JPH05199396A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the utilizing efficiency of a line by attaining simultaneous communication of a G3 equipment through the connection of an existing G3 facsimile equipment in a G4 facsimile equipment accommodating an ISDN function or an ISDN function and a PSTN function. CONSTITUTION:A G4 facsimile equipment 1 is provided with an interface 10 for the connection to a G3 facsimile equipment 12 and when a G3 facsimile call reaches while a G3 communication control section 6 of the G4 facsimile equipment 1 is in use, a means 9 switching a communication path is switched to the G3 facsimile equipment 12 connecting to the G4 facsimile equipment 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine connected to a digital integrated service network and having a lower allowable number of G3 communications than the number of lines that can be accommodated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital integrated service network (hereinafter referred to as ISD
G4 (group 4) FAX connected to
The G3 (group 3) FAX connected to the public telephone network (hereinafter referred to as PSTN) is already in widespread use for some time, although it is gradually spreading due to its high speed, high definition, and economical efficiency. It is expected that G3 FAX will be the mainstream of facsimile communication. In addition, the ISDN line
If it is introduced instead of the STN line, the telephone number will change in most cases, so the PSTN line remains unchanged.
Many users introduce SDN lines. Under these circumstances, G4 FAX, which accommodates both ISDN and PSTN lines and is capable of G3 communication, was born. As such a facsimile machine, there is JP-A-2-241168.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of such a facsimile apparatus 1. A scanner 3 for reading a document, a printer 4 for outputting a document, a main controller 2 for overall control, a G4 communication controller (G4CC) for performing G4 communication procedures.
U) 5, G3 communication control unit (G3CC) that performs G3 communication procedure
U) 6, a digital network control unit (I-) that connects to ISDN to perform network control and also determines G4 / G3 when receiving a call.
NCU) 7, an analog network control unit (NCU) 8 connected to the PSTN for network control, and the like.

ISDN has two information channels on one line, and G3 FAX is provided by interworking between networks.
Since IS3 and PSTN can be accommodated, G3 communication can be performed in three channels when ISDN and PSTN are accommodated. However, in order to perform G3 communication at the same time, at least two G3 communication control units 6 are required, and since parallel processing is required, the cost of the device increases. For this reason, even in a FAX containing ISDN and PSTN, in many cases, G4 communication control unit 5 and G3
The communication control section 6 is provided one by one. However, in the case of such a FAX, when G3 communication is being performed on any channel, even if an incoming call for G3 is made via another idle channel, it cannot be accepted.

Further, in a G4 FAX that accommodates ISDN and is capable of only G4 communication, even if there is an incoming call from G3 due to an inter-network connection, it does not have a G3 communication control unit and therefore cannot accept it.

[0006]

When the number of G3 communication control units is smaller than the number of channels in which the G3 communication of the accommodated line is possible (including the case where there is no G3 communication control unit), even if there are empty channels, When all the G3 communication control units are used, the G3 incoming call cannot be accepted.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of simultaneous G3 and G3 communication or G4 and G3 communication while using the G3 communication control section or by using another free channel even when the G3 communication control section is not provided. Is to be possible in.

[0008]

The above-mentioned object is to connect a ISDN to control a network and to determine whether an incoming call is G3 or G4, and an analog network control section to connect a PSTN to control a network. And a G3 communication control unit that performs G3 communication,
The G3 communication control unit that performs G4 communication is connected to the G3 FAX, and when the route to the G3 FAX is ISDN, the G3 interface that changes the order of incoming and outgoing calls and the G3 interface is connected to the G3 FAX, or when the G3 FAX is connected. It is achieved by having a monitoring unit that monitors whether or not communication is in progress, and a call from the G3 FAX, and means for switching the route from the digital network control unit and the route from the PSTN to the G3 communication control unit and the G3 interface, respectively. It

Also, a G4 FAX that accommodates only ISDN
Even in the case where the G3 communication control unit is not provided, the digital network control unit, the G3 interface, the monitoring unit, and the means for switching the communication path to the G3 FAX when the communication is G3 are achieved.

[0010]

According to the present invention, when the G4 FAX is in the G3 communication via the ISDN or PSTN and a G3 call is received via an idle channel, if there is no unused G3 communication control unit, the G3 interface is used. Via the G4 FAX
G3 simultaneous communication becomes possible by switching the communication path to the G3 FAX connected to and performing G3 communication.

