JPH05252290A - Data communication system utilizing plural lines - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time required for communication by devising the communication system such that an optimum transmission system is automatically selected based on a total communication time with respect to the ultrahigh speed communication using plural lines and sending communication data in parallel through them. CONSTITUTION:A transmission system management means 104 manages plural transmission systems with priority depending on the transmission capability. A dial means 101 makes dialing to an opposite station with the transmission system selected by a transmission system selection means 103. A connection discrimination means 102 discriminates the propriety of the line connection by the transmission system. The transmission system selection means 103 selects the transmission system with high priority from the transmission system management means 104 and informs it to the dial means 101 and decreases the priority of the selected transmission system when the connection discrimination means 102 makes negative discrimination of line connection with respect to the transmission system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data communication system using a plurality of lines, and in particular, each communication station has a function of transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication lines, and the transmitting station divides the communication data into a plurality of pieces. The present invention relates to a data communication system using a plurality of lines, in which data is transmitted in parallel from a plurality of communication lines, and a receiving station synthesizes data sent from the plurality of communication lines to restore the original communication data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when transmitting and receiving data between communication devices such as facsimile machines, since only one communication line can be used at the same time, one communication data is serially transmitted by one line. Therefore,
When transmitting image data having a large amount of information such as newspapers and magazines, there is a problem that the transmission time is extremely long.

However, in recent years, a comprehensive service digital network (hereinafter abbreviated as ISDN) has been constructed, and it has become easy to use a plurality of communication lines at the same time. ISDN requires a dedicated communication network for each service (telephone, data, etc.) that has been used up to now. For a communication form, a single user / network interface can be used to provide a plurality of different services or a plurality of same services. This is a communication mode that is handled in an integrated manner and has an advantage that access lines can be integrated into one.

ISDN is based on 64 kb / s because of its compatibility with conventional telephone voice channels. Also, ISD
In order to support higher speed data communication under N environment, H0 channel (384 kb / s), H1 channel (1536 kb / s), etc. are defined in addition to B channel (64 kb / s).

As part of effective use of such ISDN, in recent years, communication data is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each divided block data is transmitted in parallel, thereby substantially increasing the transmission speed. The so-called ultra-high speed communication system, which shortens the communication time, is being researched.

[0006]

The time required for communication is as follows:
Since it is the sum of the "call setup time" for connecting the line and the "transmission time" for actually transmitting the data, for example, 1
To secure a transmission rate of 536 kb / s, it is better to secure one H1 channel (1536 kb / s × 1) than to secure four H0 channels (384 kb / s × 4). The total communication time is shortened by the shortened amount.

However, when the transmission method using the H1 channel is selected, the communication is not permitted unless the line for 1536 kb / s can be secured, and the transmission method must be selected again. On the other hand, if a transmission method that uses four H0 channels is selected, even if only 1200 kb / s lines can be secured, three H0 channels will be used.
In some cases, it is advantageous because communication can be performed using a line.

As described above, in the data communication system utilizing a plurality of lines, the optimum transmission system changes depending on the idle line condition at that time, so that it is difficult for the operator to select the optimum transmission system. ..

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and from the viewpoint of the total communication time, the optimum transmission method is automatically selected at that time, and the time required for communication is set. Is to shorten.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention manages a plurality of transmission methods in a data communication method using a plurality of lines in a priority order determined according to their transmission capabilities. Transmission method management means, transmission method selection means for selecting a transmission method from the transmission method management means, calling means for making a call to the partner station in the selected transmission method, and determination of success or failure of line connection by the transmission method. The transmission method selecting means includes a connection determining means, and the transmission method selecting means first selects a transmission method having a high priority order, and the priority order of the transmission method to be selected is sequentially set every time the connection determining means determines whether or not the line is connected. The feature is that it is lowered.

[0011]

According to the above construction, the transmission system having the higher priority is selected first, and when the line connection is judged to be rejected, the transmission systems having the lower priority are sequentially selected. Since data transmission is performed, the transmission method with the highest priority at that time is automatically selected.

