JPS62263757A - Data communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the line charge burdened by a slave equipment by allowing a master equipment to open once a telephone line and to call a slave equipment when a prescribed identification signal is received while being called by a slave equipment via a telephone line thereby receiving the transmission of data from the slave equipment. CONSTITUTION:A terminal equipment 45 sends a telephone number of a master equipment and the master equipment replies it, only an identification (ID) signal is sent and a telephone line is opened once. Then the master equipment applies calling to the telephone number corresponding to the inputted ID. Thus, plural telephone numbers of slave equipments corresponding to the ID are stored in advance in a memory of a computer 1. When a terminal equipment 45 detects a call signal from the master equipment, the equipment 45 replies it and a prescribed control signal is sent from the master equipment, the data stored in the memory is sent automatically to the master equipment. When all data are received, the master equipment opens the telephone line to complete the operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a data communication device that transmits and receives data via a telephone line.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, when the handset calls the base, the telephone line is temporarily opened, and then the base calls the handset, and data from the handset is sent to the base by a DTMF signal.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 20 shows a configuration for transmitting and receiving data between computers via a telephone line.

For example, a relatively small computer 1 such as a personal computer includes a main body 2, an input device 3 such as a keyboard,
It is composed of a display device 4 such as a CRT. 5 is a modem telephone, and as shown in FIG. 21, for example, data sent from the computer 1 to the telephone line 6 is transmitted through FSX,
a modem 11 that modulates using a predetermined method such as PSK and demodulates the modulated signal from the telephone line 6 into high-level and low-level digital signals and outputs them to the computer 1;
It is integrated with the telephone unit 12. NCU(Net
The work control unit 13 switches and connects the telephone line 6 to the modem 11 and telephone unit 12 . The audio signal sent to the telephone unit 12 can be monitored by a monitor speaker 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes an auto-dial device, which outputs a signal corresponding to a predetermined telephone number to the telephone line 6.

Devices with such a configuration are installed at locations A and B. For example, the autodial device 15 at location A (or location B) calls the telephone of the device at location B (or location A), and the device at location B calls the telephone of the device at location B (or location A). Upon response, a digital signal from the computer 1 at location A is modulated by the modem 5 and sent via the telephone line 6 to the modem 11 at location B (or location A). The modem 11 at location B (or location A) demodulates the modulated signal from the telephone line 6 into the original signal and supplies it to the computer 1.

When performing data communication via a telephone line in this way, there is a drawback that a computer 1 and a modem 11 are required on both the sending and receiving sides. Using a telephone of the type,
A system has been proposed as a non-store sales system in which the voice (number i) input from each telephone is recognized by a voice recognition device on the receiving side, and the recognized signal is input as a digital signal to a computer on the receiving side. In the system, data can also be entered by operating the keys on a so-called telephone, and it is also possible to call a telephone from the computer side and prompt the user to input data from the telephone, a so-called request.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In such a system, the calling operation is performed from either the sending side or the receiving side, so in the former case, the sending side must pay for the telephone line used for data transmission, and in the latter case, when the sending side is away. Therefore, there was a drawback that data could not be collected efficiently. Therefore, it has been difficult to apply this method to a case where, for example, a small or medium-sized store receives orders from relatively nearby households.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a data communication device comprising: a relatively small computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program; a receiving device that receives a DTM F signal;
an m device having a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the phone number of the handset, and a handset having a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the phone number of the base device, and the base device is connected to a telephone line. When the handset is called via the handset and a predetermined identification signal is received, the telephone line is temporarily released, the handset is called, and data is sent from the handset.

[Effect]

A slave unit! 3, and when a predetermined identification signal is sent out, the telephone line is temporarily opened. Thereafter, the base unit calls the slave unit corresponding to the identification signal, and receives data from the slave unit.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 represents a network of data communication devices according to the present invention. As in the case described above, a relatively small computer 1 such as a personal computer consisting of a main body 2, an input device 3, and a display device 4 is prepared as a parent device. 2
A controller 1 is connected to the telephone line 6 of an attached telephone 22 and controls the computer 1, modem 23, recording/reproducing device 24, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed block diagram of the controller 21. 31 is a line interface, which includes a closing part that closes and opens the telephone line, a calling signal detecting part that detects an incoming calling signal, a polarity detecting part that detects the polarity of the DC loop of the telephone line, and CPC (Calling Party) detects when the handset is placed (on-hook)
Control) detection unit, attached telephone 22
The telephone line 6 has a hook detection section that detects the hook state of the telephone line 6, and a voice detection section that detects the presence or absence of a voice signal on the telephone line 6. 32 is an interface for a computer such as R3232C. 33 is a transmitting/receiving device, which is a so-called DTMF (Dual T).

