JPH0461451A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a small sized inexpensive facsimile equipment in which a limit on facsimile communication is eliminated by incorporating a required minimum capacity of a buffer memory to the facsimile equipment and deciding a bit rate for facsimile communication based on a bit rate for data transmission and reception with a connected host device. CONSTITUTION:A memory 3 acts like a buffer memory absorbing a deviation in a timing between a bit rate of a data transferred from a serial data control unit (SCU) 4 to itself and a bit rate of a data transferred from itself to a MO DEM 2, and a CPU 7 decides automatically the bit rate of the MODEM 2 so that the memory 3 is not idle on the way of transmission of picture information by one page. That is, the bit rate of the facsimile communication is decided based on the bit rate of a transmission and reception data from a host device 16. Thus, the small sized inexpensive facsimile equipment is realized, in which a limit on facsimile communication is eliminated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a facsimile device that has a connection interface (hereinafter referred to as "IOA interface") with a data processing device such as a personal computer, and exchanges facsimile communication data with the connection device via the connection interface. It is something. [Conventional technology]

In a conventional facsimile machine of this type, the first phase is the transmission of one communication containing pre-coded phone number information and image information of the called party from the host machine, which is a connection information processing device. The data is transmitted to the facsimile machine and temporarily stored in the facsimile machine. Then, as the 27th aid, the facsimile device sends out a telephone number signal (dial pulse signal, DTMF signal, etc.) corresponding to the transferred telephone number information, and transmits the transferred and integrally stored image information data according to the facsimile communication procedure. Send. When the transmission of the image information data is completed, data indicating the communication result, such as normal termination or error termination, which has been coded in advance, is transferred to the host machine, and the series of operations is completed. In addition, when receiving, as the 17th aid, the facsimile machine enters the receiving operation in response to the incoming call from the connection line.
The received contents (receiving mode, image information) are temporarily stored in the memory of the facsimile machine main body. Then, as the second phase, when the reception operation is completed,
The contents stored in memory are transferred to the connected host machine and the series of operations is completed. By enabling the above operations, it becomes possible to send documents and drawings created on the host machine by facsimile using a database via a connected facsimile device without printing them on originals. In addition, it is possible to send the contents received by facsimile from the connected facsimile device to the host machine and hold it in a database, so that it can be printed out when necessary.
It is also possible to classify received content by sender and search. This makes it easier to manage facsimile information, and the received content can be sent as is or modified on the host machine and sent to other connected devices via the connected facsimile device, making the facsimile device more effective. It is used for. Nowadays, as personal computers are becoming more and more widespread, from small-scale offices to general households, there is a growing demand for even smaller, low-cost popular facsimile machines to be equipped with OA interfaces for connection to personal computers and the like.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above conventional example, the phase of facsimile communication and the phase of data transfer between the facsimile machine and the host machine are completely separated in time. For this reason, communication and data transfer can be performed at the maximum speed of each phase, which has the advantage of minimizing the time required for each phase. However, on the other hand, the amount of information stored in the facsimile machine for the minimum number of facsimile communications is It must have a memory that can store it. Therefore, conventional facsimile machines of this type have the following drawbacks. (1) Since a large capacity memory is required, this increases the cost and is not suitable for low-cost facsimile machines that are likely to be used in small offices and general households. (2) In addition, incorporating a large capacity memory requires a certain amount of space, which has been an obstacle to miniaturization of facsimile machines. (3) If a built-in memory commensurate with the price and size of the device is used, it is impossible to increase the capacity, and the memory is limited. For this reason, the amount of information that can be communicated - times is limited. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to receive a halftone image with a large amount of information, a problem arises in that even one page's worth of halftone images cannot be received. Therefore, there was a possibility that the function would be inconvenient to use.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention was made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and includes the following configuration as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is, facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication with other communication devices via a connection line, interface means for controlling the interface with the connected information processing device,
Timing matching is performed based on the difference in bit rate of data exchanged with the connection information processing device via the interface means and facsimile communication data bit rate between the communication device and the other communication device via the connection line. and determining means for determining the bit rate of facsimile communication by the facsimile communication means based on the bit rate of data transmitted and received from the connection information processing device.

