JPH06197207A - Facsimile controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decide the optimum MODEM rate based on plural conditions among those MODEM rates which were stored in the past communication. CONSTITUTION:A communication control part 15 is provided with an automatic calling means and a MODEM rate deciding means. An address information memory 18 stores the numbers of the one easy step dials or the abbreviated dials and also the MODEM rates of each communication. In other words, a MODEM rate is stored when a call can be normally transmitted by a single- easy-step dial or an abbreviated dial. At the same time, plural MODEM rates are stored for each address. Then the MODEM rate is decided for the next calling based on plural stored MODEM rate histories.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a facsimile controller,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a facsimile control method in which an optimum modem rate is determined by a plurality of rules from a plurality of modem rates stored during past communication. For example, it is applied to all communication control devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a publicly known document describing the prior art according to the present invention, there is, for example, "Communication device" in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-203444. In this publication, when a communication error occurs, the next communication speed is reduced by one step to perform communication, and in order to significantly reduce the probability of occurrence of the next communication error, a call using a shortened number is made. When a communication error occurs, the current communication speed is checked, and the communication speed that is one step lower than the communication speed currently being communicated is selected and registered in a predetermined area of the memory map. When a communication error occurs, the communication line is automatically disconnected. That is, the modem rate at which the error occurred is remembered, and the modem rate is simply lowered at the next call.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram for explaining a conventional facsimile control apparatus. A modem rate which is one step lower than the modem rate at which transmission is OK or the transmission rate is NG is stored and this modem rate is used at the next call. Conventionally,
In a facsimile machine having an automatic call function and further equipped with a one-touch dial key or a speed dial key, a telephone number corresponding to each of these keys and a modem rate that has been transmitted last time are stored. is there. In this case, the modem training becomes NG, the time for downshifting can be saved, and the possibility that the image information will be OK is also high, which is an effective means for improving communication quality.

However, if noise accidentally enters the modem training portion for determining the modem rate of image information, it will be downshifted (for example, 9600 bps → 7).
200 bps), and if the image information transmission is OK as it is, there is a drawback that a problem such as starting from 7200 bps will occur next time. On the contrary, it is possible that the line condition is good only during modem training.
In this case, the image information will be NG, which is 7 in the next transmission.
There is a drawback that the configuration is vulnerable to temporary noise because it starts at 200 bps.

[0005]

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and by determining an optimum modem rate from a plurality of modem rates stored in a past communication by a plurality of rules and starting transmission, Facsimile control device for reducing communication cost and improving communication quality, and also for improving operability by notifying the operator of the line quality based on the next modem rate determined from the past modem rate. It is made for the purpose of providing.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides (1)
In a facsimile control device equipped with automatic call means, destination telephone number storage means corresponding to each one-touch dial key and speed dial key, and modem rate storage means corresponding to destination telephone number, one-touch dial key or abbreviated Based on the storage means for storing a plurality of modem rates per destination when the call is normally sent by the dial key and the plurality of modem rate histories stored by the storage means, And (2) a plurality of determining means for determining the modem rate for the next call, and selecting the determining means according to the number of stored modem rates. And (3) having a plurality of means for determining the modem rate at the time of the next call, and storing the stored modem rate. Selection means for selecting the determining means according to the content of the data, and (4) a plurality of determining means for determining the modem rate at the time of the next call, depending on the number of stored modem rates and the data content. Having selection means for selecting the determination means, and further,
(5) In the above (1), (2), (3) or (4),
If the same number is found from the comparison means that compares the telephone number storage section with the manually called telephone number, the same number can be sent normally as with one-touch dial keys or speed dial keys. And a deciding means for deciding the modem rate when
(6) In any one of the above (1) to (6), it is characterized by having a notifying means for notifying the communication speed and the communication time of the modem rate determined by the situation of the past line. Hereinafter, description will be given based on examples of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the information memory for each destination in the facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention. In the destination information memory of FIG. 1, the destination telephone numbers, names, and modem rates are stored for the destinations A to Z in the one-touch key and shortened key fields. In that case, a plurality of storage portions for the modem rate per destination are provided (1 to 5 in the figure), and the modem rates for which communication is actually successful are sequentially stored. For example, the modem rates are 9600bps, 7200bps, 4800bp
There are four kinds of modem rates of s and 2400 bps, and the communication OK modem rate is stored for each number of times of communication.