ne Multi-frequency) signals and receives them. When the controller 21 is configured integrally with the attached telephone Ja22, the transmitting/receiving device 33 can also be used as the original device of the telephone that generates the DTM F signal when the keys of the telephone 22 are operated. 3
4 is a switch, which switches the signal flow path (indicated by a thick line in the figure). 35 is a CPU such as a microprocessor as a control device, which issues control signals (indicated by thin lines in the figure) to each circuit, device 1 means, etc. to control them.

For base units installed at locations A and B (of course, location A may be the only location), calls are made to location C via predetermined telephone stations 41 such as terminal stations, centralized stations, central stations, general offices, etc., and their telephone lines 6. , a plurality of slave units are connected to locations B and E. The handset at ground C receives the dial type telephone 42 and the dial pulse output when dialing the telephone 42, and transmits the corresponding DTMF.
It is composed of an adapter 43 that outputs a signal. E
The handset on the ground is composed of a button 44 that outputs a DTMF signal. On the other hand, the handset installed in a land includes a telephone 47, a dedicated terminal 45 connected thereto for carrying out the data communication of the present invention, and a printer 46 (necessary) that prints information as characters on paper and outputs it. (included according to the requirements) and more.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the terminal 45.

51 is a line interface, which closes the telephone line;
A closing part that opens, a calling signal detecting part that detects an incoming calling signal, a polarity detecting part that detects the polarity of the direct current loop of the telephone line, a CPC detecting part that detects on-hook of the other party, and an attached telephone set. 47, and a voice detection section that detects the presence or absence of a voice signal on the telephone line 6. Reference numeral 52 denotes a transmitting/receiving device that transmits and receives DTMF signals, and as in the case described above, when it is integrated with the attached telephone 47, it can also be used as the original transmitting/receiving device of the telephone 47. can. 53 is an input device such as a keyboard, and 54 is an LE, for example.
This is a display device consisting of a D, LCD, CRT, etc. 55 is a memory such as a RAM for storing data to be communicated, and 56 is a CPU such as a microprocessor as a control device. Reference numeral 57 represents an interface for the printer 46, and reference numeral 58 represents an interface for an external memory 59 provided as required. As the external memory 59, for example, a tape recorder, a magnetic disk recording/reproducing device, a solid state memory, etc. are used.

Data communication is between the base units at locations A and B (in this case, one base unit can be considered a slave unit for the other base unit)
, is carried out between the base unit at location A or B and the slave unit at location C, B, or E. The former case is similar to conventional modem-modem communication (the modem 23 is necessary in this case, but unnecessary in the following cases), so its explanation will be omitted.

The present invention relates to the latter case, and particularly relates to the case where the child device calls the parent device, and this will be described below.

When a child device calls a parent device, operations are performed according to a flowchart as shown in FIG. 9, for example.

That is, first, it is determined whether or not the handset is a dedicated terminal 45, and if it is not the terminal 45 (if the handset is a general-purpose dial telephone 42 or a button phone 44), the telephone is manually operated. The selected number (phone number of the base unit) is called.

The user of the slave device determines whether the parent device (other party) has responded or not based on whether any message is sent from the parent device. This message can include the name, telephone number, etc. of the base unit. If the 11 machine side does not respond, it waits for a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the calling operation is terminated, and the call is made again if necessary. Of course, if the call is busy, the caller will hang up the call without waiting for a predetermined time, and then call again after a while. When the base unit responds, the user operates the keys on the telephone to send out predetermined data.

When a key is operated, a DTMF signal consisting of an HF signal and an LP multiplied signal as shown in Table 1 is sent out.

Table 1 When a master unit responds to a call from a slave unit, it sends messages such as input operation guidance to the slave unit as necessary. The handset inputs predetermined data according to the message.

The CPTJ 35 of the base unit constantly detects whether there is an abnormality in the communication line via the interface 31, and if there is an abnormality, it outputs a control signal to the recording/reproducing device 24 and issues a predetermined warning to the slave unit ( message), opens the telephone line, and terminates the incoming call operation. Further, for example, when an abnormality is detected during data reception, the CPU 35 outputs a signal to the computer 1, all the data received at that time is invalidated, and the recording/reproducing device 24 sends a message to that effect.

