JPH07111548A - Simple communication method applying switching of transmission mode between voice and data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a simple communication method which can transmit and receive the digital data in addition to the voices and also can receive the data by a simple operation with no consciousness of the type of data by switching the connection state of a communication circuit at an optical time point and also by performing automatically a prescribed function based on the attribute given at the file transmitting side. CONSTITUTION:This communication method is provided with control programs 22 and 25 which are easily operated, transmission mode switching controllers 2 and 13 which are connected to a communication circuit, and MODEMs 3 and 14 which can transmit and receive the digital data. The programs 22 and 25 can output the transmission mode switching commands to the controllers 2 and 13 respectively. Both programs 22 and 25 also add the attribute information based on the types of data in a data transmission state. Thus the attribute information on data is decided when the data are received and the proper processing is automatically selected and carried out based on the attribute information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses an electric signal communication line such as a general public line to switch between a state of communication by analog signals such as voice and a state of transmitting and receiving digital data at an arbitrary time. The present invention relates to communication means when communicating.

[Prior art]

As a typical conventional technique, as a communication means using an electric signal communication line such as a general public line, a communication using a telephone, a FAX, a personal computer (personal computer communication), a videophone (or Video conferencing system), communication means using a workstation, etc.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Among the conventional techniques, a telephone is intended only for voice and does not have a function of transmitting and receiving digital data by itself.

Although the FAX sends and receives drawing information, it does not have a function of sending and receiving numerical data and a function of performing voice conversation at an arbitrary time.

The personal computer communication has a function of transmitting and receiving voice as digital data in addition to transmitting and receiving digital data, but it is not an instant (real-time) conversation function using analog signals.

Although the TV phone has a function of transmitting and receiving voice and images, it is not for transmitting and receiving digital information such as other numerical data.

On the other hand, as a communication means using a workstation or the like, there is a system having a function of simultaneously transmitting and receiving voice and digital data by means of utilizing a plurality of communication lines and the like, but it is generally an expensive system. Is.

Is there a function in the above-mentioned prior art for switching between a mode for transmitting / receiving an analog signal such as voice and a mode for transmitting / receiving an image or numerical data at any time within a single line connection time? Alternatively, there is a problem that the system requires expensive equipment and is not a system that can easily switch the transmission mode.

The present invention uses only a single electric signal communication line such as a general public line to establish a line connection between a communication state by an analog signal such as voice and a state in which digital data is transmitted and received. It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple communication means in the case of switching and communicating at an arbitrary point in time without any correction.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, in the system of the present invention, it is possible to transmit and receive a control program, a transmission mode switching control device connected to a communication line, and digital data, which are considered to be easy to operate. And a modem (MODEM).

The control program may have a function of using various input means such as a mouse so as to facilitate the operability.

The control program has a function of outputting a command for selectively switching the transmission mode to the transmission mode switching control device.

Regarding the calling method when the user calls the other party with whom the user wants to communicate, the control program may be manually performed as in the case of the normal telephone method, but only the data of the telephone number that has been registered in advance is selected. The control program may have a function of automatically calling the other party.

When the control program transmits data,
Attribute information based on the type of data is added.

When receiving the data, the control program can automatically select and execute an appropriate process based on the attribute information of the data by judging the attribute information of the data.

[Action]

In the present invention, a control program which is considered to be easy to operate is used to output a necessary command to the transmission mode switching control device connected to the communication line.

In the initial state of the control program, a command to set the mode of the function for conversation by voice is output to the transmission mode switching control device.

The calling method when the user calls the other party with whom the user wants to communicate may be performed manually as in the ordinary telephone method, or the control program can be created by simply selecting the data of the telephone number that has been registered in advance. You may use the function to call the other party automatically.

After calling the other party to communicate with, if necessary, a voice conversation is performed, and when the user selects the data transmission function, the control program issues a command to set the communication line to the data transmission mode for transmission mode switching control. Output to the device.

The control program adds attribute information based on the type of data, such as whether it is image data or character data for printing to a printer, to the transmission data at the time of data transmission and starts transmission. To do.

On the receiving side, by judging the attribute of the received data at the time of receiving the data, an operation such as immediately displaying it on the display device or outputting it to a printer is added to the data if it is an image. Appropriate processing based on the attribute information is automatically selected and executed.

