JPH10247998A - Data / facsimile communication device having a plurality of communication ports - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] By setting and executing a self-diagnosis start time in advance by application software,
An abnormal communication port is automatically detected, operation at the abnormal communication port is stopped, and operator intervention is eliminated. In a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports, when a host detects a self-diagnosis start time set in advance, it issues an instruction to time internal self-diagnosis for each communication port. The multi-port communication unit, for each communication port,
Performs internal self-diagnosis and notifies the host of the self-diagnosis result. If an abnormal communication port is detected based on the result, the host sets the operation stop at the abnormal communication port.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data / facsimile communication device (server) having a plurality of communication ports, and more particularly, to an option card having a PC multi-data / facsimile communication port.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 3-1749 (a facsimile apparatus having a multi-port), a transmission operation of each port is automatically performed by performing an automatic loop-back test on a multi-communication port through a network. It describes that diagnosis can be made and that a mistake due to a call from a bad port is prevented.

[0003] Conventional data / data having a plurality of communication ports.
In a facsimile communication apparatus, facsimile coded data can be automatically transmitted from one port to the same other port according to an operator's instruction while each port is connected to a network, and can be correctly decoded by a receiving port. Reception is recognized as normal, or encoded data of data is transmitted, and the port on the receiving side can correctly decode the data to recognize normal reception. Was performed to detect a defective port and to prevent operation with the defective port.

[0004]

However, when an abnormal communication is found, it takes time for the operator to respond, and the inspection is performed via a network, which requires a small cost.

Further, in order to know the result of the self-diagnosis performed every day, the operator can go to the place where the data / facsimile communication device is installed and grasp the operation state only by performing some operation.

Further, if the self-diagnosis result is reported by facsimile, communication costs such as telephone charges increase, and there is a problem that paper is consumed.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports, a data communication unit detects the start of self-diagnosis from application software. Means for performing internal self-diagnosis at each communication port;
Means for notifying the self-diagnosis result to the application software, means for setting a self-diagnosis start time in advance in the application software, and self-diagnosis for the data / facsimile communication unit automatically at the set time. And a means for detecting the self-diagnosis result of the data / facsimile communication unit. When the self-diagnosis start time set on the application software comes, the self-diagnosis is performed for each port, Is notified to the application software, and based on the result, the application software stops operating the communication of the abnormal communication port.
In the facsimile communication device (server), by setting and executing the self-diagnosis start time in advance by application software, the abnormal communication port is automatically detected and the operation in the abnormal communication port is stopped, and the operator intervention is performed. In addition, communication costs are reduced by performing self-diagnosis inside each communication port and not performing diagnosis via a network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a means for inputting a designated facsimile telephone number in the application software and a data / facsimile communication device when self-diagnosis is performed and the result is obtained. The facsimile telephone number is used to notify the result of the status of the data / facsimile communication device to a pre-specified facsimile telephone number. Even if the user does not go to the place where the communication device is installed, the self-diagnosis result is automatically sent to the designated facsimile machine, so that the user can confirm the result.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data / facsimile communication apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the apparatus is capable of transmitting an e-mail, and the application software is configured to input a destination address of the e-mail. Means for holding the address, and means for automatically transmitting the result to the designated e-mail address when the self-diagnosis result is obtained. After the self-diagnosis is performed, the result is transmitted to the data / facsimile communication apparatus. In addition, for a network system connected to the system of the present invention, the result of the self-diagnosis of the data / facsimile communication device is notified by e-mail to a pre-specified e-mail address, Reporting self-diagnosis results by facsimile increases communication costs such as telephone bills, Costs are those that were in such a manner as to press.

[0010] The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1 or 2 or 3.
In the invention, in the data communication unit, means for detecting start of self-diagnosis from application software, means for performing internal self-diagnosis at each communication port,
Means for notifying the self-diagnosis result to the application software, and setting a self-diagnosis start time in advance in the application software, and automatically instructing the data / facsimile communication unit to perform a self-diagnosis at the set time. And a means for detecting the result of the self-diagnosis of the data / facsimile communication unit. Notifies the software, inserts the information of only the port where an error was detected into a preset facsimile number, sends an e-mail to a pre-specified e-mail address, and stops the operation of communication on the abnormal communication port The feature is that Even if the number of devices is increased to be notified only when a result of self-diagnosis, an abnormality is detected,
Suppress the increase in communication costs such as facsimile, save paper,
Further, a large number of notifications by e-mail are reduced, and the load on the operator is reduced.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a facsimile communication apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports. This is a block diagram of one communication port. The system has a plurality of components having the configuration of FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a unit having a plurality of communication ports (hereinafter, referred to as a multi-port communication unit).
, A host bus controller for controlling communication between the multiport communication unit and the host side, and 3 for storing firmware of the multiport communication unit. A storage medium (memory) used for temporarily storing data handled inside the multiport communication unit and for transferring data to the host side; 4, a CPU for controlling a modem chip of the multiport communication unit; 5, a modem chip , 6 is an NCU for I / F with a line, 7 is a memory controller for controlling a storage medium (memory), 8 is a C
It is a PU data bus.