If there is no abnormality in the communication line, the base unit monitors whether the data transmission operation has been completed. When the data transmission is completed, the user sends a predetermined end code signal that is predetermined and registered on the base unit side, and if there is no correction, the operation ends there, and if there is a correction (modification), After performing the correction operation, the operation is terminated.

Next, in the case of a dedicated terminal 45, the operation is started by first specifying the telephone number (selected number) of the base unit to be called, but this start can be performed manually or automatically. In the case of manual operation, the user operates a predetermined key on the input device 53. In the case of automatic operation, the operation is started, for example, when a timer built in the CPO 56 measures a predetermined time or when a predetermined alarm is detected.

The telephone number of the base unit is stored in advance in the memory 55 of the terminal 45, and the CPU 56 searches for a predetermined number from among the stored numbers and causes the first transmitting/receiving device 52 to output it. The transmitting/receiving device 52 transmits a DTMF signal corresponding to the designated number. This signal is sent to the telephone line 6 via the interface 51. Of course, it is also possible to attach a dial pulse generator to the transmitting/receiving device 52 so that only the calling operation (not the data sending operation) is performed using a pulse train. In this way, there is no need to make the telephone line 6 a so-called bush line, and costs can be reduced.

When the calling operation is performed automatically, the designation of the number to be called is performed according to the program of the CPU 56. When manually making a call, the keys of the input device 53 or the keys of the attached telephone 47 are operated. When this key is operated, the DTM of the number specified by that operation
The F signal is output from the transmitting/receiving device 52 (or the transmitting/receiving device of the telephone 47). Therefore, a calling operation can be performed at any time even to a base unit that is not stored in the memory 55. Once the telephone number is manually operated, it is automatically stored in the memory 55, and automatic calls can be made from the first time onwards.

When the calling operation is started, the CPU 56 starts a built-in timer. Then, the polarity detection section of the interface 51 detects the response of the base unit.

When the base unit does not respond (the polarity of the telephone line 6 is not reversed), it is determined whether or not a call is in progress. When the call is not in progress, it is determined whether the timer has counted a predetermined period of time (it may be possible to count ring back tones, etc.) (whether or not the time is up).6 When the time is up, the calling operation is terminated. If the time has not yet expired, the timer is incremented (timekeeping operation continues).

If the base unit is on a call, it is determined whether redial is specified, and if there is no specification, the call operation is terminated,
It will be dialed when specified.

When the base unit responds, automatic/manual data transmission is then determined. When a manual specification is being made using the input device 53, the user operates the keys on the input device 53 to input the terminal identification signal (for example, the telephone number of the telephone 47 to which the terminal is connected), and also input the order. Enter data related to the product. At this time, for example, the identification signal of the terminal 45 may be automatically transmitted. When the automatic data transfer mode is set, not only the identification signal but also the data signal stored in advance in the memory 55 are automatically read out by the CPU 56 and transferred to the transmitting/receiving device 52.
The signal is then sent to the base unit as a DTMF signal via the interface 51 and telephone line 6.

Next, it is determined whether or not the data transmission has been completed (whether or not a termination signal previously stored in the memory 55 has been sent), and if it has not been completed, it is further determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the communication line. When there is no abnormality, data transmission continues, and when an abnormality is detected, the CPU 35 of the base unit issues a predetermined warning to the slave unit (or the CPU 56 of the terminal unit 45). This warning is recorded and displayed on at least one of the display device 54, printer 46, and memory 59. Alternatively, the audio signal may be output to the telephone 47 in a closed format.

The telephone line 6 is opened after this warning. After that, if redial is specified, further redialing is performed.

When the data transmission is finished, the CPU 56
Detects the presence or absence of a response from the device, and ends the operation if there is no response. When there is a response from the base unit, it is received and 1
It is stored and displayed on the display device 54, printer 46, or memory 59. Further, the telephone line 6 is opened, and after processing for completing the transmission and reception of data is performed, the operation is terminated.

The base unit is connected to the Bush line (of course, it is possible to connect to the dial line by adding a dial pulse generator for calling operations to the transmitting/receiving device 33), and the slave unit is also preferably connected to the Bush line. be done. In this case, both the calling operation and the data sending operation are performed using the DTMF signal. When the handset is a general-purpose telephone 42 connected to the concave dial line, the calling signal to the base phone is a dial pulse, but the data signal sent thereafter is sent to the adapter 4.
DT by manually switching switch 3.

