JPH0730687A - Data transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the data communication device capable of calculating the time required to send data based on the data amount of picture information, surely selecting the inexpensive line, and knowing the transmission time. CONSTITUTION:A facsimile equipment 31 with LCR function is provided with a buffer memory 8 storing picture information, LCR data memory 23 storing the information for LCR control, and control circuit 32 controlling each part of the facsimile equipment 31 and executing the sequence as facsimile and executing the LCR control processing based on the time information required to data transmission and the information for LCR control stored in the LCR data memory 23. Thus, the time required for transmission is calculated by the transmission data amount. The most inexpensive line is selected based on the time required to transmit data, the transmission time band and transmission date outputted from a clock 22 and an arithmetic circuit 21, and inputted area code number information (area of transmission destination) and the transmission time is displayed on a display device 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data such as images, and more particularly to a data transmitting apparatus used for individuals or general office work.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a data transmission device, a facsimile device utilizing a telephone network is widely used. Currently, the mainstream facsimile machines are of the G3 standard, which is capable of high-speed transmission of A4 size originals in about 1 minute by means of redundancy suppressing means, and is widely used mainly in offices. As a recent tendency of the G3 facsimile, it is polarized into a popular version which is designed to be very compact with a telephone and a high-grade version with additional functions such as broadcast, automatic transmission and guidance. Further, many have a communication function with a facsimile communication network (F-net).

As a technique for enhancing the communication text delivery function of a facsimile terminal to realize a more easy-to-use facsimile, for example, there is a technique of designating a communication time. In this, the communication processing node stores the communication text and delivers the communication text at a time designated by the transmission side. In addition, as a technology to further improve the economic efficiency of the facsimile terminal connected to the line, there is a LCR (Least Cost Routing) function that selects the line with the lowest communication fee from the region, day of the week, time zone, etc. is there. The LCR function automatically determines the location, day of the week, and time zone of the other party, and
In addition to other long-distance lines, Daini Denden (registered trademark) (DDI)
This is a function of automatically selecting the line with the lowest communication charge from among Japan Telecom (registered trademark) (JT) and Japan High Speed Communication (TWJ).

[0004]

However, in the conventional data transmitting apparatus, since the time required for communication and the waiting time therefor cannot be clearly known, how long the data transmitting apparatus must be used. Unclear,
There was a problem that it was not easy to use. For example, if the time required for communication is known, other work can be performed away from the device during that time, and if the time required for communication is very long, the data communication process is temporarily stopped and performed later. However, in the past it was not possible to use it because the time required for transmission was not clear.

Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus having the LCR function, the scheduled communication time is set in advance by a special setting operation regardless of the individual communication (for example, 1 minute, 2 minutes).
Minutes, 3 minutes, 7 minutes), and then
The area code of the phone number entered when actually calling is used to determine the area, the day of the week and the time of day are determined based on that time, and the cheapest line is automatically selected based on this information. To do. Therefore, the actual communication time is often different from the scheduled communication time, and the cheapest line cannot be selected, and rather the expensive line may be selected. For example, if you set 3 minutes as the scheduled communication time, all communication targets will be judged based on 3 minutes, so even if you plan to communicate for a longer time, only the cheapest line in 3 minutes is selected. However, the cheapest line may not always be selected.

Further, since the time required for communication and the waiting time therefor are not clearly known, it is not clear how long the data transmission device should be used, and there is a problem that the usability is poor. For example, if the time required for communication is known, other work can be performed away from the device during that time, and if the time required for communication is very long, the data communication process is temporarily stopped and performed later. However, in the past it was not possible to use it because the time required for transmission was not clear.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the time required for data transmission can be calculated based on the amount of image information data and the transmission time can be displayed, and the cheap line can be surely selected based on the transmission time. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0008]

The invention according to claim 1 is
To achieve the above object, storage means for storing image information to be transmitted, calculation means for calculating a time required for transmission based on a data amount of image information stored in the storage means, and transmission calculated by the calculation means And a transmission means for transmitting the transmission image information stored in the storage means to the line based on a transmission operation.

