Data communication apparatus

Abstract: A data communication apparatus communicates a communication protocol signal by a low speed modem (106) and data by a high speed modem (107,108,109), and has means for selectively communicating the protocol signal by the high speed modem (107,108,109).

Description: The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus for communicating data, such as image data. A facsimile device has been known as one of such apparatus. In the prior art facsimile device, a communication standard such as G3 standard has been defined by CCITT and a communication sequence is conducted in accordance with the communication standard to communicate image data. A transmitter which meets G3 standard with ECM (error correction communication mode) is first explained. When the transmitter receives nsf (non-standard facilities), csi (called subscriber identification) and dis (digital identification signal) signals by a V21 modem (300 bps) of a receiver, it transmits nss (non-standard facilities set-up), tsi (transmitting subscriber identification) and dcs (digital command signal) signals by a V21 modem in the transmitter, followed by TRAINING and TCF (training check) by a high speed modem (9600 bps, 7200 bps, 4800 bps and 2400 bps). After the transmission of TRAINING and TCF by the high speed modem, the transmitter receives responses by the V21 modem. When the transmitter receives fit (failure to train) as the response, it retransmits a signal such as dcs with a lower designation for a high speed modem speed and repeats the above procedure. When the transmitter receives cfr (confirmation to receive) as the response to TRAINING and TCF, it successively transmits TRAINING, HDLC flag (01111110) pattern (preamble) of approximately 200 ms, HDLC framed image signal and three RCP signals by the high speed modem at the preset transmission rate. After the transmission of the signals by the high speed modem, the transmitter sends a control signal pps-q ("pps" represents partial (or virtual) page signal and "q" represents eom, eop or mps) by the V21 modem. If the image signal is a partial page signal, the control signal pps-q is pps-null, if the image signal is an end page signal, it is pps-eop (end of procedure), if there is a next document and a mode change is required, it is pps-eom (end of message), and if no mode change is required, it is pps-mps (multi-page signal). After the transmission of the control signal pps-q, the transmitter receives a response by the V21 modem. If the transmitter receives ppr (partial page request) as the response, it retransmits the frame requested by the ppr by the high speed modem and continues the procedure. If the transmitter receives mcf (message confirmation) as the response, it transmits TRAINING and the preamble followed by a partial page image signal by the high speed modem if the pps-q signal previously transmitted is pps-null. If it is pps-eop, the transmitter transmits a dcn signal by the V21 modem and then opens the line to terminate the communication. If it is pps-eom, the transmitter returns to a phase B to receive dis by the V21 modem. If it is pps-mps, the transmitter transmits TRAINING and the preamble followed by a next page image signal by the high speed modem. The preamble period of the signal by the V21 modem is one second. A receiver which meets a G3 standard with an ECM function is now explained. When the receiver is called, it transmits CED followed by nsf, csi and dis by the V21 modem. After the transmission of the signals including dis, the receiver receives nss, tsi and dcs signals by the V21 modem. After the reception of the signals including dcs, the receiver receives a TCF signal by the high speed modem in accordance with the speed information in the dcs signal. If the receiver does not correctly receive TCF, it transmits ftt by the V21 modem and then receives the signals including dcs again by the V21 modem. If the receiver correctly receives TCF, it transmits cfr by the V21 modem and receives an image signal by the high speed modem having the same rate as that of TCF. After the reception of the image signal, the receiver receives at least one RCP continuously by the high speed modem and escapes from the high speed signal reception mode. After the reception of the high speed signal, the receiver receives pps-q by the V21 modem. After the reception of the pps-q signal, the receiver transmits a ppr signal to request to the transmitter the retransmission of an error frame if the error frame is included in the image signal received immediately previously, and it is set to the reception mode of the image signal by the modem having the same rate as that of the immediately previous image signal. If no error frame is included in the image signal received immediately previously, the receiver transmits an mcf signal by the V21 modem and conducts the following operation in accordance with the pps-q signal received immediately previously. If the pps-q signal is pps-null, the receiver receives the image signal of the next partial page by the modem having the same rate as that of the immediately previous image signal and continues the sequence. If the pps-q signal is pps-eom, the receiver returns to the phase B after T2 (six seconds) period and transmits the signals including dis by the V21 modem. If the pps-q signal is pps-mps, the receiver receives the image signal of the next page by the modem having the same rates as that of the immediately previous image signal and continues the sequence. If the pps-q signal is pps-eop, the receiver receives a dcn (disconnect) signal by the V21 modem and opens the line to terminate the communication. The preamble period of the signal by the V21 modem is one second. Fig. 19 shows the normal communication sequence described above. The improvement of quality of the public network since the basic communication protocol described above has been defined is remarkable and the existing communication protocol includes much waste for many currently available networks and takes a long communication time. A recent G3 facsimile device includes many added functions, and nss and dcs are very long to attain those functions. As a result, the communication time is long. 1. Too much time is required to transmit nss and dcs by the V21 modem. 