JP2001313690A - Communication control device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A communication control device and method for providing a common application interface regardless of the type of a modem. A communication controller having two serial ports connected to a modem determines whether the connected modem is a first type modem having a single port or a second type modem having a plurality of ports. Yes (S70
1). If the modem is of the first type, it is determined whether or not the modem is performing data communication (S702). If the modem is not performing data communication, data received via the modem is used as control data to perform data communication. In this case, the data received via the modem is provided to the application as communication data (S703, S704). If it is determined that the modem is of the second type, communication of communication data and control data is performed using different serial ports (S706).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication control device and method using communication equipment such as a modem.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When performing data communication using a modem or the like, there are the following two types of modems connected to a computer.

(A) Modem Connected to Computer via One Serial Port In this modem, data transmitted from a computer via one serial port is converted into a command for controlling the modem and communication data in a context. Carve out. Specifically, when the modem is not connected to the communication partner, the modem is in the command mode, and at this time, data flowing to the modem via the serial port is interpreted as a command. Conversely, when connected, the modem is in the online mode, and the data flowing at this time is interpreted as communication data to be sent to the communication partner and transmitted to the communication partner via the line. In the online mode, when a specific escape code is received via the serial port, the mode is changed to the command mode, and thereafter, when a predetermined command (referred to as a return command) is received, the mode returns to the online mode. A typical modem of this type is a modem compliant with the Hayes AT command.

(B) Modem connected to a computer with two serial ports In this modem, one serial port is used as a command dedicated port for modem control, and the other serial port is used as a communication data dedicated port. Is what you do.

Therefore, an application for controlling the modem controls one serial port in the type (A) modem conscious of the mode of the modem, and in the type (B) modem unaware of the mode of the modem. It will control two serial ports.

[0006]

As described above,
Some modems have different numbers of serial ports, and the control methods are different accordingly. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to standardize a communication control device and an application for modem control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a communication control apparatus and method which enable an application to use a modem without being aware of the type of the modem. Is to do.

[0008]

A communication control apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following configuration. That is, a communication control device having a plurality of ports connectable to a modem, the communication control device determining whether the connected modem is a first type modem having a single port or a second type modem having a plurality of ports. 1 determining means, when the first determining means determines that the modem is of the first type, second determining means for determining whether or not the modem is performing data communication; and First communication control means for performing communication of communication data and control data by the modem through different ports when the modem is determined to be of the second type; If it is determined that data communication is not being performed, data received via the modem is treated as control data. If it is determined that data communication is being performed, reception is performed via the modem. And a second communication control means for handling the communication data data.

Further, a communication control method according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object has, for example, the following configuration. That is, a communication control method having a plurality of ports connectable to a modem, the method comprising: determining whether the connected modem is a first type modem having a single port or a second type modem having a plurality of ports. A first determining step, a second determining step of determining whether or not the modem is performing data communication when the modem is determined to be of the first type in the first determining step; and A first communication control step of performing communication of communication data and control data by the modem through different ports when the modem is determined to be of the second type; and If it is determined that data communication is not being performed, data received via the modem is treated as control data. If it is determined that data communication is being performed, reception is performed via the modem. And a second communication control step that handles the communication data data.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing a configuration when a modem is connected to the communication control apparatus according to the first embodiment. These FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show 2
This shows a configuration in the case where different types of modems are connected to a communication control device having serial ports.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram in the case where the above-mentioned type (B) modem (modem of a type connected to a computer through two serial ports) 11 is connected to the communication control apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a communication control device main body 1
Includes a CPU 2, a memory 3, and first and second serial port controllers 4 and 5. The memory 3 has areas named type and port (hereinafter, type 3 and port 3 respectively).
a, port 3b). Reference numeral 11 denotes a type (B) modem, which has two serial ports. 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a command port through which a command is received by the modem and information is transmitted from the modem to the communication control device. Reference numeral 13 denotes a data port for performing data communication with a communication device of a connection partner when a line is connected.

A data port 13 of a modem is connected to the first serial port control unit 4, and a command port 12 of the modem is connected to the second serial port control unit 5.
Is connected.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in the case where a type (A) modem (a modem connected to a computer with one serial port) 21 is connected to the communication control apparatus of the present embodiment. In this case, the modem 21 is connected only to the first serial port control unit 4, and nothing is connected to the second serial port control unit 5.

Next, the flow of processing of the communication control device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step 701, when a modem is connected to the communication control device, it is determined whether the connected modem is a type (A) modem having a single port or a type (B) modem having a plurality of ports. This determination is made based on the contents of the type 3a.

