JP2996187B2 - Communication terminal device and communication method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication terminal device and a communication method therefor, and more particularly to a communication terminal device using a modem compliant with ITU-T Recommendation V.34 and a communication method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advance of computerization, communication using information communication devices such as facsimile machines and personal computers has become widespread not only in corporations but also in ordinary households.
Due to the fact that the information to be transmitted has more image data than the previous character code and the amount of transmission itself has increased, the communication time tends to increase, and the communication fee tends to increase accordingly. . From such a viewpoint, it is desired to increase the communication speed, in other words, to increase the data transmission speed.

A signal handled inside a facsimile apparatus, a personal computer, or the like is a digital signal, which is converted into an analog voice signal in order to be transmitted through a general analog telephone line. When an analog audio signal is received, it must be converted to a digital signal. The former is called modulation, and the latter is called demodulation.
Odulater-DEModulater: modem).

Accordingly, an increase in the data transmission speed is an increase in the speed of a modem.
TSS ((Telecommunications Unuon: International Telecommunications Union)
Recommendation V.34 (hereinafter referred to as ITU-T
The modem specified in Recommendation V.34 is promising. This ITU-T Recommendation V.34 is currently the highest speed modem standard.

[0005] ITU-T Recommendation V.34 is simply a "modem that operates at a data rate of up to 33.6 bps (bits per second) used in a general public line network and a two-wire point-to-point telephone line." It is. First, the communication procedure according to ITU-T Recommendation V.34 will be described.
Recommendation V.34 Normally ITU-T Recommendation V.34 where communication procedures are possible.
8 By communicating with the receiving side according to the communication procedure,
The transmitting side determines whether the receiving side can perform the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure. However, here, it is assumed that both the transmitting side and the receiving side can perform the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure, and details of the ITU-T Recommendation V.8 communication procedure are omitted.

[0006] In the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure, first, communication called probing is performed to measure the line condition. Probing, specifically, transmits 21 types of tone signals each having a predetermined phase determined at a frequency of 150 Hz from 150 Hz to 3750 Hz, called a probing tone, from both sides, and from the reception state at each
This is a procedure for determining a communication speed by measuring S / N (Signal / Noise) and band characteristics, and determining a symbol rate and a carrier frequency from the results.

[0007] In the above-mentioned ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure, probing is individually performed on the transmission side and the reception side, and the communication speed is individually determined on both sides based on the results. In this case, the transmission side and the reception side are originally devices of the same standard, and the communication paths interposed therebetween are of course the same, so that the communication speeds determined by both should be the same. However, the communication speed determined on the transmitting side and the communication speed determined on the receiving side may be different due to differences in the surrounding environment of both devices, and even if the devices conform to the same standard, due to variations in the characteristics of each device. obtain. For example, assume that the communication speed determined on the receiving side is 26.4 Kbps, and the communication speed determined on the transmitting side is 28.8 Kbps. In this case, the transmitting side is normal, but the receiving side cannot perform communication at the normal communication speed for some reason, but the actual communication is determined by the receiving side.
It is performed at a communication speed of 6.4 Kbps.

[0008] The reason why the communication speeds determined by the above two methods are different is that, for example, when there is a problem with S / N, device noise (power supply or external noise) has a problem with band characteristics. Are considered to be caused by exchanges and transformers.

[0009]

Since the communication speed is determined by the receiving side as described above, the communication speeds from both sides should be the same in principle. However, if they differ, it is considered that there is a cause on the receiving side. In this case, although higher-speed communication is possible for the transmitting side, only lower-speed communication can be performed due to the receiving side, and the communication time for communication of the same data amount becomes longer, and accordingly, A problem arises that communication costs also increase.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and compares the communication speeds determined by both parties, and determines that the communication speed determined by the other party is lower than the communication speed determined by itself. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication terminal device and a communication method capable of prompting the elimination of a trouble occurring on the other party by notifying the other party of the fact.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A communication terminal device according to the present invention has a function capable of determining a communication speed within a predetermined range between a transmitting device and a receiving device. If the communication speed determined at one of the devices (receiving device or transmitting device) is lower than the communication speed determined at the other (transmitting device or receiving device), the other (transmitting device or transmitting device) (Receiver device)
And a message generating means for generating a predetermined message to be transmitted to one (a receiving device or a transmitting device).

