JPH09114759A - Communication function controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control plural network devices and media devices through a control interface and to easily preform the connections of the devices by providing a communication function controller performing the integrated control of a network device and a media device. SOLUTION: The control request of the communication function from an external device 320 is received by a control interface part 210, the network function and media function necessary for carrying out the received control request and the control procedure connecting each function are determined, and the control of the network function and the control of the media function are performed by a main control part 220 in accordance with the control procedure. The control request of the network function from the main control part 220 is received by a network device common control part 230. The control request of the media function from the main control part 220 is received by a media device common control part 250. Thus, various kinds of communication functions are realized by connecting plural network devices and media devices by the control from a computer, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication function control device for integrally controlling a plurality of network devices and media devices.

In recent years, there is an increasing demand for controlling network devices and media devices from application software on a computer so that the communication function provided by these devices and the processing of the application software are linked. In response to such a demand, a switching device control interface for controlling a switching device from a computer and a media device control interface for controlling a media device from a computer are provided. However, these control interfaces are peculiar to the corresponding devices, and it is necessary to cover them with application software when it is desired to perform control for linking a plurality of devices. In order to reduce the burden of such application software and reduce the development cost and the number of program steps, there is a demand for means for unifying the control interfaces among the devices and easily linking a plurality of network devices and media devices. There is.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computer service centering on data processing, a network communication service such as a telephone exchange device, and a media device such as a voice mail device, a FAX (facsimile) mail device, and a video conference device use a network. The services provided by each were independently provided. However, in recent years, along with the sophistication of communication networks and the digitization of information, services in which computers cooperate with networks and media devices, services in which media devices cooperate with networks, and the like have come to be provided.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional configuration when a computer, a network device and a media device cooperate with each other. When a computer cooperates with a network, in general, individual application software running on the computer makes a control request to a control interface corresponding to a network device.
It controls circuit switching of the network, controls terminals (telephones, etc.), and acquires various events notified by the network. In this way, by setting the communication path for computer-to-computer communication and the operation of the telephone by the computer to improve the performance, the HMI (Hu
Man Machine Interface) is available.

When the media device cooperates with the network, it is realized in the same manner as when the computer cooperates with the network. As a result, the media device can provide advanced mail service and conference service in close cooperation with the network device.

Also, when the computer cooperates with the media device, individual application software on the computer requests the control interface corresponding to the media device to perform control of transmission / reception of mail and setting of conferences. You can As a result, application software can send various media data such as characters, voices, images, etc. by e-mail, fetch e-mail data received by the e-mail device and conference data received by the video conferencing device into a computer, and process the data. Become.

[0007]

As described above, since the control interface corresponding to the network device or the media device is provided, the application software on the computer can control the network device or the media device. However, there were problems in using the control interface in the following points.

The control interface provided depends on the device and can be controlled only within the range of the corresponding network device or media device. Therefore, in order to perform control for linking these devices, individual application software is used. It was necessary to handle the unique interface and coordinate the processing between devices.

The resources such as the terminal of the network device and the input / output device belonging to the terminal are generally exclusively used by the application software that controls them, so that a plurality of application software cannot share the terminal and the input / output device. It was

When a computer uses a terminal of a network device to input / output data, it is generally necessary to control the data through an input / output control interface that depends on the terminal. It was necessary to prepare a plurality of input / output control units corresponding to each of the terminals, and perform control according to the used terminal.

Events such as changes in connection status (call connection / disconnection, etc.) and terminal status (phone off-hook, incoming / outgoing call, etc.) that occur in the network are generally notified only to a single application software. ,
When a plurality of application software needs to receive the same event, it is necessary for the application software notified of the event from the network device to further notify other application software.

When the application software and the media device use the network function, even if a plurality of network devices having an equivalent function are available, in order to avoid the complexity of the process of controlling the plurality of network devices, Often controls only network devices. Therefore, the load may not be evenly distributed among the network devices, and the traffic may concentrate on a specific network device. Moreover, since the quality and route of the transmission path are usually different for each network device, it is desirable that the application software or the like selects the optimum network device according to the type of the transmission data, the transmission destination, and the like. However, conventionally, there has been no means for optimizing the network function used by application software or the like.

When the application software selects and uses from a plurality of media devices, normally,
The media device is selected according to the media format of the data sent / received to / from the media device, the participant in the video conference, the other party of the mail, etc., but in this case as well, the load distribution among the media devices is not taken into consideration. In some cases, traffic was concentrated on a specific media device, and routes such as mail delivery and video conference were not optimized.

