JPH0425272A - Terminal network controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain inexpensive and easy data communication by sending a data by a data transmitter or a call of a terminal equipment in response to the reception of a ringing call signal based on the detection result by 1st and 2nd detection means. CONSTITUTION:A signal detection section 7 detects a signal received via a subscriber telephone line 400 and gives a detection signal S to a CPU 61 accordingly. An external input section 5 gives an external input signal ES via a switch provided to the outside of the terminal network controller 100 and operated by the user to the CPU 61. Then the data transmission of a data terminal equipment connected in response to a ringing call signal given via a communication line is started. Then a data transmission means sends a data to a data terminal equipment being a data request equipment in response to the detection of a connection request signal by a 2nd detection means and when the connection request signal by the 2nd detection means is not detected, the terminal equipment is called to call the data terminal equipment being the data request equipment and to send the data. Thus, the communication cost is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a terminal network control device, and more particularly to a terminal network control device that transmits data from a connected data terminal device via a communication line.

[Prior Art] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional data communication system using telephone lines.

In the data communication system shown in FIG. 3, the center device 30 includes a host computer 21 and a center side network control device (
C-NCU) 22. The center side network control device 22 is connected to the center side telephone exchange 23 via a telephone line 31. On the other hand, the terminal device 25 is a terminal network control device (T-N
CU) 26, a meter 27, a data terminal device such as a sensor 28, and a telephone 29. The terminal network control device 26 is
It is connected to the terminal-side telephone exchange 24 via a subscriber telephone line 33. The center-side telephone exchange 23 and the terminal-side telephone exchange 24 are interconnected through a telephone line 32.

Note that, in reality, a 1-to-N transmission method is adopted in which a plurality of terminal devices 25 are connected to the center device 30, but in FIG. It is assumed that a one-to-one transmission method is adopted in which one terminal device 25 is connected to each terminal device.

In the no-ringing communication method, the host computer 21
In response to this command, the center side network control device 22 calls the no-ringing trunk 34 and holds it. Next, after the no-ringing trunk 34 reverses the polarity of the subscriber telephone line 33, it provides a no-ringing paging signal (hereinafter referred to as an NR3 signal) to the terminal network controller 26. Terminal network control device 2
6 connects, for example, the meter 27 to the subscriber telephone line 33 without ringing the bell of the telephone 29 when the NR3 signal is detected. Thereby, communication is performed between the meter 27 and the center device 30.

On the other hand, when the terminal automatically makes a call, the terminal network control device 26 automatically calls the center side network control device 221 at a predetermined time, and a telephone line link is established. In this case, meter reading information from the meter 27 is transmitted to the host computer 21 via the terminal network control device 26, the telephone line 33, 32, 31, and the center side network control device 22. The host computer 21 calculates charges and performs aggregation processing based on the meter reading information.

Note that the NR8 signal is, for example, 2080Hz.
A single frequency and a mixed frequency signal containing two frequency components are used. A pushbutton (PB) signal is used as the mixed frequency signal. A detailed explanation of the PB double signal will be omitted.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the terminal automatic calling system has the restriction that data transmission from the terminal network control device to the center device is limited to a predetermined time period. Therefore, it becomes impossible for the center device to collect and aggregate desired data at any time.

In order to eliminate this inconvenience, it has been proposed to adopt a no-ringing communication system, but its widespread use is problematic due to its high equipment and operating costs.

In other words, the automatic terminal dialing method uses a telephone line to communicate data through a normal telephone exchange, but the no-ringing communication method requires a starting device to call the terminal device on the center equipment side, and also requires a no-ringing trunk. Because it uses a special communication line via the , there is a problem that the cost of using that line is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a terminal network control device that is capable of transmitting data of a connected data terminal device to a terminal device requesting the data using an inexpensive and easy method.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A terminal network control device according to the present invention is a terminal network control device that starts data transmission from a connected data terminal device in response to a ringing paging signal given via a communication line. More specifically, a first detection means detects the arrival of the call signal in a predetermined time period, and a first detection means detects the arrival of the connection request signal of the communication line following the call signal detected by the first detection means. a second detection means for detecting, and a data transmission means for connecting to a line and transmitting data of the data terminal device to the communication line in response to the detection of the arrival of the connection request signal by the second detection means; and means for making a terminal call and transmitting data from the data terminal device to the communication line in response to the fact that the second detection means does not detect the connection request signal.

