JPH11187187A - Communication terminal equipment with external device connection function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To send signals normally without a delay in a transmission timing of a 2nd signal by sending the 2nd signal without awaiting detection of a 2nd command after the transmission of a 1st signal based on the detection of a 1st command from an external device. SOLUTION: Based on the detection of a 1st command (FSK transmission command) from a personal computer, a main control section sends a 1st signal through a communication channel, and starts transmission (MODEM open) of a 2nd signal (TCF) without awaiting the detection of a 2nd command (high speed transmission start command). The kind of the 2nd signal to be sent is decided, based on information (MODEM speed) stored in the 1st command from an external device. Thus, the TCF is sent, based on the command substantially without awaiting the high speed transmission start command to avoid production of a communication error due to a delay in the signal transmission.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a facsimile device to which an external device such as a personal computer is connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus as a communication terminal apparatus has been widely used in offices and ordinary homes because arbitrary image data can be transmitted and received. Multifunctional devices have been developed and used for various purposes. In recent years, facsimile machines have been developed that allow a personal computer to be connected as an external device, so that both can be linked.

In this case, the facsimile apparatus functions as a scanner of the personal computer by transmitting the read and scanned image data to the personal computer, thereby enabling the personal computer to process and correct the image data. If the image data is received and printed out on predetermined recording paper set in advance, it functions as a printer of a personal computer. Further, the facsimile apparatus is connected to a communication line such as a telephone line and is capable of facsimile communication, so that facsimile transmission / reception of image data by a personal computer is possible, and in this case, it functions as a modem for the personal computer.

[0004]

However, when the above-described conventional facsimile apparatus functions as a modem for a personal computer, the facsimile communication procedure cannot be normally executed, and correct communication cannot be performed in some cases. That is, the facsimile machine receives a command from the personal computer, transmits a signal to a telephone line or the like according to the command,
Even when a signal is received, when the speed of the modem is switched from a low speed to a high speed, the detection of a command transmitted from the personal computer cannot be made in time, and the subsequent signal may not be transmitted / received.

More specifically, in the case of facsimile transmission,
Receives a command from a personal computer and sends a low-speed signal (300 bp)
After transmitting a DCS (digital command signal) to the line in s), it is necessary to transmit a TCF (training check) with a high-speed signal (4800 bps or the like) after a predetermined period (75 ms) of no carrier. This TC
In some cases, a command for instructing F transmission is transmitted from the personal computer with a delay after the predetermined period is exceeded.

The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and does not wait for a command from an external device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device with an external device connection function that enables correct communication by transmitting and receiving signals to and from a communication line.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a communication terminal device with an external device connection function according to the first aspect of the present invention, based on detection of a first command from an external device,
After transmitting the first signal through the communication line, transmission of the second signal is started without waiting for detection of the second command.

Here, examples of the external device include a personal computer connected to a facsimile device as a communication terminal device by a cable according to a standard such as RS-232C. The present invention is applied to a case where an external device transmits / receives a signal to / from another device through a communication line via a communication terminal device. Claim 2 is a configuration for receiving a signal through a communication line, contrary to claim 1, and receiving the first signal through the communication line based on detection of a first command from an external device. Thereafter, reception of the second signal is started without waiting for detection of the second command.

According to a third aspect, in the first aspect, the type of the second signal to be transmitted is determined based on information stored in a first command from an external device. Thus, the second signal that is originally transmitted based on the second command can be transmitted without waiting for the second command.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a communication terminal device with an external device connection function of the present invention. Here, a configuration of a facsimile apparatus F is shown as an example of a communication terminal apparatus. A personal computer PC which is an external apparatus is connected via a communication line L according to a standard such as RS-232C, and a communication line La (telephone) is connected. Line, etc.). With such a configuration, the facsimile apparatus F performs facsimile communication via the communication line La, and also functions as a modem, a printer, and a scanner of the personal computer PC.

In the present invention, the external device is a personal computer P
The communication device is not limited to C, but may be any device having a communication function with the facsimile machine F.
TIA-578) Asynchronous Facsimile DCEC
It is sufficient that data communication can be realized using a protocol such as ontrol Standard Service Class I (service class 1). In this service class 1, a command (AT command) for the data terminal device to set and control the facsimile device F and a response returned by the facsimile device F to this command are defined. , Serial transmission enables data transmission from both sides. In the following, description will be made using the service class 1 protocol as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit which comprises a CPU and the like, which performs signal control of each unit, 2 denotes an NCU which performs network control such as transmission of a dial signal to a communication line La, and 3 denotes facsimile communication of image data. And a modem 4 for modulating and demodulating signals, a DRAM 4 and the like, an image memory for storing image data for facsimile communication, and a S 5
A facsimile machine F, which is composed of a RAM or the like and stores temporary data generated during the execution of processing,
That stores a device control program necessary for the operation of
M and 7 each include a liquid crystal display device or the like, and a display unit that displays an operation state, an operation procedure, and the like of the facsimile device F;
Reference numeral 8 denotes an operation unit having various keys such as numeric keys and function keys for performing various input settings for the facsimile apparatus F. 9 denotes a dot image data which is obtained by reading an original with a scanner using a CCD or the like and converting the original into monochrome binary. And a recording unit for recording (printing out) image data received by facsimile from another facsimile device or image data received from a personal computer PC on recording paper, and 11 is a connection port such as RS-232C. And an external interface unit for controlling communication with a personal computer PC connected via the communication line L according to a predetermined protocol.

In such a configuration, the facsimile apparatus F receives data from another facsimile apparatus or the like through the communication line La after the initial setting is previously performed from the personal computer PC via the external interface unit 11. Transmits this data as it is to the personal computer PC, while the data received from the personal computer PC
Through a, a call is made and transmitted according to the transmitted dial data.