Since each media device can handle only a limited media format, when media data is transmitted and received between the application software and the media device, the media format required by the application software and the media format that the media device can handle. If and are different, it was necessary to convert the media format of the data on the application software side.

When the application software controls the network device or the media device, or when the media device controls the network device, the terminal address for specifying the terminal of the network device or the user of the media device is specified. It is necessary to specify the user address when requesting control. Therefore, it is necessary for the application software and the media device side to manage the address information and select and specify the address of the controlled device.

Further, since the call is sent to the terminal of the user by the terminal address or the user address, specifying those addresses has the same meaning as specifying the user, but the user always Since the user is not always near his / her own terminal, communication with the user may not be immediately set even if the terminal address corresponding to the user is specified. Therefore, if you want to set up communication urgently, check the other person's current whereabouts,
I had to take the trouble of checking the address of the terminal installed at that location and specifying that address.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and unifies the control interfaces regardless of the models of the network device and the media device to be controlled,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means by which an external device such as a computer can control a plurality of network devices and media devices through their control interfaces and easily cooperate with each other.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle according to the present invention. In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the network device 300 and the media device 31 are provided in order to provide a communication function in which the network function of the network device 300 and the media function of the media device 310 are combined and cooperated.
Communication function controller 2 for integrated control of 0
00 is provided.

Communication function control device 200
Is a control interface unit 210 that receives a control request for a communication function from the external device 320, a network function and a media function necessary to execute the control request received by the control interface unit 210, and a control procedure that links the respective functions. And a network controller 300 that receives a network function control request from the main controller 220 and that controls the network function and the media function according to the control procedure. Then, the network device common control unit 230 that passes the control request to the network device control unit 240 described later corresponding to the determined network device 300, and the network device common control unit 230 that is provided corresponding to each network device 300 The requested control request. Into a specific control request to the network device 300, a network device control unit 240 for controlling the network device 300, the main control unit 220
Receives a control request for the media function from the media device 310, determines a media device 310 to execute the control request, and a media device controller 260 described later corresponding to the determined media device 310.
A media device common control unit 250 that passes the control request to
A media device control that is provided corresponding to each media device 310 and that converts a control request passed from the media device common control unit 250 into a control request unique to the corresponding media device 310 and controls the media device 310. Part 260
And

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes a resource management information section 231 for registering current resource allocation destination information for each resource belonging to each controllable network apparatus 300, and the network apparatus common control section 230 receives the resource allocation request, The request source is registered in the resource management information unit 231 as the allocation destination of the resource, and the network device control unit corresponding to the network device 300 to which the resource belongs only when the request source is the first allocation destination of the resource. When the resource allocation request is passed to 240 and the resource release request is received, the registration of the request source is deleted from the resource management information section 231, and the deletion of the registration of the request source causes all the resource allocation destinations to disappear. Only in this case, the resource release request is passed to the network device control unit 240 corresponding to the network device 300 to which the resource belongs, and the resource management Based on the resource allocation destination information of information unit 231, the assignment target assigned the same resources can be controlled so that it can share the said resource.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes an event distribution information unit 232 that registers current event notification destination information for each event notified from each controllable network device 300, and the network device common control unit 230 receives the event reception request. The network device 300 that registers the request source as a notification destination of the event in the event distribution information unit 232 and notifies the event only when the request source is the event notification destination registered first for the event. The event reception request is passed to the network device control unit 240 corresponding to, and when the event reception cancellation request is received, the registration of the request source is deleted from the event distribution information unit 232, and the registration of the request source is deleted. Notify the event only when all the notification destinations of the event are gone When the event reception cancellation request is passed to the network device control unit 240 corresponding to the network device 300 and there are a plurality of reception request sources for the same event, the event is notified based on the event notification destination information of the event distribution information unit 232. It is possible to control the distribution to each notification destination.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes a network status management information unit 233 that records status management information of each controllable network device 300, and the network device common control unit 230 receives the control request and the network status management information unit 233.
The load on each network device 300 is averaged based on the state management information and the content of the control request recorded in
In addition, the network device 300 can be selected so that the control request can be executed more effectively, and the control request can be passed to the network device control unit 240 corresponding to the selected network device 300.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes a media device status management information unit 251 for recording status management information of each controllable media device 310, and the media device common control unit 250 receives the control request, and the media device status management information unit 251. Based on the state management information and the contents of the control request recorded in the media device 310, the load on each media device 310 is averaged and the control request can be more effectively performed.
Can be selected and the control request can be passed to the media device unit 260 corresponding to the selected media device 310.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes a media conversion unit 252 that converts the media format of the data, and the media device common control unit 250.
Is transmitted / received between the external device 320 and the media device 310 when the media format of the data transmitted / received by the control request source external device 320 and the media format of the data that can be processed by the control request destination media device 310 are different. When relaying the data, the media converter 252 can be used to convert the data sent from the sender into the media format required by the receiver.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes an address management information unit 221 in which the correspondence between the user identification information for each user and the device address information of each device assigned to the user is registered.
When the main control unit 220 receives a control request addressed to a specific user, the main control unit 220 corresponds to the user identification information specified in the control request, and is a device suitable for executing the control request. The device address can be extracted from the address management information part 221, and the user identification information in the control request can be replaced with the device address information.