(Invention of Claim 1) FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining an embodiment of the invention of claim 1, in a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports according to the present invention. Upon detecting the self-diagnosis start time set in advance, the host issues an instruction to time the internal self-diagnosis for each communication port. The multiport communication unit performs internal self-diagnosis for each communication port, and notifies the host of the self-diagnosis result. If an abnormal communication port is detected based on the result, the host sets the operation stop at the abnormal communication port.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports, a self-diagnosis start time is set in advance by application software and executed, thereby automatically executing the self-diagnosis start time. In this case, the abnormal communication port can be detected, and the operation at the abnormal communication port can be stopped. In addition, since self-diagnosis is performed inside each communication port and diagnosis is not performed via a network, communication costs can be reduced.

(Invention of claim 2) According to the invention of claim 1, in order to know the result of the self-diagnosis performed every day, the operator must go to the place where the data / facsimile communication device is installed and perform some operation. Operation status cannot be grasped. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the application software, a means for inputting a designated facsimile telephone number and a self-diagnosis are performed, and when the result is obtained,
The data / facsimile communication device notifies the result of the data / facsimile communication device to a pre-specified facsimile telephone number by facsimile.

FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention. The present invention relates to a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports.
In, upon detecting the self-diagnosis start time set in advance, the host issues an instruction to time the internal self-diagnosis for each communication port. The multiport communication unit performs internal self-diagnosis for each communication port,
Notify the host of the self-diagnosis result. If an abnormal communication port is detected based on the result, the host sets the operation stop at the abnormal communication port. Prepare a standard facsimile format for self-diagnosis notification,
An instruction to deliver a notification to a preset FAX number is issued. FAX from multi-port communication unit
The self-diagnosis result is notified to the number.

As described above, according to the invention of claim 2, in order to obtain information on the results of the self-diagnosis performed daily, the self-diagnosis results are automatically obtained even if the operator does not go to the place where the data / facsimile communication device is installed. Since it is sent to the designated facsimile, it can be confirmed.

(Explanation of Claim 3) In the invention of claim 2, if the self-diagnosis result is reported by facsimile, communication costs such as telephone charges increase. There is also paper consumption. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the data / facsimile communication apparatus, means for transmitting the electronic mail by the apparatus, means for inputting the destination address of the electronic mail in the application software, and holding the address Means for automatically transmitting the self-diagnosis result to a designated e-mail address when the self-diagnosis result is obtained. After the self-diagnosis is performed, the result is transmitted from the data / facsimile communication apparatus. Notify the network system connected to this system of the results of the self-diagnosis of the data / facsimile communication device by e-mail to a pre-specified e-mail address, and report the self-diagnosis result by facsimile to make a telephone bill. And so on, so as to suppress an increase in communication costs and paper consumption.

FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention. In the present invention, in a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports, the host side is set in advance. When the detected self-diagnosis start time is detected, an instruction is issued to time the internal self-diagnosis for each communication port. The multiport communication unit performs internal self-diagnosis for each communication port, and notifies the host of the self-diagnosis result. If an abnormal communication port is detected based on the result, the host sets the operation stop at the abnormal communication port. A standard format of the e-mail of the self-diagnosis notification result is prepared, and in an environment where the apparatus is connected to a system capable of delivering mail, the self-diagnosis result is notified by e-mail. If the system is different, an instruction to deliver a notification to a preset e-mail address is issued.ダ イ ヤ ル Connect to the designated destination by dial-up or the like with the multiport communication unit and notify the self-diagnosis result by e-mail.
Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an increase in communication costs such as a telephone charge and a paper consumption by reporting a self-diagnosis result by facsimile.

