JPH04265054A - Data communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically execute the bidirectional data communication (except a speech executed by a voice) through a public network between a data terminal equipment connected to an extension of a PBX (private branch exchange) and a center side system of the outside of the PBX. CONSTITUTION:As for this system, to a PBX 15 to which data terminal equipments 16-18 are connected, a sub-center called directly through a public network 13 from a center system 12 is connected through an extension, and the sub-center 21 executes a data communication between the terminal equipments 16 to 18 and the center system 12 independently from the PBX 15.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] This invention relates to data communication systems, and in particular to various terminal devices connected to the extension lines of private branch exchanges installed inside companies and buildings, and terminal devices connected to extension lines of private branch exchanges installed in companies and buildings, The present invention relates to a data communication system that performs bidirectional data transmission between parties via a public network.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a telemeter system has been provided as a system in which a center automatically reads gas meters installed in a plurality of vending machines installed in remote locations or in each consumer's home. When adopting the above-mentioned telemeter system, the system should be constructed by either installing a new dedicated telephone line as a line for data transmission, or by using a public telephone line that is already installed in the consumer's home. was. In this telemeter system, NTT
(NIPPON TELE GRAPH ANDTE
Using the no-ringing service provided by LEPHONE CORPORATION, the center could collect any desired data. When using the above-mentioned no-ringing service, when the center performs automatic meter reading of vending machines and gas meters,
This was a very effective method because it allowed data to be collected without ringing the telephone in the user's home.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a telephone communication system including a conventional private branch exchange.

[0004] In FIG. 5, the communication system includes a management center side that executes data collection and data processing in the system, and a user side connected to the management center side via a public network 13 provided by NTT, for example. . The management center side includes a center system 12 that includes a computer and has a function of directly controlling communication with the public network 13. On the other hand, on the user side, a private branch exchange (hereinafter abbreviated as PBX) 15 controls communication between extensions to which terminal devices 16 to 18 having a telephone call function are connected, and communication control between the extensions and the public network 13, which is an outside line. including.

In a communication system including the PBX 15 configured as described above, when a call request issued from the center system 12 arrives at the PBX 15 via the public network 13, the PBX 15 responds to the call request. Based on the content, a desired terminal device is selected and a line is established between the selected terminal device and the center system 12. Once the line is established as described above, the center system 12 and each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 can communicate bidirectionally via the switching function of the PBX 15.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, when attempting to construct the above-mentioned telemeter system for companies and buildings, these buildings and companies generally have a PBX 15 installed as shown in Figure 5 above. Therefore, it was not possible to directly call each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 connected to the extension of the PBX 15 from the external management center in a non-ringing manner.

[0007] In other words, in the past, when a PBX was not installed and the terminal device was directly connected to the public network, two-way data communication was performed using a non-ringing service, and the center side performed automatic meter reading. was completed. However, if an attempt was made to implement a no-ringing service for the extension line of the PBX 15 shown in FIG. 5, it would be difficult to implement it because there are significant restrictions on changes in line voltage, signal timing, etc. Also, in order to eliminate this restriction, P
There was also the problem that the specifications of the BX15 had to be fundamentally changed, which would be too expensive.

Furthermore, in FIG. 5, the center system 12
If the user attempts to establish a line with each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 via the public network 13 and the PBX 15 and perform data communication, the larger the amount of data sent and received, the longer the communication time will be.
There is also a problem in that the line is held for a long time between the terminal device and the terminal device 5, and there is a high probability that a call request from another terminal device will be placed in a waiting state, leading to a decrease in communication efficiency.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable data communication between a center-side system connected to a private branch exchange via a public network and a plurality of data terminal devices connected to the private branch exchange via extension lines. An object of the present invention is to provide a data communication system that can be executed without changing the specifications of an exchange and without reducing the communication efficiency of the system.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] A data communication system according to the present invention includes a user side system including at least one data terminal device and a private branch exchange that connects each of the terminal devices via an extension line; and a center side system that is connected to the side system via a public network and transfers data between each of the data terminal devices, and the user side system is connected to the private branch exchange via an extension line. and a communication terminal device that is connected to the center side system via the public network, and the communication terminal device is configured to communicate with each of the data terminal devices in response to an incoming call from the center side system. a communication connection means for communicatively connecting the center-side system; and data for receiving data transmitted from each of the data terminal devices and transferring data between each of the data terminal devices and the center-side system in response. and a transfer means.