Further, in the communication terminal device according to the present invention, the message generating means is adapted to generate a message according to a factor in determining a communication speed in a predetermined range between the transmitting device and the receiving device. It is characterized by the following.

Further, the communication method of the communication terminal device according to the present invention is a communication method between communication terminal devices having a function capable of determining a communication speed within a predetermined range between a transmitting device and a receiving device. If the communication speed determined at one of the sending device or the sending device (receiving device or sending device) is lower than the communication speed determined at the other device (sending device or sending measure), the other
It is characterized in that a predetermined message is transmitted from one (transmitting device or receiving device) to one (receiving device or transmitting device).

In the communication terminal device and the communication method according to the present invention, the communication speed determined by one (receiving device or transmitting device) is determined by the communication speed determined by the other (transmitting device or receiving device). When the speed is lower than the speed, the other (sending device or receiving device) sends a certain message to one (receiving device or sending device), so one (receiving device or sending device) Can be performed immediately.

Further, when a factor causing a difference in communication speed is transmitted as a message from the transmitting device to the receiving device, maintenance and inspection can be performed more easily.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration when a communication terminal device according to the present invention including a modem conforming to ITU-T Recommendation V.34 is applied to a facsimile device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU which also functions as a message generating means, and controls the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus. The CPU 1 is connected with a ROM 2 for storing a program for controlling the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus 2 and a RAM 3 for temporarily storing data and the like necessary for controlling the operation of the entire facsimile apparatus. I have.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an NCU (Network Control Unit:
Network control circuit), and has a function of controlling connection with a normal analog telephone line L, transmitting dial pulses corresponding to the telephone number of the other party, detecting an incoming call, and the like in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1. . Reference number 5 is ITU-T Recommendation V.
A 34-compliant modem that converts digital signals transmitted from this facsimile machine into analog voice signals.
(Modulation) and converts (demodulates) the received analog audio signal to a digital signal.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a reading unit that optically reads a document using a CCD or the like. Image data read by the reading unit 6 is stored in an image memory 7. The image memory 7 is also used for storing received image data.
At that time, data coded by a facsimile coding method such as an MR (Modified Read) coding method or an MMR (Modified MR) coding method is stored. The above-mentioned image memory 7 may share the above-mentioned RAM 3.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a codec, and the reading unit 6
Encodes (COding) the read image data and decodes the encoded image data stored in the image memory 7.
(DECoding) and output to the recording unit 9. The recording unit 9 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer. The image data, that is, the received image data or the image data read by the reading unit 6 is printed on a recording paper in a file decoded by the codec 8, and a hard copy is formed. Output.

The key operation unit 10 has ten keys for inputting numbers such as telephone numbers, and various operation keys such as a start key for giving various instructions to the facsimile apparatus. The display unit 11 performs display associated with the operation of the operation unit 10 described above, displays received information, and displays an image decoded by the codec 8.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the concept of a communication network to which a facsimile device as a communication terminal device according to the present invention having the above-described configuration is connected.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 111 and 112 are ITU-T
1 shows a facsimile apparatus as a communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention incorporating a modem 5 compliant with Recommendation V.34, and both facsimile apparatuses 111 and 112 have respective modems 5 and NCUs.
4 are connected to the analog telephone line L respectively. Each analog telephone line L is connected to a public telephone exchange network 130 via exchanges 131 and 132.

In such a network, the facsimile apparatus 111 is connected to a transmitting side (hereinafter, referred to as a transmitting side apparatus).
Next, a communication procedure performed by the receiving side 112 (hereinafter, referred to as a receiving side apparatus), that is, a procedure of the communication method of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

First, the transmitting device 111 to the receiving device 112
As a result, the transmitting-side device 111 is connected to the analog telephone line L via the modem 5 and the NCU 4, and the NCU of the receiving-side device 112 is further connected via the exchange 131, the public telephone exchange network 130 and the exchange 132. 4. Modem 5 and line are connected
(Steps S11, S12). When the line is connected, the sending device 1
11 modem 5 communicates with modem 5 of receiver 112
Execute the communication procedure conforming to UT Recommendation V.8 (Step S1
3), it is determined whether the modem 5 of the receiving device 112 can execute the same ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure as itself (step S14). As a result, the modem 5 of the receiver 112
If it is determined that the communication device does not have the function of the TU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure, it is also known at the same time what other communication procedure function is provided. 5 communicates in a modulation method according to the function of the modem 5 of the receiving device 112 (step S30).

