JPH098841A - Message distribution processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve transmission efficiency by collectively distributing messages in an input order so that the message becomes the longest within the range that it does not exceed predicted optimum length when the total of the message length is longer than predicted optimum length. CONSTITUTION: A distributed message processing part 5 receives a distribution request from a distribution request part 4, calculates predicted optimum message length whose line use rate per unit data length becomes the lowest at the charging unit time and the communication speed of a communication line 8, which are stored in a parameter storage part 1, and collectively stores the stored messages of a message storage part 3 so that the total length to be distributed becomes the longest within predicted optimum length. The storage part 6 is provided with a distribution order management table and stores addresses where the message which are to be collectively distributed are stored in a distributing order. A protocol processing part 7 distributes the messages whose storage addresses are stored in the management table of the storage part 6 through the line 8 by making them into a frame or a packet corresponding to a communication protocol by the instruction of the processing part 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a message distribution processing method for distributing a message to a plurality of devices, and more particularly to reduction of a line usage fee at the time of message distribution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A message delivery device for delivering a message input from various mail devices such as an electronic mail device, a facsimile mail device or a voice mail device has been developed to reduce the line usage fee at the time of message delivery. ing. For example, in the delivery processing method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-122254, telegrams for the same destination are collectively delivered to improve transmission efficiency and reduce line usage fees.

[0003]

However, in the case of using a communication line charged by the communication time, the communication may end immediately after the line usage time exceeds the charging unit time even if some messages are collected. In such a case, the line usage fee will not be reduced. In addition, there are cases where short electronic messages are generated discontinuously and the electronic messages cannot be collectively delivered.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above disadvantages, and the expected optimum message length of the communication line to be used is calculated, and the total of the message lengths delivered at one time does not exceed the calculated optimum message length. The purpose is to reduce the line usage fee of the communication line by delivering it collectively as long as possible within the range.

[0005]

A telegram distribution processing method according to the present invention accumulates input telegrams, and predicts an optimum on the basis of a charging unit time and a communication speed of a communication line stored in advance when a telegram delivery request is made. Calculates the message length, compares the total message length of the accumulated messages with the expected optimal message length, and if the total message length is longer than the expected optimal message length, the total message length does not exceed the expected optimal message length. The telegrams are collectively delivered in the order of input so that the length becomes the longest.

Further, it is desirable to collectively deliver the messages in the descending order of delivery priority so that the total of the message lengths becomes the longest within a range not exceeding the expected optimum message length.

Further, it is preferable to increase the distribution priority of a message that has not been distributed because the distribution priority is low after the message has been distributed.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when there is a request to deliver a telegram, the expected optimum telegram length is calculated based on the charging unit time and the communication speed of the communication line stored in advance. Accumulate the input messages,
Compare the total message length of the accumulated messages with the expected optimal message length.If the total message length is longer than the expected optimal message length, the total message length will be the longest within the range that does not exceed the expected optimal message length. Improve the transmission efficiency by delivering the messages in batches in the order of input.

Further, the electronic messages are collectively delivered in the descending order of the distribution priority so that the total of the electronic message lengths becomes the longest within the range not exceeding the expected optimal message length, and the electronic messages having the high distribution priority are distributed first.

Further, after the message is distributed, the distribution priority of the message which is not distributed due to the low distribution priority is raised,
Prevent messages with low delivery priority from remaining without being delivered forever.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a message delivery device adopting the message delivery processing method of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electronic message delivery device includes a parameter storage unit 1, an electronic message input unit 2, an electronic message storage unit 3, a delivery request unit 4, a delivered electronic message processing unit 5, a column credit electronic message storage unit 6, and a protocol processing unit 7. The parameter storage unit 1 stores the charging unit time and the communication speed of the communication line 8 in advance. The parameter storage unit 1 also stores a set value of the expected optimum message length, which is the data length at which the line usage fee per unit data length is the lowest, and a cumulative stored message length, which is the total of the message lengths of the stored messages. The message input unit 2 inputs messages from various mail devices such as an electronic mail device, a facsimile mail device, and a voice mail device. Message storage 3
Stores the electronic message input by the electronic message input unit 2. The delivery request unit 4 requests delivery of the input electronic message. Delivery message processing unit 5
When receiving a distribution request from the distribution requesting unit 4, is the data length at which the line usage fee per unit data length is the lowest based on the charging unit time and communication speed of the communication line 8 stored in the parameter storage unit 1 The telegram length is calculated, and the telegrams stored in the telegram storage unit 3 are collectively stored in the column credit telegram storage unit 6 so that the total of the telegram lengths of the telegrams to be delivered is the longest within the calculated optimum optimal telegram length. The column credit telegram storage unit 6 includes a column order management table 61, and the column order management table 61 stores, in the order of delivery, addresses at which telegrams to be collectively delivered are stored, as shown in FIG. The protocol processing unit 7 converts a message whose storage address is stored in the column order management table 61 of the column credit message storage unit 6 according to an instruction from the delivery message processing unit 5 into a frame or a packet format according to the communication protocol and a communication line. Deliver via 8.