After the control program finishes transmitting the data,
Outputting a command to the transmission mode switching control device to switch to the mode of the function for performing voice conversation again, and performing voice conversation or selecting the data transmission function according to the user's need. Return to a state where

【Example】

An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device, and a public communication line 1 in FIG. 1 is an example of a transmission medium. For example, a modem 3 having a transmission mode switching device 2 is connected to the terminal of the public communication line 1, and a telephone 4 and a computer 5 are connected to the modem 3. A display device 6 or a printing device 7 as an example of an output device is connected to the computer 5, and a storage device 8 is provided. For example, a keyboard 9 or a mouse 10 which is an input device is used as an input device for image information. For example, a VTR 11 or a camera 12 at a certain place is connected. The other constituent element of the public communication line 1 may be connected with the same constituent device as that of the above-mentioned terminal side, but, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a modulation / demodulation device 14 having a transmission mode switching device 13 is connected. A telephone 15 and a computer 16 are connected to the modulation / demodulation device 14, and the computer 16 has a display device 1 as an example of an output device.
7, a printing device 18, etc., and a storage device 19
It is also possible to have a configuration in which the input device for image information is not connected but only the keyboard 20 or the mouse 21 which is an input device is connected.

The storage devices 8 and 19 of FIG. 1 store and hold control programs 22 and 25, and also store transmission data 23 and 26 and reception data 24 and 27 as necessary.

In FIG. 1, the public communication line 1 may be another transmission medium such as a simple twisted pair wire. If there is no need to print the information to be transmitted / received, the public communication line 1 is printed on the computers 5 and 16. The devices 7 and 18 may not be connected, and the image information may be stored in advance in the storage device 8,
When it is not necessary to input new image information such as the case where it is stored as digital information in 19 or the like, it is not necessary to connect the VTR 11 or the camera 12 as well.

Although not connected in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, if the acoustic information needs to be transmitted and received as coded information such as digital data, the acoustic information can be coded and input to the computers 5 and 16. By connecting an A / D conversion device or the like, it is possible to transmit and receive acoustic information in a data format that can be recorded and held.

FIG. 2 shows the control programs 22 and 25 of FIG.
3 is a flowchart of the operation in the embodiment of FIG.

In FIG. 2, the control program initializes the system in step 28 after starting the operation.
In step 29, the loop flag (F), which is a software flag for indicating whether or not the system should be terminated, is turned on, and then an instruction from the user of this system is waited in step 30.

The user of this system gives a desired operation instruction to the system by using the keyboards 9 and 20 and the mice 10 and 21 which are the input devices shown in FIG.

The control program described in the present embodiment adopts a method of selecting a function from a menu so that the user of the system can easily perform an operation when giving a desired operation instruction to the system, or It is also possible to implement the function of the system by using an icon function that represents it with a simple graphic.

In step 31, the control program which has received the instruction from the user interprets the content of the instruction and starts a desired operation.

Although the types of functions controlled by the control program according to an instruction from the user are omitted in the description of the functions in this embodiment, for example, the control program for a telephone number of a communication partner registered in advance is used. You can also add a function to automatically call.

If the instruction from the user is, for example, an instruction to store the image information from the VTR 11 or the camera 12 which is the image information input device shown in FIG. 1 as the transmission data 23 in the storage device 8. If step 32
In, the image information is converted into a file. After the image information is converted into a file, it is confirmed in step 33 that the loop flag (F) is ON, and in step 30
Return to the operation of waiting for input instruction.

The instruction from the user is, for example, the transmission data 2
If the instruction is to send 3 to the communication partner, after the user selects the file to be sent in step 34, the file is sent in step 35, the details of the operation of which will be described later. After the transmission of the file is completed, it is confirmed in step 33 that the loop flag (F) is ON, and the process returns to the operation of waiting for an input instruction in step 30.

If the instruction from the user is, for example, an instruction to receive data from the communication partner, step 36.
Receive the file at. After the reception of the file is completed, the attributes of the received data are judged in step 37, and the execution of the process conforming to each attribute is started. For example, when the attribute information of the received data is image data, the image is displayed on the display device in step 38. If the attribute information of the received data is print data, printing is performed by the printing device in step 39. Alternatively, if the attribute information of the received data is spreadsheet data, the spreadsheet data is displayed on the screen of the display device in step 40. After the processing based on the attribute information of the received data is completed, it is confirmed in step 33 that the loop flag (F) is ON, and the process returns to the operation of waiting for an input instruction in step 30.