[0012]

1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

The calling means 101 is a transmission system selection means 10
The other station is called by the transmission method selected by 3. The connection determination means 102 determines the success or failure of the line connection by the transmission method. The transmission method management unit 104 manages a plurality of transmission methods in a priority order determined according to their transmission capabilities. The transmission method selection means 103 first selects a transmission method having a high priority from the transmission method management means 104 and notifies the calling means 101 of the transmission method. Then, the transmission method management means 104 selects a transmission method having a lower priority than the previously selected transmission method, and the calling means 1 is selected.
01 is notified.

In such a configuration, the transmission system management means 104 manages a plurality of transmission systems in a priority order determined according to their respective transmission capacities, as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the first priority is a transmission method using one line (1536 kb / s × 1) of H1 channel, and the second priority is four lines of H0 channel (384 kb).
/ s x 4 = 1536 kb / s) is used for transmission, and the third priority is 24 channels of B channel (64 kb / s x 24 = 1).
536 kb / s) is the transmission method used.

The transmission method selection means 103 first selects the transmission method management means 104 to H as a transmission method having a high priority.
Select communication by 1 channel (1536kb / s x 1). The calling means 101 calls the partner station on the H1 channel,
When the line connection is successful, the H1 channel communication is started.

On the other hand, if the line connection fails, the connection determination means 102 notifies the transmission method selection means 103 of the connection failure. The transmission method selection means 103 selects communication by the H0 channel (384 kb / s × 4) from the transmission method management means 104 as the transmission method having a lower priority than the H1 channel, and the calling means 101 is the line by the H0 channel. Perform connection processing.

Similarly, the transmission system selection means 103
Each time the line connection fails, the priority of the transmission system selected from the transmission system management means 104 is lowered, and when the line connection succeeds, communication is started with the transmission system at that time.

2 and 3 are schematic block diagrams of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied. Here, the configuration necessary for explaining the operation as the transmitting station is shown in FIG. 2, the configuration necessary for explaining the operation as the receiving station is shown in FIG. 3, and the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and Indicates the subscript a and the receiving station indicates the subscript b to distinguish them from each other.

In FIG. 2, the operation unit 11a has operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a function selection key, a display unit, etc., and the system control unit 1 receives information according to the contents of the operation by the operator.
Output to 0a. The system control unit 10a controls the entire facsimile device.

The image input section 14a reads the document information on the document 1 and converts it into image data of a digital signal,
This is output to the encoding unit 15a. The encoding unit 15a encodes the image data and outputs it to the file storage unit 16a.

The file storage unit 16a stores the encoded image data as an image file. The file dividing unit 17a divides the image data accumulated in the file accumulating unit 16a into a plurality of block data and outputs the block data. As shown in FIG. 6, the divided block control unit 18a manages the divided block data such as document No., page No., block No., block data size, page size, and image quality. Is added and output.

The block delivery control unit 33a delivers each block data to each protocol control unit 21a-1 to 21a-n. Each protocol control unit 21a-1 to 21a-n
Transmits the delivered block data to the receiving station by a normal protocol process. Multiple communication controller 12a
Controls the protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-n.

The line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n automatically dial and call the receiving station when there is a transmission instruction by one-touch dialing or speed dialing, and process the connection of the line with the receiving station. To execute.

The line switching unit 19a is the system control unit 10
In response to an instruction from a, each protocol control unit 21a-1
21a-n and the line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n are appropriately connected. The multiple line control unit 13a controls each of the line control units 20a-1 to 20a-n.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the file synthesizing unit 32
b is a combination of a plurality of block data delivered from the divided block control unit 18b based on the management information,
Output to the file storage unit 16b. The decryption unit 31b
The image data stored in the file storage unit 16b is decrypted. The image output unit 30b records the decrypted image data to restore the original 1.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the communication system of the transmitting station which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S101, it is determined whether or not the ultra-high speed communication mode is designated, and the operator operates the operation unit 1
When the key switch 1a is operated to specify the ultra-high speed communication mode, the operation unit 11a instructs the system control unit 10a to operate in the ultra-high speed communication mode.

