JPS60160751A - Facsimile picture signal store and forward exchange system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To substitute the storage of a facsimile picture signal of a fault generation storage station for a central station when a fault takes place in a storage station by connecting plural storage stations via the central station of the same constitution as the storage stations. CONSTITUTION:When a fault takes place in a storage station 3A, since no response signal is returned even if a transmission side facsimile terminal device 5 transmits a dial number of the station 3A, the terminal device 5 discriminates it as a fault taken place in the station 3A and transmits a dial number of a central station 6. A facsimile picture signal is transmitted in the stage that the response signal is returned and stored in the storage device 2 of the central station 6. The facsimile picture signal stored in the central station 6 is transmitted to a reception side storage station 3B by the line connecting operation of the central station 6 afterward and transmitted to the reception side facsimile terminal device 5 via the station 3B.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention temporarily stores facsimile image signals in a storage device configured with memory, such as a magnetic disk device, and then transmits them to another facsimile terminal via a relay line. This invention relates to a facsimile image signal exchange method for transmission.

[Technical background of the invention]

Conventionally, when transmitting a facsimile image signal from a facsimile terminal to another facsimile terminal, the image signal from the facsimile IJ terminal at the sending end is temporarily stored in a storage device such as a memory, and then the idle time of the relay line, etc. A store-and-forward method for transmitting information to facsimile terminals is known.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a facsimile image signal exchange system using such a store-and-forward method.

3B are combined via the relay line 4, and each accumulated amount 3
．． A and 3B are connected to a plurality of facsimile terminals 5, and the facsimile image signal output from the facsimile IJ terminal 5 on the sending side is temporarily stored in the storage device 2 with a storage capacity of 3A via the exchange 1, and then received. side facsimile terminal 5
Alternatively, when trunk line 4 becomes vacant, switch 1
and is transmitted to the receiving side exchange 1 via the trunk line 4, and further transmitted to the receiving side facsimile IJ via this exchange 1.
It is transmitted to terminal 5.

According to such a store-and-forward method, it is possible to smooth out the four-peak load on the trunk line, and there are advantages such as improving the line usage efficiency.

[Problems with background technology]

However, if the storage device 2 for each storage amount 3A, 3B has a failure in its storage function, it becomes completely impossible to transmit the facsimile image signal as described above, and only real-time transmission via the exchange 1 is possible. This has the disadvantage that the advantages of the store-and-forward method are lost.

In this case, it is conceivable to prepare a reserve with the storage amount #2, but this is not preferable since it would be an economical burden considering the frequency of use and the storage capacity.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks and provides a facsimile image signal exchange method that can transmit facsimile image signals with a relatively inexpensive structure without sacrificing the advantages of the storage and exchange method even when a failure occurs in the storage device for each storage amount. There is a particular thing.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention connects a plurality of stored amounts through a central station having the same configuration as these stored amounts, and when a failure occurs in the storage function of the sending or receiving side, a facsimile image of the failed stored amount is sent. The second objective is achieved by having the central station perform the accumulation of signals on behalf of the central station.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which six storage units 38 to 3F are connected in a star shape through a central office 6 consisting of an exchange 1 and a storage device 2. death,
The configuration is shown when facsimile image signals are transmitted between the storage amounts 3A to 3F.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in more detail the storage amounts 3A and 3B and the configuration of the central station 6 in FIG.
, 3B is connected to switch 1 and magnetic disk as before.
The switchboard 1 is connected to one or more facsimiles. Further, the central office 6 is composed of an exchange 1 and a storage device 2 in the same way as each storage amount, and is connected to the storage amounts 3 and 3B via a relay line 4.

In such a configuration, the operation when the storage functions of the storage amounts 3A and 3B are all normal will be explained using the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

First, assuming that the storage amount 3A is on the sending side and the storage amount 3B is on the receiving side, in this case, an operation is performed to call the storage amount 3A from the facsimile terminal 5 on the sending side.

Then, in response to this call, a response signal with an accumulated amount of 3A
from there to the sending facsimile terminal 5. Therefore,
From the sending facsimile terminal 5 to the storage device 2 with a storage capacity of 3A
When the dial number is transmitted, in response, the storage device 2 sends back a response signal through the exchange 1 indicating that storage is possible. As a result, the sending facsimile terminal 5 transmits the accumulated facsimile image signal of 3At. As a result,
The facsimile image signal is stored in the affection device 2 with a storage capacity of 3A.

When the facsimile image signals are stored in the storage field 3At, the three storage field members call the central office 6 and transmit the dial number of the storage device 2 of the central office 6, thereby establishing a line connection with the central office 6. At this time, the central station 6 receives this dial number and calls the storage field 3B on the receiving side.
When a response signal is returned from the sender, the response signal is sent back to the transmitting storage field 3N as it is. As a result, the receiving storage field 3B is operating normally, so the transmitting storage field 3A sends the dial number of the storage device 2 of the receiving storage field 3B, and the subsequent response signal is a reply. The facsimile image signals that have already been stored are transmitted to the receiving side storage field 3B on the condition that the facsimile image signals have been received. As a result, the storage field 3A
Both accumulated facsimile signals are sent to the receiving side storage field 3B.
The data is transmitted to the storage device 2 and stored therein.

