JPH04330843A - Data communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically execute a holding operation by a transmitting station(or a receiving station) being the other side station which is communicating until then after a line is forcedly cut due to an interrupt communication, at the time of starting the interrupt communication between the receiving station (or transmitting station) and an interrupt station. CONSTITUTION:For example, when the transmitting station which is communicating at present, permits the interrupt communication, the hold signal is transmitted from a switchboard to the receiving station being the other side station of the pertinent transmitting station. The receiving station is equipped with a means which detects the hold signal, and the receiving station executes the holding operation without cutting the line until receiving an indication from the transmitting station (receiving 'a resuming command'), at the time of detecting the pertinent held signal.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention relates to a data communication device, and in particular, in a data communication device such as a facsimile machine, when a partner station currently communicating receives an interrupt from another interrupting station such as a call waiting The present invention relates to a data communication device that can recognize the fact that a communication has been received and then execute predetermined processing.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A call waiting service is a service provided by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation). This service allows you to call the other party B during a call between your own station and the other party A.
This allows interrupt calls by users.

[0003] Specifically, when the calling station B dials the calling station while the calling station is talking to the calling station A, a predetermined paging signal is sent to the calling station from the exchange. When the local station operates the hook button in response to this calling signal, the local station and the other party's station B are connected, and a predetermined hold signal is sent to the other party's station A from the exchange. Then, opponent station B
If you operate the hook button again on your own station when you finish the call with A, your own station will be connected to the other party's station A again.

[0004] In the following explanation, the two stations currently communicating (the partner station A and the own station) will simply be referred to as a transmitting station or a receiving station, and the partner station B with which interrupt communication is to be performed will be referred to as an interrupting station. .

The specifications of the call signal and hold signal of the call waiting service are as follows.

Frequency: 400±10 [Hz] Output level: -
16 [dBm] or less Tone on time: 70 ± 10 [ms] Tone off time: 70 ± 10 [ms] Period: 4
[sec] or 8 [sec] (however, generally 4[sec]
sec]) This signal waveform is shown in FIG.

Now, when receiving a call waiting service when a facsimile device is connected to a telephone line to communicate image information, the facsimile device is provided with means for detecting a call signal for the call waiting service, and the facsimile device is provided with a means for detecting a call signal for the call waiting service, and the facsimile device detects a call signal in response to the detection of the call signal. You can try switching lines.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-216584 discloses such a facsimile machine, and when a receiving station (or transmitting station) receives a call signal for a call waiting service, the call waiting service is immediately interrupted. I am trying to connect the line with the station.

By the way, since general facsimile machines do not have the ability to detect the hold signal, when the receiving station (or transmitting station) starts communication with the interrupting station as described above, the transmitting station that was the other station until then The station (or receiving station) becomes in a no-signal state, and after a predetermined period of time has passed, disconnects the line due to an error.

[0010] In order to solve this problem, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 1986-
Publication No. 86660 states that a receiving station (or transmitting station) that has communicated with an interrupting station communicates with the transmitting station (or A technique for performing a recovery operation for a receiving station (receiving station) has been disclosed.

[0011]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] Said Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1986-86
In the technique disclosed in Publication No. 660, the line of the other station is not disconnected, but it is necessary to perform a recovery operation for the other station before a predetermined time elapses, so the communication between the own station and the interrupting station is interrupted each time. Communication is interrupted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to: When a receiving station (or transmitting station) starts interrupt communication with an interrupting station, An object of the present invention is to provide a data communication device in which a transmitting station (or a receiving station) that is a partner station with which communication has been performed can automatically execute a hold operation.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that a means for detecting a hold signal such as a call waiting signal is provided.

[0014]

[Operation] By detecting the hold signal, it can be determined that the other station has permitted interrupt communication.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail as applied to a facsimile machine with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a reading device 1 that reads document contents and a recording device 2 that outputs received image information are connected to a communication control device 3. Further, an operating device 4 comprising various operation buttons for operating the facsimile device, a display device for displaying the status of the facsimile device, and a tone generator is also connected to the communication control device 3. There is.