MF times the signal. When the dedicated terminal 45 is connected to the dial line, the CPU 56 controls the transmitting/receiving device 52 to send out a calling signal using dial pulses, and then automatically controls the subsequent data signals to become DTM F signals. (Figure 10).

When the parent device is called from the slave device, it is also possible to have it operate according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In other words, in this case, the terminal 45 sends the phone number of the base unit (
When the host (host) responds to this, it sends out only an identification (ID) signal and temporarily releases the telephone line. After the telephone line is once opened, the base unit then makes a call to the telephone number corresponding to the ID that has just been input. For this reason, the memory of the computer 1 stores in advance the telephone numbers of a plurality of slave devices corresponding to the ID.

When the terminal device 45 detects a call signal from the base device, it responds to the call signal, and when the base device further sends a predetermined control signal, it automatically transfers the data stored in the memory 55 to the base device. and send it.

When the base unit receives all the data, it opens the telephone line and terminates the operation. Of course, if there is data to be sent from the parent device to the child device, this data is stored in the memory 55, and further sent to the printer 46, display device 54, etc. as necessary.
The data is sent to the memory 59 or the like.

In this way, it is possible not only to prevent erroneous orders due to mischief, etc., but also to make the amount that the handset side has to pay for using the telephone line constant and cheap, regardless of the amount of data sent.

The data sent to the telephone line 6 is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and is stored in advance in the memory 55 by operating the input device 53. That is, a data number (for example, a product number) and a corresponding number (quantity) are stored. A general-purpose phone has only the 12 types of keys shown in Table 1, but the dedicated terminal 45 has keys A, B, C, and D added to it, as shown in Table 2, for example.
There can be 16 types of keys.

Table 2 Of course, 12 types of keys can be used in the terminal 45, but in this case, for example, characters, symbols, etc., are expressed in decimal notation.

In the case of 16 types of keys, even more characters can be represented by hexadecimal numbers.

For example, according to ASCII code (hexadecimal), Figure 8 (a
), the operation pattern of key 4 and key 1 (4
1) is "A", operation pattern of key 5 and key A (5A)
represent "z" respectively. The operation pattern (91
) is "a", the operation pattern (9m (F)) is "so",
The operation pattern (D6) in the same figure (C) is "ryo", operation (#
(E) and C) each represent "fu". Note that characters may be separated by a space longer than a predetermined time, or by a predetermined key operation such as *, #, etc. In this way, alphabets, characters, etc. can be separated by two consecutive key operation patterns. For example, in addition to inputting more detailed data such as product number, model number, etc., it is also possible to specify product color, size, delivery date, etc.

The data previously stored in the memory 55 by operating a key on the input device 53 can be displayed on the display device 54 by operating a predetermined key on the input device 53, and can be confirmed before being sent. Then, when sending the confirmed data, for example, the first
Processing can be performed as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. First, reset the data number ■ to 0, and then reset the data number I.
It is determined whether or not there is no number (data) corresponding to , (whether it is zero or not), and when it is zero, the data number is incremented by one unless it is the end of the data (■ is the maximum value). When the number of data numbers (data) is not zero, the number is sent as data and is printed by the printer 46 as necessary. When the data sending operation is completed, the data number ■ is incremented by one. In this way, when the number is zero, that data can be skipped and not sent, making it possible to send data efficiently in a short time.

The CPU 35 of the controller 21 reads and decodes the data input via the telephone line 6, and outputs the data to the recording/reproducing device 24.
A corresponding audio signal is sent out from the audio synthesis IC that constitutes the. This allows the user on the handset side to display numbers (or symbols).
You can check the sent data by inputting it as . This audio signal sent from the base unit to the slave unit to confirm incoming data is stored in a tape recorder constituting the memory 59 of the slave unit. For this reason, for example, if a confirmation audio signal is generated every time data arrives, the CPU 56 on the handset side determines whether data confirmation is specified when data transmission is started, as shown in FIG. When data confirmation is designated from the input device 53, the recording operation of the memory 59 is started at the same time as data transmission is started. As a result, the return from the base unit side (audio signal for confirmation)
is automatically recorded in the memory 59. Then, when the data transmission operation is completed, the recording operation is also stopped.6 Furthermore, if the confirmation audio signal is performed after the data transmission is completed, the recording operation is started at the same time as the data transmission is completed, as shown in FIG. The recording operation is also stopped at the same time as the end of the audio signal.

