JP4155250B2 - Communication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus that transmits and receives image data and text data using a call control protocol such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol).

  In recent years, communication devices that transmit and receive image data through an IP network are becoming widespread. For example, the communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an ITU-T recommendation T.30. 38 is equipped with an IP facsimile communication function conforming to H.38, and can transmit and receive image data through an IP network.

When the image data of the original is transmitted and received between the communication devices by IP facsimile communication, the receiving communication device runs out of recording paper for printing the received original, and a memory overflow occurs in the memory for storing the received image data. The communication was automatically disconnected. After the recording paper is replenished by the user at the receiving side device and the memory overflow is resolved, the transmitting side communication device has executed the communication procedure from the beginning with respect to the receiving side communication device.
JP 2002-101256 A

  In a conventional communication apparatus that performs IP facsimile communication, when an error that prevents reception of image data occurs in the receiving communication apparatus in this way, communication is automatically disconnected. There is a problem that the communication procedure must be executed, and the transmission / reception of image data cannot be resumed quickly.

  In addition, after the error recovery of the receiving side communication device, when the transmitting side communication device calls again and connects to the receiving side communication device, the other communication device has already connected to the receiving side communication device and the image data There is also a possibility of sending and receiving.

  Furthermore, in the transmission side communication device, the details of the error that has occurred in the reception side communication device cannot be grasped, and there are many problems in dealing with specifications.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when an error that cannot receive image data occurs during communication of image data in the receiving communication device, the content of the error in the transmitting communication device An object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus that can grasp the above. Also provided is a communication device that can resume data transmission immediately after error recovery of the receiving communication device without disconnecting the communication when the user of the transmitting communication device wants to continue communication when an error occurs. The purpose is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the communication device according to claim 1 includes an image data receiving means for receiving image data in a media session established by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) , and an error has occurred during reception of the image data. In this case, it is characterized by comprising text data transmitting means for transmitting text data of an error message to the image data transmitting side device by the SIP method while maintaining the media session .

The communication device according to claim 2 includes an image data transmitting means for transmitting image data in a media session established by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and an error message generated by the SIP method from the receiving side device during transmission of the image data. Output means for outputting the received text data while maintaining the media session when the text data is received, and whether to resume the transmission of the image data by temporarily stopping the transmission of the image data Instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction, and transmission of the image data is resumed when the received instruction is a restart of transmission, and transmission of the image data is not resumed when the received instruction is a stop of transmission. Means for terminating the media session .

  If transmission / reception of image data is performed by using the communication device according to claim 1 as a reception side and the communication device according to claim 2 as a transmission side, if an error in which the reception side communication device cannot receive image data occurs, The user of the apparatus can confirm the content of the error. Thereby, the user of the transmission side communication apparatus can take appropriate measures.

By setting the communication device according to claim 1 as the reception side and the communication device according to claim 2 as the transmission side, the user of the transmission side communication device confirms the content of the error that occurred in the reception side communication device, It is possible to decide whether or not to resume transmission of image data. For example, if the error that occurred in the receiving communication device is a memory overflow due to running out of recording paper and the error can be recovered immediately by simply replenishing the recording paper, the communication of the receiving communication device is not interrupted. By requesting the user to replenish the recording paper by telephone or the like, the transmission of the image data can be quickly resumed simultaneously with the error recovery. In addition, since transmission of image data is resumed without disconnecting communication, there is no fear that a third-party communication device interrupts and connects to the receiving-side communication device.

  Hereinafter, as a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, an IP facsimile communication function for transmitting and receiving image data of a document using a call control protocol, a G3 facsimile communication function, and the various facsimile communication in response to a request from a client apparatus. An example of a multi-function machine type facsimile machine having a facsimile server function for performing the above will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the facsimile machine 1. That is, the facsimile apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 3, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 4, an image memory 5, a modem 6, an NCU 7, a codec 8, a reading unit 9, and a recording unit 10. , A display unit 11, an operation unit 12, and a LAN interface 13, and the units 2 to 13 are connected by a bus 14.