[0016] Furthermore, the communication control device 3 provides the modem 5 with the following information:
The modem 5 is connected to an NCU 6, and the NCU 6 is connected to a line.

The communication control device 3 includes a microcomputer and controls various operations of the facsimile machine.

Various protocol signals and image information are sent to the line via the communication control unit 3, modem 5 and NCU 6, or input to the communication control unit 3 from the line via the NCU 6 and modem 5.

The modem 5 has a function of detecting a call waiting signal. As mentioned above, the call signal and the hold signal are signals with a predetermined pattern of 400 [Hz], and they are the same signal,
When the signal is sent from the exchange and is a calling signal, the signal is superimposed on image information or a predetermined protocol signal necessary for communication of the image information and is input to the facsimile machine. On the other hand, if the signal is a hold signal, the other station is communicating with the interrupting station, so there is no signal superimposed on the signal. therefore,
When a signal having the predetermined pattern of 400 [Hz] is detected, it is determined whether the signal is a call waiting signal or a hold signal, depending on whether a carrier of image information or a protocol signal is being received at the same time. It can be determined whether This kind of function is provided by ordinary modem 5.
It is relatively easy to add.

Of course, the modem 5 does not have to have all of the above-mentioned hold signal detection functions. That is, if a band pass filter of, for example, 400 [Hz] is provided, the communication control device 3 determines whether or not the signal outputted through the filter has the above pattern, and a signal of the pattern is detected. Alternatively, the calling signal and the hold signal may be determined depending on whether the modem 5 detects image information or a predetermined protocol signal.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

First, in the present invention, the facsimile device (that is, the interrupt station) that makes the call by call waiting only needs to have standard functions, but the facsimile device that makes the call by call waiting and the current communication with the station The station performing this is a unique device according to the present invention.

[0023]The first embodiment is an example in which there is a call waiting interruption at the transmitting station currently in communication. Therefore, the interrupt station is a transmitting station (interrupt transmitting station) in interrupt communication, and the transmitting station is a receiving station (interrupt receiving station) in interrupt communication.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the basic operation (main routine) of the transmitting station, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the interrupt operation when the transmitting station receives a call waiting signal.

First, in FIG. 4, after dialing is performed in step S31 and the line is connected, predetermined protocol preprocessing is performed in steps S32 to S34.
Transmission of image information (PIX) and predetermined protocol post-processing are performed. Thereafter, in step S35, the line is disconnected and the process ends.

If a call waiting signal is received during the execution of the process shown in FIG. 4, the process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by an interrupt.

In FIG. 5, first in step S41,
The current communication status (communication mode, transmission speed, identification code of the partner station currently being communicated with, sent pages in the case of memory transmission, etc.) is stored.

In step S42, the line is switched to the interrupt station side.

In steps S43 to S45, predetermined protocol preprocessing, image information reception, and predetermined protocol postprocessing are executed, and interrupt communication with the interrupt station is executed.

After the interrupt communication, in step S46, the line is switched from the interrupting station to the receiving station again.

In step S47, step S4
The contents of the communication state stored in step 1 are read out.

In step S48, a "resume command" is sent to the receiving station to instruct it to restart communication.

[0033] In step S49, it is determined whether or not an "ACK command" indicating that the receiving station has confirmed the resumption of communication has been received. If not received, it is determined in step S50 whether the scheduled time has elapsed. If it is not determined that the scheduled time has elapsed, the process returns to step S49.

If it is determined that the scheduled time has elapsed, the line is disconnected in step S51, and then the process ends.

[0035] In step S49, if reception of the "ACK command" is confirmed, step S52
In step S34, the remaining image information is transmitted, and then the process moves to step S34 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the basic operation (main routine) of the receiving station, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the interrupting operation when the receiving station receives a call waiting hold signal.