[Operation] Since the terminal network control device according to the present invention is configured as described above, data transmission of the connected data terminal device can be started in response to a ringing paging signal given via a communication line. . Specifically, in response to detection of the arrival of a connection request signal by the second detection means, the data transmission means operates to transmit data to the data terminal device that is the data request source; Data transmission that uses an easy communication method such as calling a terminal to call the data terminal device that is the data request source and transmitting data when no incoming connection request signal is detected, and without using a no-ringing communication line. At the same time, we aim to reduce communication costs.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Note that the communication method in which the terminal network control device according to the embodiment of the present invention is employed is not a no-ringing method, but a ringing communication method using a normal telephone line.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal network control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal network control device 100 is connected to a subscriber telephone line 400, and makes calls by itself to communicate with other terminal devices. The home telephone 200 is connected to the terminal network control device 11
00 to the subscriber telephone line 400. Also, terminal network control equipment! ! A meter or sensor 300 or the like is connected to 1100. meter or sensor 30
After the line link of the subscriber telephone line 400 is established, the meter reading information of 0 is started to be transmitted to the center device etc. via the terminal network control device ff1100.

The terminal network control device 100 includes a connection switching section 1 and a terminal connection section 2.
, a connection switching control section 3, an audio output section 4, an external input section 5, a control section 6, and a signal detection section 7.

The detailed configuration of this control section 6 will be described later.

A connection switching unit 1 and a signal detection unit 7 are connected to the subscriber telephone line 400. This signal detection section 7 receives and detects signals transmitted from other terminal devices (including the center device) connected via the subscriber telephone line 400. The connection switching unit 1 includes a relay circuit that switches the home telephone 200 and either the meter or the sensor 300 to be connected to the subscriber telephone line 400. The terminal connection section 2 is an interface section that connects the meter or sensor 300 and the connection switching section 1.

The control unit 6 is a CPU (abbreviation for central processing unit) 61, R'O
M (Read On17 Memory) 62, a timer 63, and a counter 64, and program-controls the device 100.

The external input section 5 provides the CPU 61 with an external input signal ES provided via a user-operable switch provided outside the device 100. The connection switching control section 3 is a CPU
The switching operation of the connection switching section 1 is controlled based on the switching signal C8 given from the connection switching section 61. The audio output section 4 is composed of an audio data storage circuit, a data conversion circuit, etc., and when the audio output request signal VS is given from the CPU 61 of the preceding stage control section 6, the audio output section 4 is configured to output a signal to the subscriber telephone line 400 via the connection switching section 1 in advance. Send out the stored predetermined audio data.

The signal detection unit 7 detects a signal received via the subscriber telephone line 400 and provides a detection signal S to the CPU 61 accordingly.

The timer 63 of the control unit 6 measures the current time and operates to sequentially provide the measured data to the CPU 61. The counter 64 performs a count-up operation every time the timer 63 repeats a predetermined timing operation with a predetermined interval.
The count value is sequentially provided to the CPU 61.

The external input signal ES given to the CPU 61 via the external input unit 5 is a signal indicating whether or not the home (room) in which the device 100 is currently installed is occupied (absent room). An external input signal ES is determined in response to an operation (not shown). Note that the external input signal ES may be obtained in conjunction with a door sensor or the like that detects the open/closed state of the door depending on its purpose of use.

