JPH0591232A - Facsimile store and forward exchange - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] The present invention relates to a facsimile storage and exchange apparatus,
By accumulating communication protocol history information and various information related to communication programs, etc., and sending it as a communication report to a facsimile terminal connected to the extension in accordance with an instruction,
An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus that can effectively use various management information without increasing costs due to changes in hardware configuration. [Structure] When a type of information to be logged and a request are input from the operation unit 3, the system control unit 2 causes the G3 communication control unit AN to operate.
1-ANn and G4 communication control section DN transfers the logging information to the system control section 2 and then stores it in the storage section 4 and controls the circuit switching control section 5 to control the G3 communication control sections AN1 to AN.
n and the extensions I1 to In are connected, the logging information is read from the storage unit 4, transferred to the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn, the extension facsimile terminal is called to connect the call, and then the logging information is transmitted by facsimile communication. Is transmitted as a predetermined communication report.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus, and more particularly to a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus for transmitting communication protocol history information and various kinds of information regarding a communication program as a communication report.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, along with the widespread use of facsimile machines, a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus that manages a plurality of facsimile terminals and provides various services has appeared.
Such a facsimile storage / exchange device is equipped with a large-capacity storage means, stores electronic messages transmitted from a facsimile terminal by destination, and stores them by destination when a reception request is made from the destination facsimile terminal. Send all the messages in a batch. In addition, when transmitting the stored telegram, the linear density and the paper size of the original are scaled according to the function (communication function) of the destination facsimile terminal, and the fax that is requested to send the telegram transmission result as a transmission result report. It provides various communication services such as notification to terminals.

Further, a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus having a plurality of communication control units for simultaneously accessing a plurality of destinations and providing the communication service has been put into practical use. By executing the facsimile communication between the facsimile terminals connected to the internal / external line via the facsimile storage / exchange device, it is possible to realize reduction of communication cost, improvement of communication efficiency and elimination of communication waiting time.

Further, the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus also has a function of storing communication history information such as communication service results in the memory as communication management information, and when a manager sees the communication management information, a communication error occurs. It is possible to investigate the cause of.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional facsimile storage / exchange apparatus, in order to utilize the communication management information, the communication management information is output directly from the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus. For devices that require a plotter, etc. but do not have a plotter,
Communication management information could not be used easily.

Further, if the construction is such that the plotter is connected to the facsimile storage / exchange device, there is a problem that the cost of the device increases. In view of this, the present invention accumulates communication protocol history information and various kinds of information related to communication programs, etc., and sends them as a communication report to a facsimile terminal connected to an extension in response to an instruction, which causes an increase in cost due to a change in hardware configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile storage / exchange device that can effectively use various management information.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Multiple extensions and analog lines such as PSTN and ISDN
A digital line control unit for accommodating digital lines such as the above and for connecting and exchanging connection between the extension line and the analog line, a digital line control unit for controlling connection with the digital line, and a connection via the analog line control unit Digital communication for performing G4 mode facsimile communication between an analog communication control unit for performing G3 mode facsimile communication with an internal / external line facsimile terminal and a facsimile terminal connected via the digital line control unit. A communication control unit, a storage unit for registering terminal identification information of an extension facsimile terminal or the like input from the operation unit, storing various system information and electronic messages received from the facsimile terminal, and a system control unit for controlling the above units And are provided for connection exchange between extension lines and connection between extension lines and analog lines and connection with digital lines. In the facsimile storage / exchange device that provides various services such as receiving a message from the internal / external line, temporarily storing it in a storage unit, and then transmitting it to a predetermined destination of the registered internal line or external line. The control unit stores communication protocol history information when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to the service request in the storage unit, and stores the stored communication protocol according to an instruction from the operation unit. The history information is sent as a predetermined communication report to a facsimile terminal connected to the extension. The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit is requested by the service. The system when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit is made to perform service communication The history of message information exchanged between the control unit and the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit is stored in the storage unit,
According to an instruction from the operation unit, the history of the accumulated message information is sent to a facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report, and the invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1. In the above, in the operation history of the communication processing executed by the system control unit in the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication by the service request. Information is accumulated in the storage unit, and the accumulated operation history information in the communication process is sent to a facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the system control unit requests the service. The analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication and stores communication result information at the end of communication in the storage unit, and according to an instruction from the operation unit, the stored communication result information in a predetermined communication report. Is transmitted to a facsimile terminal connected to the extension, and the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the system control unit causes the analog communication control unit or the digital communication unit to respond to the service request. Version information of the communication processing program executed on the communication control unit is stored in the storage unit, and the stored version information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit. It is characterized by doing.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus for providing various services, a communication protocol when the system control unit executes service communication by the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in response to a service request. The history information is stored in the storage unit, and the stored communication protocol history information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension line as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit.

Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus can easily output the communication protocol history information to grasp the occurrence status of the communication error and the like, and the maintenance / management of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus can be efficiently performed. it can. In the invention according to claim 2, the system control unit and the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit when the system control unit causes the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit to execute service communication in response to a service request. A history of message information exchanged between the two is accumulated in the storage unit, and the history of the accumulated message information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit.

Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily output the history of the message information exchanged between the system control unit and the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit to deal with a malfunction in the system. The facsimile storage and exchange apparatus can be efficiently maintained and managed. In the invention according to claim 3, the system control unit performs communication processing executed in the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to a service request. The above operation history information is accumulated in the storage unit, and the accumulated operation history information in the communication process is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension line as a predetermined communication report in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit.

Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus can easily output the operation status during communication processing in the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit to deal with a failure in the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit. The facsimile storage and exchange apparatus can be efficiently maintained and managed. In the invention according to claim 4, the system control unit executes the service communication by the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in response to the service request, and the communication result information at the end of the communication is accumulated in the storage unit, In accordance with the instruction, the accumulated communication result information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report.

Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily output the service communication result performed by the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit to grasp the communication status, and maintain the facsimile storage / exchange device.・ Management can be performed efficiently. In the invention according to claim 5, the system control unit stores version information of a communication processing program executed on the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in response to a service request in the storage unit, and follows the instruction from the operation unit. The accumulated version information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report.

Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus can easily output the version information of the communication program used in the analog communication control section and the digital communication control section to grasp the usage status of the program and change the program. It can be used as a reference, and the maintenance and management of the facsimile storage / exchange device can be efficiently performed.

[0014]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below based on examples. 1 to 6 are views showing an embodiment of a facsimile storage and exchange apparatus according to claims 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile storage and exchange apparatus 1, which includes a system control unit 2, an operation unit 3, a storage unit 4, a line exchange control unit 5,
PSTN line I / F unit 6, ISDN line I / F unit 7, G
3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and G4 communication control unit DN.

The system controller 2 has a CPU (Central Pr
a ROM, a random access memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), etc., and a basic program as the facsimile storage / exchange device 1 and communication management information and system information of each invention of the present application described later in the ROM. Processing programs and the like are stored. System control unit 2
Controls each part of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus 1 according to the program in the ROM to execute the sequence as the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus 1, and also executes the communication management information and the system information processing of each invention of the present application.

The operation unit 3 includes a numeric keypad, a one-touch key,
A start key and other operation keys are provided,
Various commands are input with the operation keys,
The communication management information and the operation instruction of system information processing of each invention of the present application are input. The storage unit 4 is composed of a hard disk or the like, and operates under the control of the system control unit 2. The storage unit 4 stores the PSTN line P via the PSTN line I / F unit 6.
1-Pn and extension lines I1-In and ISDN line I / F unit 7
It stores a telegram sent from the ISDN line DL via, and various service information necessary for the service of the telegram.

In the storage unit 4, communication protocol history information, system control unit 2 and G3 communication control unit A when communication management information and system information processing of each invention of the present application described later are performed.
Handshake information (message information) between N1 to ANn and G4 communication control units DN1 and DN2, program operation history information (operation history information) in G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and G4 communication control unit DN, G3 communication control unit AN1
~ ANn and G4 communication control section DN communication result information and G3 communication control sections AN1 to ANn and G4 communication control section DN version information of the communication program executed.

The circuit switching control unit 5 uses the PSTN line I / F.
Extensions I1 to In and PSTN lines P1 to Pn via the unit 26
Connection exchange with the extension lines I1 to In, connection exchange between the extension lines I1 to In, and connection control of the extension lines I1 to In and the PSTN lines P1 to Pn to the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn. The PSTN line I / F (analog line control unit) unit 6 has an external line P
STN (public network) lines P1 to Pn and extensions I1 to I
n are connected, and a facsimile terminal is connected to each of the extensions I1 to In. As these facsimile terminals, terminals having a G3 mode communication function are connected.