The conditions (rules) for determining the modem rate at the next call using the modem rate stored in the destination information memory of FIG. 1 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Figure 2
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a condition for determining a modem rate according to the number of modem rates (claim 2). If the number of communication history is 0 or 1, the history data is not seen and the modem training is started at the maximum speed. If the history number is 2
At ~ 5, the modem training is started at the highest modem rate in the historical data. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a condition for determining the modem rate based on the data content of the modem rate (claim 3). If all the values of the history data are the same, the history of this destination is all deleted and the modem training is started at the maximum speed. If there is more than one of the highest modem rates in the historical data,
Select the fastest modem rate. Thus, it can be seen that the determination condition changes depending on the number of modem rate data, and the value of the modem rate also varies depending on the data content.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment (Claim 5) of the facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a system bus, 2 is a communication control unit, and 3 is a manual calling telephone number memory. 4 is a destination information memory. Manual call telephone number stored in the telephone number memory 3 when the manual call is made and the telephone number stored in the destination information memory 4 by the one-touch dial key and the speed dial key are stored in the communication control unit 2. The comparison is made by the provided comparison means, and if they are the same, the efficiency can be improved by utilizing the modem rate determining means.

FIG. 5 is an example (claim 6) showing a method of notifying a line status to a user. If the line condition is bad, the transmission time will be long. LCD (Liquid Crystal Devic)
e; liquid crystal display device) makes it possible to improve operability.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention, in which 11 is a system bus and 1 is a system bus.
2 is a scanner, 13 is a plotter, 14 is an encoding / decoding unit, 15 is a communication control unit, 16 is a modem, 17 is a network control unit, 18 is a destination information memory, 19 is an operation display unit, and 20 is a system control unit. Is. The scanner 12 reads the image information, and the plotter 13 prints the image information read by the scanner 12. The image information read by the scanner 12 is compressed / decompressed by the encoding / decoding unit 14. The communication control unit 15 processes the image information into a communication protocol control or a mode determined by the protocol. That is, the modem 16 having automatic calling means and means for determining the modem rate,
The network control unit 17 is connected to the line to perform modulation / demodulation of communication data, and detects a ringing signal and makes a call. The destination information memory 18 stores a one-touch dial or speed dial number and a modem rate for each communication. The operation display unit 19 serves as an interface with the operator. The system control unit 20 controls the entire system and also performs facsimile control.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a modem rate history registration process, and FIG. 8 is a modem rate determination process. Each of the processing flowcharts is shown. Of the communication control programs,
A for efficient selection of modem rate during transmission
The I (Artificial Intelligence) modem rate selection function will be described. This function stores the modem rate of the previous transmission for each destination, determines the optimum rate from the history of the modem rate at the next transmission, and starts transmission from the determined modem rate. . With this function, downtime due to modem training failure can be saved, which leads to a reduction in communication cost.

The AI modem rate selection function operates under the following conditions. The function works only for the destinations registered in the one-touch dial or speed dial. When there is no image error page, the history of modem rate is recorded. If the same modem rate has continued for the last 5 communications,
Erase past history and start training from maximum speed. The history is stored up to the last 5 communications. It operates regardless of the function because it is managed by the destination that makes the call (no dedicated protocol is used). The time required for automatic downshifting of the modem rate is at least 4.5 seconds, which means that the downshifting time can be reduced. Therefore, it can contribute to reduction of communication time and communication cost.

In FIG. 7, first, when a call is made, image transmission is carried out (S1). It is determined whether or not the transmitted image is OK (S2). If the image is OK, then it is determined whether or not the call is made by one-touch dial or speed dial (S).
3). If the call is made by one-touch dial or speed dial, the modem rate is registered (S4). In this way, the modem rate determined by this function is based on the history of the past 5 communications. Therefore, it is necessary to store the past history. This history is stored only for one-touch dial and speed dial. In addition, only the modem rate when the transmission is normally performed is recorded in the history. This history is managed by registering the modem rate history, and a destination simple code is used to identify a call from one-touch dial or speed dial.

