JPS60236359A - Communication selecting system of facsimile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the circuit cost by selecting an inexpensive circuit according to the calculated communication charge and carrying out the facsimile communication. CONSTITUTION:An original is read by a reading part 31. For the picture data, a CPU32a compares the communication charge A using a telephone circuit with the communication charge B using an STOC network to decide an expensive circuit. Then the CPU32a performs the automatic dial transmission of a call number and selects a circuit of low communication charge via a circuit control part 33 to perform the facsimile communication.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention is a facsimile machine that can use any of a plurality of RGJ lines with different fee structures for facsimile communication, and automatically selects a line that allows low-cost communication for a transmitted document. The present invention relates to a communication selection method for selectively performing facsimile communication.

[Technology background]

A facsimile is widely used as an image transmission means, and generally performs facsimile communication with a destination facsimile via a public telephone line. On the other hand, in recent years, a high-speed line network (STOC network) exclusively for facsimile has been installed, and this STOC (Facsimile Storag)
e and Conve, rsion t! Quipm
ent) line is now available.

[Conventional technology and problems]

To selectively use both the telephone line and the 5TOC network, as shown in Figure 1, dial in the telephone (subscriber) number of the destination facsimile FBI from the facsimile FAI, and the facsimile IJ F A 1 The facsimile FBI of the other party is connected to the facsimile FBI of the other party via the telephone line device through the telephone line equipment through the exchange EXA to which the facsimile FBI is connected, and facsimile communication is possible via the connection route b via the telephone line. . On the other hand, when the facsimile FAI dials in the 5TOC network identification number (currently number 162) and the facsimile FBI telephone number, the exchange EXA calls the 5TOC station STA, and the facsimile FAI sends image data to the 5TOC station STA. After being stored, it is transmitted to 5TOC station STB via high-speed digital line HDL, and further transmitted to 5TOC station STB.
connection route a via the 5TOC network, which calls the facsimile FBI and sends the image data via the exchange EXB.
facsimile communication becomes possible.

The usage charges for these two lines are determined by the distance and call time in the same way as general telephone charges for the telephone line, while in the 5TOC network they are determined mainly by the number of documents to be sent. Therefore, even if the same number of manuscripts with the same content is sent to the same destination, usage fees will be different depending on whether it is sent via a telephone line or the 5TOC network.

The purpose of this 5TOC network was to reduce the cost of long-distance communications in general, and by using telephone lines for short distances and the 5TOC network for long distances, it was possible to reduce facsimile communication costs. Conceivable.

However, the fee structure of the 5TOC network is based on the amount charged per page (currently 5
0 yen), so when sending a manuscript with a small amount of data, it is cost-effective to use a telephone line that depends on the call time (i.e., the amount of data) even if it is over a long distance. occurs. Conversely, when transmitting a document with a large amount of data, it may be more cost-effective to use the 5TOC network even if the distance is short.

Conventionally, a human (operator) has decided which line to use from the above-mentioned perspective, but it is time-consuming to decide each time based on the distance, document content, and number of documents, and the lowest-cost line is chosen. The problem was that it was difficult to determine.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication selection method that allows facsimile communication to be performed by automatically selecting a line that provides the most cost reduction based on the data amount of a document read by the facsimile.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a reading section for reading a transmission document, a destination specifying section for specifying a transmission destination, and a memory for storing transmission data based on the contents read by the reading section. , Calculate the communication charges for each of a plurality of lines with different charge structures based on the content of the transmission data and the transmission destination, and transmit the transmission data in the memory using the line selected based on the communication charges. and a control unit for transmitting data to the other party,
The system is characterized in that a line with a low communication fee is selected based on the calculated communication fee to perform facsimile communication.

Further, an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the control unit calculates communication charges for each line based on the amount of the transmission data, the number of sheets to be transmitted, and the distance to the transmission destination.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, taking as an example a facsimile machine capable of both sending and receiving. In the figure, 30 is a transmission mechanism section, 30a is its document hopper, in which the document DS to be transmitted is set;
30c is a drive roller, which is rotated by a motor and drives the feed roller 30b via a feed belt 30d; 30
Reference numeral e denotes the document irradiation lamp, which irradiates the document sent by the feed roller 30b, and 30f, the stacker, stores the document sent and read by the feed roller 30b. 31 is a reading section;
a and 31d are the optical lenses, and the feed roller 30b
31b and 31e are photoelectric conversion elements, for example, CCD (Charge Couple).
It consists of an optical lens 31a and a photoelectric conversion element 3.
The optical lens 31d and the photoelectric conversion element 31e are for reading the A4 size, and the optical lens 31d and the photoelectric conversion element 31e are for reading the 84 size.