The connection switching signal C8 given from the CPU 61 to the connection switching control unit 3 controls the opening and closing of the contacts of the relay circuit of the connection switching unit 1, and connects the home telephone 200 and the meter or sensor 3.
00 to the subscriber telephone line 400. Note that the connection switching unit 1 usually preferentially connects the home telephone 200 to the subscriber telephone line 4.
00, but when the connection switching signal C8 is given, the meter or sensor 300 side is connected to the subscriber telephone line 400.
Control the connection switching so that it connects to.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the meter or sensor 300 of the terminal network control device 100 when transmitting meter reading information will be described.

Note that between the data requesting center device side and the terminal network control device 100 side, a meter reading information collection time period of a predetermined width that is repeated at a predetermined interval is determined by a predetermined transmission control procedure or the like. The operation of transmitting and receiving the meter reading information is repeated during this predetermined time period.

First, in the meter reading information collection time period, a calling signal is transmitted from the center device to the terminal network control device 100 via the subscriber telephone line 400. This calling signal is transmitted to the signal detection section 7
The detection signal S is received and detected by the CPU 61 of the control unit 6. Accordingly, when the CPU 61 determines based on the clock data of the timer 63 that the detection signal S due to the arrival of the calling signal is obtained during the predetermined meter reading information collection time period, the CPU 61 issues a line connection request signal following the arrival of the calling signal. It is determined whether or not a detection signal S due to an incoming call is input. In other words, when a line connection request signal is received following a call signal during a predetermined meter reading information collection time period, the C
The PU 61 outputs a switching signal O8 to the connection switching control section 3. As a result, the connection switching control section 3 controls the connection switching section 1 to connect the meter or sensor 300 side to the subscriber telephone line 40.
Connect to 0. Thereby, the meter reading information on the meter or sensor 300 side is sent to the subscriber telephone line 400 via the terminal connection section 2 and the connection switching section 1, and is received on the center device side.

On the other hand, if the line connection request signal cannot be received following the call signal during this meter reading information collection time period, the CPU
61 controls the counter 64 to count up. Thereafter, in the next meter reading information collection time period with a predetermined interval, the outlet line connection request signal following the call signal for meter reading information collection is received again. At this time, if a line connection request signal is received following the calling signal, meter reading information is transmitted, but if these signals cannot be received, the counter 64 is further controlled to count up.

In this way, in the meter reading information collection time period that is repeatedly set at predetermined intervals, the number of repetitions is counted by the counter 64 while meter reading information cannot be transmitted. The CPU 61 refers to the count value of the counter 64, and when it determines that the value has reached a set value stored in advance in the ROM 62, it switches to automatic terminal transmission and transmits the meter reading information. That is, a call signal is transmitted from the terminal network control device 100 side to the center device side to establish a connection to the subscriber telephone line 400, and the operation is switched to transmit meter reading information.

As described above, the terminal network control device 100 can transmit meter reading information in response to a request from the center side if a line link is established by a call from the center device side during the meter reading information collection time period. If the meter reading information cannot be transmitted by calling from the center device even during the meter reading information collection time period which is repeated a predetermined number of times with the predetermined interval, the operation is switched to automatic terminal calling and transmitting the meter reading information. are doing.

FIG. 2 shows the terminal network control device 110 shown in FIG. 1 above.
FIG. 2 is a schematic processing flow diagram of a processing operation that is started in response to the arrival of a calling signal from another terminal device at 0.0.

The illustrated processing flow is stored in advance in the ROM 62 of the control unit 6 as a program, and is executed under the control of the CPU 61.

Next, details of the operation of the terminal network control device tioo shown in FIG. 1 that is started in response to the arrival of a paging signal will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The terminal network control device 100 constantly checks whether there is an incoming call signal transmitted from another terminal device via the subscriber telephone line 400. This incoming call signal is detected by the signal detection unit 7 connected to the subscriber telephone line 400, and a detection signal S indicating that the call signal has been detected is sent to the control unit 6.
It is given to PU61. In response, the CPU 61 executes step 5IIO shown in FIG.
(abbreviated as 0) starts execution of subsequent processing. In other words, the CPU
61, in the determination process of step 5100, it is determined whether or not a detection signal S indicating that an incoming call signal has been detected is input.