In FIG. 8, first, when a call is made, it is judged whether the call is made by one-touch dial or speed dial (S1), and then whether or not there is a modem rate history (how many modem rates are available? Or not (S)
2). If NO in S1 or S2,
The modem rate is set to 9600bps (S3). In S2, if there is a modem rate history, the frequency is counted for each modem rate (for example, the number of 2400bps is counted) (S4), and the most frequent modem rate is determined (a majority vote is performed and the same number is used). If the speed is faster)
(S5). Next, the DIS (Digital Identi
fication Signal) or NS
F (Non-Standard Facilities)
Is determined (S6), and if it is, DC is determined from the determined modem rate and DIS / NSF.
S (Digital Command Siganl; digital command signal) or NSS (Non-Standard facilities Set-up; non-standard function setting signal) is determined and transmitted (S7), and image information is transmitted (S8).

As described above, when a call is made by the one-touch dial or the speed dial, the modem rate for the next transmission is determined from the transmission modem rate history up to the previous time. At the start of communication, the presence or absence of the destination modem rate history is confirmed, and if there is no history, transmission at the maximum speed is started. If there is even one history, the most frequent rate among the past modem rates is selected and transmitted. However, if the same modem rate other than the maximum speed (9600 bps) continues for 5 communications, the past history is deleted. This is to enable the modem rate to be sped up if the line condition improves.

[0017]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. (1) Effect corresponding to claim 1: When sending to a destination registered in one-touch dial or speed dial, the optimum modem rate is determined from past modem rate history, so there are few errors. In addition, it can be sent quickly, and cost reduction and improvement of the communication device can be achieved. (2) Effect corresponding to claim 2: Since the method of determining the next modem rate is changed according to the number of modem rate histories, it is possible to select the modem rate according to the status of the line and the usage status, and reduce the cost and communication. The quality can be improved. (3) Effect corresponding to claim 3: Since the method of determining the modem rate next time is changed according to the data of the modem rate history, it is possible to select the modem rate according to the status of the line or the usage status, thereby reducing costs and communication. The quality can be improved. (4) Effect corresponding to claim 4: Since the next modem rate legal method is changed according to the number and data of the modem rate history, the modem rate can be selected according to the status of the line and the usage status, and the cost can be reduced. Reduction and improvement of communication quality can be achieved. (5) Effect corresponding to claim 5: Since the modem rate can be determined by the above method not only by one-touch or speed dial keys but also by manual call, it is possible to select the modem rate according to the status of the line and the usage status. It is possible to reduce costs and improve communication quality. (6) Effect corresponding to claim 6: Since the display is given to the operator for each modem rate determined according to the state of the line, the operator can be notified in advance of the increase in communication time.
The operability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a destination control information memory in a facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of conditions for determining a modem rate in the facsimile controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of conditions for determining a modem rate in the facsimile controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment (Claim 5) of the facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a line status notification method in the facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a facsimile control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a modem rate history registration process according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of a modem rate determination process according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram for explaining a conventional facsimile control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... System bus, 12 ... Scanner, 13 ... Plotter, 14 ... Encoding / decoding unit, 15 ... Communication control unit, 16
... modem, 17 ... network control unit, 18 ... destination information memory, 1
9 ... Operation display unit, 20 ... System control unit.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile control apparatus comprising automatic calling means, destination telephone number storage means corresponding to each one-touch dial key and speed dial key, and modem rate storage means corresponding to destination telephone number, Storage means for storing a plurality of modem rates per one destination while storing a modem rate when a call is normally transmitted by a one-touch dial key or speed dial key, and a plurality of modem rates stored by the storage means A facsimile control apparatus comprising: a determining unit that determines a modem rate for the next call based on the history. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of determining means for determining a modem rate for the next call, and a selecting means for selecting the determining means according to the number of stored modem rates. The described facsimile control device. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of determining means for determining a modem rate for the next call, and a selecting means for selecting the determining means according to the stored data content of the modem rate. Facsimile control device. 4. A plurality of determining means for determining a modem rate for the next call, and a selecting means for selecting the determining means according to the number of stored modem rates and data contents. 1. The facsimile control device according to 1. 5. Comparing means for comparing a telephone number storage unit and a manually called telephone number, and when the same number is found as a result of the comparison, as in the case of one-touch dial keys or speed dial keys. 5. The facsimile control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a determining unit that determines a modem rate when the transmission is normally performed. 6. The facsimile control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying a communication speed and a communication time of a modem rate determined by a past line condition.