An ISDN line I / F unit (digital line control unit) 7 is connected to an ISDN line DL as a digital line, and a facsimile terminal connected to the digital line DL has a function of executing a communication protocol of G4 facsimile communication. Have. The ISDN line I / F unit 27 controls the connection of the digital line DL to the G4 communication control unit DN and the like.

G3 communication control section (analog communication control section) A
N1 to ANn each have a function of executing a communication protocol for G3 facsimile communication, and each G3 communication control unit AN1 to ANn is connected via a PSTN line I / F unit 6 and a line switching unit 5. G3 mode facsimile communication protocol is executed with the facsimile terminal
3 Performs facsimile communication.

G4 communication control section (digital communication control section) D
N executes the G4 mode facsimile communication procedure with the facsimile terminal connected via the digital line DL to perform the facsimile communication. Further, in the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and the G4 communication control unit DN, a memory storing communication protocol history information is stored.

Next, the operation will be described. In this embodiment, the system control unit 2 causes the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and the G4 communication control unit DN to perform a service request, communication protocol history information, handshake information, program operation history information, communication result information, and a communication program. Is stored in the storage unit 4 and transmitted to a facsimile terminal connected to the extensions I1 to In according to an instruction from the operation unit 3. Hereinafter, these communication management information and system information processing will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the type of information to be logged and the logging request are input from the operation unit 3 (step S
1), the system control unit 2 includes G3 communication control units AN1 to A
The logging information is transferred from the Nn and G4 communication control unit DN to the system control unit 2 and then stored in the storage unit 4 (steps S2 and S3). Next, the circuit switching control unit 5 is controlled to connect the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and the extensions I1 to In (step S4), and the logging information is read from the storage unit 4 and transferred to the G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn. (Step S5).

Next, after calling the extension facsimile terminal to connect the call, the logging information is transmitted as a predetermined communication report by facsimile communication (step S6), and the circuit switching control unit 5 is controlled after the transmission is completed. The G3 communication control units AN1 to ANn and the extensions I1 to In are disconnected, and the process ends (step S7). As the logging information processed by the above processing, there are various kinds of information listed above.
Specific information contents will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows a report of the G4 communication control section DN protocol history list (line trace), and the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus 1 can see the report to know the cause of the communication error. be able to. FIG. 4 shows a report of the system control unit 2 (SCU) and the G4 communication control unit DN (CHU) handshake list, and the administrator can see the cause of the communication error by looking at these message lists. be able to.

FIG. 5 shows a report of the G4 communication control section DN software operation history list. When a manager sees these software operation history and a communication error occurs,
It is possible to know how far the program has operated, and it is possible to efficiently modify the program. Figure 6
The disconnection recovery notification report is shown. When the administrator sees this report and a communication error occurs, information such as why the network disconnected the call can be obtained.

The version information of the program is shown in the lower part of the report name display in FIGS.
If the administrator finds a mistake (bug) in the program by looking at this version information, it can be easily replaced with the ROM in which the corrected program is written (version up), and the program in which the error occurred It is possible to understand the version and the cause.

Therefore, as described above, the administrator can easily take out various management information from the facsimile terminal connected to the extension and use it without increasing the cost by connecting the plotter or the like to the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus 1. The facsimile storage / exchange apparatus 1 can be efficiently maintained and managed.

[0029]