31c is the sensor amplifier, and the photoelectric conversion element 31b
, 31e, and a photoelectric conversion element 31b.
, 31e. 3
2 is a control circuit, and 32a is its main processor, which is composed of a microprocessor and controls transmission and the entire device by executing a program;
2b is its slave processor, which is composed of a microprocessor, and mainly performs data compression and restoration of image signals by executing programs, and 32C is its shared memory, which is battery hacked-up random access memory (RAM). Both processors 32a
, 32b, and 32d is its address/data bus, which operates as the main memory of both processors 32a.
, 32b and the main memory, and 32e is a mechanical driver, which connects each mechanical section of the device (transmission mechanism section 3o,
32f is a clock. 33 is a line control unit;
33a is its line control unit (NCU), and A-
Consists of an A (Automatic-Automatic) type NCU, which performs incoming and outgoing processing on the line, 33b is a modem (modulator/demodulator) that modulates the transmitted signal and demodulates the received signal, and 33c is an automatic transmitter. This is an automatic calling operation. Reference numeral 34 denotes an operation panel, which includes a send button, a numeric keypad, and the like. 35 is a receiving mechanism section, 35a is a sending section thereof, which accommodates unrecorded recording paper, and 35b is a recording unit, for example, one consisting of a thermal recording head.
35G is the first feed roller, and the recording unit 35b
35d is a cutter that faces the paper and feeds the recording paper,
A device that cuts the recorded recording paper into a predetermined length, 35e
is a second feed roller, which feeds the recorded recording paper cut by the cutter 35d to the stacker 35f.

Reference numeral 36 indicates a recording section, which includes a recording drive circuit for driving the recording unit 35b. Reference numeral 37 indicates a power supply, which supplies power voltage to each part of the apparatus and also operates the operation panel 34.
The mechanical driver 32
38 is a telephone set, which is turned on/off by e;
It is connected to the line control unit 33a, and 39
39a is an expansion interface circuit for connecting a floppy disk device to the bus 32d, and 39b is a floppy disk device for connecting a floppy disk device to the bus 32d. It is a disk device that stores image data on a floppy disk and reads out image data from the floppy disk.

FIG. 3 shows the contents of the charge table AT provided in the RAM 32C of the structure shown in FIG. 2, and the charge table AT includes the charge table for the telephone line shown in FIG. 3(A).

A charge table for the 5TOC network as shown in FIG. 3(B) is provided. In the charge table in Figure 3 (A), the call charge for a telephone line is determined by the call distance and the call time, and in data communication, the call time is the amount of transmitted data divided by the transmission speed, so the transmission speed is Assuming that it is constant, the call charge is determined by the relationship between the amount of data (=call time) and the call distance. Therefore, as a telephone line charge table, it is sufficient to store call charges for each call distance for each amount of data (call time). On the other hand, in the 5TOC network, the call fee is the amount per number of sheets sent, and the amount changes depending on the distance, and currently there are two levels: 1100k or less and 1100k or more.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the charge table may store charges for each distance for each number n of transmitted sheets.

In the present invention, before sending using such a rate table, the communication charges when using the telephone line and the communication charges when using the 5TOC network are calculated, and the cheaper line is used. I am trying to use facsimile communication. Next, the operation of the embodiment configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be explained with reference to the fourth operation processing flowchart.

(2) The operator inserts the document DS to be sent into the hopper 30a, and then inputs the destination using the abbreviated number using the ten keys on the operation panel 34. For broadcast communication, press the broadcast communication button and input the required broadcast destination using an abbreviated number. These are sent to the CPU 32a via the mechanical driver 32e and stored in the RAM 32C.

(2) The CPU 32a indexes the capability table TM in the RAM 32c from the abbreviated number, and determines the capabilities of the other party (linear density, band compression method, etc.). Incidentally, the capability of the facsimile machine of the other party to whom the abbreviated number is set is registered in advance in the capability table TM.

(2) Then, the CPU 32a starts a document reading operation according to the capability of the other party. That is, the CPU 32a is the mechanical driver 3.
2e, the lamp 30e is turned on, and the drive roller 30C is driven to send out the documents DS set in the hopper 30a one by one by the feed roller 30b.
It is fed into the stacker 30f at a predetermined sub-scanning speed. On the other hand, the CPU 32a causes the sensor amplifier 31c to selectively operate the photoelectric conversion element 31b or 31e via the CPU 32b depending on the capability of the other party (A4 size or 84 size).

The reflected light from the document corresponding to the irradiation position of the lamp 30e is input to the photoelectric conversion element 31b (or 31e) via the optical lens 31a (or 31d) and read, and the image of each line of the document is sent to the sensor amplifier 31C as an image signal. The signal is output to the CPU 32b, amplified by the sensor amplifier 3iC, and input to the CPU 32b. The CPU 32b sends this image signal to the CPU 32a.
The data compression method of the opponent's ability specified by GI
III is MH (Modified Hoffman) or M
It is compressed using the R (Modified Read) method and converted into a facsimile image signal (image data).

The CPU 32b performs compression processing using the RAM 32C, and the compressed facsimile image signal is given to the CPU 32a. The C,PU 32a sequentially sends this FAX image data (transmission data) to the expansion interface circuit 39a via the bus 32d, and stores it on the floppy disk of the floppy disk device 39b.

In this way, the original is sequentially read and scanned, and when the image data of the first page of the original is accumulated, the second page of the original is sent out by the feed roller 30b, and the image of the original is read in the same way. The image data of the second page of the document is accumulated, and the image data of the document sent to the hopper 30a in the same manner thereafter, that is, n
The contents of a sheet of general original document DS are stored as image data on a floppy disk.

