JPH06268799A - Facsimile store and forward exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a facsimile store and forward exchange whereby a recalling constant such as an interval or frequency for recalling can be adjusted by the contents of communication service, an error reason in transmission, etc. CONSTITUTION:In the facsimile store and forward exchange 1 having a function for storing data transmitted from facsimile terminals 51-5n or another facsimile store and forward exchange 2 and the function for transmitting stored data to the facsimile terminals 51-5n or another facsimile store and forward exchange 2, the function for adjusting one, at least, of the interval and the frequency for recalling when the error occurs at the time of transmitting stored data so as to execute a recalling operation is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a function of accumulating data sent from a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange device, and a function of sending the accumulated data to a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange device. The present invention relates to a facsimile storage exchange device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional facsimile storage / exchange device (hereinafter referred to as an S / F device) performs a recalling call when an error occurs when data is transmitted to another S / F device and the call is recalled. A constant, for example, the interval or the number of times of recalling is set to one type within one system.

[0003]

Therefore, regardless of the content of the communication service, such as the importance of data and the reason of transmission error, the call is reissued at the same number of times and at the same interval. Therefore, even if the S / F device to which the data is transmitted is in a closed state and a transmission error occurs even if the re-calling is performed for a long time, the re-calling interval or the number of times set by the system is set. Repeated calls are repeated.

While the S / F device is making a re-call, other data cannot be transmitted or received. Therefore, if the re-call is continued for more time than necessary, the line usage rate is reduced accordingly. Further, during that time, since the CPU is in a use state, unnecessary operating time increases. In addition, the amount of data stored increases, the communication time between the S / F devices and the response time for command operation increase, and the amount of data that can actually be sent also decreases.

In order to eliminate such a transmission error, it is necessary to operate so that the S / F device of the other party can always receive, and severe restrictions are required in terms of operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide an S / F device capable of adjusting the recalling constants such as the interval and the number of times of recalling according to the contents of communication service and the reason of transmission error.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a function of accumulating data sent from a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange device, and a function of sending the accumulated data to a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange device. In the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus having the above, when an error occurs when sending the stored data and a recalling operation is performed, a function of adjusting at least one of the interval or the number of times of recalling is provided.

[0008]

According to the above facsimile accumulating and exchanging device, when a transmission error occurs and a recalling operation is performed, at least one of the interval and the number of times of recalling is adjusted. Then, the interval and the number of times of re-calling are decided depending on the contents of the communication service and the reason for the error.

Therefore, the interval and the number of times of re-calling can be set to an optimum value according to the content of the communication service, such as the degree of importance, the error reason such as the closing of the S / F device of the other party, the device abnormality, and the like. Recall service can be provided.

The interval and the number of times of re-calling are set as follows, for example.

When the other S / F device has an error reason that the data cannot be received no matter how many times it is sent, for example, when the station is closed or the device is abnormal, the number of recalled calls is set to zero.
By doing this, the S / F device on the transmission side does not need to make unnecessary re-calls, and can quickly notify the data source of the occurrence of a transmission error.

In addition, if the partner S / F device receives an error for a certain period of time, for example, if the data storage capacity is insufficient, the interval for recalling calls is set long. To do. By doing so, useless calling is eliminated and data can be reliably transmitted.

If the communication service content is of high importance, the number of times the call is reissued is unlimited. By doing so, data transmission can be performed as soon as the partner S / F device recovers to a receivable state.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the circuit configuration diagram of FIG.

Reference numeral 1 denotes an S / F device, which has a function of accumulating data sent from a facsimile terminal registered by itself or another S / F device, and a facsimile terminal registered by itself or other data. It has a function to send to the S / F device.

The S / F device 1 is composed of a communication control unit 11 for controlling data transmission / reception, a CPU 12 for controlling the operation inside the S / F device 1, a magnetic disk 13, a console 14 and the like. The magnetic disk 13 is a device that stores image data sent from a facsimile terminal or another S / F device registered in its own S / F device 1, or various setting data in the S / F device 1. Is. The console 14 is, for example, the magnetic disk 1.
3 is a device for displaying the image data and various setting data accumulated in 3.

Reference numeral 2 is another S / F device, which is an S / F device.
It has the same function as that of the F device 1, and like the S / F device 1, is composed of a communication control unit 21, a CPU 22, a magnetic disk 23, a console 24, and the like.

The S / F device 1 and the S / F device 2 are connected to each other through a line network 3, and each S / F device is
The devices 1 and 2 are respectively connected to a plurality of facsimile terminals 51 to 5n through a line network 4. Each terminal 51-
5n is registered in either the S / F device 1 or the S / F device 2, and each of the terminals 51 to 5n is registered in the S / F device 1.
It can communicate only with the F device.

Therefore, when one S / F device 1 receives data destined for the terminal registered in the other S / F device 2 from the terminal registered in itself, the S / F device 1
Uses the network 3 to transfer the data to the other S / F device 2
The data is sent from the other S / F device 2 to the destination terminal.

