JPS6387045A - Multi-address communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly allot the information on an emergency mode to each terminal by interrupting the allotment in other communication modes when the emergency mode is set and carrying out the emergenecy multi-address communication of the information to which the emergency mode is designated. CONSTITUTION:Plural facsimile terminals 3 are connected to a store and forward exchange device 1 via an exchange network 3. The device 1 contains a central processing unit 10, a storage 11, a display device 12 and a communication controller 13. When an emergency mode is set at either one of terminals 3, the device 1 interrupts forcibly the allotment carried out in other communication modes and performs the emergency multi-address communication for the allotment information to which an emergency mode is designated to other terminals 3.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a broadcast communication system using a facsimile communication network, and in particular, the present invention relates to a broadcast communication system using a facsimile communication network, and in particular, to The present invention relates to a broadcast communication system that has an emergency broadcast function that can perform emergency broadcast functions.

(Conventional technology) Today, one of the various communication functions using facsimile communication networks is
One of the well-known functions is the so-called broadcast communication function, in which the same information input from a calling facsimile terminal is simultaneously distributed to multiple called facsimile terminals through a storage and forwarding device. It is configured so that either one of two communication modes, general or priority, can be set for information, and for information that you want to distribute preferentially, you can set the priority mode in advance before sending it, and the general mode will transmit the information in the order of input. Broadcast communication of the information is given priority over communication at .

By the way, among the communications handled by this God's broadcast communication system, particularly urgent information such as disaster reports may occur.

This type of information is generated at a low level, and it is uneconomical to have a dedicated broadcast communication system for distributing this information. Under the priority mode setting, the broadcast communication process was generally given priority over the general mode communication.

Information for which the priority mode is set here will be subjected to broadcast communication processing in the order of input, and if information for which the priority mode is set overlaps, the information input later will be distributed even though it is in the priority mode. This means that users will have to wait a considerable amount of time until the distribution of the information that was input earlier is completed.

For this reason, in conventional broadcast communication systems, even if you want to make an emergency report of a disaster, etc., if distribution is being performed in priority mode, you have to wait until all the distributions have finished, especially when communicating When the amount of information is large, a long waiting time is required, which may not be necessary for broadcast communication in an emergency.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional broadcast communication system described above, the delivery of urgent information is also processed in the priority mode. There was a problem in that the system required a long waiting time and was not essential for broadcast communication in an emergency.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in the event of an emergency, information can be immediately distributed without waiting time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a broadcast communication system that can prompt a called party to take prompt action against an emergency situation.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The broadcast communication system of the present invention includes identification information for specifying a plurality of types of communication modes including an emergency mode monitored from a calling terminal. storage means for storing the distribution information, identification means for identifying the identification information, and one of the communication modes based on the identification result of the identification means.
a distribution means for distributing distribution information stored in the storage device to a called terminal in the set communication mode; and a control means for forcibly interrupting the distribution and performing emergency broadcasting of the distribution information for which the emergency mode is specified to the called terminal.

(Function) In the broadcast communication system of the present invention, when the emergency mode is set, distribution made in other communication modes is forcibly interrupted;
The above objective is achieved by urgently relaying the distribution information in which the emergency mode is specified to the called terminal.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a broadcast communication system according to the present invention, which has a configuration in which a plurality of facsimile terminals 3 are connected to a storage and forwarding device 1 through a switching network 2.

Of these, the storage/forwarding device 1 includes a central processing unit 10 that controls the overall operation, a memory @@11 that stores communication information, a display device 12 that displays communication guidance, etc., and a plurality of communication devices that control communication information. It is configured to include a control Il device 13.

In FIG. 1, each facsimile terminal 3 is configured to be able to send information about a vA document for which broadcast communication is desired.

This communication mode setting is performed, for example, by adding identification information indicating one of the three types of communication modes, general, priority, and 5i4 urgent, to the information of the broadcast communication document.

An example of the communication operation of the broadcast communication system having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the storage and forwarding device 1 receives, under the control of the central processing unit 10, information for broadcast communication sent from each facsimile terminal 3 to the switching network 2 with identification information indicating the communication mode added as described above. If the information is received through the communication control device 13 (step 100), the information is stored in the storage device 11 (step 100).
Step 101).