  The CPU 2 functions as a control unit that controls each part of the facsimile apparatus 1 according to a control program stored in the ROM 3. The RAM 4 functions as a main memory and work area for the CPU 2. The RAM 4 also stores a table X that stores error messages to be transmitted to the image data transmission source for each type of error for a plurality of errors in which image data cannot be received.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the table X, a recording paper shortage occurs, and a memory over error occurs due to a recording paper shortage in association with a case where a memory over error occurs in the image memory 5 for storing received image data. An error message to that effect and a message X1 for requesting the transmission side to pause communication are stored. Corresponding to a case where a recording paper jam has occurred and a memory over error has occurred in the image memory 5 for accumulating received image data, an error message indicating that a memory over has occurred due to the recording paper jam, and suspension of communication Is stored in the message X2. In addition, an error message indicating that a memory over has occurred and a temporary communication error are associated with a case where a memory over error has occurred in the image memory 5 for storing received image data without causing a recording paper jam or out of recording paper. A message X3 for requesting the transmission side to stop is stored. The contents stored in the table X can be added, deleted, changed, etc., by a predetermined operation by the operation unit 12 or the like. In the table X shown in the figure, three types of errors are stored in association with messages, but the same message may be registered for the three types of errors. For example, a message “memory overflow occurred. Please suspend communication” may be registered for three types of errors.

  The image memory 5 stores the received image data compression-coded by the codec 8. The modem 6 is, for example, an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation V.3. Modulate and demodulate transmitted / received data according to the 34 standard or the like. The NCU 7 is a line network control device that performs operations for closing and opening a line with the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 15, and connects the modem 6 to the PSTN 15 during G3 facsimile transmission / reception. The codec 8 compresses and encodes image data by JPEG method or MH, MR, MMR method, etc., and decodes received image data or the like, for facsimile transmission or the like.

  The reading unit 9 reads image data of a document, and includes, for example, a CCD color line sensor, an A / D converter, an image processing circuit, and the like. The recording unit 10 takes out the recording paper from the paper feed cassette and records the received image data, the read image data, etc. on the recording paper. The recording unit 10 is provided with a jam detecting unit 10a that detects a jam of the recording paper. When the jam detecting unit 10a detects a jam, the jam detecting unit 10a notifies the CPU 2 of the fact. A recording paper supply unit such as a paper feed cassette or a manual feed tray is provided with a recording paper presence / absence detection unit 10b that detects the presence or absence of recording paper. The recording paper presence / absence detection unit 10b notifies the CPU 2 of the presence / absence of recording paper.

  The display unit 11 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) arranged in parallel with the operation unit 12 and displays various screen information. The operation unit 12 includes various operation keys such as a start key, a character input key, and a function key, and various operations by the operator are performed in the operation unit 12.

  The LAN interface 13 is an interface that connects the facsimile apparatus 1 and a LAN (local area network) 16, and through this, the facsimile apparatus 1 communicates with a client PC 18, a router 19, and the like that are also connected to the LAN 16.

  The facsimile apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration implements TCP / IP, SIP, RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol), SDP (Session Description Protocol), etc., establishes a media session by SIP, and then, for example, documents by RTP Send / receive image data to / from other party. It also has a function of sending and receiving text data with the other party using the SIP method “MESSAGE”. The communication protocol for transmitting and receiving the image data is not limited to RTP, and instead of this, SMTP, HTTP, or the like may be adopted.

  Next, a processing operation when the facsimile apparatus 1 having the above configuration and communication function transmits image data and text data by IP facsimile communication using SIP with a facsimile apparatus having the same configuration and communication function as the self apparatus 1 A detailed description will be given based on the sequence diagram shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the flowchart shown in FIG. The processing operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 described based on these drawings is executed according to instructions issued by the CPU 2 as control means based on a control program stored in the ROM 3. For convenience of explanation, the facsimile apparatus 1 serving as a calling side will be described as a transmitter 1A, and the facsimile apparatus 1 serving as a called side will be referred to as a receiver 1B.