[Function] With the above configuration, simultaneous data transfer between facsimile communication and the connected information processing device is possible without requiring a large capacity memory, and even with a large capacity of image data, connection can be made while receiving facsimile data. It is possible to provide a small and inexpensive facsimile device that can transfer information to an information processing device and eliminates restrictions on facsimile communication.

【Example】

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of the configuration of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an interface with a public network 10 (
(including line control), 2 is 9600bps
, 7200bps, 4800bps. A modem (MOD) that modulates and demodulates transmitted and received data by arbitrarily selecting four bit rates of 2400 bps.
EM), 3 is the main component unique to this example,
8 is a buffer memory with a bit capacity; 4 is a serial data control unit (SCU) that controls serial data transmitted to the connected information processing device (host) 16 or received data from the host 16;
), and has the function of configuring communication frames with parity bits and stop bits added, and checking the parity bits to detect errors that occur with the connected host 16. The bit rate of 5CU4 is 192
00 bps, 9600 bps. 4800bps, 2400bps, 1200bps
One bit rate can be selected arbitrarily from each bit rate, and full-duplex communication is possible where transmission and reception can be performed simultaneously. 5 is a driver for the interface with the host 16, and the signal level of "O" and "1" is the data on the host 16 side, and the signal level of the host 16 is "ov" and "5V"T' on the 5CU4 side. It has a function of mutually converting into "+12■" and -12■". 6 is a connector for connecting to the connector 17 on the host 16 side. The above 5CU
4, a driver 5, and a connector 6 constitute an OA interface. Further, 6a is a signal line for data transferred to the host 16, and 6b is a signal line for data transferred from the host 16. Further, 7 is a central processing unit CPU which controls the premise of this embodiment according to the control procedure of the built-in ROM, and in particular, the modem 2 and memory 3.5 CU4 are directly controlled by this CPU 7. 8 is a hardware configuration switch that can be set by the user, and is used to select the bit rate that can communicate with the host 16 connected to the connector 6.The CPLI 7 reads the setting state of the switch 8 and selects the bit rate of 5CU4. Set. FIG. 2 shows the framed data format exchanged with the host 16 of this embodiment having the above configuration. FIG. 2 shows the data structure of one frame, and 71 is a start bit indicating the first bit of the frame, which is composed of one bit. 72 indicates b0 to b indicating the amount of information in one frame. It consists of 7 bits (n=connector 6) or 8 bits (n=7). In the following description, an example will be explained in which the method is implemented with 8 pits. 73
is a parity bit added to detect bit errors occurring during data exchange with the host 16, and is composed of one bit. Reference numeral 74 is a stop bit consisting of 1 bit or 2 bits and indicating the end of a frame, and in the following explanation, an example of a stop bit consisting of 1 bit will be explained. Note that by reversing the logic of the start bit 7] and the stop bit 74, the beginning and end of the frame can be determined. In this way, in this embodiment, one frame consists of 11 bits, of which 8 bits are the effective amount of information. Information transferred from the host 16 connected to the connector 6 is transferred to the 5C via the connector 6, signal line 6b, and driver 5.
Input to U4. The 5CU 4 returns the framed data format to the original information and sends it to the CPU 7. Then, the CPU 7 temporarily stores it in the memory 3. If the data stored in the memory 3 is image information, the CPU 7
inputs data to the modem 2, and the modulated signal subjected to predetermined modulation processing by the modem 2 is sent out to the line through the NCU1, and is sent by facsimile to a desired destination device via the line network 10. At this time, the memory 3 plays the role of a buffer memory that absorbs the timing difference between the bit rate of data transferred from the 5CU 4 to the memory 3 and the bit rate of data transferred from the memory 3 to the modem 2.
I automatically determines the bit rate of the modem 2 so that the memory 3 will not become empty while one page's worth of image information is being transmitted. That is, the CPU 7 performs transmission/reception control at the timing shown in FIG. 3 so that the memory 3 functions effectively as a buffer memory under the control shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later. In FIG. 3, X-0FF is a command to which a fixed code is assigned, and when this command is sent from this facsimile machine to the host 16 through the signal line 6a, the host 16 transmits the signal line 6b. It has a function to stop the transmission of data sent via the Also X-0
N has a function of restarting data transmission from this stopped state. The initial state of the three memories is that the memory is completely empty, so the remaining memory is 8 bits at position 20 in FIG. Then facsimile transmission continues, passing through signal line 6b to 5CU4.