[0009] The display means may display the time required for the transmission based on the transmission operation by the transmission means by down-counting until the transmission is completed. Good.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the data transmitting apparatus having the LCR function for selecting the line with the lowest communication charge from the region, day of the week, time zone, etc., storage means for storing image information to be transmitted, Calculating means for calculating the time required for transmission based on the data amount of the image information stored in the storage means, and executing the LCR function based on the time required for transmission calculated by the calculating means based on the transmission operation, And transmitting means for transmitting the transmission image information stored in the storage means to the line.

[0011]

According to the first and second aspects of the invention, the time required for data transmission is calculated based on the data amount of the image information, the calculated time required for transmission is displayed by the display means, and the transmission means is based on the transmission operation. The transmitted image information is transmitted to the line. In this case, the calculated time required for transmission is displayed on the display means while counting down, for example.

Therefore, the time and waiting time required for communication are displayed, which improves usability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the time required for data transmission is calculated based on the data amount of the image information, and when dialing the telephone number, the LCR means performs the LCR function based on the LCR information including the calculated time required for transmission. To be executed.

Therefore, the communication time is set according to the amount of data, and the cheap line can be surely selected.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a first embodiment of a data transmitting apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a facsimile apparatus with an LCR function as a data transmitting apparatus.

First, the structure will be described. In FIG. 1, 1
Is a facsimile machine with an LCR function, and the facsimile machine 1 transmits transmission information such as a document to be transmitted to another facsimile machine through a telephone line 2 according to a predetermined protocol (communication protocol).

The above-mentioned transmission information is information of a document or the like to be actually transmitted by the facsimile apparatus 1. This information can be read out from the information printed on the paper, but can be read by a word processor, personal computer, office computer or the like. It may be data to be transferred from a control body.

As the telephone line 2, a public telephone line can be used, or a facsimile communication network including a telephone network, a communication processing device, and a digital transmission line connecting these devices may be used.

Facsimile apparatus 1 with LCR function
In the CCI, factors such as basic specifications related to transmission of image information, transmission methods such as encoding and modulation / demodulation, control means such as transmission / reception synchronization, start / stop, etc. are required to enable mutual communication.
The structure is standardized by the TT recommendation.

Facsimile device 1 with LCR function
Includes a control circuit 20 for controlling the entire apparatus and performing various communication processes. The control circuit 20 is a CPU (Central
Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc.
In M, a basic program as a facsimile machine, an LCR control processing program of the present invention, and the like are stored.
Further, the RAM stores data indicating how long it takes to transmit a certain amount of image information. That is, the RAM is a memory for storing basic data required for calculating the time required for information transmission, and this basic data includes a paper size and a per sheet of paper according to a compression method of transmission data. The average transmission data size, the line speed for each information transmission destination, and the like.

In this case, as the data amount of the image data, there are the above-mentioned paper size and the average value of the transmission data size per one sheet by the compression method of the transmission data, the line speed for each information transmission destination, etc. While the paper size and the line speed for each information transmission destination are constant values, the average value of the transmission data size may vary greatly depending on the content to be transmitted. Therefore, in this embodiment,
The time required for transmission is calculated based on the data amount of the transmission data after being compressed by encoding. When the Huffman code designed based on the appearance frequency of each run length (RL) is used as the encoding method, the transmission data size is calculated from the encoded data after the Huffman encoding. .

The transmission time of image data by facsimile will be described.

Here, the transmission time is the time required from the calling to the transmission of data in the portable facsimile terminal to the disconnection of the line, and the data to be transmitted has already been encoded for transmission and the header and the like have been transmitted. It is included (however, the time required to connect and disconnect the line is not considered).

If the above data is set to 10 Mbit, G3
If the transmission rate of fax data is 9600 bps, the time required for transmission is as follows.