When the instruction from the user is an instruction to end the communication, the loop flag (F) is turned off in step 41, and then it is confirmed in step 33 that the loop flag (F) is off. This ends the communication.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the contents of the file transmission process of step 35 in FIG.

When the file transmission process of step 35 in FIG. 2 is started, the control program switches from a state in which the user is communicating by voice to a transmission mode in which digital data can be transmitted and received. That is, in step 42 shown in FIG. 3, an instruction to switch to the data transmission mode is output to the transmission mode switching device so that the transmission mode of the modulation / demodulation device 3 connected to the public communication line 1 becomes the data transmission mode. To do.

After outputting the instruction to switch to the data transmission mode to the transmission mode switching device, the control program waits at step 43 for a response from the transmission mode switching device.

If there is a response from the transmission mode switching device, the control program proceeds to step 44 and inspects the content of the response. As a result of the inspection, if the response from the transmission mode switching device indicates that the transmission mode switching has failed, in step 45, an instruction to switch to the audio transmission mode is output to the transmission mode switching device and the file transmission fails. Let Alternatively, as a result of the inspection, if the response from the transmission mode switching device indicates that the transmission mode switching has succeeded, then in step 46, a request command relating to the operation procedure from the communication partner side is waited.

After receiving the request command related to the operation procedure from the communication partner, the type of the request command is analyzed in step 47.

If the result of the analysis of the received request command is not a legitimate command, in step 48 the command No. which is the target command type for notifying the other side that an error has occurred. Send 7 and step 4 again
The process returns to step 6 and waits for a request command related to the operation procedure from the communication partner.

As a result of the analysis of the received request command, the command No. to which the meaning of requesting the preparation of the transmitting side is added is given. If it is 0, it is determined in step 49 that the state of the transmission side is the command No. indicating that the transmission preparation is completed. Send 1.

As a result of the analysis of the received request command, the command No. with the meaning of requesting the information regarding the size and attribute of the file to be transmitted is given. Two
If it is, the command No. added with the meaning that the transmission content is the file size and the attribute information added in step 50. 3, the file size and the attribute information are transmitted.

The result of the analysis of the received request command indicates that the command No. If it is 4, the command No. indicating that it is file data is entered in step 51. 5 and the data of the file is transmitted.

The result of the analysis of the received request command is the command N which means that the reception of the file is completed.
o. In the case of 6, the file transmission has been completed, so the routine proceeds to step 45, where an instruction to switch to the audio transmission mode is output to the transmission mode switching device to complete the file transmission.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the contents of the file receiving process of step 36 in FIG.

When the file receiving process of step 36 in FIG. 2 is started, the control program switches from a state in which the user is communicating by voice to a transmission mode in which digital data can be transmitted and received. That is, as in the case of transmitting the file, in step 52 shown in FIG. 4, the data transmission to the transmission mode switching device is performed so that the transmission mode of the modulation / demodulation device 3 connected to the public communication line 1 becomes the data transmission mode. Outputs the instruction to switch to the mode.

After outputting the instruction to switch to the data transmission mode to the transmission mode switching device, the control program waits for a response from the transmission mode switching device in step 53 as in the case of transmitting the file.

If there is a response from the transmission mode switching device, the control program proceeds to step 44 and inspects the content of the response. As a result of the inspection, if the response from the transmission mode switching device indicates that the switching of the transmission mode has failed, the process proceeds to step 55 and the command No. indicating the end of the file transfer state is entered. After sending 6, step 56
At, the transmission mode switching device outputs an instruction to switch to the audio transmission mode to complete the file reception.
Alternatively, as a result of the inspection, if the response from the transmission mode switching device indicates that the switching of the transmission mode has succeeded, in step 57, it means that the transmission preparation state of the communication partner attempting to send the file is confirmed. The command No. that is the added instruction. Send 0.

In step 58, the command No. Waiting for a response to 0, and if a response is obtained, the response contents are confirmed in step 59. As a result of confirming the response content, the command No. indicating that the communication partner side attempting to send the file is in the ready state for transmission. If the response is not 1, it is determined that an error has occurred and the process proceeds to steps 55 and 56 to end the file receiving operation.