When the data is transferred from to the memory 3, the remaining amount decreases, and the memory moves from the position shown at 20 in FIG. 3 to the right where the remaining amount decreases. When the remaining amount reaches the 21st position where the IK bit is reached, C
PU7 sends the command X-0FF to host 16 via 5CU4 and signal line 6a, and from 5CU4 to memory 3.
Stop the transfer of data to. The CPU 7 transfers data from the memory 3 to the modem 2,
When the remaining memory capacity gradually increases and reaches the remaining capacity 2 at bit 22, the host 1
6 to restart the data transfer by the host 16. Note that the reason why the timing at which the X-0FF command is issued is not set to the remaining capacity of the memory 3 to "0" is to absorb the operational delay on the host 16 side in response to this command. Note that facsimile communication with other facsimile devices, such as other devices 15, via the public network 10 is performed by CCITTT.
In order to carry out the standardized procedure recommended in , 30,
Detailed explanation will be omitted. Next, the transmission and reception of signals between the host 16 and the apparatus of this embodiment during facsimile transmission will be explained below with reference to the procedure diagram of FIG. When the host 16 uses facsimile transmission to a desired destination device via the device of this embodiment, it first outputs a transmission command command 31 instructing the device of this embodiment to operate in facsimile transmission mode. When this device receives this transmission command 31, it sends a reception confirmation command ACK.
32 will be returned. The transmission command 31 from the host 16 includes:
Destination phone number information, followed by image information PIX to be transferred
Contains information such as 34 vertical resolutions, encoding methods, and recording widths. Therefore, this device activates the NCU1, calls the line network 10, outputs a telephone number signal corresponding to the telephone number information included in the transmission command 31 received by the line network 10, and calls the desired partner device (receiver). side facsimile device, e.g. other device 15)
call. Then, the destination device responds and a DIS command as a response signal is sent (then, the transmission speed (bit rate) is determined by the control shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later.
A DCS command and subsequently a TCP command (for training) for mutual synchronization are sent to the receiving facsimile machine that responded. Then, when the destination device receives this and sends a CFR command, and this device receives this, a communication path is established between the two devices, and the image signal PIX 34 can be transmitted. Therefore, this device issues a PX request command 33 requesting the host 16 to transmit the image signal PIX 34. The host 16 receives the encoded image signal PIX.
Transfer 34. This device modulates the image signal PIX 34 with the modem 2 while using the memory 3 as a buffer, and then
The NCU 1 transmits the data to a receiving device, for example, another device 15, via the line network 10. Then, when the remaining capacity of the memory 3 reaches the position 21 shown in FIG. 3 mentioned above, a command 35 of X-0FF is sent to the host 16, and the transfer of the image signal PIX 34 is temporarily stopped. When the remaining capacity of the memory 3 reaches position 22 in FIG. 3, an X-0N command 36 is sent to the host 16 to restart the transfer of the image signal PIX 34. In this way, the image signal PIX34 continues to be transmitted sequentially, and when the transmission is completed, the host 16 sends rEOPJ, rMPsJ, rEOM
A command with a meaning such as J is added and transferred. In the example of FIG. 4, the rEOPJ command 37 is added to the IWI and transferred. This device adds this rEOPJ command as is and sends it to the receiving facsimile device. Upon receiving this, the receiving device moves to post-procedure processing and outputs the MCF command. Upon receiving this, the device outputs the DCN command, terminates facsimile communication with the other device, and restores the line. Then, the series of facsimile communication processing ends. Thereafter, the device sends a communication result command 38 to the host 16 containing information such as whether the facsimile communication ended normally or ended with an error. The host 16 that received this,
ACK39, which is a confirmation command, is returned to end the series of facsimile transmission operations. Next, there is a call to this device from another facsimile device connected to the line network 10, for example, another device 15, and
The processing when facsimile reception processing is performed will be described below with reference to the procedure diagram of FIG. 5 showing the procedure at the time of facsimile reception. In this case, communication control between the sending device and this device is performed according to standardized communication control procedures in accordance with CCITT T.30 recommendations, and there are no special protocols or restrictions. NCU 1 detects the call from the other party's device, and modem 2
The CPU 7 is notified via the . The CPL 17 determines the training start bit rate according to the process shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later, and sends a DIS command to the sending facsimile machine. Then, the calling device successively sends a DCS command and a TCP signal in order to synchronize both devices. This device receives this and training is completed.