On the other hand, in step S14, the receiving apparatus
When it is determined that the ITU-T Recommendation V.34 communication procedure is also possible with the modem 5 of 112, probing is performed by both modems (step S15). Then, the communication speed S1 determined by the modem 5 of the transmitting device 111 is compared with the communication speed S2 determined by the modem 5 of the receiving device 112 (step S1).
6), the communication speed S2 determined by the modem 5 of the receiver 112
Is lower than the communication speed S1 determined by the modem 5 of the transmitting device 111 (S1> S2) (step S17), a predetermined message is transmitted from the transmitting device 111 to the receiving device 112 ( The original communication is started after that (step S18) (step S19).

On the other hand, if the communication speed S1 determined by the modem 5 of the transmitting device 111 is lower than the communication speed S2 determined by the modem 5 of the receiving device 112 (S1 <S2), (step S20) ), A predetermined message is transmitted from the receiving side device 112 to the transmitting side device 111 (step S21), and then the original communication is started (step S19). Step S2
If the communication speeds determined by the two correspond to each other in the comparison with 0, the original communication is started as it is (step S19).

Incidentally, the above-mentioned step S18 or S21
In the transmission of a message from the transmitting device 111 to the receiving device 112 or from the receiving device 112 to the transmitting device 111, for example, a message such as "Cannot communicate at normal communication speed. Please check." It is possible by setting in advance to create and transmit. At this time, if the transmitting device 111 and the receiving device 112 are facsimile devices as in the present embodiment, the message is transmitted as facsimile code data, and the receiving device 112
Alternatively, a hard copy is output from the recording unit 9 of the transmission side device 111 or a soft copy is output to the display unit 11.
When the communication terminal device of the present invention is a personal computer, a message from the transmitting device 111 to the receiving device 112 or a message from the receiving device 112 to the transmitting device 111 is transmitted as a character code or bitmap data. In the receiving-side device 112 or the transmitting-side device 111, the message is output as a hard copy from the recording unit 9 or as a soft copy to the display unit 11.

According to the above procedure, the receiving side device 112
Alternatively, if the communication speed determined by the transmitting device 111 is lower than the communication speed determined by the transmitting device 111 or the receiving device 112, the receiving device 112 or the transmitting device
Since an appropriate message is output in step 111, the user can recognize the contents of the message and check it by himself or by requesting a service person to perform communication at the same communication speed. Is likely to be large.

When the message is notified in step S18 or S21, if the cause of the difference in communication speed is known, for example, in the case of probing,
If the cause such as low S / N characteristics or uneven band characteristics is known, the cause of the cause
(For example, whether there is no noise source in the surroundings, the power supply is not completely shielded, etc.) can be notified to the partner device as a message.

In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the communication terminal device of the present invention is applied to a facsimile device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a personal computer. Needless to say,

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the communication terminal apparatus and the communication method according to the present invention, the communication speed determined by the receiving apparatus or the transmitting apparatus is determined by the transmitting apparatus or the transmitting apparatus. When the communication speed is lower than the determined communication speed, a predetermined message is transmitted from the transmitting device or the receiving device to the receiving device or the transmitting device. Can be implemented.

Further, when a factor having a different communication speed is transmitted as a message, the device receiving the message can more easily perform maintenance and inspection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration when a communication terminal device according to the present invention is applied to a facsimile device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the concept of a communication network to which a facsimile device as a communication terminal device according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a communication method of the present invention performed between facsimile apparatuses as communication terminal apparatuses according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 5 Modem 111 Transmitter (Facsimile) 112 Receiver (Facsimile)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication terminal device having a function capable of determining a communication speed in a predetermined range between a transmission side device and a reception side device, wherein the communication terminal device is determined by one of the reception side device and the transmission side device. when the communication speed is slower than the communication speed determined on the other hand, the communication terminal apparatus comprising the message generating means for generating a predetermined message to be transmitted to the other or et hand. 2. The message generating means according to claim 1, wherein said message generating means is adapted to generate a message according to a factor in determining a communication speed in a predetermined range between said transmitting apparatus and said receiving apparatus. Item 2. The communication terminal device according to item 1. 3. A communication method between a communication terminal device having a function capable of determining a communication speed within a predetermined range between a transmission side device and a reception side device, wherein one of the reception side device and the transmission side device determines the communication speed. If the determined communication speed is lower than the communication speed determined on the other hand,
A communication method comprising transmitting a predetermined message from one side to another.