JPH10200679A - Communications system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention enables a computer to know the memory transmission result of its own facsimile machine,
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication system with high operability of a computer capable of retransmitting an NG file. A transmission time when image information is transmitted to a memory,
A command instructing to add transmission information such as a transmission file number and a transmission destination telephone number to the FC command in the AT command.
The command is set to SI and transmitted to the PC, and after the memory transmission is completed, a command for instructing the transmission result of OK or NG is set to FTSI in the AT command and transmitted to the PC.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly, to a communication system comprising a computer and a facsimile machine of one's own. The present invention relates to a communication system capable of transmitting information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a facsimile communication application for a computer (PC: personal computer, etc.), facsimile transmission in a form of immediately transmitting image information to a telephone line through an external facsimile modem is realized. . However, if the facsimile machine is connected to the computer via a line instead of the facsimile modem alone, the image information memory mounted on the facsimile machine can be used, and advanced functions such as confidential transmission and broadcast transmission can be used. Therefore, usability and convenience can be improved.

Conventionally, in this type of communication system,
The computer and the facsimile device are connected via RS232C or the like, and the image information created by the computer is transmitted to the facsimile device via the RS232C or the like, and the image information is transmitted from the facsimile device to another facsimile device via a telephone line or the like. Is to be sent. In addition, the computer and the facsimile machine are EIA / TIA-57
The facsimile apparatus analyzes the contents of the AT command received from the computer and transmits / receives a control command called an AT command specified by the ITU-T T.8,592. The signal recommended in 30 is generated, and the image information is transmitted to another machine facsimile apparatus via a telephone line according to a certain protocol.

On the other hand, in a facsimile apparatus, image information received from a computer is temporarily stored in a memory, and after receiving the image information, a call is made through a line.
After calling, image information is read from the memory and transmitted, that is, so-called memory transmission is performed. In this memory transmission, since the image information is temporarily stored in the memory, the ECM held by the own facsimile apparatus is stored.
There is an advantage that additional functions such as (Error Collection Mode) can be executed in a facsimile transmission procedure through a line.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional communication system, the fact that the image information has been transmitted to the own facsimile by the application software of the computer indicates to the operator from the reception log from the own facsimile apparatus. It is possible to know, but it is not possible to know the result (OK, NG, etc.) of the memory transmission from the own facsimile to the other facsimile, and it is impossible for the operator on the computer side to resend the NG file. A problem has occurred.

This is because there is no AT command for exchanging signals between the application software of the computer and the own facsimile machine, and there is no protocol for knowing the transmission result. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system with high operability of a computer that enables a computer to know the result of memory transmission of its own facsimile apparatus and that can retransmit an NG file. And

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a computer and its own facsimile machine are connected, and an AT received from the computer is used.
A communication system in which image information from a computer is transmitted from a facsimile device of one's own device to a facsimile device of another device via a line based on a command, wherein the facsimile device of one's own device temporarily receives image information received from a computer. In the communication system in which the image data is stored in the memory and then transmitted to the other facsimile apparatus, the own facsimile apparatus transmits an AT command to command to add predetermined transmission information when image information is transmitted to the memory. And transmitting the command to the computer after setting the character pattern in the character pattern in the AT command as the character pattern in the AT command. I have.

In this case, the own facsimile apparatus sets a command for adding predetermined transmission information to the character pattern in the AT command when transmitting image information to the memory and transmits the command to the computer. The operator can easily know the transmission information from the transmission log. Also, after the memory transmission is completed from the own facsimile apparatus, a command for instructing the transmission result is set to the character pattern in the AT command and transmitted to the computer, so that the computer operator can use the reception log of the transmission result on the application software. The user can know the file of the transmission NG from the NG file, and by comparing and referring to the NG file and the result of the transmission log on the application software, it is possible to easily know which file is the transmission NG. As a result, it is possible to retransmit an NG file, thereby improving the operability of the computer.

The predetermined transmission information includes a transmission time, a transmission file number, a transmission destination telephone number, and the like. The reception log of the transmission result is compared with the transmission time, the transmission file number, the transmission destination telephone number, and the like. Thus, the NG file can be easily searched. Further, when it is difficult to search for a comparison reference target, the transmission information may be set to one of a transmission time, a transmission file number, a transmission destination telephone number, and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the first aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means transmits only a transmission result of the image information which could not be transmitted to the memory to the computer. It is characterized by. In this case, by transmitting only a file whose transmission result is NG to the computer, it is possible to easily know the NG file and to easily compare the NG file with the transmission log.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means transmits an A as a transmission result after the end of the memory transmission.
The transmission time at the time of memory transmission is set in the character pattern in the T command and transmitted to the computer. In this case, by matching the time of the transmission log with the time of the reception log, even if the name of the other party is not known, the NG file can be easily known from the time, and the NG file can be retransmitted. Can be.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention. First, the configuration will be described. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an own facsimile machine,
This facsimile apparatus 1 is a PC as a computer.
(Personal computer) and a facsimile machine via a telephone line L or the like.

The facsimile apparatus 1 includes a system control unit 2, a scanner 3, a plotter 4, a page memory 5, a compression / reproduction device 6, an image memory (memory) 7, an operation port 8, a system memory 9, a communication control device 10, A network control device 11, a serial-parallel conversion device 12, and a computer communication control device 13 are provided.
Connected by

The system control section 2 controls the entire facsimile machine 1 of its own, and has a CPU (Central Prism).
The facsimile machine 1 has a processing unit, a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and executes a control program stored in the ROM by the CPU, thereby performing a sequence as the own facsimile machine 1. The scanner device 3
For example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used.
According to a command from the system control unit 2, the original is scanned to read the image information of the original.

The plotter device 4 is of a known electrophotographic type including a photosensitive drum, a developing device, a fixing device and the like, and prints out received image information, a mark sheet, a transmission result report and the like. . Page memory 5
Is for storing an image in page units, and temporarily stores an image reproduced by the compression reproduction apparatus 6 and an image before being compressed.

The compression / reproduction device 6 is for shortening the transmission time of the image information and improving the efficiency. The image information is compressed (encoded) at the time of transmission, and the encoded image information is transmitted at the time of reception. The information is reproduced (decoded) and output to the plotter device 4. The image memory 7 temporarily stores image information to be transmitted or received, and includes a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like.

The operation port 8 is provided with various operation keys such as a start key and a numeric keypad for operating the facsimile machine 1 of the present machine.
Various commands such as a transmission / reception command are input. The system memory 9 constitutes a work area and stores various data used by the own facsimile machine 1.

The communication control device 10 includes a modem and an ECM (Erro
r Collection Mode).
0 controls the modem and communicates with other fax machines via ITU.
-TT. Protocol control is performed according to the communication procedure recommended in 30. The modem modulates digital data into analog data at the time of transmission, and demodulates analog data received through the telephone line L into digital data at the time of reception.

The network control unit 11 is located between the communication control unit 10 and the telephone line L, and connects and disconnects a call. The serial-parallel converter 12 is connected to a PC via RS23.
The serial-to-parallel converter 12 is connected to a PC via an EIA / TIA-57 interface.
Image information from a PC is received by transmitting and receiving a control command called an AT command specified in 8,592. For this reason, EIA /
Application software corresponding to TIA-578, 592 is installed and activated.

The computer communication control unit 13 transmits the contents of the ATD command for instructing the modem 10 of the number to be called to the telephone line L in the group of AT commands received from the PC through the serial-parallel converter 12. When analyzing or transmitting image information to memory, predetermined transmission information (transmission time,
A command for adding a transmission file number, a transmission destination telephone number, etc.) is set in the character pattern in the AT command and transmitted to the PC. Are transmitted to a PC after being set to the character pattern in the above, and constitute transmission means together with the system memory 2.

As for the memory transmission, after the image information received from the PC according to the command from the system control unit 2 is temporarily stored in the image memory 7, the image data is transmitted from the image memory 7 by the system control unit 2 when the transmission is completed. Load information,
Next, the communication control unit 10 is activated by the system control unit 2, the telephone line L is called by the network control unit 11, and the image information is transmitted to the other facsimile machine.

On the other hand, the system memory 9 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the job file 21 and the destination file 22
These files 21 and 31 are used when there is a memory transmission request from the PC. Specifically, when there is a memory transmission request, the destination calling number 33 is stored in the calling number 33 column of the destination file 31, and the communication result (OK or NG) 32 is left blank. At this time, the creation time 23 and the file number
Destination file link that stores 24 and indicates the destination file 31
Insert 22.

When the communication with the destination is completed, either OK or NG is stored in the communication result 32, and the destination CIS (called terminal identification signal) 34 and the destination RTI are stored.
(Destination confirmation display) Insert 35. The RTI is an identification character of the other party in the Ricoh protocol. Next, the operation will be described.

First, a procedure for performing memory transmission based on a command from a PC will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG.
As shown in (a), when there is an instruction to transmit image information from the PC, when the computer communication control unit 13 receives an ATD command from the PC through the serial-parallel conversion device 12, the computer communication control unit 12 The ATD command is stored in the primary buffer and stored in the image memory 7.
Here, the image information is compressed by the compression / reproduction device 6 and stored in the image memory 7, and it is checked that there is no problem.

To start memory transmission from the facsimile apparatus 1 to another facsimile apparatus, as shown in FIG. To convert the data into raw data, buffer the data in a line buffer line by line, and compress the data again by the compression / reproduction device 6 in accordance with the compression mode of the other party. Before compression, transmission information such as a creation time, a file number, and a calling number is packed in the image information.

Next, the compressed data is stored in an ECM buffer provided in the communication control device 10 and modulated by a modem as it is, and then transmitted to the telephone line L through the network control device 11,
The image information is transmitted to the other facsimile machine. In the present embodiment, when the PC instructs the facsimile apparatus to transmit the memory, the facsimile apparatus 1 transmits the transmission information by the AT command to the PC, and transmits the transmission result by the AT command when the memory transmission is completed. And
This will be described below. <When sending transmission information to PC> The facsimile machine 1
The calling number added to the ATD of the AT command at the time of receiving the image information from C is stored in the calling number 33 column of the destination file 31, and the PC pattern is stored in FCSI of the AT command character pattern. In the application software, the creation time (for example, 072 representing 7:21 am
1) Return a file number (for example, 399) and a calling number (for example, 4274111111) to the PC.

For this reason, a display as shown in FIG. 4 is performed as a transmission log on the PC side. In FIG. 4, each item is separated by + for easy understanding. Also, the time of the clock on the facsimile machine 1 side is shown instead of the creation time and the time of the transmission log on the PC side. This is because the time on the PC is not known by the facsimile machine 1 and cannot be notified by FCFI.

The calling number is originally, for example, 042
74111111 is 10 digits, but the other part is 11
Since there are digits, nine digits are used for easy identification. Further, the reason why a single-digit space is first entered is that a column (a character indicating OK or NG is entered) used when sending a transmission result is required. <Case of Sending Reception Information to PC> The facsimile apparatus 1 sets the transmission to O when the transmission of all the image information is completed by the memory transmission, or when the transmission cannot be performed normally even at the specified number of recalls.
The transmission result indicating whether it is either K or NG is entered in the communication result 32 of the destination file 31.

Then, the transmission result is transmitted to the application software of the PC using FTSI of the character pattern of the AT command. In this case, if the transmission is OK, enter 0 into the communication result 32, and if the transmission is NG, enter 9; when transmitting to the PC, read out 0 or 9 from the communication result 32 and store this communication result in the memory from the PC. File number 24 of job file 21 stored in system memory 9 at the time of transmission command,
It is read out together with the calling number 33 of the destination file 31 and the creation time of the creation time 23, and is collectively transmitted as a sender column to the PC.

As a result, a display as shown in FIG. 5 is performed on the PC side as a reception log. Further, a display as shown in FIG. 6 is made as a reception log on the screen of the actual PC. The operator can compare and refer to a portion (file number and the like) of the reception log and the transmission log excluding the transmission result, search for a file that is NG, and retransmit the image information.

Next, the actual sequence will be specifically described. FIG. 7 shows a sequence of memory transmission between the PC, the own facsimile machine 1 and the other facsimile machine.
The facsimile apparatus 1 first stores image information in the image memory 7 based on a command from a PC (). Then
A result of whether or not the image information is normally received is reported and printed out by the plotter device 4 (). Next, a result of whether or not the image information has been normally received is transmitted to the PC as a report (). At this time, the PC is recorded in the transmission log of the application software.

Next, the image information stored in the image memory 7 is transmitted to the designated other facsimile machine (). Here, if the transmission cannot be normally performed to the other facsimile machine, the call is re-transmitted up to the number of times set in the facsimile machine 1 and the transmission is performed. Perform Next, the result transmitted to the other machine facsimile machine is printed out as a report by the plotter device 4 (). Next, the result (OK or NG) transmitted to the destination is output to the PC as a report (). At this time, the PC is recorded in the reception log of the application software. This sequence can be arbitrarily set by the user through the operation port 8.

Next, a protocol performed between the PC and the facsimile machine 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the DTE command and DC
The E response is an AT command that is executed between the PC and the facsimile machine 1, and includes a DCE execution operation and a partner FA.
X is an ITU-T T.X that is performed between the facsimile machine 1 and another machine facsimile machine. This is the protocol recommended in 30 and will be explained for each phase. The numbers in parentheses indicate the order of the protocol.

First, a class 2 transmission sequence from the PC to the facsimile machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the modem is initialized by the processes (1) to (6). <Phase A> When transmitting image information from the PC, (7)
As shown in (1), the activation is started by receiving the ATD from the PC (the execution of the phase A is started). Note that A
The second T in TDT indicates that the line type is tone (DTMF)
6163 indicates that the calling number of the other party is 6163.

At this time, when the facsimile machine 1 makes a call (8), the other machine facsimile machine detects an incoming call (9). At this time, the other machine facsimile transmits a CED (called terminal identification signal) and a V21 flag (10, 1).
1). When the facsimile apparatus 1 receives this flag (12), it returns + FCON to the PC as a response to notify that it has been received.

The facsimile apparatus 1 as described above
Since the protocol of the facsimile apparatus is known, the description thereof will be omitted, and the features of the present embodiment will be described in detail. <Phase B> Next, the PC notifies the PC of the identifier (transmission information) of the other machine facsimile device by FCSI (16), and the PC records the transmission time, the transmission file number, the transmission destination telephone number, etc. in the transmission log of the application software. Record.

Next, the function of the other machine facsimile is notified to the PC by + FDIS (19). Then O
K indicates that a command from the PC will be accepted. Next, the PC performs phase C by AT + FDT (21).
Is notified, the facsimile machine 1 notifies the PC of the transmission capability by + FDCS (30). <Phase C> The facsimile apparatus 1 sends a CONNECT signal to the PC to indicate that it is ready to accept the image information.
(31) is sent out. Next, the image information is switched to <NOX> (34) for the image information, and the image information <pix dat
a> (35) is transmitted. Here, the end of the image information from the PC is notified by <DLE><ETX> (38).

Next, when the next page is transmitted from the PC, the PC sends AT + FE to the facsimile apparatus 1.
Notification is made by T = 0 (same mode) or AT + FET = 1 (different mode). At that time, the phase returns to the beginning of phase C (same mode) or phase B (different mode) after phase D. If there is no next page, A
The facsimile machine 1 is notified with T + FET = 2, and the process proceeds to phase D. <Phase D> When the image information received from the PC is normal, the facsimile apparatus 1 notifies the PC of + FPTS: 1 (47), and returns to phase C or phase B if there is a next page. + F if there is no next page
HNG: 0 (48) is notified to the PC and OK is returned.
Shifts to phase E without waiting for a command from. <Phase E> Upon receiving ATH0 (52) from the PC,
After confirming the end, the PC is finally notified of OK (53), the line is disconnected, and the process is terminated.

Next, a class 2 reception sequence from the facsimile machine 1 to the PC will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the modem is initialized by the processes (1) to (3). <Phase A> Notify the PC that RING (6) is to be transmitted and transmitted. The PC notifies the facsimile apparatus 1 that communication is possible using the ATA (7). <Phase B> Next, the PC notifies the facsimile apparatus 1 that the connection has been completed at + FCON (15). Next, the identifier (transmission time, transmission file number, destination telephone number, etc.) of the other machine facsimile apparatus is determined by + FTFI (1).
8) is notified to the PC.

Next, the transmission capability is notified by + FDCS (21), and the acceptance of the command from the PC is notified by OK (22). Next, AT + FDR (23)
Notifies the PC that the transition to phase C is possible, and then notifies the transition to phase C by + FCFR (26). <Phase C> Facsimile machine 1 is connected to PC
After notifying that image information is transmitted by CT (31), D
Switching to image information is made at C2 (32). Next, the end of the image information from the facsimile machine 1 is determined by <DLE><ETX>
After being notified in (38), the process proceeds to phase D. <Phase D> When there is no next page, the facsimile machine 1 notifies the user with + FPTS: 1 (39) and + FET: 2 and waits for a notification from the PC with OK (43). Then P
C notifies AT + FDR (44) that the next page will be accepted, but since there is no next page, FHNG:
At 0 (49), the communication end is notified, and at OK (50), a command from the PC is awaited, and the process proceeds to phase E. <Phase E> Upon receiving ATH0 (51) from the PC,
After confirming the end, the PC is finally notified of OK (52), the line is disconnected, and the process is terminated.