The operation of distributing a message by the message distribution device having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The electronic message input unit 2 receives electronic messages from various mail devices and stores the received electronic messages in the electronic message storage unit 3. When the delivery request is received from the delivery request unit 4 while the message input unit 2 is in the message waiting state (step A1), the delivery message processing unit 5 receives the delivery request.
Acquires the corresponding message from the message storage unit 3 (step A
2) Acquire the message length of the acquired message (step A)
3). After that, the delivery message processing unit 5 is changed to the parameter storage unit 1.
It is confirmed whether or not the expected optimum message length is set in (step A4). When the expected optimum message length is not set, the delivery message processing unit 5 acquires the preset charging unit time, communication speed, and communication efficiency from the parameter storage unit 1 (steps A5 and A6), and the acquired charging Calculate (Expected optimal message length (bytes)) = (Communication speed (bps) / 8) / (Communication efficiency (%)) x (Charging unit time (seconds)) based on unit time, communication speed and communication efficiency Then, the estimated optimum message length is calculated and stored in the parameter storage unit 1 (step A7). After calculating the expected optimal message length, the delivery message processing unit 5 sums up the message lengths of the messages whose addresses are stored in the string order management table 61 of the column credit message storage unit 6 and accumulates the accumulated message length in the parameter storage unit 1. (Step A8). The delivery message processing unit 5 compares the calculated expected optimum message length with the accumulated stored message length (step A9), and if the accumulated stored message length is longer than the expected optimum message length, requests the protocol processing unit 7 for delivery. When the protocol processing unit 7 receives a distribution request from the distribution message processing unit 5, it performs call connection processing, and a plurality of messages specified by the message addresses in the message sequence management table 61 of the column credit message storage unit 6 are summed up in message length. Is taken out in order so as to be the longest within the range that does not exceed the expected optimum message length, and is divided into frames according to the communication protocol for delivery. When the delivery of the request message is completed, the protocol processing unit 7 disconnects the call (step A10). The delivery telegram processing unit 5 uses the address of the delivered telegram as the column credit telegram storage unit 6
It is deleted from the connection order management table 61 of No. 1 and the accumulated storage message length is reset and the distribution process is repeated until the accumulated storage message length becomes shorter than the expected optimum message length (step A).
8 to A10).

The delivery message processing unit 5 adds the message length of the received message to the cumulative stored message length of the parameter storage unit 1 (step A11). The delivery message processing unit 5 checks whether or not the cumulative stored message length including the message length of the received message is longer than the expected optimum message length (step A12). When the cumulative stored message length is longer than the expected optimum message length, the delivery message processing unit 5 requests the protocol processing unit 7 for delivery. When the protocol processing unit 7 receives a distribution request from the distribution message processing unit 5, it performs a call connection process, extracts a plurality of messages specified by the message address of the message sequence management table 61 of the column credit message storage unit 6, and outputs them in order. Then, the data is divided into frames according to the communication protocol and distributed. The protocol processing unit 7 disconnects the call when the delivery of all the request messages is completed (step A13). Then, the delivery telegram processing unit 5 sets the telegram length of the telegram received this time to the cumulative stored telegram length so that the telegram received this time can be delivered in the next communication (step A14). After erasing the transmission order management table 61, the address of the message received this time is registered at the head of the transmission order management table 61 (step A15). In this way, since one or a plurality of electronic messages are collectively delivered, it is possible to improve the transmission efficiency and reduce the line usage fee. Further, since the messages are grouped within the range that does not exceed the expected optimum message length, it is possible to prevent the use of the communication line from ending immediately after the charging unit time has elapsed.