Further, in the case of a G4 FAX which does not have a G3 communication function, when a G3 incoming call is received, the communication path is set to the G4 FAX.
By connecting to the G3 FAX connected to X and performing G3 communication, simultaneous communication between G4 and G3 becomes possible.

[0012]

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a G4FAX 1 of the present invention, and FIGS.
It is a flow chart which shows a processing procedure at the time of an incoming call from ISDN of X1, and an incoming call from PSTN. 12 of FIG.
Is an existing G3FAX, 10 is an interface for connecting the G3FAX 12, 11 is a means for monitoring whether or not the G3FAX 12 in the G3 interface 10 is connected, and if connected, whether or not communication is in progress, Reference numeral 9 is a means for switching which of G3CCU6 and G3FAX12 is to perform G3 communication, and is linked so that the route from the digital network control unit (I-NCU) 7 and the route from the PSTN do not collide.

When there is an incoming call to the G4FAX1 of FIG. 1 via ISDN (301), the digital network control unit (IN)
CU) 7 is the received call from G4FAX or G3F
It is determined whether it is from AX (302).

When an incoming call to the G4FAX1 is from the G4FAX, the main control section 2 causes the G4 communication control section (G4CCU) 5
Is determined to be usable (303), and if possible, the digital network control unit 7 is connected to the G4 communication control unit 5 to perform G4 communication (304).

When the main control unit 2 determines that the G4 communication control unit 5 is unusable (already in use) when the incoming call to the G4 FAX 1 is made (303), the digital network control unit 7 A busy notification is sent to the partner G4 FAX (310).

When the incoming call to the G4FAX1 is from the G3FAX, the main control section 2 causes the G3 communication control section (G3CCU) 6
If it is possible, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 so as to connect the digital network control unit 7 to the G3 communication control unit 6 (306), and the G3 communication control unit 6 is set to G3. Communication is performed (307).

When the incoming call is from the G3 FAX, the main control unit 2 determines that the G3 communication control unit 6 cannot be used (already used).
(305), and the monitoring unit 11 further adds G3FA to the G4FAX1
When the main controller 2 is notified that X12 is connected (308) and is in a usable state (not in communication).
(309), the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 so that the communication path from the digital network control unit 7 is connected to the G3 FAX 12 via the G3 interface 10, and notifies the G3 interface 10 of that. (3
11) The G3 interface 10 converts the G3 incoming call received by the digital network control unit into an incoming call to the G3 FAX 12,
The G3 FAX 12 is made to communicate (312).

When the incoming call is from the G3 FAX, the main control unit 2 determines that the G3 communication control unit is unavailable (already in communication) (305), and the monitoring unit 11 sends the G3 FAX 1 to the G3F.
When the AX 12 is not connected (308) or the connected G3 FAX 12 notifies the main control unit 2 that it cannot be used (already used) (309), the main control unit 2 notifies the digital network control unit 7 of the other party. A busy notification is sent to the G3 FAX (310).

Next, when the G4 FAX 1 receives an incoming call via the PSTN (401), the main control unit 2 determines whether the G3 communication control unit (G3 CCU) 6 is usable (402), and if possible, The main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 so that the PSTN and the analog network control unit (NCU) 8 are connected (403), and causes the G3 communication control unit 6 to perform G3 communication (404).

The main control unit 2 judges that the G3 communication control unit 6 cannot be used (402), and the monitoring unit 11 judges that the G3 FAX 12 is connected to the G4 FAX 1 (405) and is in a usable state (406). When notifying the main control unit 2 to that effect, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 so that the PSTN is connected to the G3 FAX 12 via the G3 interface 10 (408), and causes the G3 FAX 12 to perform G3 communication (409). .

The main control unit 2 determines that the G3 communication control unit 6 is unusable (402), and the monitoring unit 11 determines whether the G3 FAX 12 is not connected (405) or in the unusable state (406). When notifying the main control unit 2, the analog network control unit 8 gives a busy notification to the partner G3 FAX (407).