First, in FIG. 6, in step S1, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call from the transmitting station (normal incoming call other than an incoming call due to a call waiting call). If there is an incoming call, the line is connected in step S2, and predetermined protocol preprocessing is executed in step S3.

In steps S4 and S5, image information is received and predetermined protocol post-processing is executed. Thereafter, the line is disconnected in step S6, and the process returns to step S1. Although not shown, the received image information is output (printed) at a predetermined timing.

If a call waiting hold signal is output from the exchange during execution of the process shown in FIG. 6, the process shown in FIG. 7 is executed by interrupt processing.

In FIG. 7, first in step S11, the current reception operation is temporarily suspended or put on hold without disconnecting the line. And in step S12,
The current communication status (as described above, communication mode, transmission speed, identification code of the partner station, etc.) is maintained.

[0041] In step S13, the other station (in this example, the transmitting station) sends a notification by light, sound, etc. that the communication is interrupted (on hold) because it has accepted the interrupt communication.
Notify the operator of the receiving station.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the operator has given an instruction to disconnect the line. This instruction can be given using the operating device 4 shown in FIG. If the instruction is not given, in step S15,
It is determined whether the call waiting signal is still being continuously received. If it has been received, the process returns to step S14. Further, if the line disconnection instruction is given, the process moves to step S18, and after the line is disconnected, the process moves to step S1 in FIG. 6.

If no hold signal is detected in step S15, it is determined in step S16 whether a "resume command" has been received. If not received, it is determined in step S17 whether the scheduled time has elapsed. If it is not determined that the scheduled time has elapsed, the process returns to step S16, and if it is determined that the scheduled time has elapsed, the process moves to step S18.

If reception of the "resume command" is confirmed in step S16, an "ACK command" is transmitted in step S17. After the remaining image information is received in step S20, the process moves to step S5 in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows how protocols are exchanged when there is a call waiting call from the interrupting station to the transmitting station during communication by the facsimile apparatus (transmitting station and receiving station) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a time chart showing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are functional block diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, reference numeral 101,
Reference numerals 201 and 301 are communication control means provided in the receiving station, transmitting station, and interrupting station, respectively, and equipped with various functions for reading and transmitting image information, receiving and recording image information, and exchanging predetermined protocols. .

When a transmitting station connected to exchange 299 and a receiving station connected to exchange 199 are communicating with each other, when an interrupting station connected to exchange 399 calls the transmitting station, exchange 299 sends a call waiting signal to the transmitting station.

When the call waiting signal detecting means 202 detects a call waiting signal, the other station at that time (
The communication state with the receiving station is stored in the communication state storage means 203, and the line switching means 204 is energized to switch the line connection from the receiving station to the interrupting station. This switching is
Executed by hooking. Additionally, the flip-flop 205 outputs "1", and as a result, the AND gate 20
6 will be held.

[0049] Communication end determination means 2
07, the line switching means 204 is activated via the AND gate 206, and the line is switched from the interrupting station to the receiving station. Also flip flop 20
5 is reset, the communication state storage means 203 is activated, and the communication state stored in the communication state storage means 203 is read out. Then, the restart command sending means 208 is activated and a "restart command" is sent. This also activates the ACK detection means 209, and when the detection means 209 detects ACK, communication is restarted.

When the receiving station detects the call waiting signal by the call waiting holding signal detecting means 102, it activates the communication state storage means 103 and stores the current communication state. Then, the communication hold means 104 is activated, the current communication is put on hold without disconnecting the line, and the notification means 105 notifies the operator of the receiving station using sound, light, etc. . Further, the restart command detection means 108 is activated. When the transmitting station that has permitted interrupt communication sends out a "resume command", this is detected by the restart command detection means 108, the communication state storage means 103 is energized, and the communication state is read out. Then, the ACK sending means 109 and the communication resuming means 110 are activated, and after the "ACK command" is sent, communication is restarted.