For example, the terminal 5x registered in the S / F device 1
The terminal 5y registered in the S / F device 2 from (not shown)
Consider the case where data is sent (not shown).

In this case, first, the data of the terminal 5x is sent to the S / F device 1 in which the terminal 5x is registered, using the line network 4. Next, the S / F device 1 sends an S through the line network 3.
/ F Send data to the device 2. Then, the S / F device 2
Transmits data to the terminal 5y through the line network 4.

When data is input from the terminal 5x, a destination code indicating the destination terminal (5y in this case) and a service code indicating communication priority are also input. Here, more specific configurations and operations of the S / F devices 1 and 2 will be described with reference to the circuit configuration diagram of FIG.

First, when the S / F device receives data, the S / F device 2 (not shown) on the transmitting side transmits the data to the S / F device 2.
The data sent to 00 is received by the receiving means 202 through the line 201, and then sent to the central control unit 203. The central control unit 203 is provided in the CPUs 12 and 22 of the S / F devices 1 and 2 (FIG. 1) and is composed of a transmission / reception control unit 203A and a recalling control unit 203B as shown in FIG. Then, the received data sent to the central control unit 203 is stored in the storage management unit 2 under the control of the transmission / reception control unit 203A.
It is stored in 04. The storage management means 204 is an S / F.
The magnetic disks 13 and 23 of the devices 1 and 2 (FIG. 1) are provided.

When the S / F device 200 transmits data, the transmission / reception control means 203 in the central control unit 203.
Under the control of A, the transmission means 205 makes a call to the partner S / F device. Then, after the communication with the partner S / F device is established, the transmission / reception control unit 203A
Data is read from the storage management means 204 under the control of
It is transmitted from the transmission means 205 to the partner S / F device through the line 206.

The transmitting means 205 and the receiving means 202 are provided in plural in the communication control units 11 and 21 of the respective S / F devices 1 and 2 (FIG. 1), but one of them is shown in FIG. It is displayed as a representative.

By the way, when a protocol error occurs at the time of transmitting or receiving the above-mentioned data, the transmitting means 2
05 and the receiving means 202 detect the error and, at the same time, send the reason for the error to the central control unit 203.

Also, the storage management means 20 when receiving data
If there is no storage capacity in 4 and the storage unit 204 cannot store data, the reception unit 202 is notified that there is no storage capacity, and an instruction to disconnect the data being received is given.

Further, when the reception of the data is rejected by the partner S / F device at the time of transmitting the data, the transmitting means 20
5 detects the reason and sends the detected reason to the transmission / reception control means 203A. Then, the transmission / reception control means 203A instructs the recalling control means 203B to recall the call.

In the re-call control means 203B, when the transmission / reception control means 203A sends the error reason, the re-call control can be made in accordance with the error reason and the service type associated with the data. Start operation. For example, the timer 207 is set, and at the same time, the recalling constant is read from the constant managing means 208. Then, when the timer 207 reaches the time of the recalling call after the elapse of a predetermined time, the transmission / reception control means 203A causes the transmission means 205 to relapse with the recalling call constant read from the constant management means 208 by the recalling control means 203B. Instruct them to call.

A constant changing means 209 is connected to the constant managing means 208. The constant changing unit 209 is a device that changes various constants such as a recalling constant managed by the constant managing unit 208, and concrete changes of the various constants are performed using the consoles 14 and 24 (FIG. 1). The constant management means 208 is formed on the magnetic disks 13 and 23 (FIG. 1).

Further, the storage management means 204 is a central control unit 2.
It operates by the instruction of 03, and not only the accumulation of received data but also S /
It also stores various setting data in the F device.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, first, the recalling constant is changed by the constant changing means. Subsequently, the transmission / reception control means controls each of the transmission means, the reception means, the storage management means, the constant management means, and the call control of the recalling control means.

First, the method of changing the recalling constant by the constant changing means will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

A screen for registering the recalling constant showing the interval and the number of times of recalling is displayed on the console (step 30).
1). Next, with the recalling constant displayed on the console, the error code j and the service code i of the recalling constant to be newly registered or changed are input (step 3).
02). Then, according to the input error code j and service code i, the constant management means reads the value of the recalling constant, for example, the number kai of recalling calls or the interval kan of recalling calls (step 303).

The relationship between the input error code j, service code i and the recalling constant (number of times kai, interval kan) is shown in FIG. 4, for example. The vertical items in FIG. 4 are service codes i (for example, broadcast communication i1, proxy communication i2, etc.).
In the horizontal direction, an error code j (for example, closed station j1, storage capacity shortage j2, etc.) is shown, and a recalling constant (number of times kai, interval kan) according to the service code i and the error code j.
Is shown at the intersection of both codes. Therefore, according to the service code i and the error code j, the recalling constant indicated at the intersection of both codes, for example, the service code i is i2,
If the error code j is j2, kai (i2, j2), k
The value of an (i2, j2)) is read by the constant management means and displayed on the console (FIG. 1) (step 304).