G3FAX12 connected to the G4FAX1
When there is a further call request (501), the monitoring unit 11 notifies the main control unit 2 to that effect. The main control unit 2 determines whether the PSTN line is free (502), and if it is free, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 to connect the G3 interface 10 to the PSTN (503), and the G3FAX1.
2 to perform G3 communication (505).

The main control unit 2 judges whether the PSTN line is free (502), and when it is not free, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 and connects the G3 interface 10 to the digital network control unit 7 (504). ) It notifies the G3 interface 10 to that effect. G3 interface 10
Converts the calling procedure from the G3 FAX 12 so that it can call ISDN through the digital network control unit 7, and ISD
Make G3 FAX12 perform G3 communication via N (50
5).

When there is a call request from the G4 FAX1
(601), the main control unit 2 determines whether the call is G4 or G3 (6
02) At the time of G4 communication, it is judged whether or not there is a free channel in the ISDN line (604). If there is a free channel, G4 communication is performed via the G4 communication control unit 5 and the digital network control unit 7.

When there is no idle channel on the ISDN line, the call is waited until an idle channel is formed on the ISDN line.

When a call is made from the G4 FAX1, G3
At the time of communication, the main control unit 2 determines whether there is a free channel in the ISDN line (603), and if there is a free space, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9 to connect the digital network control unit 7 and the G3 communication control unit 6. Then, (608) G3 communication is performed via the G3 communication control unit 6 and the digital network control unit 7 (609).

When there is no free channel in the ISDN line, the main control unit 2 switches the switching means 9, connects the route of the G3 communication control unit 6 and the analog network control unit 8 to PSTN (605), and performs G3 communication. (609).

[0029]

According to the present invention, ISDN and PSTN
In a G4 facsimile apparatus that accommodates a G3 facsimile machine and has less possibility of G3 communication than the number of channels capable of G3 communication, simultaneous communication of G3 becomes possible by connecting G3 FAX, which is already widely used, through an interface. As a result, the line accommodated in the facsimile machine can be used efficiently.

Further, in a G4 facsimile apparatus which accommodates ISDN and is capable of only G4 communication, G3 communication is performed by a G3 FAX connected to the facsimile.
It is possible to provide a device corresponding to the transition period from 3 to G4.

The present invention is realized by adding a switching unit for switching a communication path, a monitoring unit for monitoring whether the G3 FAX is connected, or the like, and an interface for connecting an existing G3 FAX and converting a call control procedure. Therefore, the cost of the device can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when an ISDN call is received in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when a PSTN call is received in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart when a call is made from the G3 FAX of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart at the time of making a call from the G4 FAX of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... G4 facsimile device, 5 ... G4 communication control unit, 6 ...
G3 communication control section, 7 ... Digital network control section, 8 ... Analog network control section, 9 ... Communication path switching means, 10 ... G3 interface, 11 ... G3 FAX monitoring section.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Sadayuki Ishibashi 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Micro Software Systems Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A digital network control unit connected to a digital integrated service network for network control, an analog network control unit connected to a public telephone network for network control, and a G4 communication control unit for controlling G4 communication procedures. , A G3 communication control unit that controls the G3 communication procedure, a main control unit that controls the communication control unit and the overall control unit, an interface that connects the G3 FAX, and whether or not the G3 FAX is connected to the interface. When the communication is being performed, whether or not communication is in progress, a monitoring unit that monitors a call from the connected G3 FAX, a signal from the digital network control unit, and a route from the public telephone network are set to G3.
Communication controller and G connected by the above interface
When a G3 incoming call is further received while communicating using the G3 communication control unit, the G3F connected to the FAX is provided.
A facsimile apparatus, characterized in that G3 communication is performed by switching a path from a digital network control unit or a public telephone network to an AX to enable simultaneous G3 communication. 2. A digital network control unit for connecting to a digital integrated service network and controlling the network, and a G4 for performing a G4 communication procedure.
Communication control unit, main control unit for overall control, G3 FAX
And a means for determining whether or not a G3 FAX is connected to the interface and whether or not the G3 FAX connected is connected to the digital network control section. When the call is from the G3FAX and the G3FAX is connected to the G3 interface, the route from the digital network control unit is connected to the G3 interface, and the G3FAX connected to the interface performs G3 communication. A facsimile apparatus, which enables simultaneous communication between G4 and G3 without having a G3 communication control unit for controlling a G3 communication procedure in the apparatus itself.