JPH0441547B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention is a facsimile machine that allows facsimile communication using any of a plurality of lines with different fee structures, and automatically selects a line that allows low-cost communication for a transmitted document. This invention relates to a communication selection method for selective facsimile communication.

[Traditional background]

A facsimile is widely used as an image transmission means, and generally performs facsimile communication with a destination facsimile via a public telephone line. on the other hand,
In recent years, high-speed line networks dedicated to facsimile (STOC networks)
is installed and this STOC (Facsimile
Storage and Conversion Equipment) line is now available.

[Conventional technology and problems]

To selectively use both the telephone line and the STOC network, as shown in Figure 1, dial in the telephone (subscriber) number of the destination facsimile FB1 from the facsimile FA1, and the facsimile
Telephone line via exchange EXA to which FA1 is connected
A line connection is made to the destination facsimile FB1 from the exchange EXB to which the destination facsimile FB1 is connected via TEL, and facsimile communication via connection route b via the telephone line becomes possible. On the other hand, from facsimile FA1 to STOC network identification number (currently
162) and the phone number of facsimile FB1, the exchange EXA calls STOC station STA, sends image data from facsimile FA1 to STOC station STA, stores it, and then sends it to STOC station via high-speed digital line HDL. Send to STB and further
STOC station STB calls facsimile FB1 via exchange station EXB and transmits the image data.
Facsimile communication via connection route a via the network becomes possible.

The usage charges for these two lines are determined by the distance and call time in the same way as regular telephone charges, while in the STOC network they are determined mainly by the number of pages of documents sent. Therefore, even if you send the same number of originals with the same content to the same destination, the usage charges will be different depending on whether you are sending it via telephone line or via the STOC network.

The purpose of this STOC network was to reduce the cost of long-distance communication in general, and by using telephone lines for short distances and the STOC network for long distances, facsimile communication costs were reduced. It is possible that

However, the fee structure of the STOC network is fixed at a certain amount per page (currently 50 yen) regardless of the amount of data in one document, so it is difficult to send documents with a small amount of data. Even over long distances, there may be cases where it is more cost-effective to use a telephone line that depends on the call time (ie, the amount of data). Conversely, when transmitting a single document with a large amount of data, it may be more cost-effective to use the STOC network even if the distance is short.

Conventionally, a human (operator) has decided which line to use from the above-mentioned perspective, but it is time-consuming and time-consuming to make this decision each time, depending on the distance, document content, and number of documents. There was a problem that it was difficult to determine a line with a low value.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a facsimile communication selection method that allows facsimile communication to be performed by automatically selecting a line that provides the most cost reduction based on the data amount of a document read by the facsimile.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a reading section for reading a transmission document, a destination specifying section for specifying a transmission destination, and a memory for storing transmission data based on the contents read by the reading section. , Calculate the communication charges for each of a plurality of lines with different charge structures based on the content of the transmission data and the transmission destination, and transmit the transmission data in the memory using the line selected based on the communication charges. and a control unit for transmitting data to the other party,
The system is characterized in that a line with a low communication fee is selected based on the calculated communication fee to perform facsimile communication.

Further, an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the control unit calculates communication charges for each line based on the amount of the transmission data, the number of sheets to be transmitted, and the distance to the transmission destination.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and uses as an example a facsimile machine capable of both sending and receiving functions. In the figure, 30 is a transmitting mechanism section,
30a is the document hopper, which is the document to be sent.
The DS is set, 30b is its feed roller, which sends the documents one by one from the document hopper 30a to a stacker, which will be described later, and 30c is its drive roller, which is rotated by a motor and drives the feed belt 30d. 30e is a document irradiation lamp for driving the intermediate feed roller 30b, which irradiates the document sent by the feed roller 30b, and 30f is a stacker for the feed roller 3.
It stores the originals sent and read by 0b. 31 is a reading section, 31a, 31d
31b and 31e are photoelectric conversion elements, such as CCD (Charge).
Coupled Device), etc., and the document 1
It scans a line image and converts it into an electric signal (image signal), and the optical lens 31a and photoelectric conversion element 31b are for reading A4 size paper, the optical lens 31d,
The photoelectric conversion element 31e is for reading B4 size.
The sensor amplifier 31c amplifies the output image signals of the photoelectric conversion elements 31b and 31e and selectively controls the reading operation of the photoelectric conversion elements 31b and 31e. 32 is a control circuit; 32a
32b is its main processor, which is composed of a microprocessor, and performs transmission control and control of the entire device by executing a program; 32b is its slave processor, which is composed of a microprocessor and mainly controls image signals. 32c is a shared memory that performs data compression and restoration by executing a program; 32d is a shared memory composed of battery-backed random access memory (RAM), and operates as the main memory for both processors 32a and 32b; The address/data bus connects both processors 32a, 32b and the main memory, and 32e is a mechanical driver that connects each mechanical section of the device (transmission mechanism section 3).
32f is a clock. 33 is a line control section, 33a is its line control unit (NCU), and AA (Automatic-A).
33b is a modem (modulator/demodulator) that modulates the transmitted signal and demodulates the received signal, and 33c is an automatic transmitter.
It performs automatic calling operation. Reference numeral 34 denotes an operation panel, which includes a send button, a numeric keypad, and the like. 35 is a receiving mechanism section, 35a is a sending section thereof, which accommodates unrecorded recording paper;
Reference numeral 5 designates a recording unit, for example, one consisting of a thermal recording head, 35c a first feed roller, which faces the recording unit 35b and feeds the recording paper, and 35d a cutter, which is used for recording paper. 35e is the second one that cuts the recording paper into a predetermined length.
This feed roller feeds the recorded recording paper cut by the cutter 35d to the stacker 35f. 36 is a recording section, and a recording unit 35b
having a recording drive circuit for driving, 37
38 is a power supply, which supplies power voltage to each part of the device and is turned on/off by a mechanical driver 32e in accordance with the on/off of the power switch on the operation panel 34; 38 is a telephone set, which is connected to the line control unit 33a; 39 is an image memory device for storing transmitted and received image signals, and 39a is an expansion interface circuit for connecting a floppy disk device to be described later to the bus 32d. 39b is a floppy disk device which stores image data on the floppy disk and reads image data from the floppy disk.