[0051] The operator of the receiving station informs the notification means 1.
05, if it is desired to cancel the communication hold state, for example, by operating the switching means 106 before the "resume command" is detected, the line disconnection means 107 is activated and the line is disconnected. Ru.

Now, the first embodiment is an example in which there is a call waiting interruption on the side of the transmitting station that is currently communicating.
Next, an example in which there is a call waiting interruption on the side of the receiving station currently in communication will be described as a second embodiment. In this case, the interrupt station is a transmitting station (interrupt transmitting station) in interrupt communication,
Further, the receiving station is a receiving station (interrupt receiving station) in interrupt communication.

The basic operations of the transmitting station and receiving station are the same as those in FIGS. 4 and 6. Further, the hardware configuration is the same as that in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the interrupt operation when the receiving station receives a call waiting signal. In the figure, the same steps as in FIGS. 5 and 7 represent the same or equivalent processing.

In FIG. 9, after the communication with the interrupting station is completed, the line is switched again to the transmitting station side (step S
46). After the communication status is read in step S47, it is determined in step S16a whether or not an MPS command has been received. If not received, it is determined in step S17 whether the scheduled time has elapsed.

[0056] If the elapse of the scheduled time is not determined,
Return to step S16a. If it is determined that the scheduled time has elapsed, the line is disconnected in step S18, and the process returns to step S2 in FIG.

[0057] If reception of the MPS command is detected in step S16a, an MCF command is transmitted in step S19a, and step S
At 20, remaining image information is received. After that, the process returns to step S5 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the interrupt operation when the transmitting station receives a call waiting hold signal. In the figure, the same steps as in FIGS. 5 and 7 represent the same or equivalent processing.

In FIG. 10, when a call waiting hold signal is detected, the transmission operation is put on hold without disconnecting the line in step S11a. after that,
In step S12, the communication state is maintained. In this case, if memory transmission has been performed, the transmitted pages and the like are stored.

If the operator of the transmitting station instructs to disconnect the line in step S14, the process moves to step S51. If no hold signal is detected in step S15, step S48
At a, an MPS command is sent.

[0061] In step S49a, it is determined whether an MCF command has been received. If reception is not confirmed, the elapse of the scheduled time is detected in step S50. Then, if the elapse of the scheduled time is not detected, the process returns to step S49a, and if it is detected, the process moves to step S51.

If reception of the MCF command is detected in step S49a, the remaining image information is transmitted in step S52, and then the process moves to step S34 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 shows how protocols are exchanged when there is a call waiting call from the interrupting station to the receiving station during communication by the facsimile apparatus (transmitting station and receiving station) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a time chart showing.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are functional block diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention. In each figure, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 represent the same or equivalent parts, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In each figure, when the interrupting station calls the receiving station with which it is currently communicating, the exchange 199 sends a call-waiting call signal to the receiving station.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when the communication with the interrupting station is completed, the AND gate 206 generates an output, and the communication with the partner station (transmitting station) stored in the communication status storage means 203 is completed. The state is read. And M.P.
When the S detection means 208a is activated and an MPS command is detected by the means 208a, the MCF sending means 209
a is activated, the MCF command is sent, and communication with the transmitting station is resumed.

On the other hand, at the transmitting station, when the call waiting signal is detected, the MPS sending means 108a sends an MPS command, and the communication state storage means 103 is activated to store the current communication state. Furthermore, the MCF detection means 109a is activated.

When the MCF detection means 109a detects an MCF command, the communication restart means 110 is energized and communication is restarted.

[0069] In the first embodiment, the description has been made assuming that the transmitting station and the receiving station respectively send a "resume command" and an "ACK command" after the interrupt communication ends. Each of the above commands is an F in HDLC format.
It is expressed as IF.