Further, the communication function controller 2
00 further includes a destination information unit 222 capable of registering destination information including a destination of the user and device address information of each device installed in the place corresponding to the user, and the main control unit 22.
0 indicates that, when the destination information of the user corresponding to the user identification information designated in the control request is registered in the destination information unit 222 when the control request addressed to the specific user is received, The device information of the device installed in the destination of the user and suitable for performing the control request is stored in the destination information section 2
The user identification information in the control request can be replaced with the device address information.

Further, the communication function controller 2
The control interface unit 210 of 00 can accept a control request in the form of input / output control of a general computer.

Further, the communication function controller 2
When each device under the control of 00 makes a control request through the control interface unit 210, the respective devices can control each other.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration using a communication function control device as one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is application software, 20 is a network device (private branch exchange, etc.), 3
Reference numeral 0 is a network device control interface, 40 is a media device (voice mail device, FAX device, etc.), and 50 is a media device control interface.

Network device control interface 30
Is an interface mechanism provided by the corresponding network device 20 to control the network device 20 from an external device such as a computer. Similarly, the media device control interface 50 is an interface mechanism provided by the corresponding media device 40 to control the media device 40 from an external device such as a computer or other software. These control interfaces are interfaces unique to the corresponding devices.

The system of FIG. 2 has a server / client configuration. The server manages each resource belonging to the network device 20 and the media device 40, and provides the communication function realized by these resources to the application software 10 on the client. To do. The communication function control device according to the present embodiment includes a communication integrated control unit 100 operating on a server and a communication control interface 110 installed on a client.

Communication control interface 1
The application software 10 provides an API (Application Programming Interface) for controlling the network device 20 and the media device 40 from the application software 10. This API is defined not as an interface corresponding to each network device 20 or media device 40 but as a unified interface,
Language that describes application software (C, P
It is configured as a library of control software provided in the form of functions and macros (ASCAL, BASIC, etc.). The user can easily realize the cooperation between the network device 20 and the media device 40 by programming the application software 10 using these functions and macros. In other words, the application software 10 does not need to have a control part corresponding to each device individually, which leads to a reduction in the development cost of the application software and a reduction in the number of program steps.

If the API provided by the communication control interface 110 is defined as an equivalent to the control interface of a general input / output device of a computer, a further advantage is brought about in developing application software. For example, read or wri
If it is possible to receive event notifications from the private branch exchange or send image data to the FAX machine by using general input / output functions such as te, it is even easier to create, modify, and add application software. Become.

Communication control interface 1
By using the API provided by 10, the application software 10 transmits the control request for the communication function to the communication integrated control unit 100 and receives the control result and various notifications notified from the communication integrated control unit 100. You can

The communication integrated control unit 100
API control unit 111, main control unit 120, network device common control unit 130, media device common control unit 140,
Network device controller 15 for each network device
0, and media device controller 1 for each media device
60. Further, the main control unit 120 includes location data 121 and a terminal / user address 122, the network device common control unit 130 includes resource management data 131, event distribution data 132, and network status management data 133, and a media device common control unit. Reference numeral 140 is a media device status management data 141 and a media conversion unit 142.
Is provided.

The API control unit 111 plays a role of mediating the transfer of information between the client and the server, and receives the control request from the application software 10 and transfers it to the main control unit 120, and the network device 20 and The data transmitted from the media device 40 is addressed to the application software 10 and transmitted to the client side.