Figure 3 shows the contents of the charge table AT provided in the RAM 32c configured in Figure 2.
The AT is provided with a rate table for the telephone line shown in FIG. 3A and a rate table for the STOC network shown in FIG. 3B. In the charge table in Figure 3A, the call charge for a telephone line is determined by the call distance and call time, and in data communication, the call time is the amount of data sent divided by the transmission speed, so the transmission speed is Assuming that it is constant, the call charge is determined by the relationship between the amount of data (=call time) and the call distance. Therefore, the telephone line charge table may store call charges for each call distance for each amount of data (call time). On the other hand, in the STOC network, the call fee is 1 for the number of messages sent.
The price per ticket varies depending on the distance, and currently there are two levels: within 100km and over 100km. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the charge table may store charges for each distance for each number n of transmitted sheets.

In the present invention, by using such a rate table, before sending a message, you can calculate the communication fee when using the telephone line.
We calculate the communication charges when using the STOC network and use the cheaper line for facsimile communication.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be explained with reference to the operation processing flowchart shown in FIG.

The operator wants to send the document to the hopper 30a.
Set the DS, and then enter the destination using the abbreviated number using the numeric keys on the operation panel 34. For broadcast communication, press the broadcast communication button and input the required broadcast destination using an abbreviated number. These are sent to the CPU 32a via the mechanical driver 32e,
Stored in RAM32c.

CPU32a is RAM32c from the abbreviated number.
The ability table TM is used to determine the opponent's ability (line density, band compression method, etc.). Note that the capability of the facsimile machine of the other party, whose abbreviated number has been set, is registered in advance in the capability table TM.

Then, the CPU 32a starts a document reading operation according to the capability of the other party. That is, the CPU 32a turns on the lamp 30e via the mechanical driver 32a, and drives the drive roller 30c to feed out the documents DS set in the hopper 30a one by one by the feed roller 30b at a predetermined sub-scanning speed. Send it to the stacker 30f.
On the other hand, the CPU 32a communicates with the sensor amplifier 3 via the CPU 32b depending on the partner's ability (A4 version or B4 version).
The photoelectric conversion element 31b or 31e is selectively operated in the photoelectric conversion element 1c. Reflected light from the document corresponding to the irradiation position of the lamp 30e is transmitted to the photoelectric conversion element 31b (or 31) via the optical lens 31a (or 31d).
e) and is read, and the image of each line of the document is output as an image signal to the sensor amplifier 31c, where it is amplified and sent to the CPU 3.
2b. The CPU 32b compresses this image signal using the data compression method of the partner's capability specified by the CPU 32a, that is, the MH (Modified Hoffman) or MR (Modified Read) method for G machines, and converts it into a facsimile image signal (image data). do.

The CPU 32b uses the RAM 32c to perform compression processing, and the compressed facsimile image signal is
It is given to the CPU 32a. The CPU 32a connects to the expansion interface circuit 39 via the bus 32d.
This FAX image data (transmission data) is sequentially sent to the floppy disk device 39b and stored in the floppy disk of the floppy disk device 39b.

In this way, the originals are sequentially read and scanned, and 1
When the image data of the page 2 of the manuscript is accumulated,
The page of the original is sent out by the feed roller 30b, the image of the original is read in the same way, the image data of the second page of the original is accumulated, and the subsequent originals set in the hopper 30a in the same manner, i.e. n
The contents of the general original document DS are stored as image data on the floppy disk.