In step S102, the system controller 1
0a instructs the image input section 14a to read the original 1, and the image input section 14a reads the original 1, converts it into image data of a digital signal, and outputs it to the encoding section 15a. The encoding unit 15a encodes image data by an appropriate encoding method and stores the encoded image data in the file storage unit 16a.

In step S103, the system controller 1
0a selects the transmission method using one line (1536 kb / s × 1) as the H1 channel as the highest priority transmission method, and outputs the call request for one line to the multiple line control unit 13a in step S104. .. The multiple line control unit 13a is a line control unit 20a that responds to the call request.
The call request is output to (for example, 20a-1).

In step S105, the line control unit 20a-1 which has received the call request performs a call connection process suitable for the line interface, and the process result is stored in the multiple line control unit 13
Notify a. The plural line control unit 13a further notifies the system control unit 10a of the processing result.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a call connection procedure for ISDN.

Between the transmitting station and the ISDN, and the ISDN
Between the caller and the receiving station, "call setting" signal, "call setting acceptance"
Signals, "ring" signals, "answer" signals, and "answer confirmation" signals are sent and received. When the call origination by the call control procedure is normally completed, a path (line) is completed between the transmitting station and the receiving station.

In step S106, the line control unit 2
It is determined whether the call by 0a is normally completed, and 1
If the call is not normally terminated because the line equivalent to 536 kb / s is not secured, it is determined in step S107 whether the current transmission method has the lowest priority. If the current transmission method is the transmission method using the H1 channel, there are transmission methods using the H0 channel and the B channel, for example, as the transmission methods with lower priority than this, so the process is step S103. Return to.

In step S103, the transmission method using four lines (384 kb / s × 4) of the H0 channel is newly selected as the transmission method whose priority is one step lower than the current transmission method (H1 channel).

In step S104, a call request for four lines is output from the system control unit 10a to the multiple line control unit 13a. The plurality of line control units 13a are connected to the line control unit 20a (for example, 20a
-1, 20a-2, 20a-3, 20a-4) outputs the call request.

In step S105, the line control units 20a-1 to 20a-4, which have received the call request, perform a call connection process suitable for the line interface, and notify the process result to the plural line control unit 13a. The multiple line control unit 13a
Further, the system control unit 10a is notified of the processing result.

In step S106, the line control unit 2
It is determined whether or not the calling by 0a-1 to 20a-4 is normally completed, and if the calling is normally completed, in step S108, the four line control units 20a-1 to 20a are connected.
Among the line a-4, the line control unit 20a (in this embodiment, all line control units 20a) in which the call is normally terminated and the route is completed.
four protocol control units 21a (for example, a-1 to 20a-4 are described as having completed the route) (for example,
21a-1, 21a-2, 21a-3, 21a-4) are secured by the system control unit 10a.

If none of the line control units 20a has completed the route, the process is again performed at step S.
Returning to step 103, the B channel is set to 2 as a transmission system whose priority is one step lower than the current transmission system (H0 channel).
A transmission method using four lines (64 kb / s × 24) is selected.

In step S109, the system controller 1
0a controls the line switching unit 19a to connect the four secured protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-4 and the line control units 20a-1 to 20a-4, respectively.

In step S110, the system controller 1
0a outputs a protocol activation request to the plurality of communication control units 12a, and further outputs a protocol activation request from the plurality of communication control units 12a to each of the protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-4 to activate each protocol. It

In step S111, each of the protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-4 confirms the consistency with the receiving station using the notification means of the non-standard function of the protocol.

The confirmation by the non-standard function is performed by detecting whether or not the NSF sent from the receiving station has the declaration of the ultra-high speed communication mode when the communication mode is G3.

When the communication mode is G4, the consistency is confirmed by detecting whether the nonstandard function of the RSSP sent from the receiving station has the declaration of the ultra-high speed communication mode.

The protocol control unit 2 which is not consistent
In step S112, 1a notifies the plural communication control unit 12a to that effect.

In step S113, the plurality of communication control units 12a outputs a protocol stop request to the protocol control unit 21a which has notified that the consistency is not obtained, and at the same time, the system control unit 10a is notified of this. Notice. The system control unit 10a outputs a disconnection request for disconnecting the inconsistent line to the multiple line control unit 13a. The plural-line control unit 13a outputs a disconnection request to the line control unit 20a corresponding to the notified line, and completely disconnects the inconsistent line.

