consisting of a packet switching network, a circuit switching network, an ISDN network, or a telephone network.
It has a structure as shown in the figure.

)V In Fig. 2, reference numeral 23 is a transmitting/receiving circuit composed of a communication control chip for serial/parallel conversion, error detection, etc. The operation of the transmitting/receiving circuit 23 is controlled by the CPU 24, and the control program for the CPU 24 is stored in the ROM 25.
is stored in

Line N is a line interface circuit 26 consisting of a modem NCU, a digital interface circuit, etc.
It is connected to the transmitting/receiving circuit 23 via. Transmission/reception circuit 23
Between the line interface circuit 26 and the line interface circuit 26, the transmitting and receiving signal lines are separate lines as shown by symbols T and R, respectively.

In this embodiment, a received data discrimination circuit 21 is provided on the received data line H between the transmitting/receiving circuit 23 and the line interface circuit 26. This received data discrimination circuit 21 detects a predetermined reset command transmitted from the line N, and is composed of detection circuits depending on the type of reset command used. For example, when the reset command is composed of a predetermined binary command, the received data discrimination circuit 21 is composed of a data comparator and the like. When transmitting a reset command using a specific frequency such as a tonal signal, it is comprised of a frequency discrimination circuit, a timer, etc. that measures the duration of the tonal signal, and the like.

Naturally, the pinary code used as the reset command and a certain specific frequency are set not to be used in normal communication.

When the received data discrimination circuit 21 detects a predetermined reset command transmitted from the line N, it activates the reset circuit 22, shuts off the main power supply 28 of the device, and after a predetermined short waiting time, turns it back on (off/off). on), reset circuit 22
consists of a timer circuit, relays, etc.

According to this structure, by transmitting a reset command made of binary data or the like or a reset command made of a certain frequency such as a tonal signal from a remote location via the line N, the received data discrimination circuit 21 , turn off the main power via the reset circuit 22/
It is possible to reset the entire device consisting of the main unit and the communication control device 14 by turning on the switch.

According to the above embodiment, the reset command can be detected and the CPUs can be reset based on the reset command without going through the software of the CPU II or the software of the CPU 24. Even if the device is not in use, the device can be reliably reset from a remote location, and the device can be reset to a communicable state.

The above configuration can be easily and inexpensively implemented by simply adding a received data discrimination circuit 21 and a reset circuit 22 to a known device.6 Troublesome software changes are not required.

In the above embodiment, the reset circuit 22 causes the main power supply 28 to
Although an example has been shown in which the CPU II is turned off and on, the CPU II of the main unit may be reset by inputting a predetermined reset signal from the reset circuit 22 to the reset terminal of the CPU II. The CPU 24 of the device 14 may be reset.

Although a facsimile device has been exemplified above, it goes without saying that similar techniques can be implemented in communication devices using other communication methods.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, in a communication device that communicates based on a predetermined communication method via a predetermined communication path, a predetermined control signal input from the communication path can be detected. a detection means provided independently of the control section of the device, and a control means for initializing the settings of the entire device when the predetermined control signal is received from the communication path based on the output of the detection means. Since the system uses a built-in configuration, a predetermined control signal on the communication path can be detected by a detection means provided independently of the control section of the device, and the settings of the entire device can be initialized based on the reception of this control signal. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent communication device that has a simple and inexpensive structure and can reliably recover from an error state such as a hang-up by transmitting a control signal from a remote location.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile machine adopting the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the communication control device of FIG. 1. 11... CPU 12-ROM1 3-R
A M 14--Communication control device 15--External storage device 17--Keyboard 18...Display 19
---Printer 20...League 21--Received data discrimination circuit 22...Reset circuit 23...Transmission/reception circuit 24--c p u25-R
OM 26-...Line interface circuit 28...Main power supply If part-+ -CCu Hydraulic appliance B/Sof e Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) In a communication device that performs communication based on a predetermined communication method via a predetermined communication path, a detection means provided independently of a control section of the device to detect a predetermined control signal input from the communication path; A communication device comprising: a control means for initializing the settings of the entire device when the predetermined control signal is received from the communication channel based on the output of the detection means.