The main control unit 120 divides the control request passed from the API control unit 111 into a control request for the network function and a control request for the media function, and controls the functions so as to cooperate with each other. For example, when the application software 10 receives a control request to set a call path with a specific extension telephone of the private branch exchange and to send a call record to a specific FAX media device at the end of the call, the main control unit 120 First, a control request for setting a communication path is issued to the network device common control unit 130, and when the call ends, the media device common control unit 140
The control request for the FAX output of the call record is issued to. Further, the main control unit 120 receives information such as control results and various notifications sent from the network device 20 and the media device 40, and if necessary, returns the information to the requesting application software 10 API.
Request the control unit 111.

When the network device common control unit 130 receives the control request from the main control unit 120 as described above,
The network device 20 to be controlled is determined based on the contents of the control request, the designated address, and the contents of the resource management data 131 and the network status management data 133 described later, and the network device corresponding to the network device 20. The control request from the main control unit 120 is transmitted to the control unit 150. The network device common control unit 130 also receives information such as control results and various notifications sent from the network device 20, and delivers the information to the main control unit 120.

Similarly, the media device common controller 140
When receiving the control request from the main control unit 120 as described above, the media device 40 to be controlled is based on the contents of the control request, the specified address, and the contents of the media device status management data 141 described later. The media device control unit 160 corresponding to the media device 40.
The control request from the main control unit 120 is transmitted to. The media device common control unit 140 also receives information such as control results and various notifications sent from the media device 40, and delivers the information to the main control unit 120.

Network device control interface 30
Since the media device control interface 50 is an interface unique to the corresponding device, the interfaces are different between the devices even if they are of the same type. However, the control request transmitted from the main control unit 120 to the network device control unit 150 through the network device common control unit 130 and the control request transmitted to the media device control unit 160 through the media device common control unit 140 are unified. A common interface is used. Therefore, the network device controller 150 and the media device controller 16
0 converts the control request by the common interface transmitted from the main control unit 120 into the control request by the interface unique to the corresponding device, and controls the corresponding device accordingly. Further, the network device controller 150 and the media device controller 160 provide the network device common controller 13 with the control result and various notification information from the corresponding device.
0 to the media device common control unit 140.

In the system configuration of this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 3, the media device 40 can control the network device 20 from the media device 40 as in the case of the application software 10 by making a control request to the communication integrated control unit 100 through the communication control interface 110. Is. In that case, the media device 40 uses the API provided by the communication control interface 110.
A control request is made to the communication integrated control unit 100 by software programmed using. For example, the user of the voice media device 40A can send a voice mail from the network device 20B to the local line by making a control request to the communication integrated control unit 100. In the description of the present embodiment, only the case where the application software 10 makes a control request to the communication integrated control unit 100 will be described, but the media device 40 can also make a control request similarly to the application software 10.

Hereinafter, the communication integrated control unit 10
The control at 0 will be described in more detail. The communication integrated control unit 100 controls the resources of the network device 20 to be shared by a plurality of application software 10 and the event notification from the network device 20 is distributed to the plurality of application software 10. For the network device 20,
Since the resource allocation destination and the event notification destination are limited to the communication integrated control unit 100, functions for resource sharing and event distribution are not required. Instead, the communication integrated control unit 100 further allocates the resources allocated from the network device 20 to the plurality of application software 10, or copies the event notification from the network device 20 and distributes it to the plurality of application software 10. Have a role to play.

First, the control for sharing the resources of the network device will be described. When a sharing start request is issued from the application software 10 to a specific resource of the network device 20, the communication integrated control unit 100 checks whether or not the resource has already been allocated from the network device 20, and if not already allocated, the network After making a resource allocation request to the device 20, the sharing start request is accepted, and if already allocated, the sharing start request is immediately accepted. When control requests are made from a plurality of application software 10 to the shared resource after the resource sharing is started, the control requests are combined or combined in accordance with the resource type or the shared form, and the control requests are combined into one. A control request is made to the network device 20. When there is a resource sharing end request from the application software 10, the request is accepted and the sharing state of the resource is checked. If there is no other application software 10 that shares the resource, the network device 20 is notified of the resource sharing end request. Request release.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the resource management data 131 for managing the resource sharing state of the network device 20. The resource management data 131 is composed of resource data, which is a set of resource state data of individual resources belonging to the network device 20, and a resource management index. The resource data is divided into areas for each type of resource (telephone, call, etc.), and index information (= link) indicating the start address of each type of area is stored in the resource management index. The resource status data is indexed by a resource ID indicating the type of resource and an identification number of each resource. In the example of FIG. 4, the resource ID of the telephone is used to index the head address of the telephone resource, and then the resource status data is indexed with the telephone number of the telephone A from the telephone resource data designated by the head address.