, the host 16 sends a reception command 41, which is a command to operate in facsimile reception mode.
Send to. When the host 16 receives the reception command 41, it returns a confirmation command ACK42. Receive command command 4
1 includes information such as the vertical resolution, encoding method, recording width, and telephone number information of the transmitting device of the encoded image information PIX43 to be transferred subsequently, as determined by the DCS command from the transmitting device. ing. Upon receiving the confirmation command ACK42 from the host 16, the device of this embodiment sends a CFR command to the sending device to prompt it to send the image information PIX43. When the sending device receives this CFR command, it sends the image information PIX43 to the receiving device (NCU 1
The CPU 7, which received this image information PIX 43, demodulates this received signal with the modem 2 and stores the demodulated image information in the memory 3.
write to. Further, the CPU 7 reads the demodulated data from the memory 3, frames it with the 5CU 4, and then transfers it to the host 16 via the driver 5, signal line 6a, and connector 6. At this time, since the bit rate of facsimile communication is selected to be lower than the bit rate of the host 16 by the method shown in FIG. No image signal is lost. When the sending device finishes transmitting the desired image signal PIX 43, it adds the rEOPJ command to the end. Therefore, the CPU 7 that detects the rEOPJ command outputs the rMCFJ command to the sending device. When receiving the rDcNJ command, which is a line disconnection command, from the other device, it instructs the NCUI to restore the connection line,
A communication result command 44 containing information indicating whether the communication ended normally or ended with an error is sent to the host 16. The host 16 that received this communication result sends a confirmation command AC
K45 is returned and the series of operations ends. Next, a method for determining the training start transmission speed declared in rDcsJ of the facsimile communication procedure in the facsimile transmission mode described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1, when the data transfer rate with the host 16 is "B", the CPU 7 calculates the number of bits in one frame as the amount of information in one frame (the value indicated by reference numeral 72 in FIG. 2).
If the value divided by the number of bits is "C", then the above B°'
is divided by this °C" to find the result, °A°. This "Apa" is the bit rate of the effective amount of information between the device of this embodiment and the host 16. Then, in the following step S2, it is checked whether "A" is greater than 9600 bps. If "A" is greater than 9600 bps, the process advances to step S3, where the communication speed of facsimile communication with other devices is set to 9600 bps, and training is executed at 9600 bps. On the other hand, if "A" is not greater than 9600 bps in step S2, the process proceeds to step S5, and "A" is determined to be 7200 bps.
Check whether it is larger than bps. Here, if "A" is larger than 7200 bps, the process advances to step S6, and the communication speed of facsimile communication with other devices is set to 7200 bps.
Run training at 7200 bps. On the other hand, if "A" is not greater than 7200 bps in step S2, the process proceeds to step SIO, and "A" is 480 bps.
Check whether it is greater than 0 bps. Here, “A
” is larger than 4800 bps, step S
Proceed to step 11, and set the communication speed of facsimile communication with other devices to 4800 bps, and execute training at 4800 bps. On the other hand, in step SIO, °'A'' is 4800 bp
If it is not larger than s, proceed to step S15, and "A"
is greater than 2400 bps. Here, if "A" is greater than 2400 bps, the process proceeds to step 316, where the communication speed of facsimile communication with other devices is set to 2400 bps, and training is executed at 2400 bps. On the other hand, if "A" is not greater than 2400 bps in step S15, the process proceeds to step S20, where the CPU 7 determines that there is an error, notifies the operator of the error, and stops the operation. Next, the process of determining the receivable transmission speed declared by the rD I SJ in the facsimile reception mode will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this case as well, in step S50, similarly to step S1 in FIG. 6, when the data transfer rate with the host 16 is "B", the CPU 7 transfers "B" to one frame indicated by the reference numeral 72 in FIG. Divide by the value "C" divided by the number of bits, and find the result "A". Then, step S51
Then, it is checked whether "A", which is the bit rate of the effective amount of information between the device of this embodiment and the host 16, is greater than 9600 bps. If "A" is greater than 9600 bps, the process advances to step S52 and the declaration in rD I SJ is set to 9600 bps. On the other hand, if "A" is not greater than 9600 bps in step S51, the process advances to step S55, and "A" is 72 bps.