10Mbit / 9600bps = 104s
ec In this way, the image data size is obtained based on the number of sheets, the sheet size and the image density, and the encoding method (for example, G3 → MH (Modified Huffman) method or MR (Modi)
fied Read) method, G4 → MMR (Modified MR) method)
The coded image data size is obtained by. Then, the transmission time is calculated by the line (PSTN, ISDN).

The control circuit 20 controls each section of the facsimile apparatus according to the program in the ROM to execute the sequence as the facsimile apparatus, and at the same time, R
The LCR control processing of the present invention is executed based on the time required for data transmission stored in the AM and the information for LCR control stored in the LCR data memory 23 described later.

The circuit structure portion of the facsimile machine 1 with the LCR function as a facsimile machine has the following circuit structure surrounded by a broken line in FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 3 is a telephone line control device generally known as NCU, which is connected to the public telephone line 2. The telephone line control device 3 exchanges a facsimile control signal with a partner facsimile device and executes a facsimile communication procedure. The telephone line control device 3 is connected to a telephone 4 for communication, a modem 5, a reception determination circuit 6 and a control circuit 20. The telephone 4 for communication is connected to the public telephone line 2 through the telephone line control device 3, and when transmitting, dials the receiving station to call. When the receiving station responds, a response signal is sent, which is detected by the reception judging circuit 6, and the receiving station and the telephone line are switched and connected to the modem 5.

The modem 5 modulates the encoded digital signal of image information into an analog signal and sends it to the receiving station, and demodulates it into a digital signal for recording the received received analog signal. To do. The modem 5 is also connected to the buffer memory 8 via the transmission control circuit 7. The buffer memory 8 temporarily stores the digital signal demodulated by the modem 5 according to the switching control of the transmission control circuit 7, and digitally converts the image information of the original read by the image reading device 9 by the A / D conversion circuit 10. The pixel information converted into a bit string and further encoded by the encoding circuit 11 according to a predetermined encoding method is stored. Further, the buffer memory 8 captures and stores all the image information to be transmitted, and the stored image information amount is measured under the control of the control circuit 20, and the time required for transmission is calculated from the measured image information amount. It Note that basic data indicating how long it takes to transmit a certain amount of image information is stored in the RAM in the control circuit 20.

The buffer memory 8 storing the digital signal from the modem 5 sends the digital signal stored in the buffer memory 8 to the decoding circuit 12, and the decoding circuit 1
2 demodulates the compressed information into a digital bit string. The demodulated image information is sent to the electrostatic recording device 13 to form an image on recording paper. As the image reading device 9,
For example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used, and the scanner scans a document and reads image information of the document. As the electrostatic recording device 13, for example, a thermal recording device using a thermal element is used.
Records an image directly on a thermal recording paper or indirectly on an ordinary recording paper via an ink sheet.

Reference numeral 14 is a keyboard device provided with keys for designating various modes, a ten-key pad, etc., and is provided with a send button, a receive button, keys for performing LCR setting in addition to setting of the automatic receiving mode. .

The control circuit 20 includes an arithmetic circuit 2
1 is connected, and the arithmetic circuit 21 calculates the time required for transmission / reception based on the time data from the clock device 22, recording paper,
Calculate the number of manuscripts.

Further, the control circuit 20 is connected to an LCR data memory 23 which stores information for LCR control. The information stored in the LCR data memory 23 includes line number and time zone of each telephone company, day of the week, destination area (area code), and telephone charge data of each telephone company.

As described above, the control circuit 20 controls each part of the facsimile apparatus to execute the sequence as the facsimile apparatus, and at the same time, the time information required for data transmission stored in the RAM and the LCR data memory 23. LCR control processing is executed based on the information for LCR control stored in.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus 1.