(Invention of claim 4) In the invention of claim 1, the operator has to check each system.
The operator's work increases due to the increase in the number of installations and the increase in the number of installation locations. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the method of reporting the self-diagnosis result by facsimile similarly does not make the communication cost such as telephone bills ridiculous as the number of installations increases. Also, paper consumption increases. In the invention of claim 3,
The operator does not need to perform a check on each installed device, but when the number of installed devices increases and the self-diagnosis results are sent by e-mail, the operator does not have to go all the way to the device. There is no substitute for doing the processing.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 1 or 2 or 3
Means for detecting the start of self-diagnosis from application software,
Means for performing an internal self-diagnosis at each communication port; means for notifying the self-diagnosis result to application software; and setting a self-diagnosis start time in advance in the application software. Means for instructing the communication unit to perform a self-diagnosis, and means for detecting a self-diagnosis result of the data / facsimile communication unit, wherein the self-diagnosis is started when a self-diagnosis start time set on application software is reached. Is performed for each port, the self-diagnosis result is notified to the application software, the information of only the port where the abnormality is detected is entered into the preset facsimile number, and the e-mail is sent to the e-mail address manually specified in advance. Send and abnormal communication port The operation of communication is stopped. In the invention of claims 1, 2, and 3, even if the number of installations of the present invention increases, a notification is made only when an abnormality is detected as a result of self-diagnosis. In this way, an increase in communication costs for facsimile and the like is suppressed, and paper is saved. In addition, enormous notifications by e-mail are reduced, and the load on the operator is reduced. Furthermore, if no abnormal communication port is detected by the self-diagnosis result, facsimile or
This is to avoid communication of the self-diagnosis result by e-mail, thereby saving communication costs.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a data / facsimile communication apparatus (server) having a plurality of communication ports.
By setting and executing the self-diagnosis start time in advance by application software,
Since the abnormal communication port can be automatically detected and the operation at the abnormal communication port can be stopped, the intervention of the operator can be eliminated. In addition, since self-diagnosis is performed inside each communication port and diagnosis is not performed via a network, communication costs can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in order to obtain information on the result of the self-diagnosis performed daily, the operator automatically designates the self-diagnosis result without having to go to the place where the data / facsimile communication device is installed. It is sent to the facsimile, so you can check it.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the communication cost such as a telephone bill increases by reporting the self-diagnosis result by facsimile,
Paper consumption is also reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if the number of apparatuses according to the present invention increases, a notification is made only when an abnormality is detected as a result of the self-diagnosis.
It saves paper and reduces the burden of operators by reducing the huge amount of e-mail notifications.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining an example of facsimile communication to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining the invention of claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the invention of claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a time chart for explaining the invention of claim 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host bus, 2 ... Host bus controller, 3 ... Memory, 4 ... MPU, 5 ... Modem, 6 ... NCU, 7 ... Memory controller.

Claims (4)

[Claims] In a data communication unit, means for detecting the start of self-diagnosis from application software, means for performing internal self-diagnosis at each communication port, and means for notifying the application software of a self-diagnosis result. Means for setting a self-diagnosis start time in advance in application software, means for automatically instructing the data / facsimile communication unit to perform self-diagnosis at the set time, and means for setting the data / facsimile communication unit. Means for detecting a self-diagnosis result, when the self-diagnosis start time set on the application software is reached, a self-diagnosis is performed for each port, the self-diagnosis result is notified to the application software, and the result is used by the application software. Software is abnormal communication port A data / facsimile communication device having a plurality of communication ports, wherein the operation of communication of the communication is stopped. 2. A means for inputting a designated facsimile telephone number in application software, and performing a self-diagnosis and obtaining a result thereof, the data / facsimile communication device sends the data / facsimile telephone number to a predetermined facsimile telephone number. 2. The data / facsimile communication device having a plurality of communication ports according to claim 1, wherein the result of the status of the communication device is notified by facsimile. 3. A data / facsimile communication apparatus, a means for transmitting an e-mail, a means for inputting a destination address of an e-mail in application software, a means for holding the address, and a method for obtaining a self-diagnosis result. Means for automatically transmitting the result to a designated e-mail address. After the self-diagnosis is performed, the result is sent from the data / facsimile communication device to the previously designated e-mail address by the data / facsimile communication device. 3. The data / facsimile communication apparatus having a plurality of communication ports according to claim 2, wherein the result of the self-diagnosis is notified by e-mail. 4. A means for detecting start of self-diagnosis from application software in a data communication unit, means for performing internal self-diagnosis at each communication port, means for notifying a self-diagnosis result to application software, Means for automatically instructing the data / facsimile communication unit to perform self-diagnosis at the set time when the self-diagnosis start time is set in advance in the software;
Means for detecting a self-diagnosis result of the facsimile communication unit, and when the self-diagnosis start time set on the application software comes, the self-diagnosis is performed for each port, and the self-diagnosis result is notified to the application software; Enter the information of only the port where the error was detected in the facsimile number set in advance,
4. A data / facsimile communication apparatus having a plurality of communication ports according to claim 1, wherein an e-mail is transmitted to an e-mail address manually specified in advance, and operation of communication of the abnormal communication port is stopped. .