Check whether it is greater than 00 bps. Here, “A
” is larger than 7200 bps, step S5
Proceed to step 6 and declare 7200 bps in rDIsJ. However, if "A" is 9600 bps or less, 72
If it is larger than 00 bps, declare it as 9600 bps, always return FTT for TCF of 9600 bps, and fall back to 7200 bps. On the other hand, in step S55, °°A°° is 7200 bps.
If it is not larger than 4, the process proceeds to step S60, and "A" is 4.
Check whether it is greater than 800 bps. here,"
If A” is greater than 4800 bps, step S
Go to 61 and declare in rD I SJ 4800 bp
Let it be s. On the other hand, in step S60, "A" is greater than 4800 bps (if not, the process advances to step S65, and "A" is greater than 240 bps).
Check whether it is greater than 0 bps. Here, “A
” is larger than 2400 bps, step S
Proceed to 66 and declare in rD I SJ 2400 bp
Let it be s. On the other hand, in step S60, if "A" is thicker than 2400 bps (if not, the process proceeds to step S70, where the CPU 7 determines that there is an error, notifies the operator of the error, and stops the operation. Incidentally, in this embodiment, c=ii/ 8 = 1.375
Therefore, if “B” is 19200 bps, A=1
The maximum bit rate for facsimile communication is 9600 bps. Also, if “B” is 9600 bps, A=69
The maximum bit rate for facsimile communication is 4800 bps. [Other Examples] In this example, since the processing speed of the CPU 7 is finite, the data rate of facsimile communication is set lower than the data rate between the host and this device for safety reasons, but the processing speed of the CPU 7 is When it becomes more than a certain level,
It is also possible to set the former data rate to be the same as or lower than the latter data rate. As explained above, according to this embodiment, the facsimile device has a built-in minimum necessary buffer memory, and the bit rate of facsimile communication is determined based on the bit rate of data exchange with the connected host device. Through control, the memory of a facsimile machine that has a connection interface function (OA interface function) for other information processing devices can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.
This also has the effect of making the device more compact. In addition, the amount of information for one communication is limited (which is caused by the conventional memory capacity limitation), which further improves usability for the user.Furthermore, even facsimile machines without memory can use [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, simultaneous data transfer between facsimile communication and a connected information processing device is possible despite having a large-capacity memory. It is possible to provide a small and inexpensive facsimile device that can transfer even a large amount of image data to a connected information processing device while receiving facsimile data, and eliminates restrictions on facsimile communication.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the main parts of a facsimile machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of transmission frames exchanged between the facsimile machine of this embodiment and a host. FIG. 4 is a transition diagram for explaining the relationship between data transfer control and the remaining amount of memory in this embodiment, and shows the transmission and reception of each signal in the facsimile transmission mode in which facsimile data is transmitted from the device of this embodiment to another device. Figure 5 is a procedure diagram showing the transmission and reception of each signal in the reception mode in which the device of this embodiment receives facsimile data from another device, and Figure 6 is a training diagram of the facsimile transmission and reception mode of this embodiment. Flowchart Showing Start Bit Rate Determination Process FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the DIS declaration bit rate decision process in the facsimile reception mode of this embodiment. In the figure, 1...NCU, 2...Modem, 3...Buffer memory, 4...Serial data control unit (SCU), 5...Driver, 6...Connector, 7...・Central processing unit CPU, 8... switch,
10...Line network, 15...Other devices, 71...Start bit, 72...Amount of information in one frame, 73...
- Parity bit. 1 host machine

Claims (1)

[Claims] between a facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication with another communication device via a connection line, an interface means for controlling an interface with the connection information processing device, and the connection information processing device via the interface means; a buffer memory for matching timing based on a difference in bit rate of data sent and received by the communication device and the bit rate of facsimile communication data between the communication device and the other communication device via the connection line; A facsimile apparatus comprising: determining means for determining a bit rate of facsimile communication by the facsimile communication means based on a bit rate of transmitted and received data.