With this configuration, the user of the handset side can reproduce the audio signal recorded in the memory 59 at any time and check the transmitted data.

If you listen to the audio signal from the base unit (receiving side) and discover an incorrect input, you can correct (correct) the data that was once sent. Therefore, when a predetermined code is sent from the input device 53, the consignment data is invalidated. When the base unit detects this code, it outputs an audio signal indicating that the previous data is invalid, and prompts the user to input the correct data again. In response to this voice signal, the user re-enters the correct data. Previous data may be invalidated one by one, or all data may be invalidated. Such processing is performed, for example, according to a flowchart as shown in FIG.

The sent data can also be confirmed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 56 determines whether it is necessary to take a copy of the transmission at the same time as the start of data transmission or at the end of data transmission. When the input device 53 specifies that a transmission copy is to be recorded, when the interface 51 detects a positive reversal (or re-reversal) of the DC loop of the telephone line 6, or when the key corresponding to the data communication start button is pressed. When a character is created, the CPU 56 outputs a control signal to the printer 46 via the interface 57, and sends the data to the printer 46 as a character.
6 to print. In this case, if the date and time of transmission, the recipient's phone number (base phone number), etc. are also specified, these are also printed at the same time (of course, the display device 54 may be configured to display such information). .

In this way, there is no need to use the telephone line for a long time to confirm the transmitted data.

A polarity detector is provided in the interface 51 to detect that the base unit has responded when the dedicated terminal 45 makes a call, but in PBXs, etc., the polarity is reversed even if the called party responds. It may not. Therefore, it is preferable that the interface 51 be provided with a means for detecting the response of the called party based on the presence or absence of a ringback tone, so that it can be used even between extension telephones. Further, the input device 53 may be provided with a key corresponding to a data sending switch that is manually operated when sending data.

The basic operations of the base unit when a call is received from the slave unit are summarized as shown in FIG. telephone line 6
When a calling signal arrives, the CPU 35 first determines whether preparations are made for data reception. For this reason, the CPU 35 checks the data etc. supplied from the computer 1 via the interface 32, and does not respond to the call signal if preparations are not completed. Therefore, for example, if the computer 1 is not connected to the interface 32, or if the computer 1 is not equipped with a memory such as a floppy disk for storing data sent from the slave unit, the slave unit may accidentally is prevented from being connected.

When a calling signal arrives in a state where reception preparations have been completed, the calling signal detecting section of the interface 31 detects this. When a call signal is detected, the CPU 35 determines whether or not audio signal recording has been specified from the input device 3 of the computer 1, and if the specification has been made, it issues a control signal to the recording/reproducing device 24, and The audio signal from the device and, if necessary, the audio signal sent from the parent device to the child device are recorded. This allows the master device to later check the data (order) input from the slave device.

Next, when a predetermined code signal indicating that the handset is a dedicated terminal 45 is sent, this is detected, the data stored in the memory 55 of the handset is sent, and the input processing is performed. Perform protection against erroneous input.

If the handset is not a dedicated terminal 45 and message sending is not specified, input processing of data sent from the handset, protection against erroneous input, etc. are performed. If message sending is specified, the CPU 35 issues a control signal to the recording/reproducing device 24 to send a response message,
Provide guidance on data entry and announce whether the entered data is appropriate or inappropriate. Since the currently connected handset is not a dedicated terminal 45, for the convenience of manual input, a so-called Q&A method can be used in which a predetermined input is made for each announcement from the i device. Of course, even if it is a dedicated terminal 45, when manually inputting, Q&
Method A may also be used).

If you need to respond to input data, C
The PU 35 is input with a DTMF signal, and the transmitting/receiving device 33
The received data is decoded, and an audio signal corresponding to the data (for example, if the input data is a product number, the product name of the product number) is sent from the recording/reproducing device 24 to the slave unit. If the input data is incorrect, a message to that effect (for example, a message urging re-input, which is different from the case where the data is correct) is sent. These confirmation audio signals may be sent each time one piece of data is input, or
This may be done all at once after all data has been input. The latter method can shorten the time that the telephone line is occupied.

After confirmation, if a code for a predetermined mode such as modification, addition, cancellation, etc. is input, that processing is performed.