In the resource status data, the current allocation status of the resource, the allocation destination application software number, and the identification number of each allocation destination application software are recorded. An example of transition of resource state data associated with resource allocation and resource allocation will be described with reference to FIG.

For example, when the resource status data of the telephone set A is in the state 1 (assignment state = empty, number of assigned applications = 0, assigned application = none), there is a request for assignment of the telephone set A from the application software a. In response to the request, the network device common control unit 130 rewrites the resource state data of the telephone set A to state 2 (assignment state = in use, assigned application number = 1, assigned application = a), and the network device corresponding to the telephone set A. An allocation request is issued to the control unit 150A.

Further, application software b
When there is a request for allocation of the telephone set A from the network device common control unit 130, the resource state data of the telephone set A is set to the state 3
(Allocation status = in use, number of allocated applications = 2, allocated applications = a, b) is rewritten, but since the allocation status is already in use, the network device control unit 1
No new allocation request is issued to 50A.

When the application software requests the deallocation of resources, the transition is the reverse of the above. That is, when the application software b issues a deallocation request for the telephone set A, the network device common control unit 13
0 rewrites the resource status data of the telephone A to the status 2, but since the application software a is still allocating, the allocation cancellation request is not issued to the network device controller 150A.

Further, application software a
When there is a request for deallocation of the telephone set A from the network device common control section 130, the network state common control section 130 writes back the resource state data of the telephone set A to state 1 and the network apparatus control section 150.
Request for deallocation of the telephone set A.

Next, the control for distributing the event notification sent from the network device 20 will be described. When the application software 10 makes a reception request for a specific event of the network device 20, the communication integrated control unit 100 checks whether or not the event reception request has already been issued to the network device 20, and if it has not issued it. After issuing the event reception request to the network device 20, the request from the application software 10 is accepted, and
If issued, the request from the application software 10 is immediately accepted. After that, when the event that is the target of the reception request is notified from the network device 20, the communication integration control unit 100 distributes the event to all the request source application software 10. Then, when there is a reception end request for the event from the application software 10,
When the request is received and the distribution state of the event is checked, and there is no other application software 10 requesting reception of the event, the network device 2
A reception end request for the event is issued to 0.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the event distribution management data 132 for managing the distribution status of event notifications from the network device 20. The event distribution management data 132 is composed of event distribution data, which is a set of distribution state data for each event notified from the network device 20, and an event distribution management index. The event distribution data is divided into areas according to event types (phone events, track events, call events, etc.), and index information (= link) indicating the start address of each type of area is stored in the event distribution management index. . The distribution state data is indexed by the event ID indicating the type of event and the identification number of each event. In the example of FIG. 6, first, the start address of the telephone event is indexed by the event ID of the telephone event,
Next, the distribution state data is indexed by the telephone number of the telephone A from the telephone event distribution data designated by the leading address.

In the event distribution state data, the current distribution state of the event, the number of distribution destination application software, and the identification number of each distribution destination application software are recorded. FIG. 7 shows an example of transition of event distribution state data associated with an event reception request and an event reception end request. The transition example of the event distribution state data has a similar data structure and transition order to the transition example of the resource state data shown in FIG.

Further, the integrated communication control unit 10
In 0, the control target device is determined by collating the usage status of the network device 20 or the media device 40 with the content of the communication function requested by the application software 10.

First, a method of determining the network device to be controlled will be described. FIG. 8 shows the network device 2.
It is a figure which shows the structural example of the network state management data 133 used in order to manage the utilization condition of 0. The network status management data 133 is composed of status data of each network device 20, and the status data of each network device 20 is indexed by the network device number. The status data of each network device 20 includes the usage rate of the network device, the usage rate of the office line, the usage rate of the trunk line, and the like, and these data dynamically change according to a control request from the application software 10. .

When the network device common controller 130 receives a control request for each network function unit from the main controller 120, it analyzes the content of the control request and uses the specific network device 20 to fulfill the control request. Determine if it is necessary. When the control request does not require a specific network device 20 (station line transmission, etc.), the network device common control unit 130 refers to the network state management data 133 and refers to the network device usage rate in order to average the load. The lowest network device 20 is selected, and the control request is transmitted to the network device control unit 150 corresponding to the network device 20. Further, by referring to the office line utilization rate and the trunk line utilization rate of each network device 20, it is possible to avoid selecting the network device 20 in which the load is temporarily increased. In addition, the network status management data 13
If 3 includes function information of each network device 20 (quality of transmission path, route, etc.), the network device 20 that can provide the optimum network function at that time can be selected according to the type of control request. Is possible.