As described above, the present invention has a feature when the facsimile apparatus F functions as a modem of a personal computer PC. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of facsimile transmission, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation at the time of facsimile reception. This is described below. In FIG. 2, a “FSK (frequency modulation) transmission command” command (for example, AT + FTH =
When receiving 3), a low speed (300
bps, modulation method: 21 ch. In step 2), a DCS signal is transmitted, and thereafter, it waits for a "high-speed transmission start command" command (eg, AT + FTH = 96) from the personal computer PC.

It is necessary to transmit the TCF to the communication line La after a predetermined silence period (about 75 ms) from the transmission of the DCS.
When a "high-speed transmission start command" command is received, the high-speed (9600 bps, modulation method: V.2
In order to perform communication in step 9), the modem 3 is opened, high-speed transmission training (TCF transmission) is performed to perform phase synchronization, and high-speed transmission is started. D sent at 101
The modem speed in the CS is detected, the modem 3 is opened at this speed, high-speed transmission training is performed, and high-speed transmission is performed (100 to 107 above).

That is, in this case, the main control unit 1 controls the personal computer P
After transmitting the first signal (DCS) through the communication line La based on the detection of the first command (FSK transmission command) from C, without waiting for the detection of the second command (high-speed transmission start command) , Starts transmission of the second signal (TCF) (modem open). Opening the modem 3 means that the main control unit 1 sets the transmission or reception communication speed to be operated in the internal command register of the modem 3.

The main control unit 1 determines that the type of the second signal (TCF) to be transmitted is information (modem speed) stored in a first command (FSK transmission command) from an external device.
Is determined based on In the figure, although the modem speed is detected from the DCS transmitted to the communication line La by the FSK transmission command, there is no difference from the detection from the FSK transmission command. As described above, if the TCF to be transmitted based on this command is transmitted without waiting for the high-speed transmission start command command, the signal transmission is delayed as in the related art, and a communication error may occur. Nothing.

After the modem is opened, the personal computer PC
When a high-speed transmission start command command, which is the second command, is received from the side, since the modem has been opened and transmission has already been started, no processing is performed on this command.
It is only necessary to return a normal response to the personal computer PC.
FIG. 3 shows an operation when a signal is received through the communication line La. Here, the process is not performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 2 but is performed according to the type of command received from the personal computer PC. The flow in the case of distribution is shown.

The RS-232C data is received from the personal computer PC via the external interface unit 11. If the data is valid data as an AT command, the command is analyzed and the processing is distributed (200 to 202). If the analyzed command is a “FSK reception command” command (for example, AT + FRH = 3), a low-speed (300 bps, modulation scheme: V.21 ch.
When the signal is received in 2) and the DCS signal is received,
Immediately, the modem 3 is opened at the speed declared to the DCS, and waits for a TCF (training check) from the transmission side (203 to 206). As described above, according to the present invention, the modem 3 is opened when the modem speed is known so as to start signal reception without receiving the "high-speed reception start command" command from the personal computer PC.

When a "high-speed reception start command" command (for example, AT + FRH = 96) is received from the personal computer PC, the high-speed (9600 bp) designated by the command is received.
s, modulation method: Modem 3 to communicate with 29)
, Receive the TCF, and start high-speed reception (2
07-210). At this time, if the modem 3 has already been opened in step 206, high-speed reception (210) is performed only by waiting for a "high-speed reception start command" command to be received (207).

When the command received from the personal computer PC is neither a "FSK reception command" command nor a "high-speed reception start command" command, a process predetermined by a protocol is executed for each command. Yes (2
11). Here, the main control unit 1 detects the first command (FSK reception command) from the personal computer PC based on the detection of the first command.
After receiving the first signal (DCS) through the communication line La, the reception of the second signal (TCF) is started without waiting for the detection of the second command (high-speed reception start command) (modem open).

Further, the main controller 1 determines the type of the second signal (TCF) to be received based on the information (modem speed) stored in the received first signal (DCS) (206). ). As described above, if the modem open (206) for starting the TCF reception is performed based on this command without waiting for the high-speed reception start command command, the reception of the TCF can be performed as in the related art. No communication error occurs.

[0023]

As can be understood from the above description, the communication terminal device with the external device connection function according to the first aspect of the present invention, based on the detection of the first command from the external device,
After transmitting the first signal, the second signal is transmitted without waiting for the detection of the second command, so that the transmission timing of the second signal is not delayed and communication can be performed normally.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, after receiving the first signal based on the detection of the first command from the external device, the reception of the second signal is started without waiting for the detection of the second command. Therefore, the second signal can be reliably received and normal communication can be performed. According to the third aspect, the type of the second signal to be transmitted after transmitting the first signal is determined based on the information stored in the first command from the external device. Without doing so, the second signal can be transmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a communication terminal device with an external device connection function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the communication terminal device of FIG. 1 (claims 1 and 3);

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic operation of the communication terminal device of FIG. 1 (claim 2).

[Explanation of symbols]

 F: facsimile device 1: main control unit 11: external interface unit L: communication line PC: personal computer La: communication line

Claims (3)

[Claims] A communication terminal device for detecting a command sent from an external device and transmitting a signal corresponding to the command via a communication line, based on the detection of the first command from the external device. ,
A communication terminal device with an external device connection function, wherein after transmitting a first signal through the communication line, transmission of a second signal is started without waiting for detection of a second command. 2. A communication terminal device for detecting a command sent from an external device and receiving a signal corresponding to the command through a communication line, based on the detection of the first command from the external device. ,
A communication terminal device with an external device connection function, wherein after receiving the first signal through the communication line, the reception of the second signal is started without waiting for the detection of the second command. 3. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the type of the second signal to be transmitted is determined based on information stored in a first command from the external device. Communication terminal device with an external device connection function.