  When a transmission operation of a document is performed in the transmitter 1A, a call control session for establishing a media session as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 is formed between the transmitter 1A and the receiver 1B. That is, the transmitter 1A requests the SIP server 20 to call the receiver 1B by a session participation request “INVITE” in which the IP telephone number of the receiver 1B is designated (T1). Upon receiving “INVITE”, the SIP server 20 inquires of a location server (not shown) having IP phone number / IP address correspondence information for an IP address corresponding to the IP phone number designated by the transmitter 1A. A call is made by sending “INVITE” received from the transmitter 1A to the acquired IP address of the receiver 1B. When the receiver 1B responds to the call of the SIP server 20, the receiver 1B receives "INVITE" and sends a success response code "200" to the SIP server 20 (R1). The transmitter 1A that has received the success response code “200” transmits information “ACK” indicating that the success response code “200” has been received to the receiver 1B via the SIP server 20 (T2). Thereafter, a media session is established between the transmitter 1A and the receiver 1B, and image data is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver 1B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the transmitter 1A determines whether or not the text data of the error message is received by the SIP method “MESSAGE” during the transmission of the image data (S1), and whether or not the transmission processing of the image data is completed (S1). S2) is repeatedly monitored. When the transmission process is completed (S1: NO) without receiving the text data X1 to X3 of the error message (S1: NO), as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 3, the SIP method “BYE” for requesting session termination. Is transmitted from the transmitter 1A to the receiver 1B (T3), a response code is returned from the receiver 1B (R3), and the session is disconnected. The determination in S1 may be made when the text data is received regardless of the contents of the received text data, and a specific error message is stored in the RAM 4 of the transmitter 1A in advance. The affirmative determination may be made only when the text data of the specific error message is received.

  On the other hand, if an error that cannot receive image data occurs in the receiver 1B while image data is being transmitted from the transmitter 1A to the receiver 1B in the media session, the receiver 1B interrupts the reception process. In addition, the occurrence of an error is notified. The notification is performed by, for example, displaying an error message on the display unit 11 of the receiver 1B, printing out the error message in the recording unit 10, or the like. Then, the receiver 1B reads out the text data of the message stored in the table X for each error type, and transmits this to the transmitter 1A by the SIP method “MESSAGE” (R2; see FIG. 4 or FIG. 5). ). For example, when a jam of a recording sheet is detected by the jam detection unit 10a of the receiver 1B and a memory overflow occurs in the image memory 5 that accumulates received image data, an error stored in association with the error is stored. The message and the text data X2 of the message requesting the suspension of communication are read out and transmitted by “MESSAGE”. When the recording paper presence / absence detection unit 10b of the receiver 1B detects that the recording paper has run out, and when the memory overflow occurs in the image memory 5 that accumulates the received image data, an error message stored in association with the error and The text data X1 of the message requesting the suspension of communication is read and transmitted by “MESSAGE”. When a memory overflow occurs in the image memory 5 without detecting a jam of the recording paper or a recording paper out, text data of an error message stored in association with the error and a message for requesting suspension of communication X3 is read out and transmitted by “MESSAGE”.

  When the transmitter 1A receives text data such as an error message from the receiver 1B by the SIP method “MESSAGE” during the transmission of the image data (S1: YES), the transmission 1A temporarily stops the transmission of the image data (S3). Text data such as an error message received by "MESSAGE" is extracted and output (S4), and the fact that an error has occurred is notified to the receiver 1B as the data transmission destination (S5). The output of the received text data is performed by, for example, display output on the display unit 11 or print output on the recording unit 10, but if the operator of the transmitter 1A can grasp the contents of the received text data, the output form is as follows. It is not limited to. The notification is performed by, for example, generating a predetermined error sound or turning on a warning lamp. However, the notification form is not limited to this as long as the operator of the transmitter 1A can be notified of the occurrence of the error.

  Next, the transmission of the image data is resumed or stopped by a predetermined operation by the operator of the operation unit 12 of the transmitter 1A (or the operation unit of the client PC when a transmission operation is performed from the client PC 18), or is temporarily stopped. Then, an instruction as to whether or not to transmit again is accepted (S6: YES). If the received instruction is an instruction to stop transmission of image data (S7: YES), transmission stop processing is performed (S8). Specifically, as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4, “BYE” requesting the end of the session is transmitted to the receiver 1B (T3), and the session with the receiver is disconnected.