If it is determined in step S701 that a type (A) modem is connected, step S7 is executed.
From 02 to S705, the processing described later with reference to FIG. 4 is executed. Briefly, in step S702, it is determined whether the modem is performing data communication. If it is determined in step S702 that the modem is not performing data communication, the process advances to step S703 to switch the processing so as to provide the data received from the modem as control data to the application. On the other hand, if data communication is being performed in step S702,
In step S704, the process is switched so as to provide data received from the modem as communication data to the application. In step S705, the application provides data to the modem. The provision of data from the application to the modem is not affected by whether data is being communicated or not.

On the other hand, in step S701, type (B)
If it is determined that the modem is connected, the process proceeds to step S706 to perform data communication and control data communication using different serial port controllers 4 and 5 as described later with reference to FIG. Switch processing. That is,
The communication with the application is performed using data communicated via the first serial port control unit 4 as communication data and data communicated via the second serial port control unit 5 as control data.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrams showing the operation of the serial port driver of the communication control device when the type (B) modem 11 is connected and when the type (A) modem 21 is connected, respectively. As described in FIG. 7, the type 3a of the memory 3
, The type of the connected modem is determined, and switching between the operation shown in FIG. 3 and the operation shown in FIG. 4 is performed. That is, the serial port driver changes the motion according to the value of the area of the type 3a in the memory 3. In the case of the type (A), the motion of FIG. 4 is performed, and in the case of the type (B), the motion of FIG. I do.

As shown in FIG. 4, the type (A) modem 21 is provided with signal lines Rx and Tx for data input / output, and further includes an information signal line (for example, CD (Carrier)).
Detect) is also available. The output from the signal line CD is 1 when the line is connected, and is 0 otherwise.

First, the operation when a type (B) modem is connected (step S706 in FIG. 7) will be described. In FIG. 3, an output request of a modem command from an application (including a system task, middleware, and the like) is sent by the second serial port control unit 5 by the second serial port control unit 5.
Command port 1 of modem via signal line TxDc
Sent to 2. The input from the command port 12 of the modem 11 to the second serial port control unit 5 is a signal line R
This is performed via xDc, and is passed to the application via the command buffer 101 as a modem command.

A request to output modem data from an application is sent by the first serial port control unit 4 to the data port of the modem via the signal line TxDd. The input from the data port 13 of the modem 11 to the first serial port control unit 4 is performed via the signal line RxDd, and is passed as modem data to the application via the data buffer 102.

Next, the operation when a type (A) modem is connected (steps S702 to S705 in FIG. 7)
Will be described. In FIG. 4, the serial port driver detects a change in the signal line CD of the modem 21, and indicates 0 if the output from the signal line CD is 1 and 1 if the output from the signal line CD is 0 in the area of the port 3b in the memory 3. Stores a value.

A request for outputting a modem command and modem data from an application is sent by the first serial port control unit 4 to the modem 21 via the signal line TxD. The input from the modem 21 detects the content of the port 3b, and if the content of the port 3b is 0, it is provided to the application as a modem command via the command buffer 101 (processing setting in step S703). On the other hand, if the content of the port 3b is 1, it is provided to the application as modem data via the data buffer 102 (processing setting in step S704). Thus, when the modem 21 is connected to the line, the input from the modem 21 is provided to the application as modem data, and when the line is disconnected, the input from the modem 21 is transmitted to the application as a modem command. Provided.

Also, while the modem is in the online mode,
When the escape mode is sent to temporarily enter the command mode, the contents of the port 3b are temporarily set to 0,
When returning to the online mode by sending a return command, the contents of the port 3b are also returned to 1. Note that the process setting in this case is apparent from the fact that the determination in step S702 of FIG. 7 is performed based on the contents of the port 3b (if the port 3b is 1, data communication is being performed).

In this way, the modem 2 of the type (A)
Even when 1 is connected, data is provided to the application as modem data when the modem is in the online mode and as a modem command when in the command mode.

As described above, according to the communication control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a common interface capable of controlling both types (A) and (B) of a modem is provided. Can be provided to the application.