As long as the detection signal S due to the arrival of the calling signal is not input, the determination process of step 5100 is repeatedly executed, but once the detection signal S due to the arrival of the calling signal is input, the process proceeds to the next step 5110 and thereafter. Branch out.

In the determination process of step 5110, the CPU 61 refers to the clock data provided by the timer 62 and determines whether the current time is within a predetermined time period for receiving a call signal for collecting meter reading information from the center device. do.

In other words, between the center device side and the data terminal side, a time period for receiving a call signal from the center device for collecting meter reading information from the meter or sensor 300 is determined in advance, and C
In response to the arrival of the calling signal, the PU 61 determines whether the current time given by the timer 62 corresponds to the time period when the calling signal is received from the center device. In addition,
Data regarding this calling signal transmission/reception time zone is stored in advance on the center device side, and is also stored in the ROM 62 of the control unit 6 of the terminal network control device 100. As a result of this determination process, if the current time does not correspond to the time period in which the calling signal arrives from the center device 7, the process moves to step 5115, and the subscriber telephone line 40
The bell of the home telephone 200 connected to 0 rings to notify the incoming call. In other words, the CPU 61 detects the arrival of the call signal and determines that the current time does not correspond to the time period in which the call signal is received from the center device side, and in response to this, the CPU 61 gives the switching signal C8 to the connection switching control section 3 to establish the connection. Connection switching is controlled so that this calling signal is given to the home telephone 200 via the switching unit 1. Therefore, the bell of the home telephone 200 rings, and the arrival of the calling signal transmitted to the terminal network control device 100 from other terminal devices other than the center device is announced.

As described above, all call signals detected at times that do not correspond to the call signal arrival time period for meter reading information collection are given to the home telephone 200, and the telephone enters a normal call state. After the call ends, the process returns to step 5100, and the process is repeated in the same manner.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process at step 5110 that the current time corresponds to the time period in which a call signal is received from the center device, the process proceeds to the next determination process at step 5120.

In the determination process of step 5120, the CPU 61 determines whether the external input signal ES is input. At this time, if the external input signal ES is input via the external input section 5, the process moves to step 5125 and subsequent steps, and a normal call state is entered. That is, while the terminal is at home (in the room), all call signals received at the terminal network control device 100 are given to the in-home telephone 200. after that,
The process returns to step 5100 again, and the process is repeated in the same manner.

On the other hand, in the determination process of step 5120, if it is determined that the external input signal ES is not input and the user is absent (in an absent room), the process proceeds to step 5130.

In the process of step 5130, since a call signal was received while the user was absent, the CPU 61 in response to this sends a voice output request signal S to the voice output section 4 and connects it to the subscriber telephone line 400 via the connection switching section 1. control to send out predetermined audio data. This voice data sent to the subscriber telephone line 4° in response to an incoming call signal while the user is absent is message data that can notify the call signal source of the message that the user is currently absent. .

By receiving this message, the calling signal source can know that the other party is currently absent. After sending the absentee message data by voice, the process moves to step 5140.

In the process of step 5140, the CPU 61 determines based on the detection signal S given by the signal detection unit 7 whether or not a line connection request signal requesting line connection is received following the arrival of the calling signal in step 5100 described above. do. In other words, if the call signal received this time is the one sent from the center equipment side to collect meter reading information, the signal detection unit 7 will detect a call signal from the center equipment side requesting connection to the subscriber telephone line 400 following this call signal. It is possible to detect the arrival of a line connection request signal. The signal detection unit 7 outputs a detection signal S to the CPU 61 in response to the detection of the arrival of the line connection request signal. The process proceeds to step 51 depending on whether or not a line connection request signal from the center device is received following this calling signal.
The process branches to steps 50 and thereafter or steps 5170 and thereafter.

If the process proceeds to step 5150 as a result of the determination in step 5140, the CPU 61 sends a switching signal C8 to the connection switching control unit 3 in response to receiving the line connection request signal from the center device.
is given to control the connection switching unit 1 to the meter or sensor 300 side.