  In S6, if the accepted operator instruction is to resume transmission, a negative determination is made in S7, an affirmative determination is made in S9, and image data transmission is performed after a predetermined time while maintaining the media session. The procedure is resumed (S10), and the procedure is returned to S1. Note that the resumption of the transmission of the image data in S10 may be executed without waiting for a predetermined time. By doing so, for example, when the user of the transmitter 1A has already received a notification from the user of the receiver 1B that the error has been recovered by telephone communication or the like, the transmission can be immediately resumed. .

  In S6, if the received operator instruction is an instruction to temporarily stop transmission and transmit again from the beginning, a negative determination is made in S7 and S9, and the session is temporarily disconnected (S11). Specifically, as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 3, “BYE” requesting the end of the session is transmitted to the receiver 1B (T3), and the session with the receiver is disconnected. Then, a re-transmission job is generated for performing again the transmission process of the image data that could not be transmitted (S12). When the predetermined time has elapsed and the retransmission job is executed, the transmitter 1A again forms the above-described series of processing operations with the receiver 1B.

  In the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment described above, in R2, the receiver 1B transmits text data such as an error message stored in the table 4d in advance by the SIP method “MESSAGE”, but an error occurs in the receiver 1B. When it occurs, text data input operation such as an error message by the operator may be accepted from the operation unit 12 of the receiver 1B and the accepted text data may be transmitted to the transmitter 1A by the SIP method “MESSAGE”. . Specifically, an input screen for inputting a message is displayed on the display unit 11, and character information input from the screen by a key operation of the operation unit 12 or the like is transmitted to the transmitter 1A by the SIP method “MESSAGE”. It can be so.

  In R2, “MESSAGE” is used as the SIP method for transmitting text data from the receiver 1B to the transmitter 1A. However, if the text data can be transmitted, the method to be used is used. Is not limited to “MASSAGE”, and other methods may be used.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a communication device that transmits and receives image data in a media session established by SIP.

It is the figure which showed the structural example etc. of the communication apparatus (facsimile apparatus) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which matched and stored the content and error message of the error. It is the sequence diagram which showed the outline of an example of the communication procedure formed when the communication apparatuses which concern on embodiment of this invention perform IP facsimile communication, Comprising: The communication procedure when an error does not generate | occur | produce in a receiver Is shown. It is the sequence diagram which showed the outline of an example of the communication procedure formed when the communication apparatuses which concern on embodiment of this invention perform IP facsimile communication, Comprising: The communication procedure when an error generate | occur | produces is shown. It is a thing. It is the sequence diagram which showed the outline of an example of the communication procedure formed when the communication apparatuses which concern on embodiment of this invention perform IP facsimile communication, Comprising: The communication procedure when an error generate | occur | produces is shown. It is a thing. It is the flowchart which showed the processing operation performed when the communication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention starts transmission of image data.

Explanation of symbols

X table 1 communication device 1A transmitter (calling side communication device)
1B Receiver (Called side communication device)
2 CPU
3 ROM
4 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording part 10a Jam detection part 10b Recording paper presence detection part 11 Display part 20 SIP server

Claims (2)

Image data receiving means for receiving image data in a media session established by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), and the transmission side of the image data while maintaining the media session when an error occurs during reception of the image data communication device comprising: a, a text data transmitting means for transmitting the method of the text data of the SIP error message to the device. And image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data in the media session established by SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), when receiving a text data of the error message by the SIP method from the receiving device during the transmission of the image data, wherein An output unit that outputs received text data while maintaining a media session; an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction as to whether or not to resume transmission of the image data by temporarily stopping transmission of the image data; Means for resuming transmission of the image data if the received instruction is resumption of transmission, and terminating the media session without resuming transmission of the image data if the accepted instruction is to stop transmission; A communication apparatus comprising:

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