Then, a new recalling constant: kai (i,
j) The value of kan (i, j) is entered on the console (step 305).

This new recall constant: kai (i, j) k
An (i, j) is written on the magnetic disk (step 306).

The value of the recalling constant is changed by the method described above.

Next, the operation of the transmission / reception control means will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the number of re-calls 1 is initialized to 0 (step 501).

Next, it is judged whether or not the receiving means is in a data receiving state (step 502). If it is not in the receiving state, it is judged whether or not there is a request for transmitting data (step 503). If there is no transmission request, the process of the recalling control means is performed (step 50).
4) and returns to step 502. The processing of the recalling control means will be described later with reference to FIG.

If it is in the receiving state in step 502, the receiving means processes the data (step 5).
05). The data processing of the receiving means will be described later with reference to FIG.

If there is a transmission request in step 503, the transmission means performs data transmission processing (step 506). The data processing of the transmitting means will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the processing of the receiving means will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is checked whether the S / F device can receive the signal (step 601). If the condition is that the data can be received, the data is received (step 602). Then, it is determined whether or not a communication error on the protocol has occurred (step 603). If no communication error has occurred, check the content of the received data and
It is judged whether the data can be stored in the F device (step 604). If the data can be stored, it is determined whether or not the received data has a continuation (step 605). If there is a continuation, the process returns to step 602 to continue the reception.

If the condition is such that the data cannot be received in step 601, the receiving means sets the reason in the error code and sends it to the partner S / F device (step 606).
Then, this reception is regarded as an error and abnormally terminated, and the processing of the receiving means is terminated (step 607).

If a communication error has occurred in step 603, the processing is terminated abnormally and the processing of the receiving means is terminated (step 607).

If it is determined in step 604 that the data is not to be stored, the receiving means sets the reason in the error code and sends it to the partner S / F device (step 606). Then, this reception is regarded as an error and abnormally terminated, and the processing of the receiving means is terminated (step 607).

If it is determined in step 605 that the received data does not continue, this reception is normally terminated (step 60).
8) The received data is stored in the storage means (step 609). Next, a transmission request is set and the reception process is completed (step 610).

Next, the processing flow of the transmitting means will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the service code i of the communication to be transmitted is set (step 701).

Next, the data is read from the storage means (step 702). It is checked whether there is transmission data (step 703), if there is transmission data, data transmission is started (step 704), and it is checked whether the transmission is normally performed (step 705).
If normal, the process returns to step 703 to continue the transmission. If there is no transmission data in step 703, normal transmission of data is terminated and the line is released (step 70).
6). Then, the transmitted data is deleted from the storage means (step 707) and the transmission request is reset (step 708).

If the transmission is not normal at step 705, the transmission is abnormally terminated and the line is disconnected (step 709). Then, the error code j is set (step 710). Then, the transmission request is reset before the end (step 708).

Next, the operation of the recalling control means will be described with reference to FIG.
Described in.

First, it is checked whether or not there is any communication that has been abnormally terminated by the immediately preceding transmission means (step 80).
1) If there is an abnormal termination, the constant management means determines the number of re-calls of error code j and service code i kai (i,
j) and the recall interval kan (i, j) are read (step 802). Next, the value of the recalled call count kai that was read,
The number of recalled calls 1 is compared (step 803), and l <k
If it is ai, a timer is set in order to call again (step 804). Then, the timer value and the kan value are compared (step 805). If the timer value ≧ kan, then l
Is incremented by 1 (step 806), a transmission request is set (step 807), and the timer count is reset (step 808).

If there is no abnormal termination in step 801, the process proceeds to step 805.

If l ≧ kai in step 803, it is determined that the number of recalled calls has reached the set value and the recalled calls are terminated (step 809), l is initialized to 0 (step 810), and the routine is terminated.

In step 805, the timer value <k
If it is an, the processing is terminated because it is not the timing of the recalling.

In the above embodiment, the recalling constant is adjusted according to the contents of the communication service and the error reason, but the recalling constant may be set for other reasons.

Further, the recalling constant may be adjusted at both the interval and the number of times of recalling, or either one.

[0062]

According to the present invention, the recalling constant can be adjusted, and good recalling service can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a change of a recalling constant according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 ... Facsimile storage and exchange apparatus 11, 21 ... Communication control section 12, 22 ... CPU 13, 23 ... Magnetic disk 14, 24 ... Console 3, 4 ... Line network 201, 206 ... Line 202 ... Receiving means 203 ... Central control Unit 203A ... Transmission / reception control unit 203B ... Recall control unit 204 ... Storage management means 205 ... Transmission means 207 ... Timer 208 ... Constant management means 209 ... Constant changing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A facsimile storage / exchange apparatus having a function of storing data sent from a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange apparatus, and a function of sending the stored data to a facsimile terminal or another facsimile storage / exchange apparatus, A facsimile storage / exchange apparatus having a function of adjusting at least one of an interval and a number of times of recalling when an error occurs when sending out accumulated data and a recalling operation is performed.