Next, a method for determining the media device to be controlled will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of media device state management data 141 used for managing the usage status of the media device 40. The media device status management data 141 is composed of the status data of each media device 40, and the status data of each media device 40 is indexed by the media device number. The status data of each media device 40 includes the usage rate of the media device, the usage rate of the attached disk, the usage rate of the line to be connected, etc. These data are dynamically changed by the control request from the application software 10. Change.

When the media device common control unit 140 receives a control request for each media function unit from the main control unit 120,
The content of the control request is analyzed to determine whether a particular media device 40 needs to be used to fulfill the control request. For example, when the control request is FAX transmission, if there are a plurality of media devices 40 equipped with a FAX function, any one of the media devices 40 can execute the control request. In this way, when the control request does not require the specific media device 40,
The media device common control unit 140 refers to the media device state management data 141, selects the media device 40 with the lowest media device usage rate in order to average the load, and selects the media device control unit 16 corresponding to the media device 40.
Control request is transmitted to 0. Further, by referring to the disk usage rate or line usage rate of each media device 40, it is possible to avoid selecting the media device 40 having a temporarily increased load. In addition, if the media device status management data 141 includes the function information (transmission speed, resolution, etc.) of each media device 40, the media device that can provide the optimum media function at that time according to the type of control request. It becomes possible to select 40.

Further, the integrated communication control unit 10
0 is the application software 10 of the control request source
When relaying transmission / reception of data between the control target media device 40 and the control target media device 40, the media device 40 mutually communicates with the media device 40 according to the media format of the data that can be input / output to / from the media device 40 and the media format required by the application software 10. Exchange.

The media format conversion is performed by the media conversion unit 14
2 does. The media conversion unit 142 can be configured by software or hardware. When the application software 10 requests the communication integrated control unit 100 to transmit data to the media device 40, the media device common control unit 140 handles the media format of the data input by the application software 10 and the destination media device 40. The media format is checked, and if they are different from each other, the media format of the input data is converted into the media format handled by the destination media device 40 by using the media conversion unit 142, and the media device 40 corresponds to the destination media device 40. The control request is transmitted to the media device controller 160.

Further, the application software 10
Request the data integration control unit 100 to receive data from the media device 40, similarly, if the media format requested by the application software 10 and the media format handled by the media device 40 are different, the media conversion unit 142 is The reverse conversion is carried out using the above, and the converted data is delivered to the application software 10.

For example, application software 1
When 0 sends data in text format to the communication integrated control unit 100 and requests the data to be output to the FAX media device 50B, the media device common control unit 140 causes the media device common control unit 140 to convert the text data into image data. Request the conversion unit 142 to send a fax
The converted image data is transmitted to the FAX media device controller 160B together with the output request.

Further, the communication integrated control unit 10
0 manages the device address so that when a communication setting request designated by the user is received from the application software 10, the terminal of the network device 20 or the media device 40 corresponding to the user can be specified.

In this embodiment, the network device 20
Since the terminal address is assigned to the terminal (telephone etc.) accommodated in the device, and the user address is assigned to the media device 40, the application software 1
With 0, the device to be controlled can be specified by designating the device address when requesting control. However, if the user is determined for each device, the device to be controlled can also be specified by specifying the user name when requesting control. This eliminates the need to manage the device address on the application software 10 side.

The integrated communication control unit 100
In order to enable a control request for designating a user name, terminal / user address data 122 defining a correspondence between a user name and a device address is provided. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the terminal / user address data 122. Terminal /
The user address data 122 is composed of personal data corresponding to each user, and each personal data includes network device 20.
Terminal addresses of the various media devices 40, and the names of representative users of the terminals of the network devices 20 and the media devices 40. Each personal data can be indexed by any of the representative user name, the terminal address of the network device 20, and the user address of the media device 40.

When the communication integrated control unit 100 receives a communication setting request with a user name specified from the application software 10, the main control unit 120 outputs personal data corresponding to the specified user name to the terminal / user address data. The network device common control unit 13 retrieves the control request obtained by searching 122 to obtain the terminal address or the user address of the controlled device, and replacing the designation of the user name with the designation of the terminal address or the user address.
0 or transmitted to the media device common control unit 140.