[Second Embodiment] In a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication control device having a single serial port and operating a modem having no signal line CD. FIGS. 5 and 6 show a type (A) modem and a signal line CD.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration and an operation of the communication control device according to the present embodiment when there is no data. In FIG. 5, the first serial port control unit 4 and the modem 21 'are connected by signal lines RxD and TxD. The modem 21 ′ according to the present embodiment sends a character string “CONNECT” to the first serial port control unit 4 when a line is connected, and “NO CAR” when the line is disconnected.
The character string “RIER” is sent to the first serial port control unit 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the serial port driver when the value of the type 3a of the memory 3 indicates a modem having a single serial port. The operation in response to a request for outputting a modem command and modem data from an application is the same as that described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, the operation when data is input from the modem 21 'to the communication control device 1 is different from that described in the first embodiment. An input from the modem 21 ′ to the communication control device is sent to the first serial port control unit 4,
It is checked whether the input data matches "CONNECT" or "NO CARRIER". Port 3b if it matches "CONNECT"
Is stored in the port 3b if it matches "NO CARRIER". If the content of the port 3b is 1, it is provided to the application as modem data via the data buffer 102, and if the content of the port 3b is 0, the application is provided as command data via the command buffer 101. Provided to

The operation of the serial port driver when the value of type 3a is a type (B) modem connected to a computer through two serial ports is as follows.
This is the same as that described in the embodiment.

Similarly to the case described in the first embodiment, when the modem temporarily enters the command mode by sending an escape code from the communication control device while the modem is in the online mode, the port is also changed to the command mode. It temporarily goes to 0, and when returning to online mode by sending a return command, the port is also returned to 1.

In this way, when the modem is in the online mode, the input data is sent to the modem data, and when the modem is in the command mode, the input data is sent to the modem command.

As described above, according to the communication control apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even if no signal line CD is provided, either type (A) or type (B) modem Can also provide a common application that can be controlled.

The present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but can be applied to a single device (for example, a copier, a facsimile). Device).

An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or a recording medium) in which a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (a computer) of the system or the apparatus. Or a CPU or MPU) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium,
Needless to say, this is achieved. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
In addition, by the computer executing the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code,
The operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. , The CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The application can use the modem without being aware of the type of the modem.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration when a type (B) modem is connected to a communication control device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration in a case where a type (A) modem is connected to the communication control device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of a serial port driver of the communication control device when a type (B) modem is connected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of a serial port driver of the communication control device when a type (A) modem is connected.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration in which a type (A) modem is connected to the communication control device according to the second embodiment, and the modem has no signal line CD.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the operation of the serial port driver of the communication control device when the type (A) modem does not have the signal line CD.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process in the communication control device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A communication control device having a plurality of ports connectable to a modem, wherein the connected modem is a first type modem having a single port or a second type modem having a plurality of ports. First judging means for judging; second judging means for judging whether or not the modem is in data communication when the first judging means judges that the modem is the first type; First communication control means for performing communication of communication data and control data by the modem through different ports when the determination means determines that the modem is the second type; and the second determination means In the case where it is determined that the modem is not performing data communication, the data received via the modem is treated as control data. A communication control device, characterized in that it comprises a second communication control means for handling the received data as the communication data Te. 2. The first judging means has a memory for storing information indicating whether the modem is the first type or the second type. Based on the information in the memory, the first judging means has the first type or the second type. 2. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein the communication control device determines whether the communication control device is of the type. 3. The modem according to claim 2, wherein said second judging means performs data communication based on information from an information signal line provided in said port and different from a signal line for communication of said communication data and control data. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the communication is in progress. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second determining unit is configured to determine whether the modem is performing data communication based on information input from the modem via a signal line for communication of the communication data and control data of the port. The communication control device according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A communication control method having a plurality of ports connectable to a modem, wherein the connected modem is a first type modem having a single port or a second type modem having a plurality of ports. A first determining step of determining; if the first determining step determines that the modem is of the first type, a second determining step of determining whether the modem is performing data communication; A first communication control step of performing communication of communication data and control data by the modem through different ports when the modem is determined to be of the second type in the determining step; In the case where it is determined that the modem is not performing data communication, the data received via the modem is treated as control data. Communication control method characterized in that it comprises a second communication control step of handling the received data as the communication data Te. 6. The first determining step includes a memory for storing information indicating whether the modem is the first type or the second type, based on the information in the memory. 6. The communication control method according to claim 5, wherein the type of the communication control is determined. 7. The modem according to claim 2, wherein the second judging step is a step in which the modem performs data communication based on information from an information signal line provided in the port and different from a signal line for communication of the communication data and control data. The communication control method according to claim 5, wherein it is determined whether or not the communication is in progress. 8. The second determining step is based on information input from the modem via a signal line for communication of the communication data and control data of the port, and determines whether the modem is performing data communication. The communication control method according to claim 5, wherein: 9. A storage medium for storing a control program for causing a computer to implement the communication control method according to claim 5.