JPH01206766A - Line selecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding a facsimile line selection method for communication using multiple lines with different usage charges, the line with the lowest usage charge among the lines of each telecommunications carrier is automatically selected. With the aim of increasing the economic efficiency of usage costs, we compare the usage fees of each line with the line data table memory that corresponds each line and usage fee for each communication section, and select the cheapest one. and a line selection means for selecting a line, and is configured to automatically select the line with the cheapest charge among the usage charges read from the table memory.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a facsimile line selection method for communication using a plurality of lines with different usage charges, and more particularly to a line selection method for automatically selecting the cheapest line.

[Conventional technology]

It is well known that facsimiles communicate using existing lines such as telephone lines. In the past, there was only one telephone line in Japan, so there was no equipment designed with multiple lines in mind, only some efforts were made to make the equipment compatible with each grade.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in recent years, multiple carriers have been permitted to be Type 1 telecommunications carriers in Japan, and telephone lines from multiple companies are being provided. The usage charges for each of these companies' lines differ, and the advantageous lines differ depending on the section or area of use.

The present invention was devised in view of these problems, and provides an economical line selection method by automatically selecting the line with the cheapest charge among the lines of each telecommunications carrier. The purpose is to do something.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, the means for solving the problems described in "2" is that, in a facsimile line selection method in which communication is performed using multiple lines with different usage charges, each line and usage charges are matched for each communication section. and a line selection means for comparing the usage charges of each line and selecting the cheapest line from among the usage charges sequentially displayed from the table memory. A line selection method that automatically selects the

[Function] In the present invention, when multiple lines with different usage charges are used for facsimile communication, line data that associates each line and usage charges for each communication section is prepared in the table memory, and the operator can call the destination phone. When a number is input, the usage fee for each line corresponding to the communication section determined from the area code and the area code of the own terminal is read from the table memory, and the line selection means of hardware or software is used to select each line. It compares line usage charges and selects the line with the lowest charge to make a call.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a facsimile control section embodying the present invention. In FIG. 1, the facsimile control unit includes a processor (CPU) 1 and ROM 2 and RAM 3, which are known memories, and the CPU bus includes:
Also in a known configuration, a reading means 5 and a recording means 6 are connected via a data compression means 4, while a communication line is connected via a modem 7 and a connection unit (NCU) 8. The telephone number of the communication destination is input using the telephone 9 connected to the NCU 3. In this embodiment, such a facsimile control unit includes a line data table memory 10 that stores data associating each line with a usage fee for each communication section, and compares the usage fee of each line and selects the one with the highest fee. A line selection means 11 for selecting a cheap line is also attached.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the line data table memory in the above device. The line data table memory 10 stores the station numbers 1, . . . of the other party, as shown in FIG. 2. 3...i (station number 1 is the actual value),
The station numbers of the own terminal are A11, C, and J (the station number j is the actual number), and the contents of each table are as shown in Figure (b).
Usage fees Aij, Bij, corresponding to C...
It is converted into data in Cij... Therefore, for example, if the other party's station number is 2 and the local terminal's station number is 2, the hatched area in FIG. C20
...is kept appearing one after another.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operating procedure of the above embodiment. In FIG. 3, the flow is roughly composed of a reading process, a comparison process 1 determination process, and a call/transmission process. As shown in the figure, when the operator inputs the telephone number of the communication destination, the CPU 1 memory 1
0 to the above-mentioned usage charges of all the lines corresponding to the required section, and the line selection means 11 repeatedly compares them as shown in the 3rd to 5th steps of the flow, and then selects the charges as shown in the 6th step of the flow. , determines the selection of the cheapest line in that section, and makes a call using the decided line.

In addition, in the flow of Fig. 3, the total number of lines in the communication section is A, B,
Although four companies, C and D, are shown, it is of course not limited to four companies, and a comparison process corresponding to the required number of lines is formed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically select the line with the lowest charge among the lines of each telecommunications carrier, and to provide an economical line selection method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a table memory of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operating procedure of the embodiment. 1; CPU. 4; data compression means; 7; modem; 8; connection unit; 9; telephone; 10; line data table memory; 11; line selection means. (a) (b) Explanatory diagram of uninvented table memo 1) Figure 2 Flowchart on page 81 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a facsimile line selection method for communication using a plurality of lines with different usage charges, a line data table memory (
10), and line selection means (11) for comparing the usage charges of each line and selecting the cheapest line among the usage charges read from the table memory (10). A line selection method that automatically selects a suitable line.