Furthermore, it is determined whether keyboard input is specified. This designation may be input from the input device 3, but
For example, it may be configured to work in conjunction with the attached telephone 22 to automatically enable keyboard input when the telephone is off-hook. With this configuration, the user of the base unit who is accustomed to operations can directly receive orders from the user of the slave unit via the telephone 22 using voice signals (voices).
You can input the data (order) of the handset by operating the keyboard (input device 3) on the spot (not only can you input new data, but you can also make corrections, etc.). When a calling signal arrives from a dedicated terminal 45, for example, when the telephone 22 rings twice, it responds, and immediately after that, an automatic data transfer mode code signal is sent, the CPU 35 will automatically open the telephone line when all data has been transferred. On the other hand, when the bell sound temporarily stops in response to the calling signal from the handset) and the manual transfer mode code signal is sent (when the automatic transfer mode code signal is not transferred), the CPU 3
5 further causes the bell of the telephone 22 to ring, for example, three or more times. Alternatively, a bell sound different from the normal bell sound (for example, a bell sound with a different period, pitch, tone color, etc.) is sounded. As a result, the user on the i side can use the handset/general-purpose phone 42.4.
4 or a dedicated terminal 45, which indicates that a person is requesting that someone answer the telephone 22.

In other words, the user on the base unit only needs to answer the telephone 22 when the bell rings three or more times. When the user of the base unit answers the telephone 22, data can be automatically input from the input device 3. If the handset is a dedicated terminal 45 and an identification signal identifying the handset is input immediately after receiving the call,
Computer 1 is a slave device (customer) that corresponds to the identification signal.
The related data is retrieved from the built-in memory and displayed on the display device 4. Therefore, if information such as the name and telephone number of the slave unit is displayed on the display device 4, the user of the base unit inputs only the order data.

When nothing is displayed on the display device 4, the user of the slave unit is asked for data specifying the slave unit, and the user of the base unit manually inputs the data from the input device 3.

When manually inputting information, pre-stored information about the slave device is displayed on the display device 4. From then on, input the order data in the same way as in the case described above. Name as information on the handset side
, address, phone number, past orders, payment status, etc., as well as age, date of birth, occupation, hobbies, family, etc.
This allows for more intimate conversations. It is preferable that the data inputted from the slave device side and the data inputted from the master device side be differentiated by adding a predetermined code signal or the like. In this way, troubles (liability issues) with customers in the event of input errors etc. can be appropriately handled. Also, from this point of view, it is preferable to automatically store the input date, time, etc. in the memory in correspondence with the input data.

When waiting for a calling operation from the handset, the display device 4 may display, for example, the number of incoming calls (number of inputs) from the handset. Data input to the computer 1 is processed each time or all at once, and when the processing is completed, the number of incoming calls up to that point is reset. When processing data all at once, when a key on the input device 3 is operated, when the number of incoming calls reaches a predetermined value, or when the
Each of the triggers can be triggered when the timer of the PU 35 measures a predetermined time. If an incoming call is received while the computer 1 is executing a predetermined process, the process is temporarily interrupted and priority is given to the incoming call operation. Therefore, the handset is not used more than necessary.

FIG. 18 shows a more detailed flowchart of data input processing and protection processing against erroneous input. That is, when an input operation from the slave device is started, the 90PU 35 first starts a built-in timer. If no data is input after the timer starts, the timer value will not reach the specified value (predetermined value before time-up), and the operation of incrementing timer 1 by one (clock operation) will be repeated until time-up occurs. . When the timer value reaches the specified value, a message (5 notifications) prompting you to input is sent to the recording/playback device 2.
Output from 4. If no input is made and the timer expires, a closing message is sent requesting a call again, and then the telephone line is released. When a time-up occurs, the data entered at the time of the incoming call is automatically invalidated.

When data is input, it is determined whether the data is appropriate. If it is not appropriate, a message to that effect is sent to the handset. When the number of incorrect data inputs is less than a predetermined specified value, the timer is restarted. When the number of inappropriate data inputs becomes equal to the specified value, the timer is restarted if input protection is not specified, but if input protection is specified, the timer is restarted. A predetermined closing message is sent and the telephone line is released. In this way, inputs caused by mischief or the like are prevented. The input data in this case is automatically invalidated.

If the input data is correct, the data is stored (registered) in the memory of the computer 1.