When the accumulated stored message length is shorter than the expected optimum message length, the delivery message processing unit 5 stores the storage address of the message received this time at the end of the column order management table 61 of the column credit message storage unit 6. Register (step A16). In this way, when the accumulated stored message length does not reach the expected optimum message length, the accumulated stored message length is delivered after waiting until it reaches the expected optimum message length. Also, it is possible to collect one or more messages, and to collect one or a plurality of messages with a length within the expected optimum message length and close to the expected optimum message length.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the column credit telegram storage unit 6 stores the column order management tables 6a to 6 for each distribution priority.
With reference to FIG. 5, the operation in the case where the message delivery device is provided with n and delivers the messages received from the various mail device devices in descending order of delivery priority will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The electronic message input unit 2 stores electronic messages received from various mail devices in the electronic message storage unit 3. When the delivery message processing unit 5 receives a delivery request from the delivery requesting unit 4 while the message input unit 2 is in the message waiting state (step B1), the delivery message processing unit 5 acquires the relevant message from the message storage unit 3 (step B2), and acquires the received message. The message length and delivery priority are acquired (step B3). The delivery message processing unit 5 confirms whether or not the expected optimum message length is set in the parameter storage unit 1 (step B4). When the predicted optimum message length is not set in the parameter storage unit 1, the delivery message processing unit 5 calculates the predicted optimum message length as described in the above embodiment and stores it in the parameter storage unit 1 (step B5). -Step B8).

The delivery message processing unit 5 adds the message length of the received message to the cumulative stored message length of the parameter storage unit 1 (step B9). The delivery message processing unit 5 checks whether or not the cumulative stored message length including the message length of the received message has become longer than the expected optimum message length (step B10). When the cumulative stored message length becomes longer than the expected optimum message length, the delivery message processing unit 5 determines whether the message length is the same as the received message from the string order management tables 6b to 6n lower than the delivery priority of the received message. Search for long telegrams. Specifically, for example, when the delivery priority of the received message corresponds to the sequence order management table 6a, whether the received message and the message length are the same,
Alternatively, a long message can be sent to the string order management table with the lowest delivery priority.
The search is started from the end of the bull 6n, and the transmission order management table 6 has a delivery priority lower than the delivery priority of the received message.
By searching all the electronic messages whose addresses are registered in b to 6n and detecting the first found electronic message as the corresponding electronic message, the received electronic message has the same or longer message length and the lowest delivery priority. The electronic message is detected from the electronic message whose delivery priority is lower than that of the received electronic message (step B11).

When the corresponding message is found in the message sequence management table 6b, for example, the delivery message processor 5 retrieves the message from the message sequence management table 6b in which the address of the message is registered. The extracted string is stored in the evacuation area of the column credit telegram storage unit 6 (step B12), and the address of the received telegram is stored in the column order management table 6b in which the corresponding telegram is saved.
Register at the end of. After that, the delivery telegraphic message processing unit 5 requests the protocol processing unit 7 to deliver the telegraphic message by designating all the sequence order management tables 6a to 6n in the descending order of delivery priority. When the protocol processing unit 7 receives a distribution request from the distribution message processing unit 5, it performs a call connection process, and a plurality of messages specified by the message addresses of the message sequence management tables 6a to 6n of the column credit message storage unit 6 are transmitted. The data is taken out and divided into frames according to the communication protocol in order from the message with the highest distribution priority, and then distributed. When the distribution of all request messages is completed, the call is disconnected (step B13). When the delivery by the protocol processing unit 7 is completed, the delivery telegram processing unit 5 clears all the column delivery order management tables 6a to 6n in the column credit telegram storage unit 6,
After registering the electronic mail address of the electronic message having the low delivery priority applicable this time at the beginning of the sequence order management table 6b having the applicable delivery priority (step B14), the distribution priority applicable this time in the next communication is low. In order to deliver the message, the message length of the message that corresponds to this time is set as the cumulative stored message length (step B15). In this way, by replacing a message with a high delivery priority with a message with a low delivery priority, even if a message that needs to be delivered urgently occurs, a message with a high delivery priority can be sent while reducing the line usage fee. It can be delivered with priority.