Further, the communication integrated control unit 10
0 indicates the destination of the user so that when the user receives a communication setting request designated by the user from the application software 10, the user can quickly set the communication even if he / she is not at the place where the device assigned to him / herself is. Is being managed.

The integrated communication control section 100 is provided with whereabouts data 121 for managing the destination of the user. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the residence data 121. The residence data 121 is composed of personal data corresponding to each user. Each personal data includes a representative user name, a destination of the user, a terminal address of the network device 20 installed at the destination, and a user address of the media device 40. It is registered. The personal data is indexed by the representative user name.

The user registers the destination information in the whereabouts data 121 through a terminal or the like when moving from place to place. Also,
As another method, each user may carry an ID card and automatically insert the destination information into the whereabouts data 121 by inserting the card into a destination card reader.

When the communication integrated control unit 100 receives a communication setting request from the application software 10 by designating a user name and referring to a destination, the main control unit 120 obtains personal data corresponding to the designated user name from the residence data 121. When the destination information of the user is registered by searching, the terminal address of the network device 20 or the user address of the media device 40 to be controlled is obtained, and the user name is specified as the terminal address or the user address. The control request replaced with the designation of 1 is transmitted to the network device common control unit 130 or the media device common control unit 140. Also, whereabouts data 1
When the destination information of the user is not registered in the personal data retrieved from 21, the device address of the controlled device is obtained by the method of referring to the terminal / user address data 122 described above.

In the above-described embodiment, the API provided by the communication control interface 110 as an interface between the application software 10 and the communication integrated control unit 100.
However, as another method, it is possible to provide an interface between the two in the form of message communication between programs or between devices. Further, the configuration of the communication integrated control unit 100 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above-described embodiment, and can be a flexible configuration according to the integrated function to be provided.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, many effects can be obtained when various communication functions are realized by linking a plurality of network devices and media devices under the control of a computer or the like. . The effects obtained by the present invention are listed below.