According to the invention described in claim 1, in a facsimile storage and exchange apparatus for providing various services,
In the system control unit, the communication protocol history information when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to a service request is stored in the storage unit,
Since the accumulated communication protocol history information is sent as a predetermined communication report to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension according to the instruction from the operation unit, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily output the communication protocol history information. It is possible to grasp the occurrence status of communication error and the like, and it is possible to efficiently perform maintenance and management of the facsimile storage and exchange apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the system control unit causes the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit to execute service communication by a service request, the system control unit and the analog communication control unit or the digital communication unit. The history of the message information exchanged with the communication control unit is stored in the storage unit, and the history of the stored message information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit. Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily output the history of the message information exchanged between the system control unit and the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit to cope with the system malfunction or the like. Therefore, maintenance and management of the facsimile storage / exchange device can be efficiently performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the system control unit executes in the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to a service request. The operation history information on the communication processing is stored in the storage unit, and the stored operation history information on the communication processing is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit. Therefore, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily output the operation status at the time of communication processing in the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit to deal with a failure in the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit. Therefore, the maintenance and management of the facsimile storage / exchange device can be efficiently performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the system control unit causes the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit to perform service communication in response to a service request, and stores communication result information at the end of communication in the storage unit. Since the accumulated communication result information is sent as a predetermined communication report to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension according to the instruction from the operation unit, the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily perform the analog communication control unit and the digital communication. The communication status can be grasped by outputting the result of service communication performed by the control unit, and the maintenance and management of the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus can be efficiently performed.

According to the invention described in claim 5, the system control unit stores the version information of the communication processing program executed on the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in the storage unit in response to the service request, and the operation unit. The stored version information is sent as a predetermined communication report to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension in accordance with the instruction from, so that the administrator of the facsimile storage / exchange device can easily use it in the analog communication control unit and the digital communication control unit. It is possible to output the version information of the communication program being used, grasp the usage status of the program, and use it as a reference when changing the program, and it is possible to efficiently perform maintenance and management of the facsimile storage and switching apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile storage / exchange apparatus according to the present invention as set forth in claims 1-5.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of communication management information and system information processing in the facsimile storage / exchange apparatus according to the present invention as defined in claims 1-5.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a G4 communication control unit protocol history list transmitted in the communication management information and system information processing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a handshake list between the system control unit and the G4 communication control unit, which is transmitted in the communication management information and system information processing of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a G4 communication control unit software operation history list transmitted in the communication management information and system information processing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a disconnection recovery notification report sent in the communication management information and system information processing of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Facsimile store and exchange device 2 System control unit 3 Operation unit 4 Storage unit 5 Circuit switching control unit 6 PSTN line I / F unit 7 ISDN line I / F unit AN1 to ANn G3 communication control unit DN G4 communication control unit P1 to Pn PSTN Line I1 to In Extension DL ISDN line

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An analog line control unit for accommodating a plurality of extension lines and analog lines such as PSTN and digital lines such as ISDN, and for connecting and exchanging the extension lines and analog lines, and a digital line for controlling connection with the digital lines. An analog communication control unit for performing facsimile communication in the G3 mode between the line control unit and an internal / external line facsimile terminal connected via the analog line control unit, and a connection via the digital line control unit. The digital communication control unit for performing facsimile communication in the G4 mode with the facsimile terminal and the terminal identification information of the extension facsimile terminal etc. input from the operation unit are registered, and various system information and electronic messages received from the facsimile terminal are registered. And a system control unit that controls each of the above units. By exchanging the connection between the extension and the analog line and connecting with the digital line, the message from the extension or extension is received and temporarily stored in the storage unit, and then sent to the specified destination of the registered extension or extension. In a facsimile storage and exchange apparatus that provides various services such as, the system control unit stores the communication protocol history information when the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to the service request. A facsimile storage and exchange device, which stores the communication protocol history information in a facsimile unit connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein when the system control unit causes the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit to perform service communication by the service request, the system control unit and the analog communication control Unit or a digital communication control unit, the history of message information transmitted and received is stored in the storage unit, and the history of the stored message information is connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report according to an instruction from the operation unit. Facsimile store-and-forward device characterized by sending to a facsimile terminal. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit performs analog communication control unit or digital communication control when the analog communication control unit or digital communication control unit executes service communication in response to the service request. Facsimile connected to the extension by accumulating operation history information in communication processing executed in the storage unit in the storage unit and using the accumulated operation history information in communication processing as a predetermined communication report in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit. A facsimile storage / exchange device characterized by transmitting to a terminal. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit executes the service communication by the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in response to the service request, and stores the communication result information at the end of communication. A facsimile storage / exchange device, which stores the communication result information as a predetermined communication report in a facsimile terminal connected to the extension according to an instruction from the operation unit. 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the system control unit stores version information of a communication processing program executed on the analog communication control unit or the digital communication control unit in the storage unit in response to the service request. Then, in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit, the accumulated version information is sent to the facsimile terminal connected to the extension as a predetermined communication report.