[0011]

[Operation] The data communication system according to the present invention is configured as described above, and the communication terminal device performs data communication between each of the data terminal devices and the center side system by the communication connection means and the data transfer means. Since it is independently controlled from the private branch exchange, the communication efficiency between the data terminal equipment and the center is controlled without affecting the efficiency of communication via the public network due to private branch exchange control, and without changing the specifications of the private branch exchange. Data communication with the side system can be performed efficiently.

0012

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system employing a private branch exchange according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, this data communication system constitutes a type of telemeter system. Specifically, the system includes a management center side and a user side communicatively connected to the management center side via the public network 13. The management center side includes a center system 12 having a function of collecting data transmitted from the user side and processing the collected data by executing a predetermined program. The user side has a private branch exchange (hereinafter referred to as
(abbreviated as PBX) 15. The PBX15 has extension 2.
Sub-center 21 is connected via extension 2.
Terminal devices 16 to 18 are connected via terminals 5 to 27, respectively. The PBX 15 is a terminal device 16 or 1.
8 and the public network 13, that is, the communication connection between the outside line and the extension line, the subcenter 21 and the terminal device 1
It also performs line control using extension lines from 6 to 18. The terminal devices 16 to 18 are terminal devices having an information transmission function, and are assumed to be, for example, a copying machine, a vending machine, an electric meter, a gas meter, or a water meter. The sub-center 21 has the function of transmitting and receiving data with the terminal devices 16 to 18 via the PBX 15, and has an external line 22 provided independently of the external line connected to the PBX 15, although its internal configuration will be described later. It also has a communication control function with the public network 13 via the network. Therefore, the data in the terminal devices 16 to 18 is once collected via the PBX 15 via the extension lines 25 to 27, and further via the extension line 23 to the subcenter 21, and then transmitted via the external line 22 under the control of the subcenter 21. It becomes possible to process the data so that it is sent to the public network 13.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the subcenter 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the subcenter 21 includes a CPU 21a that controls and manages the center 21 itself, a memory 21b to which data stored therein is accessed by the CPU 21a, a communication modem 21c, and an input/output controller 21d. . The communication modem 21c is a PB
An extension line 23 connected to the X15 and an outside line 22 connected to the public network 13 are connected and operate to control connection and opening of these communication lines. The input/output control section 21d is connected to the CPU 21a and the subcenter 21.
It operates to interface with an input/output device group 30 (keyboard, display, audio output device, etc.) connected to the outside of the computer.

The CPU 21a stores data provided from the communication modem 21c connected to the previous stage in the memory 21b.
It also operates to read out data stored in the memory 21b in response to a signal given from the communication modem 21c, and to send out the read data to the line via the communication modem 21c. do.

As shown in FIG.
6 to 18. Therefore, when a large amount of data (excluding phone calls) is transmitted and received between the terminal devices 16 to 18 and the center system 12, the large amount of data is transmitted via the sub-center 21 using the dedicated outside line 22. ,PBX15
without increasing the communication load of the PB.
The load on the line between the X15 and the public network 13 does not increase either.

In the system shown in FIG. 1, the case where lines are connected from the external center system 12 to the terminal devices 16 to 18 connected to the extension lines of the PBX 15 will be described first.

First, the subcenter 21 is called directly from the external center system 12, and a line is established between the center system 12 and the subcenter 21 via the public network 13. After this line connection, the external center system 12 transmits to the subcenter 21 the terminal number of the terminal device from which data collection is desired. The terminal number is a number assigned in advance to each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 registered in the system, and the terminal device can be uniquely identified by the terminal number. When the sub-center 21 receives the terminal number from the center system 12, the sub-center 21 accordingly connects the extension with the corresponding terminal number to PB.
Connect via X15. In this way, the external center system 12 and P
Data communication can be performed directly with the terminal devices 16 to 18 connected to the extension of the BX 15.

Next, in the system shown in FIG. 1, the case where lines are connected from each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 to the external center system 12 will be explained.