When the facsimile image signal is accumulated in the receiving side storage field 3B, the storage field 3B calls the receiving side facsimile terminal 5,
After transmitting the dial number and establishing a mutual line connection, the facsimile image signal stored in the local station is transmitted to the receiving facsimile terminal 5.

Through such operations, the facsimile image signal is transmitted from the sending facsimile terminal 5 to the receiving facsimile terminal 5.

Therefore, under normal conditions, the central station 6 is connected to the storage fields 3A and 3.
This means that only the exchange operation with B is performed.

Next, the operation when a failure occurs in the storage function in the storage field 3 will be explained with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

In this case, even if the sending facsimile terminal 5 sends the dial number of the storage device 2 to the storage field 3, a response signal is not returned, so the sending facsimile terminal 5 assumes that there is a problem with the storage field 3A. It calls the storage device 2 of the central office 6 and sends the dial number. Then, when the response signal is returned, a facsimile image signal is transmitted and stored in the storage device 2 of the central office 6.

The facsimile image signal stored at the central station 6 is then transmitted to the receiving side storage field 3B and stored therein by the central station 60 line connection operation, and further transmitted to the receiving side facsimile terminal 5 via this storage field 3B.

That is, when a failure occurs in the storage field 3, the sending facsimile terminal 5 transmits the dial number of the storage device 2 of the central office 6, and the central office 6 stores the facsimile image signal of the facsimile terminal 5 on its behalf. Receiving side storage field 3
Transmit to B.

Next, the operation when a failure occurs in the storage function of the storage field 3B will be explained with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

In this case, the transmitting storage site 3A calls the central station 6, and the central station 6 calls the receiving storage site 3B and sends a dial number, thereby establishing a line connection between the storage sites 3A and 3B. However, since a normal response signal is not returned from the storage field 3B, the transmitting storage field 3A determines that a failure has occurred in the receiving storage field 3B, and sends the central station 6.
The dial number of the storage device 2 is sent. Then, when the response signal is returned, the already stored facsimile image signal is transmitted to cause the storage device 2 of the central office to store it on behalf of λ.

Thereafter, the central station 6 that performed the storage on behalf of the receiving side storage field 3
The facsimile terminal 5 on the receiving side is called through the exchange 1 of B, a line connection is established, and the already stored facsimile image signal is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 5 on the receiving side.

That is, if a failure occurs in the storage function of the receiving storage field 3B, the central office 6 stores the facsimile image signal from the transmitting storage field 3A on its behalf, and then transmits the facsimile image signal via the exchange 1 of the receiving storage field 3B. Receive (1111 facsimile and transmit directly to IJ terminal).

By the way, whether or not the central office 6 is allowed to store both facsimile signals on behalf of the central office 6 depends entirely on the response from the other party's storage station. However, the response signal may not be detected due to a momentary interruption of the line or a malfunction of the C/C equipment. In such a case, even though the storage field is normal, the central station will be responsible for storing image signals, which is not desirable in terms of system operation. Therefore, the precision device 2 of the central station 6 is configured to collect information regarding the storage functions of all storage stations at any time and detect the presence or absence of a failure, and requests for substitution from stations that have not obtained this failure information will be It is supposed to be rejected.

This eliminates wasteful proxy accumulation at the central station 6,
A decrease in transmission efficiency can be prevented.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention connects a plurality of storage stations with each other through a central station having the same configuration as those storage stations, and when a failure occurs in the storage function of the storage station on the transmitting side or the receiving side. Since the central station is responsible for storing the facsimile image signals of the failure station, even if a failure occurs in the storage station, the facsimile image signals can be transmitted without sacrificing the advantages of the store-and-forward method, increasing system reliability. can improve sex. In addition, since the central station is shared by each storage station,
Compared to installing a spare storage device in each storage station, the configuration can be made cheaper, and if a function is provided to monitor the storage function of each storage station as in the embodiment, the overall system It is also effective in that it can be used for management purposes.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional facsimile image signal exchange system, FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the main parts of FIG.
84 to 6 are sequence diagrams for explaining the operation. 1...Switching machine, 2...Storage device, 38~3F...
Storage station, 4... Relay line, 5... Facsimile terminal, 6... Central station. Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) It has a plurality of storage fields consisting of exchanges and storage devices, and transmits facsimile image signals temporarily stored in the storage devices to the storage device of the other storage field via a relay line connecting the storage fields. In the facsimile image signal storage and exchange system, the plurality of storage fields are combined through a central station having the same configuration as these storage fields, and when a failure occurs in the storage function of the storage field on the sending or receiving side, the faulty storage field is A facsimile image signal storage/exchange system characterized in that the facsimile image signal is stored by the central station on behalf of the central station and the facsimile image signal is transmitted between the storage stations. (2) When a failure occurs in the storage field on the transmitting side, the facsimile terminal connected to the storage field calls the storage device of the central station and causes the storage device of the central station to store facsimile image signals on behalf of the storage device. A 7/11 image signal storage/exchange system according to claim (1). (3) Claims characterized in that when a failure occurs in the storage field on the receiving side, the storage field on the transmitting side calls the storage device of the central station and causes the storage device of the central station to store the facsimile image signal on behalf of the storage field. The facsimile image signal storage and exchange method described in paragraph (1). (4) The central office has a means for monitoring the storage function of each storage field, and when requesting storage of facsimile image signals, if the storage function of the storage field is normal, it will not perform storage of facsimile image signals. A facsimile image signal storage and exchange system according to claim (1).