In this way, the CPU 32a stores the image data on the floppy disk, counts the number n of originals to be sent, and the amount m of data to be sent, and stores them in the RAM 32C.

(2) Next, the CPU 32a reads the abbreviated number stored in the RAM 32c, and searches for the destination number from the input abbreviated number.

The CPU 32a retrieves the telephone number of the other party corresponding to the abbreviated number from the capability table TM of the RAM 32G, and calculates the distance l.
Calculate.

For this purpose, a distance table for charge classification for each station is provided in the RAM 32C, and the CPU 32a extracts the distance β from the telephone number of the other party, for example, the station number.

Next, the CPU 32a reads the data amount m and the distance li! of the RAM 32C. II! , the price table AT of RAM32c from
Then, the corresponding communication charge B is obtained by referring to the telephone line charge table shown in FIG. 3(A). Furthermore, the CPU 32a
The corresponding communication charge A is obtained by referring to the charge table for the 5TOC network shown in FIG. 3(B) among the charge tables AT in the RAM 32C based on the number n of originals and the distance of the AM32c.

(2) Next, the CPU 32a compares the communication fee A for using the telephone line and the communication fee B for using the 5TOC network, and determines which line has the cheapest fee.

When using a telephone line, the calling number is only the number of the other party, and when using 5TOC1ll, the calling number is 5.
This is the identification number and destination number of the TOC network call.

■ Next, the CPU 32a calls the automatic caller 3 using this calling number.
3c, the call number is automatically dialed, the calling operation is executed, and the call is sent to the line via the NCU 33a. This allows communication between the other station and the telephone line device or 5TO.
The line is connected by the line HDL of the C network, and the NCU33
a switches the connection with the automatic transmitter 33'c to the modem 33b.

(2) Furthermore, the CPU 32a exchanges pre-procedure control signals with the destination facsimile according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. Then, the CPU 32a controls the expansion interface circuit 39a, drives the floppy disk device 39b, and transmits data (FA) stored from the floppy disk.
The X image data) is read out, sent to the modem 33b, modulated, sent out to the line via the NCU 33a, and sent to the destination facsimile. The CPU 32a repeats this for the number of pages of the general document DS, and when all the pages have been transmitted, ends the transmission operation. Further, the CPU 32a performs post-procedure control with the destination facsimile, disconnects the line, and ends the communication.

In the above explanation, the charge table is configured for telephone lines by storing charges for each distance for each amount of data. It is also possible to store additional charges (for 5TOC network), convert the data volume into call time, and calculate communication charges based on these charges, or store only the charge per card for the 5TOC network, and calculate the communication charges using these charges. The communication fee may be calculated by multiplying by the number of cards. Further, although the explanation has been given using both a telephone line and a 5TOC network as examples of different connection routes, the present invention can be similarly applied to other lines (connection routes) with different fee structures.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is a reading section for reading a transmission document, a destination specifying section for specifying a transmission destination, and a destination specifying section for specifying a transmission destination. Calculate the communication fee for each of the multiple lines with different fee structures and the storage memory, and calculate the communication fee based on the content of the transmitted data and the destination, and calculate the transmission fee for the transmitted data of the memo I. base too)
and a control unit that selects a line and transmits to the transmission destination using the selected line, and selects one line with the lowest communication fee based on the calculated communication fee to perform facsimile communication. Since this is a feature, facsimile communication can be carried out using a line with a low communication fee among a plurality of lines, thereby reducing communication fees and contributing to the further spread of facsimile. In addition, since the facsimile machine itself calculates the communication fee and selects the line automatically according to the content of the transmitted data and the destination G, the communication fee can be reduced automatically without human intervention. This has the effect of being able to reduce communication charges without requiring careful decision-making on the part of the user.Furthermore, it also has the effect of allowing detailed decisions to be made for each destination and in accordance with the amount of original documents. and is extremely useful in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of facsimile communication using a telephone line and 576C network for explaining the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention.
Tsubose i1 configuration diagram, Figure 3 is the price table A of the configuration in Figure 2
T explanatory diagram, FIG. 4 is an operational processing flow diagram of the configuration of FIG. 2. In the figure, 30-transmission mechanism section, 31--reading section, 32-.
Control unit, AT・-Charge table, 39-Picture memory, 33
- Line control section. Patent applicant Fujitsu Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Akira Yamatani

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A reading section that reads the transmission document, a destination specification section that specifies the destination of the transmission, a memory that stores the transmission data based on the content read by the reading section, and a plurality of lines with different fee structures. a control unit that calculates each communication charge based on the content of the transmission data and the transmission destination, and transmits the transmission data in the memory to the transmission destination using a line selected based on the communication fee; 1. A facsimile communication selection method characterized in that the facsimile communication is performed by selecting a line with a low communication fee based on the calculated communication fee. (2) The control unit calculates the communication charge for each line based on the amount of the transmission data, the number of sheets to be transmitted, and the distance to the transmission destination. Facsimile communication selection method.