First, each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 calls the subcenter 21 by a terminal call and establishes an extension connection. Thereafter, the terminal device transmits predetermined data to the subcenter 21. In response to receiving the transmitted data, the sub-center 21 analyzes the contents of the received data and determines whether to temporarily store the received data or to immediately transmit it to the external center system 12. In other words, the CPU 21a of the subcenter 21 uses the communication modem 2
The subcenter 21 analyzes the data received from the terminal device via the terminal 1c according to a predetermined program process, stores the received data in the memory 21b in response to the analysis result, and after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the subcenter 21 makes a call and sends an external call. The stored data is processed to be transmitted to the center system 12 of. Further, the CPU 21a of the sub-center 21 immediately transmits the received data to the outside line 22 in response to determining the emergency state of the terminal device based on the analysis result of the received data from the terminal device.
The data is then processed to be transmitted to the center system 12 via the public network 13.

As described above, in the system shown in FIG. 1, bidirectional data communication is possible between the center system 12 via the subcenter 21 and each of the terminal devices 16 to 18 connected to the extensions of the PBX 15. It is.

In the system shown in FIG. 1 described above, all of the terminal devices 16 to 18 are connected to the extension line of the PBX 15, which has the advantage of simplifying construction, ease of maintenance, and reduction in operating costs. be. Further, although the line 22 of the subcenter 21 is directly connected to the public network 13, it is also possible to connect it to an extension dial-in line of the PBX 15.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system employing a private branch exchange according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Comparing the data communication system shown in FIG. 3 with the data communication system shown in FIG.
The communication line with the center system 12 of 1 is directly connected to the public network 1.
3, the communication line between the subcenter 21 and the center system 12 shown in FIG.
This is because it is connected to the dial-in line 22a of the X15 extension. In other words, in FIG. 1, emergency information generated in any of the terminal devices 16 to 18 is sent to the subcenter 21 and the center system 12 through their own external line 22.
This has the advantage that delays in transmitting the emergency information due to busy outside lines can be avoided. Further, in the system shown in FIG. 3, since a general subscriber telephone line is used as the dial-in line 22a, there is an advantage that the line usage cost for the entire system can be kept low.

In the data communication system shown in FIG. 3, a case will be described in which the center system 12 calls the terminal devices 16 to 18, connects them to the line, and performs meter reading or downloads data to the terminal devices.

The center system 12 connects to the subcenter 21 via the public network 13 and dial-in line 22a.
Call the center system 12 and sub center 21
Establish a line connection with. Thereafter, the center system 12 transmits a telephone number (corresponding to a terminal number) assigned to a terminal device with which communication is desired. By dialing the received telephone number, the subcenter 21 can call the corresponding terminal device connected to the extension via the PBX 15. As a result, a line is established between the subcenter 21 and the terminal device via the dial-in line 22a, and data transmission becomes possible between the center system 12 and the terminal device using the subcenter 21 as an intermediary.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, if a plurality of extensions 23 and 24 are connected to the subcenter 21, it is possible to simultaneously call a plurality of terminal devices to send and receive data to and from the center system 12. This makes it possible to shorten the line connection time between the center system 12 and the sub-center 21.

Next, data communication in the case where some abnormality occurs on the terminal devices 16 to 18 side in the system shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

When an abnormal state occurs in the terminal devices 16 to 18, the terminal devices 16 to 18 first call the subcenter 21 via the extension and PBX 15, establish an extension with the subcenter 21, and then Send data regarding information about the abnormality that has occurred.

[0032] The sub-center 21 receives the transmission data and stores it temporarily in the memory 21b accordingly. C.P.
The U21a analyzes the data stored in the memory 21b, and if it is determined that an emergency is required, immediately establishes a line connection with the center system 12 via the dial-in line 22a and the public network 13 via the communication modem 21c. and transmits the abnormality information from the memory 21b to the readout line. The center system 12 that has received the abnormality data sent from the sub-center 21 further analyzes the received data, and if it determines that the current abnormality situation requires an extremely urgent response, it processes to request the user to take action accordingly. do. In other words, the center system 12 connects the input/output control unit 2 of the subcenter 21 via the established public network 13.
Processing is performed to ring the bell 31 connected to 1d. By ringing the bell 31, the user can confirm the occurrence of an abnormal emergency situation and take prompt action, so for example, if a fire breaks out,
It is possible to avoid emergency situations such as water leaks and gas leaks.