This operation is repeated until the last data is input. On the other hand, data correction is performed as shown in FIG.

That is, the CPU 35 performs normal processing when a code for a predetermined mode is not input, but performs the same processing when a code for modification, addition, cancellation, etc. is input. Even though a predetermined code has been input, if there is no correction, addition, or cancellation processing, an error occurs.

To enable such correction, the CPU 56 of the terminal 45 adds a different code signal to each call operation and sends the data. This code signal can be, for example, consecutive order numbers for the month, day, week, etc. in which the base unit responded. That is, for example, if orders are placed (data sent) twice on March 5th and four times on March 20th, the date and order order for that day will be made to correspond to the data input at that time. Therefore, on March 24th, when you want to correct the quantity of product number 5 ordered in the fourth data sending operation on March 20th from 12 pieces to 6 pieces,
Specify the date of March 20th and the order of 4th time, and input the quantity of product number 5 as 6. Then, the computer 1 processes the data inputted on March 24th as the data inputted by the fourth operation on March 20th in accordance with the code. As a result, the quantity of product number 5 is revised to 6.

In such data communication devices, in order to prevent mischief by a third party, it is common to define an identification (ID) signal corresponding to each slave device. However, if this identification signal is known to a third party, it will be difficult to prevent mischief unless it is changed, but changing the identification signal will also require relatively troublesome changes on the base unit side. There must be. Therefore, in the present invention, the user
3 to freely set, change, and store a code as a data transmission end signal in the memory 55. When this code is set or changed, the CPU 56 automatically makes a call to the base unit and stores it in the memory of the computer 1. After receiving the data, when the computer 1 does not receive a code as a data transfer end signal corresponding to the identification signal,
Invalidates the entered data. Also at this time, the CPU
35 controls the recording/reproducing device 24 to send out a predetermined closing message, but the content does not mean that the code is inappropriate. The content is considered to be the same. As a result, a third party cannot know that the code is incorrect, and therefore, the user of the slave device can prevent mischief by changing this code as necessary.

The data communication device according to the present invention is basically configured with one computer 1 and a plurality of slave devices connected to it, as shown in FIG. When the number of child devices increases, one TI device that controls a plurality of parent devices may be increased in parallel, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible to sequentially and serially manage a plurality of base units using one base unit. Note that the slave units are omitted in these figures.

Furthermore, in the above explanation, the number of telephone lines controlled by the base unit is assumed to be one, but if multiple M1 call lines are managed, the multiple telephone numbers may be stored in the memory 55 of the slave unit. Can be done. For example, if one telephone number is busy, the next telephone number can be automatically redialed. In this way, there is no need for the base unit to receive services from the telephone company as a representative.

〔effect〕

As described above, the present invention relates to a data communication device.

A base unit that has a relatively small computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program, a receiving device that receives the DTMF signal, and a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the phone number of the slave unit. .

and a handset having a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the telephone number of the base unit, and when the base unit is called by the slave unit via the telephone line and receives a predetermined identification signal, the base unit transmits the telephone line. Once released, the handset is called and data is sent from the handset, so the line usage fee borne by the handset can be reduced, and the data collection efficiency on the base side is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1, 2, 5 and 6 are network diagrams of the data communication device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of its controller, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of its terminal, and FIG. Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of stored data, Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of key operation patterns, Figures 9 to 19 are flowcharts, Figure 20 is a network diagram of a conventional data communication device,
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional modem telephone. 1... Computer 2... Main body 3... Input device 4... Display device 5... Modem telephone 6... Telephone line 11... Modem 13... NCU section 15... Auto Dial device 21...controller 23...modem 24...recording/reproducing device 31.32...interface 33...transmission/reception device 34...switch 35...CPU 41...telephone office 43 ... Adapter 45 ... Terminal 46 ... Printer 51 ... Interface 52 ... Transmitting and receiving device 53 ... Input device 54 ... Display device 55 ... Memory 56 ... CPU 57 .58...Interface 59...External memory 61...Printer or higher

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A relatively small computer that processes input data according to a predetermined program, a receiving device that receives a DTMF signal, and a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the telephone number of the handset. A handset having a base unit and a transmitting device that transmits a signal corresponding to the telephone number of the base unit, the base unit being called by the slave unit via a telephone line, and transmitting a predetermined identification signal. 1. A data communication device characterized in that when receiving a call, the telephone line is temporarily opened, the handset is called, and the data is sent from the handset.