Next, the central processing unit 10 determines from the identification information added to the received information stored in the storage device @11 whether the general mode is set as the communication mode for the received information;
Step 10 to identify whether priority mode is set
2) The received information is distributed to each designated facsimile terminal 3 via the communication control device 13 and the switching network 2 in accordance with the identified communication mode (step 103).

During execution of the distribution operation, the central processing unit 10 searches to see if information requesting new broadcast communication in the emergency mode is received from the specific facsimile terminal 3 (step 104). If the information specifying the emergency mode is not received, the distribution operation is continued while determining whether the distribution has ended (step 105).

Then, as soon as the end of distribution is detected by the judgment in step 105, the distribution is immediately stopped.Step 10
6) End the series of communications.

By the way, if it is determined in step 104 that information specifying the emergency mode has been received from a specific facsimile terminal 3, the central processing unit 10 interrupts all distribution operations currently being executed in step 107. ), immediately starts emergency rerouting of the received manuscript for which the emergency mode has been designated (step 108).

Subsequently, the central processing unit 10 searches for whether or not the emergency broadcast has ended (step 109).If the emergency broadcast has not ended, the central processing unit 10 further searches for a preset period of time (from the start to the end of the emergency broadcast). A search is made to determine whether the normal amount of time required to do so has elapsed (step 110).

Then, if it is determined in step 109 that the emergency broadcast ends within the preset time, or that the preset time has elapsed in step 110, the emergency mode is canceled (step 111), and the interrupted priority , or resume distribution in general mode (step 112)
.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 10 performs steps 105 and 106.
Communication operations are performed until the distribution ends.

By the way, FIG. 3 shows a timing chart corresponding to the operations of steps 104, 107 to 112 described above.

According to this timing chart, the central processing unit 10:
For example, when information specifying emergency mode is received from the facsimile terminal 3 corresponding to channel 1 at timing T1, the distribution being performed to the facsimile terminal 3 corresponding to channels 2 to channel n is performed at timing T1.
2, and then immediately start each facsimile terminal 3.
The designated information in the emergency mode is urgently relayed to the emergency mode via channels 1 to n.

Here, for example, even if a line failure or the like occurs in the facsimile terminal 3 that supports channel n and the above information cannot be distributed, a certain period of time (preset time) after the start of the emergency broadcast will occur. If time has elapsed, that is, timing T3 has arrived, the emergency mode is forcibly canceled and distribution by channels 2 to n, which was interrupted at timing 2, is resumed.

In other words, the delivery of information in the emergency mode is performed during a preset fixed time, and if the information cannot be delivered during this period, the information is treated as a priority mode and the facsimile terminal 3 is delivered after a predetermined time. Deliver to terminal 3.

Further, in the present invention, it is generally possible to accept new broadcasts during broadcasting in priority mode, but all new broadcasts are rejected during broadcasting processing in emergency mode.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the broadcast communication system of the present invention, an emergency mode is newly provided as a communication mode, and when the emergency mode is set, all communications performed in other communication modes are Since the distribution is interrupted and emergency broadcasting of the information specified in the emergency mode is performed, emergency information can be immediately distributed to each terminal without any waiting time.1,4
It has the excellent advantage of prompting 1Q4J to respond quickly to emergencies.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the broadcast communication system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the communication operation of the broadcast communication system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. Steps 104 to 11 in the flowchart
2 shows a timing chart corresponding to operation No. 2. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Storage and forwarding device, 2... Switching network, 3... Facsimile terminal, 10... Central processing unit, 11... Storage device, 12... Display device, 13... Communication system g device. j・-1'21--day (proxy raccoon patent attorney Takahisa Kimura -,1,. -Mini'・I Figure 1 Figure 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) storage means for storing distribution information to which identification information for specifying multiple types of communication modes including an emergency mode for incoming calls from a calling terminal; and identification means for identifying the identification information; a distribution unit that sets any one of the communication modes based on the identification result of the identification unit, and distributes the distribution information stored in the storage device to the called terminal in the set communication mode; When the communication mode is the emergency mode, a control means forcibly interrupting distribution performed in other communication modes and performing emergency broadcasting of distribution information for which the emergency mode is designated to the called terminal; A broadcast communication system characterized by comprising: (2) The broadcast communication system according to claim (1), wherein the emergency mode is canceled after a certain period of time has elapsed after the emergency mode is set. (3) The broadcast communication system according to claim (1), characterized in that when the emergency mode is set, all acceptance of new distribution information is prohibited.