In this way, the CPU 32a stores the image data on the floppy disk, and counts the number of originals to be transmitted, n, and the amount of data to be transmitted, m.
Store it in RAM32c.

Next, the CPU 32a reads the abbreviated number stored in the RAM 32c, and searches for the destination number from the input abbreviated number. CPU32a is RAM32c capacity table
The destination phone number corresponding to the abbreviated number is retrieved from the TM and the distance l is calculated.

For this reason, a distance table for charge classification for each station is provided in the RAM 32c, and the CPU 32a extracts the distance l from the telephone number of the other party, for example, the station number.

Next, the CPU 32a calculates the charge table for the RAM 32c based on the data amount m and the distance l of the RAM 32c.
Of the AT, the corresponding communication charge B is obtained by referring to the telephone line charge table shown in FIG. 3A. Furthermore,
The CPU 32a refers to the STOC network charge table in FIG. 3B among the charge tables AT in the RAM 32c and obtains the corresponding communication charge A from the number n of originals stored in the RAM 32c and the distance.

Next, the CPU 32a compares the communication charge A for use of the telephone line and the communication charge B for use of the STOC network, and determines which line has the cheaper charge.

When using a telephone line, the calling number is only the number of the other party, and when using the STOC network,
The calling number is the identification number and destination number of the STOC network call.

Next, the CPU 32a activates the automatic caller 33c with this calling number, performs automatic dialing of the calling number, executes the calling operation, and
33a to the line. This allows you to connect the telephone line TEL or STOC network line with the other station.
A line connection is made by HDL, and the NCU 33a switches the connection with the automatic transmitter 33c to the connection with the modem 33b.

Further, the CPU 32a exchanges pre-procedure control signals with the destination facsimile according to a predetermined transmission control procedure. Then, the CPU 32a controls the expansion interface circuit 39a, drives the floppy disk device 39b, reads the stored transmission data (FAX image data) from the floppy disk, sends it to the modem 33b, modulates it, and sends it to the line via the NCU 33a. and send it to the destination facsimile. The CPU 32a repeats this for the number of pages of the general document DS, and when all pages have been transmitted, ends the transmission operation. Furthermore,
The CPU 32a performs post-procedure control with the destination facsimile, disconnects the line, and ends the communication.

In the above explanation, the charge table is configured for telephone lines by storing charges for each distance for each amount of data. of)
You can store additional charges, convert the amount of data into call time, and use these charges to calculate communication charges.You can also store only the charge per ticket for the STOC network and calculate this charge. The communication fee may be calculated by multiplying by the number of sheets. Further, although the explanation has been given using both a telephone line and a STOC network as examples of different connection routes, the invention can be similarly applied to other lines (connection routes) with different fee structures.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a reading section for reading a transmission document, a destination specifying section for specifying a transmission destination, and a memory for storing transmission data based on the contents read by the reading section. , Calculate the communication charges for each of a plurality of lines with different charge structures based on the content of the transmission data and the transmission destination, and transmit the transmission data in the memory using the line selected based on the communication charges. and a control unit for transmitting data to the other party,
The feature is that the line with the lowest communication fee is selected based on the calculated communication fee to perform facsimile communication, so it is possible to perform facsimile communication using the line with the lowest communication fee among multiple lines. It is effective, reduces communication charges, and contributes to the further spread of facsimile. In addition, since the facsimile machine itself determines the communication charges according to the content of the transmitted data and the recipient, and automatically selects the line, the communication charges can be automatically reduced without any human intervention. It is possible to reduce communication charges in a detailed manner and without requiring the user's judgment. In addition, it has the effect that it can be determined in detail for each transmission destination and according to the amount of original documents, which is extremely useful in practice.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a telephone line and a telephone line for explaining the present invention.
An explanatory diagram of facsimile communication using the STOC network, Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the charge table AT of the configuration shown in Figure 2, and Fig. 4 is an operation processing flow diagram of the configuration shown in Figure 2. It is. In the figure, 30...transmission mechanism section, 31...reading section,
32...Control unit, AT...Charge table, 39...
...image memory, 33...line control section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A reading section that reads a transmission document, a destination specifying section that specifies a transmission destination, a memory that stores transmission data based on the content read by the reading section, and a system that has a different fee structure. Calculating communication charges for each of the plurality of lines based on the content of the transmission data and the destination, and transmitting the transmission data in the memory to the destination using the line selected based on the communication fee. 1. A facsimile communication selection method, comprising: a controller, and performs facsimile communication by selecting a line with a low communication fee based on the calculated communication fee. 2. The facsimile machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates communication charges for each line based on the amount of the transmission data, the number of sheets to be transmitted, and the distance to the transmission destination. communication selection method.