2. It is almost unnecessary to confirm the line status by TCF and cfr. 3. It is not necessary to transmit three RCP's. 4. It is not necessary to transmit the pps-q signal by the V21 modem. Facsimile devices having the ECM function are disclosed in USP 5,031,179 (issued on July 9, 1991), USP 5,075,783 (issued on December 24, 1991) and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 371,874 filed on June 27, 1989). Technique to reduce the communication protocol time is disclosed in USP 4,910,506 (issued on March 20, 1991), which reduces the time by eliminating the communication of the protocol signal. GB 2,200,510 A discloses a facsimile communication system for communicating picture data among facsimile machines including two types of facsimile machines having different coding algorithms for picture data and different resolutions. One type of facsimile machine is directly connected to a store and forward switching network and the other type of facsimile machine is connected to the store and forward switching network through a facsimile terminal controller. When the facsimile terminal controller receives the picture data from the other type of facsimile machine, it decodes the received picture data, encodes it by the coding algorithm of the one type of facsimile machine and sends it to the store and forward switching network. When the facsimile terminal controller receives the picture data from the store and forward switching network, it decodes the received picture data, encodes it by the coding algorithm of the other type of facsimile machine and sends it to the other type of facsimile machine. The facsimile terminal controller comprises a microprocessor which stores and processes the picture data, a main memory, a hard disk controller, a hard disk, a network control unit having a telephone switching network controller and a G3 facsimile modem, a facsimile control unit having a T.30 protocol and a picture data conversion function, and a line controller for carrying out the X.25 protocol, all of which are connected through an internal bus. US 4,432,020 discloses a facsimile device including an administration data storage system for memorizing the administration data related to each transmission operation. The data may comprise time data at which the transmission operation is initiated, time period data during which the transmission operation is conducted, document size data representing the size of the document sheet, sheet number data representing the number of document sheets, machine number data representing the machine number of the connected office, and operator code data representing the operator who conducted the transmission operation. The thus stored administration data is printed out at the end of each one day of work. US 4,058,838 discloses a packet-switched facsimile communication system operable in a store-and-forward mode for enabling substantially simultaneous full-duplex communication between a plurality of telecommunications terminals, such as facsimile transceivers, over a communications network with a plurality of other facsimile transceivers having access to the communications network and with which such communication is desired. The disclosed packetizing of data and transmission thereof in a store-and-forward mode with dynamic routing provides a highly efficient utilization of the transmission facilities, substantially error-free data transmission and a handshake capability between a wide variety of dissimilar and otherwise incompatible facsimile machines having differing protocols, modulation techniques and other speed and code characteristics. Large blocks of data and other message information from facsimile data terminals are subdivided into data packets prior to transmission, converted into a system-wide compatible protocol, compressed, transmitted independently and time multiplexed with other packetized data from other terminals on the communications network, and stored and forwarded on a priority basis and in accordance with network availability at one or more switching nodes in the network. The present invention provides a data communication apparatus as set out in claim 1. The present invention also provides a method of controlling a data communication apparatus as set out in claim 6. The present invention further provides a storage medium storing a computer program as set out in claim 11. Optional features are set out in the other claims. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile device in accordance with one embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a control operation in a transmission call mode in the embodiment, Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a control operation at an end of transmission in the embodiment, Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a control operation in a transmission mode in the embodiment, Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a control operation in a reception mode in the embodiment, Fig. 6 shows a format of a memory 105, Fig. 7 shows a format of NSS used in the embodiment, Fig. 8 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 9 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 10 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment. Fig. 11 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 12 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 13 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 14 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 15 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 16 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 17 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 18 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, Fig. 19 shows a communication sequence in the embodiment, and Fig. 20 shows a format of a normal NSS. One embodiment of the present invention is now explained with reference to the drawings. A protocol newly proposed in this embodiment is referred to as an abbreviated protocol. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a basic configuration of a facsimile device in one embodiment. Numeral 101 denotes a reader for reading a document image, which comprises a reader for reading the document image by a CCD line sensor (or a contact sensor). Numeral 102 denotes a recorder for recording an image signal. It comprises a thermal printer for recording the image signal on a thermal paper by a thermal head, an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer (for example, a bubble jet type ink jet printer which generates bubbles by heat to discharge ink). Numeral 103 denotes a console unit which comprises various key entry switches such as one-touch dialing keys and a ten-key, a key entry scan circuit therefor and a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying various information including apparatus status. The apparatus is operated by the console unit 103. Numeral 104 denotes a controller for controlling the entire apparatus. It comprises a microcomputer and peripheral devices thereof such as a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a control program and a random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing various data. The controller 104 encodes and decodes the image signal (MH, MR or MMR system) and controls the communication sequence. Numeral 105 denotes a memory for registering telephone numbers and abbreviations for the one-touch dialing keys and the abbreviation dialing keys provided on the console unit 103. In the present embodiment, it stores information for 36 one-touch dialing keys and 100 abbreviation dialing keys. The memory 105 also stores information on communication modes of destination stations corresponding to the dial members, information as to whether the destination stations have functions of abbreviation procedure to be described below and flag information for the abbreviation protocol. Numeral 106 denotes a V21 modem (300 bps) of the CCITT Recommendation, which is used to communicate a normal protocol signal. Numeral 107 denotes a V27 ter modem (4800 bps, 2400 bps) of the CCITT Recommendation. Numeral 108 denotes a V29 modem (9600 bps, 7200 bps, 4800 bps, 2400 bps) of the CCITT Recommendation. Numeral 109 denotes a V33 modem (14400 bps, 12000 bps, 9600 bps) of the CCITT Recommendation. The V27 ter modem 107, the V29 modem 108 and the V33 modem 109 are used for the communication of an image signal. Numeral 110 denotes a network controller which captures a line 111 and it comprises a CI detection circuit for detecting a call signal (a 16Hz call signal and a 1300 Hz call signal) from the line 111, a dialing circuit for dialing to the line 111 in accordance with telephone number data from the controller 104, and a relay circuit for forming a DC loop of the line 111. An abbreviated procedure transmitter is first explained. Signals to be communicated by the high speed modem (the modem for the image signal) are shown by upper case alphabet characters while signals to be communicated by the 300 bps modem are shown by lower case alphabet characters. Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a control operation in a transmission mode of the controller 104. In a step S1, whether the auto-dialing call by the one-touch dial or the abbreviation dial has been made or not is determined, and if it has been done, the process proceeds to a step S2, and if manual call by the ten-key has been made, the process proceeds to a step S7 to transmit in accordance with a normal communication sequence of the CCITT recommendation. Telephone numbers and past communication histories for the one-touch dials and the abbreviated dials have been stored in the memory 105. In the step S2, whether an abbreviation protocol ready flag of an abbreviation protocol counter for the number to be called shown in Fig. 6 is "1" or not is determined. If the flag is "0", the auto-dialing call is made in a step S6 and normal communication is made in a step S7. If the abbreviation protocol ready flag is "1", an abbreviation protocol execution flag in the controller 104 is set in a step S3, the auto-dialing call is made in a step S4, and an image transmission routine (Fig. 4) by the abbreviation protocol is started in a step S5. Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of the image transmission protocol routine by the abbreviation protocol. In a step S51, whether the auto-dialing call by the one-touch dial or the abbreviation dial has been made or not is determined, and if the auto-dial call by the one-touch dial or the abbreviation dial has not been made, the abbreviation protocol execution flag is set to "0" (OFF) in a step S54, and if the abbreviation protocol execution flag is "0", nss, tsi and dcs are transmitted by the V21 modem to continue the normal ECM transmission or G3 transmission. Then, a conventional protocol is carried out. If the auto-dialing call by the one-touch dial or the abbreviation dial has been made, the process proceeds to a step S52 to call by the V21 modem 106 and then receive nsf, csi and dis signals transmitted from the destination station. In a step S53, whether the abbreviation protocol reception flag in the nsf signal of the nsf, csi and dis signals is "1" (ON) or not is determined, and if it is "0", the abbreviation protocol execution flag is set to "0" in a step S54 and the process proceeds to a step S55. If the abbreviation protocol reception flag is "1", the transmission is continued while the abbreviation protocol execution flag is kept "1", and in a step S56, nss for the abbreviation protocol which is different from a conventional nss as shown in Fig. 7 is transmitted at 300 bps for a preamble period of 200 ms. In a step S57, after approximately 70 ms non-signal period since nss for the abbreviation protocol has been transmitted, the transmission of a training signal is started by a high speed modem other than the V21 modem 106 (which is one of the V27 ter modem 107, the V29 modem 108 and the V33 modem 109, and the modem and the transmission speed are selected in accordance with the information of the communication mode of the destination station corresponding to the calling telephone number). After the transmission of the training signal, HDLC flag (01111110) pattern (preamble) of approximately 200 ms is transmitted, and control signals NSS, TSI and DCS which are identical to those transmitted by the V21 modem at 300 bps in the prior art are transmitted by the selected high speed modem. In a step S58, an image signal is transmitted, following to the control signal, by the HDLC framing which is identical to that of the normal ECM. One block (64 k bytes) of image signal is transmitted, and in a step S59, if it is determined that one page of actual document image signal is more than one block (resulting in a partial page), PPS-NULL is transmitted by the selected high speed modem in a step S63. If one page of actual document image signal is within one block, and in a step S60, if it is determined that there is next page document image, PPS-EOM is transmitted by the selected high speed modem. In the step S60, if it is determined that there is no next page, PPS-EOP is transmitted through the high speed modem. In the steps S59 to S62, PPS-EOP is transmitted by the high speed modem as the PPS-Q signal following to the image signal if the image signal is for the end page, PPS-EOM is transmitted without regard to the mode change if there is next page document, and PPS-NULL is transmitted if the partial page is included. After the transmission of the PPS-Q signal, the normal RCP signal is not transmitted and the transmission of the signal by the selected high speed modem is terminated. After the transmission of the signal by the high speed modem, a signal at 300 bps is received by the V21 modem 106 by T4 period (3 seconds), in a step S64. If the 300 bps signal is not received in the T4 period (step S68), the PPS-Q signal previously transmitted by the high speed modem is retransmitted by the V21 modem 106 with the preamble period of 200 ms in a step S69, and the signal at 300 bps is again received for the T4 period (3 seconds) in the step S64. If the 300 bps mcf signal is received in the T4 period in a step S65 and if the PPS-Q signal previously transmitted is determined as PPS-EOP in a step S67, a dcn signal with the preamble period of 200 ms is transmitted by the V21 modem in a step S74 and the line is opened to terminate the transmission. If it is determined that the previously transmitted PPS-Q signal is PPS-EOM in the step S67, the process returns to the step S57 where the training signal and the preamble are transmitted by the high speed modem followed by the control signals NSS, TSI and DCS and the image signal of the next page. If it is determined that the previously transmitted PPS-Q signal is PPS-NULL in the step S66, the training signal and the preamble are transmitted by the high speed modem in a step S73, and the process returns to the step S58 where the image signal of the next partial page is transmitted without transmitting the control signal. If ppr is received in a step S71, the training signal and the preamble are transmitted by the selected high speed modem in a step S72 as they are in the normal ECM, and then an error frame designated by FIF of ppr is retransmitted without transmitting the control signal. Then, the process returns to the step S59. If rtn is received in the step S70, it is determined that the receiver did not receive at least one of the 300 bps nss, the high speed NSS or the high speed DCS. The abberation protocol-execution flag is set to "0" in a step S73, and the 300 bps nss, tsi and dcs signals are transmitted by the V21 modem 106 in a step S75 to continue the normal ECM transmission. The first image block of ECM retransmits the image block previously transmitted by the abberation protocol, and the process does not return to the abberation protocol thereafter. In the image signal transmission in the abberation protocol, if the number of times of ppr transmission from the receiver for one image block exceeds a predetermined number, ctc is transmitted, and after the ctc transmission, the abberation protocol execution flag is set to "0" to move to the normal ECM transmission and the process does not return to the abberation protocol thereafter. The preamble period for the ctc signal is one second as it is in the normal ECM. The reception of the image signal by the abberation protocol is now explained. Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of an image signal reception routine by the abbreviation protocol. When a call from the line 111 is detected, the abbreviation protocol receive flag in nsf is set to "1" and CED is transmitted and then nsf, csi and dis are transmitted by the V21 modem 106 with the preamble period of 1 second in steps S100 and S101. In steps S102, S103 and S104, after the transmission of nsf, csi and dis, the 300 bps signal is received by the V21 modem 106. In a step S103, if the normal nss, tsi and dcs having the format shown in Fig. 20 are received, the abberation protocol reception flag and the abberation protocol execution flag (in the RAM) of the controller 104 are set to "0" in a step S105. In a step S106, the normal ECM or G3 reception is conducted in accordance with the direction from the transmitter. Thereafter, the process does not return to the abbreviation protocol during the same communication. When the abbreviation protocol nss (new nss) having the format shown in Fig. 7 is received in a step S104, the abberation protocol execution flag in the controller 104 is turned on in a step S107. In a step S108, one of the high speed modems V27 ter modem 107, V29 modem 108 and V33 modem 109 is selected in accordance with the speed signal in nss and the high speed signal is received by the high speed modem. After the reception of the training signal of the high speed signal, whether the control signals NSS, TSI and DCS have been continuously received by the same high speed modem or not is determined in a step S109. The image signal is not received until both control signals NSS and DCS are correctly received by the high speed modem. If the control signal NSS or DCS is not correctly received by the end of the high speed signal, the high speed signal is terminated in a step S110, the abbreviation protocol reception flag and the abbreviation protocol execution flag in the controller 104 are set to "0" in a step S111, the rtn signal having the preamble period of one second is transmitted by the V21 modem 106 in a step S112, and the normal ECM reception is started in the step S106. Thereafter, the process does not return to the abberation protocol during the same communication. If both control signals NSS and DCS are correctly received by the high speed modem in a step S109, the image signal of the frame data of the HDLC format which is identical to that of the normal ECM is continuously received by the high speed modem in a step S113. After the reception of the image signal, whether PPS-Q has been continuously received by the same high speed modem or not is determined in a step S114. After the reception of PPS-Q, the reception of the high speed signal is terminated. In a step S117, the presence or absence of an error (a frame error) in the received image signal is determined, and if any frame error is detected, ppr having the preamble period of 200 ms (ppr having the error frame number set) is transmitted as a response by the V21 modem 106 in a step S118. PPS-Q is received by the high speed modem, and if the received PPS-Q is determined as PPS-NULL in a step S119, the mcf signal is transmitted by the V21 modem 106 in a step S121, and the high speed signal by the previously selected high speed modem is received in a step S120. Then, the process returns to the step S113. PPS-Q is received by the high speed modem, and if the received PPS-Q is determined as PPS-EOM in a step S122, the mcf signal is transmitted by the V21 modem 106 in a step S123. Then, the process returns to the step S108 to receive the next block. PPS-Q is received by the high speed modem and when the received PPS-Q is determined as PPS-EOP in a step S122, the mcf signal is transmitted by the V21 modem 106 in a step S124, and the 300 bps signal is received by the V21 modem 106 in a step S125. When the dcn signal is received by the V21 modem 106 in a step S126, the reception of the abbreviation protocol is terminated. If the end of high speed signal is detected without receiving PPS-Q, the response is not transmitted but the 300 bps signal is received by the V21 modem 106 in a step S115. After the transmission of the mcf signal in the steps S121 and S123, the apparatus stands by to receive either one of the 300 bps signal and the high speed signal as it does in the node F of the CCITT·T30 Recommendation. If any error frame is included in the image signal, the ppr signal is transmitted and the retransmission of the error frame is received, and after the entire error frame has been correctly received, the mcf signal is transmitted. If the ctc signal is received for the ppr signal, the abbreviation protocol reception flag and the abbreviation protocol execution flag in the controller are set to "0" and the normal ECM reception is started. If the transmitter and the receiver are the facsimile devices of the present embodiment, the image signal is communicated by the abbreviation protocol. After the image transmission by the normal communication sequence and the image transmission by the abbreviation protocol described above are over, a routine shown in Fig. 3 is executed. Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a routine after the transmission. After the transmission, whether the call is by the auto-dialing by the one-touch key or the abbreviation dial or not is determined in a step S130, and if it is not the auto-dialing call, the abbreviation procedure permit flag is set to "0" in a step S138 and "5" is set in the abberation protocol counter. Then, the process after the transmission is terminated. If the call is by the auto-dialing, whether any transmission error was included or not is determined in a step S131. If the transmission error is included, the abbreviation protocol ready flag of the corresponding one-touch dial or abbreviation dial is set to "0" in a step S138, and "5" is set in the abberation procedure counter. If there is no transmission error in the step S131, the process proceeds to a step S132 to determine whether there is a fall-back of the transmission rate to the transmission rate of the communication mode information of the memory 105 shown in Fig. 6 corresponding to the one-touch dial or the abberation dial. If there is a fall-back, the abberation protocol ready flag of the corresponding one-touch dial or abberation dial is set to "0" in a step S138, and "5" is set in the abberation protocol counter. