JPS6347301B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for notifying a sender of message broadcast communication such as facsimile when broadcast communication to a destination becomes impossible.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a network configuration for broadcast communication. The broadcasting device may be located outside the network or inside the network, but
FIG. 1 shows the case in a network. In FIG. 1, I is a calling terminal, such as an information center. _T1 to _T5 are destination terminals, such as facsimile terminals. X ₀ to _{X 3} are exchanges that accommodate information centers or facsimile terminals, respectively, and hold subscriber data of the corresponding terminals. S ₀ , S ₁ , and S ₂ are storage devices and have a broadcast expansion function. CCS is a common signal network that interconnects exchanges and storage devices and transfers call control information and other information. It is also possible to combine exchange X _i and storage device S _j into one broadcast device, but in the example shown in Figure 1, exchange _X The storage device S _j is installed as a separate device. Therefore, in this example, the functions of exchange X _i , storage device S _j
Together, these functions can be seen as the functions of a broadcasting device.

An overview of broadcast communication will be explained with reference to FIG. When originating information center I dials a special number and requests broadcast communication service from exchange X ₀ , exchange X ₀ sets up a path to storage device S ₀ . After _that , _the originating information center I sends _N broadcast destinations through the exchange X ₀ , for example, ₆ numbers _n Send to storage device _S0 . Storage device S ₀ is the terminal number
Switches X ₁ to _{X 3} that accommodate each terminal are determined from n ₁ to _{n 5} , and n ₁ is assigned to X ₁ , n ₂ and n ₃ are assigned to X ₂ , and n ₄ and n ₅ are assigned to X 1.
is housed in x ₃ , and n ₆
is an incorrect number. Next _, storage _device S ₀ requests switchboards X ₁ , Check to see if there are any. If it is determined that communication is possible with respect to numbers _n1 to _n5 , these are recognized as valid destinations, and the valid destinations _n1 to _n5 and invalid destinations _n6 are notified to the originating information center I, for example, as a list. Since there is one or more valid destinations, originating information center I sends a message, for example, a two-page facsimile message. After storing the message, the storage device _S0 disconnects the path between I and _S0 . After that, storage device S ₀ has terminal number n ₁
and 2 pages of the communication are transferred to S ₁ , and 2 pages of the same communication as terminal numbers n ₂ to n ₅ are transferred to S ₂ . This is the broadcast expansion process. On the other hand, the storage device S ₁ requests the exchange X ₁ to set up a path to the facsimile terminal T ₁ using the terminal number n ₁ , and after setting the path, sends 2 pages of message and sends a message to that effect via the CCS network. Notify X ₀ and complete communication to facsimile terminal T ₁ . In a similar manner, the storage device S ₂ can be accessed from the facsimile terminal T ₂ .
Send 2 pages of correspondence 4 times in sequence to T ₅ ,
When communication to each terminal is completed, X ₀
to notify. The exchange X ₀ performs necessary billing processing and the like based on communication completion notifications from the storage devices S ₁ and S ₂ .

By the way, in such broadcast communication, if it is determined that the received message cannot be transmitted due to a failure in the disk device for storing the message, for example, before the broadcast is expanded in the storage device _S0 , conventionally, the message is sent to each destination. Either return each non-delivery notice (a total of 5 non-delivery notices in the example shown in Figure 1) to originating information center I, or return a non-delivery list containing all recipients to originating information center I. It was clear. However, the former method has the disadvantage that when the number of valid destinations reaches several hundred, for example, it is necessary to process the return of non-delivery notifications several hundred times, resulting in an extremely large amount of processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional system, and to realize a broadcast disapproval notification system that requires simpler processing, a smaller amount of processing, and is very easy for callers to understand.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention introduces a representative reception number for broadcast calls, and if it is determined that broadcast communication is impossible to all destinations before broadcasting, the representative reception number will also be used. This feature is characterized by notifying the sender that broadcasting is not possible. Hereinafter, the contents of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a signal sequence according to the method of the present invention. In Figure 2, switch X ₀ is a packet switch, and storage device
It is assumed that messages are transferred between S ₀ -X ₀ -information center I by packet communication. moreover,
It is assumed that a fixed connection (PVC) is used between S ₁ and I, and a plurality of logical paths (T paths) at the transport level are set.

Information center I searches for an empty T path and selects a function control level path (F path) on the transport level.
, and sends a BIND command to the storage device S ₀ in order to negotiate the functions to be used on the F path. When the storage device S ₀ receives the BIND command, it puts the F-path in use and, if negotiation is possible, returns +RSP (acknowledgement) to the information center I, completing the F-path setting.
Thereafter, all commands and responses are transferred in DT packets on the T path. Furthermore, the F-Pass can be set at the beginning of the workday, made available for use throughout the day, and released at the end of the workday. Incidentally, since the operation of the packet exchange _X0 is not directly related to the present invention, detailed explanation will be omitted.

Next, the information center I transmits a center-to-end broadcast communication request (CMS) command to the storage device S ₀ , and if the storage device S ₀ can accept the request, it returns +RSP. After that, the information center I sends the destination numbers n ₁ to n ₅ and n ₆ to the storage device S ₀ using a broadcast address transfer (MAD) command, and the storage device S ₀ notifies the reception of the MAD command using +RSP. respond. storage device
S ₀ then learns that n ₆ is the wrong terminal number, and for the remaining n ₁ to _{n 5} , it requests the corresponding exchanges X ₁ , X ₂ , and X ₃ to read the called subscriber data ( RSD) signal via the CCS network. Each of the exchanges X ₁ , X ₂ , and X ₃ sends back the result of reading the subscriber data, the network congestion state, etc., to the storage device S ₀ using an same response (ASD) signal. When the storage device _S0 sequentially receives each ASD signal, it checks its contents and determines that _n1 to _n5 are communicable destinations.It sets these five destinations as valid destinations and assigns a reception number to each one in turn. Assign CI ₁ , CI ₂ , ...CI ₅ . Here, n _i and CI _i (i=1 to 5) are each a pair. Also, storage device S ₀ is the reception number for 5 destinations.
Edit the CI _i list and broadcast communication response (MCA)
It is sent back to information center I as a response. Information center I returns +RSP to confirm receipt of the MCA.

Here, it is assumed that the protocol (communication protocol) specifies in advance that the CI _j for the first valid destination number in the list in the MCA (for example, CI ₁ for n ₁ ) is the representative reception number.
Note that the list in the MCA also includes the fact that n ₆ is an incorrect number.

When information center I receives the MCA response,
A reception preparation request (PGT) command to send the first page message is sent to the storage device S ₀ , and when the storage device S ₀ is ready, it returns +RSP. Thereafter, the information center I sends the first page of the message to the storage device _S0 using a picture information (PIX) command. If one page of information is large, multiple PIX commands may be required. When the PIX command for one page is successfully received, the storage device S ₀ returns +RSP.
In this embodiment, the message is only one page, and the message consists entirely of kanji code information, and the message is stored in the storage device S ₀
Before broadcasting, a kanji pattern generator is used to convert scanned linear facsimile image information into so-called codes/
It is assumed that pattern/(C/P) conversion is performed. When the necessary amount of communication has been sent to storage device S ₀ , information center I sends a communication end (CED) command to S ₀ , storage device S ₀ returns +RSP, and S ₀ and I
In both cases, the F path is free.

Since all of the received messages are code information, the storage device S ₀ performs C/P conversion of the code information. At this time, code information other than the predetermined rules for C/P conversion is detected, and
When it becomes impossible to continue P conversion, storage device _S0 determines that the message cannot be accepted by the network. In this case, it becomes impossible to send the page to all destination terminals, and it is necessary to notify information center I of this fact. The storage device S ₀ sends back a service interruption notification message (SIM) command to the information center I using the empty F path to the effect that the page cannot be sent to all destination terminals due to rejection. At this time, write only one representative reception number (CI ₁ ) to the SIM, and write the other CI ₂ ~
CI ₅ does not write. When the information center I receives the SIM, it returns +RSP as a response signal. Furthermore, information center I receives the representative reception number CI ₁ in the SIM command from the representative reception number CI 1 in the broadcast communication possible (MCA) response to the center-to-end broadcast communication service request (CMS) command previously requested to the network. After automatically checking the number CI ₁ and learning that the service was incomplete, we also learned from the cause code in the SIM that it was a kanji code format error, so we reviewed the kanji code string, etc. After making the corrections, make a broadcast request, etc. again.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the signal format of the MCA response. FIG. 3 is a part of the information at the function control level, which is an excerpt of the part related to the present invention. In Figure 3 1, CC is a code indicating MCA, UAN is the number of unavailable destinations, and OOC is the storage device S ₀
The terminal station number and TVI _i in the CCS network are terminal verification information for each destination. In the example in Figure 2 above, UAN
The value of is 1 (for n ₆ ), TVI _i is i=1 to 6,
The matching results for n ₁ to n ₆ are shown in order.

FIG. 3 shows detailed TVI information for destinations with which communication is not possible. CVUSE indicates the reason for communication failure, for example, X “01”: Not subscribed X “02”: Terminated terminal abnormality Here, X "nn" indicates that nn is expressed in hexadecimal.

Figure 3 shows detailed TVI information for communication destinations, TVEF is the terminal verification result display, and TVEF
=0 indicates that communication is possible, and TVEF=1 indicates that communication is disabled.
RI is representative reception number display, and RI=1 indicates that it is the representative. CI is the reception number, and here it consists of 20 bits. Therefore, the same CI will be assigned to approximately 1 million destinations, and 1 CI will be assigned per day.
Even if one storage device S processes 100,000 destinations,
No duplicate CIs will be awarded for 10 days.

Figure 4 shows service interruption notification message (SIM)
An example of a command signal format is shown.
In FIG. 4, like FIG. 3, only information related to the present invention at the function control level is extracted. CC is SIM
RI is a representative CI type indication indicating whether the following reception number CI is a representative reception number,
RI=1 indicates a representative CI. DATE is the date, TIME
is the time and indicates the reception date and time of the first page of the page whose reception was rejected. PF is an interrupted page display flag and has 32 pages, and 1 bit is allocated to each page. PF=1
PF=0 indicates that the page is received but not delivered, and PF=0 indicates that it is normal or not received. CAUSE is the cause code and PF=
Displays the cause of the page with the lowest page number of 1. For example, X “01”: Reject page acceptance (control page length exceeded) X “02”: Reject page acceptance (C/P conversion format error) X “03”: Reject page acceptance (image quality abnormality) X “04” : Undelivered.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a storage device that implements the method of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the storage device _S0 has a C/P conversion function, a broadcast expansion function, and the like. 10, 11, 12 are each X ₀ , CCS network, S ₁ ,
In the interface circuit (INT) corresponding to S ₂ ,
Performs communication control for each interface. 13 is the main memory (MM), 14 is the central processing unit (CP),
15 is a high-speed data transfer channel (CH), 16,
17 is memory for storing correspondence (M), 18 is C/P
It is a conversion processing device.

When the storage device S ₀ receives the MAD command from the information center via INT ₁ 10, it sends the broadcast destination number.
Temporarily store it in the MAD buffer (MADBUF) on MM13. The CP14 sequentially reads the destination terminal number from the MADBUF and creates an RSD signal.
Send to the corresponding X _i via INT ₂ 11. On the other hand, the ASD signal from _Xi is also sequentially received via INT ₂ 11. Based on the verification results, CP14 sends the list for MCA return to MM1.
3. After completing the verification for all destinations,
Create an MCA response, X ₀ via INT ₁ 10
It is sent back to information center I via. Information center I
When it receives a PGT command from , it secures a message storage area with a predetermined capacity on M ₁ 16, and when preparation is complete, it returns +RSP. Thereafter, the PIX command is received via CH 15 via INT ₁ 10, and is sequentially stored in a predetermined area of M ₁ 16. At this time, if the storage area is smaller than the area secured in advance, additional storage areas are secured one by one. When one page of PIX is successfully received, CP
14 returns +RSP and sequentially transfers the messages accumulated in M ₁ 16 to CPE 18 via CH 15.
The CPE 18 determines that the communication is code information, sequentially performs C/P conversion processing according to the C/P conversion rules, and converts the pattern information obtained as a result.
Transfer to M ₂ 17 via CH15. In this way, if one page is converted normally, the message patterned together with the destination terminal number will be transferred to S ₁ and S ₂ via each line of INT ₃ 12. Note that a detailed explanation of this part will be omitted since it is not directly related to the present invention.

On the other hand, if the CPE 18 detects, for example, a violation of the C/P conversion rules during C/P conversion, the CPE 18
immediately cancels the C/P conversion and notifies the CP 14 to that effect. In response to this, CP14 has M ₁ 16, M ₂
Delete the storage area of the corresponding message on 17 and remove the SIM card.
Create a command. At this time, CP14 is MCA
Extract the representative reception number CI from the list on the MM13 created for the return and write it to the specified position on the SIM command signal format. SIM
After creating the command, the CP 14 searches for an empty F-pass and sends the SIM back to the information center I using the F-pass.

As explained above, according to the present invention, when broadcast communication is not possible, only the representative reception number is returned to the caller. For example, even if the sender is a computer, it is possible to provide a broadcast notification method that is easy to process.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration for message broadcast communication, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a signal sequence according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a signal sequence according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the format of the Notification of Broadcast Notification (SIM) command in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the storage device for realizing the present invention. be. I...Information center, _T1 to _T5 ...Facsimile terminal,
_{X 0 ~ _} Memory for correspondence, 18...C/P
conversion device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 The broadcast device receives destination numbers for N destinations and a message for 1 destination from the sender, and a broadcast device sends the same message to valid N' destinations (NN'1) among the N destinations. In the broadcasting system, when the broadcasting device receives destination numbers for N destinations from the sender, it selects the valid destinations among them.
A network reception number is assigned to each N′ address, and the list is returned to the sender. After receiving the message from the sender, at least a part of the message cannot be sent to all N′ addresses. If it is determined that this is the case, the caller is notified of this using a representative reception number in the list.