The PC operator sends a transmission log (shown in FIG. 4) and a reception log (FIG. 5) of the application software.
NG) of the transmission result by retrieving the NG file as the transmission result by referring to and comparing the NG file. As described above, in the present embodiment, a command to add transmission information such as a transmission time, a transmission file number, and a transmission destination telephone number when transmitting image information to the memory is set in FCSI in the AT command. Since the command for instructing the transmission result of OK or NG after transmitting the memory is set to FTSI in the AT command and transmitted to the PC, the PC operator transmits the transmission result on the application software. By comparing the transmission log with the reception log, the NG file can be known, and the NG file can be retransmitted. As a result, P
The operability of C can be improved.

If it is difficult to search for the object to be compared, the transmission information includes the transmission time, the transmission file number,
It may be set to one of the destination telephone numbers and the like. Especially,
In the present embodiment, the transmission time at the time of memory transmission is set in the FCSI in the AT command as a transmission result after transmission of the memory is completed, and the transmission time is transmitted to the PC. Thus, even if the name of the other party is not known, the NG file can be easily known from that time, and the NG file can be retransmitted.

In this embodiment, the transmission result is N
Although both the results of G and OK are transmitted to the PC, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the transmission result of the NG file that could not be transmitted to the memory may be transmitted to the PC. By doing so, it is possible to easily know the NG file and to easily compare it with the transmission log.

[0044]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the own facsimile apparatus sets a command for adding predetermined transmission information to the character pattern in the AT command when transmitting image information to the memory. The transmission log is transmitted to the computer, so that the computer operator can easily know the transmission information from the transmission log.

After the memory transmission from the own facsimile apparatus is completed, the command for instructing the transmission result is set in the character pattern in the AT command and transmitted to the computer. NG file can be known from the reception log of, and by comparing and referring to the NG file and the result of the transmission log on the application software, it is possible to easily know which file is the transmission NG. As a result, it is possible to retransmit an NG file, thereby improving the operability of the computer.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by transmitting only a file whose transmission result is NG to the computer,
The NG file can be easily known, and can be easily compared with the transmission log. According to the invention described in claim 3, by matching the time of the transmission log with the time of the reception log, even if the name of the destination is not known,
From that time you can easily know the NG file,
NG files can be retransmitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention, and is a block diagram of a facsimile machine used in the communication system.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a job file according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a destination file.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a data bus when image information of the own facsimile apparatus is transmitted from the PC according to the embodiment;
(B) is a diagram showing a data bus for memory transmission.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a transmission log of application software of the PC according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a reception log of application software of the PC according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an actual screen of a reception log of application software of the PC according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a memory transmission sequence between the PC, the own facsimile apparatus, and the other facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a facsimile class 2 transmission sequence according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a facsimile class 2 reception sequence according to one embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 Own facsimile machine 2 System control unit (transmission means) 3 Scanner device 4 Plotter device 5 Page memory 6 Compression / reproduction device 7 Image memory 8 Operation port 9 System memory 10 Communication control unit 11 Network control device 12 Serial / parallel conversion Device 13 Computer communication control unit (transmission means) 14 Data bus

Claims (3)

[Claims] A communication system in which a computer and a facsimile machine are connected to each other, and image information from the computer is transmitted from the facsimile machine to another facsimile machine via a line based on an AT command received from the computer. In a communication system, the own facsimile apparatus temporarily stores image information received from a computer in a memory, and then transmits the image information to another facsimile apparatus. Is set to a character pattern in the AT command to send a command instructing to add predetermined transmission information at the time of memory transmission, and the command is transmitted to the computer. Set to the character pattern in Communication system, comprising a transmitting means for. 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means transmits only a transmission result of the image information which could not be transmitted to the memory to the computer. 3. The transmitting means, after the end of the memory transmission,
3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein a transmission time at the time of memory transmission is set in a character pattern in an AT command as a transmission result, and the transmission time is transmitted to a computer.