In other words, the connection of the subscriber telephone line 400 from the home telephone 200 side to the meter or sensor 300 side is switched by the switching signal C8. Thereby, a line link is established between the center device side and the meter or sensor 300 side via the subscriber telephone line 400.

Thereafter, in the process of step 5160, data read and measured by the meter or sensor 300 is sent to the subscriber telephone line 400 via the terminal connection section 2 and connection switching section 1. The sent meter reading and measurement data are received by the center device via the subscriber telephone line 400 and processed. After this transmission/reception process, the process returns to step 5100 again, and the same process is executed for the next incoming call signal detected.

As described above, when the terminal network control device 100 detects the arrival of the line connection request signal following the arrival of the call signal from the center device side, it transmits meter reading or measurement data from the meter or sensor 300 side to the subscriber telephone line 400 for the first time. It's working like this.

Returning to the determination process in step 5140, if the arrival of the connection request signal from the center device cannot be detected after the voice data is sent in response to the incoming call signal, the process moves to the next step 5170. In other words, if the arrival of a line connection request signal from the center device following the call signal cannot be detected during the meter reading information collection time period of the meter or sensor 300, the CPU 61 controls the counter 64 to count up in the process of step 5170. . After that, CPU6
1 determines whether the current count value of the counter 64 has reached a preset value in the next step 5180. As a result of the determination, if the count value reaches a preset value, the operation is switched to automatic terminal calling in the process of step 5190. That is, the CPU 61 calls the center device side, establishes a line link using the subscriber telephone line 400, and then starts transmitting meter reading information from the meter or sensor 300 side to the center device side via the subscriber telephone line 400. Thereafter, the process returns to step 5100 and the process is repeated for the next call signal in the same manner.

On the other hand, in the determination process of step 5180, while the count value of the counter 64 after counting up has not reached the preset value, the process returns to step 5100 again and the process is repeated in the same manner. In the case of this repeated process, the center device cannot establish a line link using the subscriber telephone line 400 even though the meter reading information is being collected, so the center device repeats the process at a predetermined interval.
A paging signal is sent to terminal network controller 100 in order to attempt to establish a line link. This paging signal is similarly confirmed by the paging signal incoming detection operation of the terminal network control device 100 at a predetermined interval. Therefore, it is determined in step 5180 that the line link establishment operation attempted by the transmission of a paging signal from the center device side is not successful even if the counting operation of the counter 64 is repeated a predetermined number of times.
If it is confirmed by the discrimination process, proceed to the next step 5.
The process of step 190 is executed, the terminal is switched to automatic calling, the terminal network control device 100 calls the center device, a line link is established, and data communication for collecting meter reading information is performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, based on the detection results by the first and second detection means, it becomes possible for the data transmission means to transmit data in response to reception of a ringing call signal.
Furthermore, if data transmission by this data transmission means is not possible, data transmission by terminal calling is also possible. Therefore, inexpensive and easy data communication using ringing paging signals can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a terminal network control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of processing operations that are started in the terminal network control device shown in FIG. 1 in response to the arrival of a paging signal from another terminal device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional data communication system using telephone lines. In the figure, 100 is a terminal network control device, 200 is a home telephone, 300 is a meter or sensor, 400 is a subscriber telephone line, 1 is a connection switching unit, 7 is a signal detection unit, S is a detection signal,
ES is an external input signal and C8 is a switching signal. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A terminal network control device that starts data transmission from a connected data terminal device in response to a ringing paging signal given via a communication line, the device comprising: detecting the arrival of the paging signal during a predetermined time period; a first detection means for detecting the arrival of a connection request signal of the communication line following the calling signal detected by the first detection means; and a second detection means for detecting the connection request signal by the second detection means. data sending means for connecting to a line in response to detection of an incoming signal and sending data of the data terminal device to the communication line; and in response to no detection of the incoming connection request signal by the second detection means. means for making a terminal call and sending data from the data terminal device to the communication line;
Terminal network control device.