Furthermore, in the system of FIG. 3, for example, instead of connecting the terminal device 16 directly to the extension 25,
It may also be connected to the extension 25 via the adapter 32. The adapter 32 connects the extension 25 on one side, and connects the telephone 33 and the terminal device 16 on the other side, and controls connection switching so that the extension 25 is connected to either the telephone 33 or the terminal device 16. As described above, the protocol for communication control using the adapter 32 is MSS (
A method known as a multi-service switcher is used.

When the adapter 32 is called from the subcenter 21 via the PBX 15, it first detects an incoming call. After that, the subcenter 21
A signal is sent to connect the communication line with the telephone 33 and the terminal device 16 to either the telephone 33 or the terminal device 16. When establishing a connection with the terminal device 16, the subcenter 21
Following the calling of the adapter 32, it transmits a signal for calling a predetermined terminal device 16. When the adapter 32 receives the predetermined signal from the subcenter 21, it controls the connection between the extension 25 and the terminal device 16 accordingly.

Furthermore, when the adapter 32 is called to call the telephone 33 from another telephone, etc., the adapter 32 responds when it detects that the predetermined signal is not received even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after detecting the incoming call. extension 25
Switching control is performed so that it is connected to the telephone 33 side. This makes it possible to connect the telephone 33 to the public network 13 and make a normal voice call.

As described above, by providing the adapter 32, a plurality of data terminal devices, that is, the telephone 33 and the terminal device 16, can be connected to the external public network 1 via one extension 25.
It becomes possible to connect to 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system employing a private branch exchange according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the data communication system includes the management center side and the user side as described above, and the center system 12 on the management center side connects the dial-in line 22a to the subcenter 21 on the user side via the public network 13. It is also connected to the PBX 15 via an outside line. In this system, the terminal device 16 or 1
Information such as abnormal conditions that occurred in each of 8.
External center system 12 directly via PBX 15
can be transmitted to.

[0039]

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, in response to an incoming call from the center side system, communication connection means for communicatively connecting each data terminal device and the center side system, and transmitting data from each data terminal device are provided. By providing a communication terminal device equipped with a data transfer means that receives data and transfers data between the data terminal device and the center-side system in response, it is possible to connect to the extension line of a private branch exchange, which was previously difficult. This has the effect of enabling automatic two-way data communication between the various data terminal devices connected to the public network and the center-side system connected to the public network.

[0040] The above effect is achieved by using one line provided by the public network as the data communication dedicated line, and because it does not use an expensive line called a non-ringing line as in the past, it can be achieved at a very low cost. Another effect is that the system can be configured.

[0041] Further, the data communication is performed by providing the communication terminal device and connecting the center side system connected to the public network through the communication terminal device and various data terminal devices connected to the extension line of the private branch exchange. Since the communication connection is made, there is no need to set up a dial-in line for each data terminal device, and this data communication system can be newly introduced without changing the existing extension system using a private branch exchange. It has the effect of being able to

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system that employs a private branch exchange according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a subcenter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system employing a private branch exchange according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a data communication system employing a private branch exchange according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a telephone communication system including a conventional private branch exchange.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Center system 13 Public network 15 PBX (private branch exchange) 16, 17, and 18 Terminal device 21 Subcenter 22 Outside line 22a Dial-in line 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 Extension 21a
CPU 21b Memory 21c Communication modem 32 Adapter 33 Telephone device In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A user-side system including at least one or more data terminal devices and a private branch exchange that connects each of the data terminal devices via an extension line, the user-side system being connected to the user-side system via a public network, and a center-side system that transfers data between each of the data terminal devices, wherein the user-side system is connected to the private branch exchange via an extension line, and the center-side system is connected to the private branch exchange via an extension line. a communication terminal device connected to the center side system via the public network, and the communication terminal device responds to an incoming call from the center side system and connects each of the data terminal devices and the center side system. A data communication system comprising a connection means and a data transfer means for receiving data transmitted from each of the data terminal devices and transferring data between each of the data terminal devices and the center side system in response. .