When the corresponding message is not found, the distribution message processing unit 5 uses the column order management tables 6a to 6n of the column credit message storage unit 6 to specify the messages in descending order of distribution priority, A request for delivery is requested to the protocol processing unit 7.
When the protocol processing unit 7 receives a distribution request from the distribution message processing unit 5, it performs a call connection process, and a plurality of messages specified by the message addresses of the message sequence management tables 6a to 6n of the column credit message storage unit 6 are transmitted. The data is taken out and divided into frames according to the communication protocol in order from the message with the highest distribution priority, and then distributed. When the distribution of all request messages is completed, the call is disconnected (step B16). When the distribution message processing unit 5 finishes the distribution by the protocol processing unit 7, the column credit message storing unit 6
Of all the sequence order management tables 6a to 6n are registered, and the message address received this time is registered at the head of the sequence order management table 6a having the corresponding delivery priority (step B1).
7). After that, the delivery message processing unit 5 sets the message length of the message received this time to the cumulative stored message length so that the message received this time can be delivered in the next communication (step B18). In this way, even if a message with a high delivery priority is received, if a message with a shorter message length than the received message is not found, the message will not be replaced, and the communication line usage time will be the billing unit time. It is possible to prevent the communication from ending immediately after the elapse.

When the accumulated stored message length is shorter than the expected optimum message length, the distributed message processing unit 5 has a distribution priority management table 6a-6n having a distribution priority that matches the distribution priority of the received message.
The electronic mail address received this time is registered at the end of (step B19).

In the above embodiment, a message with a high distribution priority is replaced with a message with a low distribution priority to be distributed preferentially. However, when a large number of messages with a high distribution priority are input, distribution priority is given. Since a low-frequency message may not be delivered indefinitely, the delivery priority is changed after the message is delivered and the delivery order is changed so that the delivery priority of the message that was not delivered is raised, and the message is delivered forever. It may be possible to prevent the occurrence of a message that is not delivered.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the expected optimum message length is set, the expected optimum message length is not reset, but since the charging unit time may vary depending on the time, it is stored in the parameter storage unit 1. The charging unit time for each time and each day of the week may be stored, recalculated each time there is a delivery instruction, and compared with the accumulated stored message length.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention calculates the expected optimum message length based on the charging unit time and the communication speed of the communication line used, and calculates the total of the accumulated message lengths and the expected optimum message length. In comparison, if the total message length is longer than the expected optimal message length, make sure that the total length of the input messages is close to the expected optimal message length within the range that does not exceed the expected optimal message length. Since it will be delivered collectively and transmission efficiency will be improved,
The line usage of the communication line can be reduced.

Further, when the total of the message lengths is longer than the expected optimum message length, the input messages are ordered in descending order of delivery priority so that the input message becomes the longest within the range where the total message length does not exceed the expected optimum message length. Are collectively delivered, it is possible to reduce the line usage of the communication line, and preferentially deliver telegrams that need to be delivered urgently.

Furthermore, since the delivery priority of a message that has not been delivered because the delivery priority is low after the delivery of the message is increased, it is possible to prevent a message with a low delivery priority from remaining undelivered.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a column order table.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for collectively delivering electronic messages in the order of input.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a transmission order table for each distribution priority.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for collectively delivering electronic messages in descending order of delivery priority.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Parameter storage unit 2 Message input unit 3 Message storage unit 4 Distribution request unit 5 Distribution message processing unit 6 Column credit message storage unit 7 Protocol processing unit 8 Communication line

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication H04N 1/32 H04N 1/34 1/34

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. The expected optimum message length is calculated based on the charging unit time and communication speed of the communication line, which stores the input message and stores the message distribution request in advance, and totals the message length of the accumulated messages. And the expected optimal message length are compared, and if the total message length is longer than the expected optimal message length, the messages are collectively delivered in the order of input so that the total message length becomes the longest within the range that does not exceed the expected optimal message length. A message delivery processing method characterized by: 2. When the total message length is longer than the expected optimal message length, the messages are collectively delivered in order of the highest priority of delivery so that the total message length becomes the longest within the range not exceeding the expected optimal message length. The electronic message delivery processing method according to claim 1. 3. The electronic message distribution processing method according to claim 2, wherein after the electronic message is distributed, the distribution priority of a message that has not been distributed due to a low distribution priority is increased.