On the other hand, the consistent protocol control unit 2
In step S114, the 1a notifies that the transmission in the ultra high speed communication mode is started according to each protocol.

This notification is N when the communication mode is G3.
This is performed by setting information to activate the ultra-high-speed communication mode in SS, and when the communication mode is G4, CDC
This is performed by setting information indicating that the ultra-high speed communication mode is activated in the non-standard function of L.

In step S115, the system controller 1
0a notifies the block delivery control unit 33a of the internal line number identifying the consistent protocol control unit 21a, and at the same time instructs the file dividing unit 17a to start reading the image data. File division unit 17a
Divides and reads the image data from the file storage unit 16a for each preset size, and transfers the divided image data to the divided block control unit 18a as block data.

In step S116, as shown in FIG. 6, the divided block control unit 18a manages the document No., page No., block No., block data size, page size, image quality, etc. for each block data. The information is added and delivered to the block delivery control unit 33a.

In step S117, the block delivery control unit 33a sequentially transfers the block data to the protocol control units 21a-1 to 21a-4 notified by the system control unit 10a.

In step S118, each protocol control unit 21a-1 to 21a-4 transmits each block data to the receiving station by the protocol process according to the communication mode (G3 or G4). Each protocol control unit 21a-1 to 21a-1
21a-4 outputs a transmission end notification to the plurality of communication control units 12a when the transmission of the last block data passed from the block delivery control unit 33a is completed.

In step S119, the plural communication control unit 1
2a outputs a protocol stop request to the protocol control unit 21a which has output the transmission end notification, and
The system control unit 10a is notified of the communication end of the line.

In step S120, the system controller 1
0a outputs a disconnection request to the multiple line control unit 13a in order to disconnect the line notified by the multiple communication control unit 12a. The plural communication control unit 13a outputs a disconnection request to the line control unit 20a corresponding to the instructed line.

At this time, between the transmitting station and the ISDN and between the ISDN and the receiving station, as shown in FIG.
A "disconnect" signal, a "release" signal, and a "release confirmation" signal are exchanged to complete a series of communication operations.

When confirming the release of the line, the system control unit 10a releases all the relevant systems and prepares for the next communication. When the communication on all the used lines is completed,
The system control unit 10a also releases the multiple communication control unit 12a and the multiple line control unit 13a to prepare for the next communication.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the communication system of the receiving station which is an embodiment of the present invention.

When an incoming call from the transmitting station is detected, in step S301, each line control unit 20b notifies the system control unit 10b of the incoming call via the multiple line control unit 13b.

In step S302, the system controller 1
0b secures the protocol control unit 21b corresponding to the incoming call.

In step S303, the system controller 1
0b outputs a protocol activation request to the protocol control unit 21b via the plural communication control unit 12b to activate each protocol.

In step S304, the system controller 1
0b is the divided block control unit 18b and the file synthesizing unit 32.
b, the file storage unit 16b is activated, and these are put in a standby state.

When the transmission of image data is started, in step S305, the block data received by each protocol control unit 21b is delivered to the divided block control unit 18b. In step S306, the divided block control unit 18
b rearranges each block data based on the management information added to each block data, and outputs this to the file synthesizing unit 32b. In step S307, the file synthesizing unit 32b synthesizes each block data and stores it in the file storage unit 16b.

When the data transmission is completed and the image file is completed, in step S308, the system controller 10b is operated.
Activates the decoding unit 31b and the image output unit 30b to output the received document 1.

FIG. 8 shows that when the communication mode is G3,
It is the figure which showed the protocol performed by said step S118.

When the transmitting station calls the receiving station, CNG is sent to the receiving station. The receiving station that detected CNG is CE
The D signal (callee identification signal) is transmitted, and further the NSF signal (non-standard function setting signal) and the DIS signal (digital identification signal) are transmitted.