As a result of confirming the response contents in step 59, the command N which means that the transmission preparation state of the communication partner attempting to send the file is the completed state.
o. If the response is 1, the process proceeds to step 60, and the command No. with the meaning of requesting file size and attribute information is added. 2 is transmitted and this command No. Next step 61 of waiting for a response to 2
Proceed to.

In step 61, the command N
o. When the response to 2 is obtained, the content of the response is confirmed in step 62. As a result of confirming the response contents, the command No. assigned along with the file size and attribute information. If the response is not 2, it is determined that an error has occurred and the process proceeds to steps 55 and 56 to end the file receiving operation.

As a result of confirming the response contents in step 62, the command No. assigned along with the file size and attribute information. If the response is No. 2, the process proceeds to step 63, and the command No. with the meaning of requesting the transfer of the file data is added. 4 is transmitted, and this command No. 4 to the next step 64 where the response to 4 is awaited.

In step 64, the command N
o. If a response to 2 is obtained, the content of the response is confirmed in step 65. As a result of confirming the response contents, the command No. assigned with the meaning that it is file data. If the data is not the file data transmitted in step 5, it is determined that an error has occurred and the process proceeds to steps 55 and 56 to end the file receiving operation.

As a result of confirming the response contents in step 65, the command No. If it is the data of the file sent by step 5, then check 66 whether the full size of the file to be received has been received.
Proceed to.

As a result of checking in step 66, if there is an untransferred portion of the file data, the process returns to step 63 and the command No. which is a command for requesting the transfer of the file data. 4 is sent to request data transfer again.

As a result of checking in step 66, if there is no untransferred portion of the file data and the transfer of the data of all sizes is completed, the process proceeds to steps 55 and 56 to end the file receiving operation.

【The invention's effect】

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Not only communication by voice but also digital data can be transmitted / received, and the data to be transmitted / received can realize not only information such as drawings or images but also numerical data.

When the file data is received, the function based on the attribute information of the file can be automatically executed, so that the user on the receiving side does not have to be aware of the type of the data, for example, an image or a form. It is possible to make a system that can receive etc. with a simple operation.

At any time within a single line connection time,
By switching from the state of conversation by voice to the transmission mode without disconnecting the communication line, the state of transmitting / receiving digital data can be set. Also,
After the transmission / reception of the digital data is completed, the voice conversation can be performed without disconnecting the communication line.

When the user switches between the above states, it is not necessary to use a special command as found in a system using personal computer communication or a workstation, and the operation can be performed easily. System.

In the state of communicating by voice, it is possible to conduct an instant (real-time) conversation by an analog signal without converting the voice into digital data.

Communication by voice and digital data can be performed by using a single communication line without using a plurality of communication lines.

Since it is not necessary to use a workstation or the like and only a single communication line is used, an inexpensive system can be constructed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a device configuration diagram of a system in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a control program.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for transmitting a file.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for receiving a file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Public Communication Line 2, 13 Transmission Mode Switching Device 3, 14 Modulation / Demodulation Device 4, 15 Telephone 5, 16 Computer 6, 17 Display Device 8, 19 Storage Device 9, 20 Keyboard 10, 21 Mouse 12 Camera 22, 25 Control Program 23 , 26 Transmission data 24, 27 Reception data 35 File transmission 36 File reception

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukihiro Asayama 8-2-20 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No.2 Moritoku Building 601 Information Analysis Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A method of communication using an electric signal communication line such as a general public line, wherein the transmission mode of the communication line is switched and the transmission mode for voice communication and the transmission / reception for transmitting / receiving digital data. The mode can be switched at any time during the connection status of the communication line by the system control program that allows the user to easily operate it with a menu or icon. By adding attribute information, when receiving file data, it is also possible to automatically execute a predetermined function based on the attribute given to the file sending side. A simple communication method by switching the transmission mode between data and data. 2. A communication system using an electric signal communication line such as a general public line, which comprises a device for switching a transmission mode of the communication line, a modulation / demodulation device for enabling transmission / reception of digital data, and a voice. It is equipped with a telephone for communication and a control program for controlling the system, and under the control of the control program, without disconnecting the communication line from the communication state based on voice, at any time of the connection state of the communication line. It is characterized by an inexpensive device configuration that has the function of switching to a transmission mode for transmitting and receiving digital data, or returning to a transmission mode in which voice communication is performed when transmission and reception of digital data is completed. System to do.