When the communication function realized by the cooperation of the network device and the media device is controlled from the external device or the like, the external device or the like does not need to perform the processing for the cooperation, and the number of steps of the control program or Development costs can be reduced. Since a plurality of external devices etc. can share the same network resource, the network resource can be efficiently used. The external device that controls the communication function is
Since control can be performed without being aware of the individual interfaces of network devices and media devices, it is not necessary to separately control each device to be controlled, and the number of control program steps and development costs can be reduced. . Since a plurality of external devices and the like can receive the event notified from the network device at the same time, the event information can be easily shared. Since the external device or the like can perform optimal network control without being aware of the configuration of the network device or the network condition, efficient use of the network device can be achieved. The external device or the like can select the optimum media device without being aware of the usage status of each media device or the difference in performance between the media devices. An external device that sends and receives data to and from the media device does not need to convert the data into a media format that the media device can handle, so it is easy to handle the media data, and software or hardware for media format conversion can be used. Can be deleted. The external device or the like can specify the users corresponding to those devices instead of specifying the device address of the network device or the media device to be controlled, so that the device to be controlled can be easily specified. Even if the user of the terminal of the network device or the media device registers his / her destination information in the system, even if the user is away from his / her own terminal, the network settings and e-mail according to the destination of the user Sending and receiving,
Since it is possible to set up a meeting, it is possible to reduce the rate of opportunity loss in communication setting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the principle according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where a media device makes a control request to a communication integrated control unit through a communication control interface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of resource management data in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of state transition of resource management data.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of event distribution data in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of state transition of event distribution data.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of network state management data in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of media device state management data in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of terminal / user address data in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of residence data in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 application software 20 network device 30 network device control interface 40 media device 50 media device control interface 100 communication integrated control unit 110 communication control interface 111 API control unit 120 main control unit 121 residence data 122 terminal / user address data 130 common to network devices Control unit 131 Resource management data 132 Event distribution data 133 Network state management data 140 Media device common control unit 141 Media device state management data 142 Media conversion unit 150 Network device control unit 160 Media device control unit 200 Communication function control device 210 Control interface unit 220 main control unit 221 address management information 222 Destination information part 230 Network device common control part 231 Resource management information part 232 Event distribution information part 233 Network status management information part 240 Network device control part 250 Media device common control part 251 Media device status management information part 252 Media conversion part 260 media Device control unit 300 Network device 310 Media device 320 External device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location H04L 12/28 (72) Inventor Koji Yamato 1015 Ueodaanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Within Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Makoto Suzuki 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A communication function control device for integrally controlling a network device and a media device to provide a communication function in which a network function provided by the network device and a media function provided by the media device are combined and cooperated with each other. Determining a control interface unit that receives a control request for a communication function from an external device, a network function and a media function required to execute the control request received by the control interface unit, and a control procedure for linking the functions. Then, the main control unit that controls the network function and the media function according to the control procedure, the network function control request from the main control unit, the network device that executes the control request are determined, and the determination is performed. For network devices The network device common control unit that passes the control request to the network device control unit, and the control request that is provided for each network device and that is passed from the network device common control unit, is a control request unique to the corresponding network device. To a network device control unit for controlling the network device and a media function control request from the main control unit, determine a media device to execute the control request, and correspond to the determined media device. The media device common control unit that passes the control request to the media device control unit described below, and the control request that is provided for each media device and that is passed from the media device common control unit, becomes a control request that is unique to the corresponding media device A communication function control device including a media device control unit for converting and controlling the media device. . 2. A resource management information section for registering current resource allocation destination information for each resource belonging to each controllable network apparatus, wherein the network apparatus common control section is provided with a resource allocation request section when the resource allocation request is received. The request source is registered in the resource management information section as an allocation destination of the resource, and the network device control section corresponding to the network device to which the resource belongs only when the request source is the first allocation destination of the resource. When the resource allocation request is passed to the user and the resource release request is received, the registration of the request source is deleted from the resource management information section, and when the registration of the request source is deleted, all the resource allocation destinations disappear. The resource release request to the network device control unit corresponding to the network device to which the resource belongs, and based on the resource allocation destination information of the resource management information unit, Communication function controller according to claim 1, wherein each assigned destination allocated resources to perform control so that it can share the said resource. 3. An event distribution information unit for registering current event notification destination information for each event notified from each controllable network device, wherein the network device common control unit receives an event reception request. A network device which notifies the event only when the request source is registered in the event distribution information section as a notification destination of the event and the request source is the event notification destination first registered for the event. The event reception request is passed to the corresponding network device control unit, and when the event reception cancellation request is received, the registration of the request source is deleted from the event distribution information unit, and the registration of the request source is deleted. Only when all the event notification destinations are exhausted, the network device corresponding to the network device that notifies the event is When the event reception cancellation request is passed to the network device control unit and there are a plurality of reception request sources for the same event,
The control is performed to distribute the event to each notification destination based on the event notification destination information of the event distribution information unit.
Communication function control device described. 4. A network status management information section for recording status management information of each controllable network apparatus, wherein the network apparatus common control section records in the network status management information section when a control request is received. Based on the status management information and the contents of the control request, the load of each network device is averaged, and the network device is selected so that the control request can be more effectively performed,
The communication function control device according to claim 1, wherein the control request is passed to the network device control unit corresponding to the selected network device. 5. A media device status management information unit for recording status management information of each controllable media device, wherein the media device common control unit, when receiving a control request,
Based on the status management information recorded in the media apparatus status management information section and the content of the control request, the load of each media apparatus is averaged, and the control of the media apparatus is performed so that the control request can be more effectively performed. The communication function control device according to claim 1, wherein the control request is passed to the media device unit corresponding to the selected media device. 6. A media conversion unit for converting the media format of data, wherein the media device common control unit processes the media format of data transmitted and received by an external device of a control request source and the media device of a control request destination. If the media format of the possible data is different, when the data transmitted / received between the external device and the media device is relayed, the media conversion unit is used by the reception side to receive the data transmitted from the transmission side. The communication function control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication function control device is converted into a media format. 7. An address management information section in which a correspondence relationship between user identification information for each individual user and apparatus address information of each apparatus assigned to the user is registered, wherein the main control section is specific. When the control request addressed to the user is received, the address management information corresponds to the user identification information specified in the control request and is suitable for performing the control request. 2. The communication function control device according to claim 1, wherein the user identification information in the control request is replaced with the device address information. 8. A destination information section capable of registering destination information including a destination of the user and device address information of each device installed at the location corresponding to the user, wherein the main control unit is a specific user. If the destination information of the user corresponding to the user identification information specified in the control request is registered in the destination information section when a control request addressed to is received, the device is installed at the destination of the user. The communication according to claim 1, wherein a device address of a device that is suitable for performing the control request is extracted from the destination information section, and the user identification information in the control request is replaced with the device address information. Function control device. 9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the control interface unit receives a control request in the form of input / output control of a general computer. 10. The communication function control device according to claim 1, wherein each device subordinate to the communication function control device is capable of mutual control among the devices by making a control request through the control interface unit.