If the receiving station has the ultra-high-speed communication mode, information indicating that the NSF signal has the ultra-high-speed communication function is registered. Therefore, as described above, in the present embodiment, the transmitting station Matching is determined based on the NSF signal.

The transmitting station which has received the NSF signal registers the information indicating that the ultra-high speed communication is activated in the NSS signal (non-standard function setting signal) and sends it to the receiving station.

Thereafter, the transmitting station sends a TCF signal (training check signal), and in response to this, the receiving station sends a CFR signal (reception preparation confirmation signal).

Block data is transmitted from the transmitting station which has detected the CFR signal. When the transmission of all block data is completed, the PPS. EOP is sent.

PPS. M from the receiving station that detected EOP
CF signal (message confirmation signal) is sent out, and finally,
A DCN signal (line disconnection command signal) is sent from the transmitting station to end the transmission / reception.

FIG. 9 shows that when the communication mode is G4,
It is the figure which showed the protocol performed by said step S118.

When the transmitting station calls the receiving station, the transmitting station sends out a CSS signal (session start command) and the receiving station sends out an RSSP signal (session start acknowledgment).

If the receiving station has the ultra-high-speed communication mode, information indicating that the RSSP signal has the ultra-high-speed communication function is registered. Matching is determined based on the RSSP signal.

The transmitting station which has received the RSSP signal makes the CDC
Information for activating ultra-high-speed communication is registered in the L signal (document function list command) and sent to the receiving station.

Thereafter, the receiving station sends an RDCLP signal (document function list acknowledgment). When the transmitting station detects the RDCLP signal, it transmits a CDS signal (document start command), and then transmits block data.

When the transmission of all block data is completed, a CDE (document end command) is transmitted from the transmitting station, and an RDEP signal (document end acknowledgment) is transmitted from the receiving station.

Finally, the CSE signal (session end command) is sent from the transmitting station and the RSEP signal (session end acknowledgment) is sent from the receiving station to end the transmission / reception.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, the priority order is set for each transmission method according to each transmission capacity, and communication is first attempted by the high priority transmission method.
When the line connection of the transmission method fails, the priority of the transmission method is lowered, and transmission is started when the line connection is successful, so the optimum transmission method is automatically selected at that time and the communication time Can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the transmitting station that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the receiving station according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of block data.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a call connection procedure for ISDN.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a protocol when the communication mode is G3.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a protocol when the communication mode is G4.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a transmission system management means.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... manuscript, 10a (10b) ... system control unit, 11a
(11b) ... Operation section, 12a (12b) ... Multiple communication control section, 13a (13b) ... Multiple line control section, 14a ... Image input section, 15 ... Encoding section, 16a (16b) ... File storage section, 17a ... File division unit, 18a (18b) ...
Division block control unit, 19a (19b) ... Line switching unit,
20a (20b) ... Line control section, 21a (21b) ... Protocol control section, 30b ... Image output section, 31b ... Decoding section, 32b ... File combining section, 33a ... Block delivery control section, 101 ... Calling means, 102 ... Connection determination means, 10
3 ... Transmission method selection means, 104 ... Transmission method management means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Tezuka 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Zerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Plant (72) Inventor Takashi Sakayama 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture No. Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Works (72) Inventor Shinichiro Nagoshi 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Works, (72) Inventor Hiroaki Sakaki 3, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture 7-1 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Works (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Ueyama 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Iwatsuki Works

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Each station has a function of transmitting and receiving in parallel using a plurality of communication lines, a transmitting station divides communication data and transmits from a plurality of communication lines, and a receiving station receives from a plurality of communication lines. In a data communication method using a plurality of lines for synthesizing the sent data and restoring the original communication data, a transmission method management means for managing a plurality of transmission methods in a priority order determined according to their transmission capacity, Transmission method selecting means for selecting a transmission method from the transmission method managing means, calling means for making a line connection by calling the partner station with the selected transmission method, and a connection for judging the success or failure of the line connection by the transmission method The transmission method selecting means first selects a transmission method having a high priority, and when the connection determining means determines whether or not the line is connected, the priority of the selected transmission method is sequentially lowered. This Multi-line use of the data communication method characterized by.