First, in step S1, the facsimile machine 1
Set the send data to be sent to. If the transmission data is, for example, an original printed on paper,
The transmitted document is placed on the photoelectric conversion unit of the image reading device 9 in an overlapping manner. Next, the transmission data is stored in the buffer memory 8 in step S2, and the transmission data amount stored in the buffer memory 8 is measured in step S3. Then, in step S4, the time required for transmission is calculated from the measured transmission data amount and the like. The data required to calculate the time required for transmission include the measured transmission data amount, paper size of transmission information, number of pages, line mode, type of transmission data compression method, and transmission mode (whether transmission data is thinned out or not). Or not). In this case, the size of the data to be transmitted varies depending on the paper size of the information to be transmitted, the compression method of the transmission data, the transmission mode, and the content of the information to be transmitted. The average data size is calculated, stored in the buffer memory 8 as standard data, and referred to when calculating the required transmission time. Further, the line speed also differs depending on the receiving capability of each destination, and thus may be stored in advance in the buffer memory 8 as the line speed of each destination.

Next, in step S5, when the telephone number of the transmission destination is entered, the area code, time zone, day of the week, etc. are discriminated, and in step S6 the calculated time required for transmission and the discriminated LCR information are obtained. The cheapest line is selected by the control circuit 20 which performs LCR control based on this, and dialing is started by the line number selected in step S7, and this flow ends.

By carrying out the above processing, the following transmission operation is specifically carried out.

First, when a document to be transmitted is set, the image reading device 9 reads the image information, the A / D conversion circuit 10 converts the image information into a digital bit string, and the encoding circuit 1 further.
The image information compressed by 1 is stored in the buffer memory 8.

When all the image information to be transmitted is stored in the buffer memory 8, the control circuit 20 measures the image information amount, and the time required for transmission is calculated based on the measured image information amount.

The calculated time required for transmission and the clock device 2
2 and the transmission time zone output by the arithmetic circuit 21, the transmission day of the week and the input area code (destination area) information, the information for the LCR control stored in the LCR data memory 23 determines the most of the call charge. Cheaper line is selected,
The selected line number is added before the telephone number and dialed.

As described above, the facsimile apparatus with the LCR function of this embodiment has a buffer memory 8 for storing image information and an LC for storing information for LCR control.
The R data memory 23 and each unit of the facsimile device are controlled to execute the sequence as the facsimile device, and the time information required for data transmission stored in the RAM and the LC stored in the LCR data memory 23 are stored.
A control circuit 20 that executes LCR control processing based on information for R control is provided, the time required for transmission is calculated from the amount of transmission data, and the time required for this data transmission and the clock device 2
Since the cheapest line is selected based on the transmission time zone output by 2 and the arithmetic circuit 21, the transmission day of the week, and the input area code (destination area) information, the cheap line is surely selected. be able to. Further, in the conventional example, since data acquisition and transmission are performed at the same time, it takes a lot of time to acquire the data, and the device is monopolized for one transmission. In this facsimile apparatus, data is stored once in the buffer memory 8, which has the effect of reducing the monopoly time of the device.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing a second embodiment of the data transmitting apparatus according to the present invention, which is an example applied to a facsimile apparatus with an LCR function as a data transmitting apparatus.

First, the structure will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as those of the facsimile apparatus with LCR function of the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, a facsimile apparatus 31 with an LCR function is provided with a control circuit 32 for controlling the entire apparatus and various communication processes, and the control circuit 32 is a ROM.
The respective units of the facsimile apparatus are controlled according to the programs in the program to execute the sequence as the facsimile apparatus, and the time required for data transmission stored in the RAM and the LC stored in the LCR data memory 23 described later are stored.
The LCR control processing of the present invention is executed based on the information for R control. Here, the RAM is a memory for storing basic data necessary for calculating the time required for information transmission as in the first embodiment, and the basic data includes a paper size and transmission data. There are an average value of the transmission data size per sheet by the compression method and the like, a line speed for each information transmission destination, and the like.

Further, the control circuit 32 includes the timepiece device 2
An arithmetic circuit 2 for calculating the time required for transmission / reception based on the time data from 2 and calculating the number of recording papers, originals, etc.
1, an LCR data memory 23 that stores information for LCR control, a keyboard device 14 including keys for performing LCR setting, a display device 3 that can display a time required for transmission
3 is connected.

The information stored in the LCR data memory 23 is the line number and time zone of each telephone company, the day of the week, the destination area (area code), and the telephone charge data of each telephone company with respect to the time required for transmission. is there.

The display device 33 is composed of an LCD or the like,
The time required for the transmission calculated by the control circuit 32 is displayed by a down count until the transmission is completed.

The display form is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a bar display corresponding to the transmission time.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus 31, and the same step numbers are assigned to the portions which perform the same processing as the transmission processing of the facsimile apparatus 1 of FIG.

When the send button is pressed, the time required for sending calculated in step S6 and the determined L
When the LCR control for selecting the cheapest line is performed based on the CR information, the time data required for transmission calculated in step S11 is output to the display device 33 and displayed on the display device 33, and when the LCR function is executed. , The display of the time required for transmission is started by down-counting until the transmission is completed, and the flow is terminated by dialing the line number selected in step S7.

As described above, when all the image information to be transmitted is stored in the buffer memory 8, the control circuit 20 measures the image information amount, and the measured image information amount calculates the time required for transmission. . The LCR stored in the LCR data memory 23 based on the calculated time required for transmission, the transmission time zone output by the clock device 22 and the arithmetic circuit 21, the transmission day of the week, and the input area code (region of the transmission destination). The line with the lowest call charge is selected based on the control information, and the time required for transmission is displayed as a waiting time on the display device 33.

Therefore, the time required for communication and the waiting time therefor are clarified, and the usability can be improved. For example, since the time required for communication is displayed, other work can be performed away from the device during that time, and when the time required for communication is very long, other data communication processing can be performed first. become able to.

In each of the above embodiments, the data transmission device is applied to the facsimile device with the LCR function, but it may be applied to any data communication device as long as it performs LCR control. Of course.

Further, it goes without saying that the circuits, matrix, number of gates, types thereof, etc. constituting the facsimile apparatus are not limited to those in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0058]

According to the inventions of claims 1 and 2, the time required for data transmission is calculated based on the amount of image information data,
Since the calculated time required for transmission is displayed by the display means, the time required for communication and the waiting time can be displayed, and usability can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the time required for transmission is calculated from the data amount of the image information stored in the storage means, and the LCR function is executed based on the calculated time required for transmission. Therefore, it is possible to select a cheaper line according to the communication content.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an L diagram of a first embodiment of a data transmission device according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a facsimile device with a CR function.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the facsimile apparatus with LCR function of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an L diagram of a second embodiment of the data transmission device according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a facsimile device with a CR function.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a transmission process of the facsimile apparatus with LCR function of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,31 FCR device with LCR function 2 Telephone line 3 Telephone line control device 8 Buffer memory 20,32 Control circuit 21 Arithmetic circuit 22 Clock device 23 LCR data memory 33 Display device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit for storing image information to be transmitted, a calculation unit for calculating a time required for the transmission based on a data amount of the image information stored in the storage unit, and a transmission unit calculated by the calculation unit. A data transmission device comprising: a display unit for displaying a required time; and a transmission unit for transmitting transmission image information stored in the storage unit to a line based on a transmission operation. 2. The data transmission according to claim 1, wherein the display means displays the time required for the transmission by down-counting based on the transmission operation by the transmission means until the transmission is completed. apparatus. 3. A data transmission apparatus having an LCR function for selecting a line with the lowest communication charge from a region, a day of the week, a time zone, etc., and a storage unit for storing image information to be transmitted, and a storage unit stored in the storage unit. Calculating means for calculating the time required for transmission based on the data amount of the image information, and executing the LCR function based on the time required for transmission calculated by the calculating means based on the transmission operation, and stored in the storage means. And a transmitting means for transmitting the transmitted image information to the line.