[0070] Also, the above-mentioned "ACK command" and the second
In this embodiment, the "MPS command" and "MCF command" sent from the transmitting station and the receiving station after the interrupt communication ends are commands based on CCITT T30, but they may be other unique commands. That is, it may be applied to the interrupt communication system adopted by ATT in the United States. The ringing signal of this system is 480 [Hz
] and 620 [Hz] signals,
It is output at 60 [IPM].

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, when the other station performs interrupt communication, the operator of that station can select whether or not to disconnect the line. You may choose not to do so.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the explanation has been given using an example of interrupt communication by call waiting, but the present invention can be applied to any interrupt communication that uses a predetermined call signal and a hold signal as control signals. May be applied.

Furthermore, although the present invention has been explained by applying it to a facsimile device that communicates image information, it is applicable to all data communication devices (such as personal computer communication devices) that are equipped with a modem and that communicate data by sending and receiving a predetermined protocol. ) is applicable. In this case, it goes without saying that the data to be communicated does not have to be image information.

[0074]

Effects of the Invention (1) According to the data communication device according to claim 1, since a hold signal such as a call waiting signal is detected, it can be determined that the other station has permitted interrupt communication. Therefore, even if the line is forcibly disconnected due to interrupt communication, the communication hold operation can be executed at the own station without requiring a recovery operation from the other station.

(2) According to the data communication device according to the second aspect, communication with the partner station is automatically enabled after the communication hold operation.

(3) According to the data communication device according to claim 3, communication with the partner station after the communication hold operation is forcibly suspended without exchanging a protocol for determining the communication state. Since it can be started immediately from the state immediately before the line was disconnected, communication time can be shortened.

(4) According to the data communication device according to claim 4, it is possible to notify the operator of the fact that a pending operation is being executed.

(5) According to the data communication device according to the fifth aspect, since the operator can select whether or not to execute the hold operation, the scope of use of the data communication device is expanded.

(6) According to the data communication device according to claim 6, even if the call signal and the hold signal of the interrupt communication system are the same signal, they can be distinguished.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the transmitting station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an interrupt operation when the transmitting station receives a call waiting signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the receiving station according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an interrupt operation when the receiving station receives a call waiting hold signal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing how protocols are exchanged when a call-waiting call is made from an interrupting station to a transmitting station during communication by the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an interrupt operation when a receiving station receives a call waiting signal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an interrupt operation when a transmitting station receives a call waiting hold signal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing how protocols are exchanged when a call waiting call is made from an interrupting station to a receiving station during communication by a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of a call signal and a hold signal of a call waiting service.

[Explanation of symbols]

Claims (6)

[Claims] [Claim 1] When the own station and the other station are communicating, and the other station performs a predetermined interrupt communication with the interrupting station,
In a data communication device applied to an interrupt communication system in which a predetermined hold signal is sent from an exchange to the local station, a hold signal detection means for detecting the hold signal; 1. A data communication device comprising: communication holding means for holding communication without disconnecting a line. 2. The data communication device according to claim 1, further comprising communication restart means for restarting communication when the hold signal is no longer detected. 3. The apparatus further comprises communication state storage means for storing the communication state at the time of detecting the hold signal, and the communication restart means resumes communication in the communication state stored in the communication state storage means. 3. The data communication device according to claim 2. 4. The data communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying an operator of the data communication device when the hold signal is detected.
3. The data communication device according to any one of 3 to 3. 5. The data communication device according to claim 4, further comprising line disconnection instruction means for setting a line disconnection instruction by an operator of the data communication device when the notification is notified by the notification means. 6. A paging signal and a hold signal for interrupt communication in the interrupt communication system are the same signal, and the hold signal detecting means transmits a signal identical to the paging signal and the hold signal onto the line. 6. The signal transmitted on the line is determined to be a hold signal by detecting that the signal is superimposed on the signal and that no other signal is superimposed on the signal. data communication equipment.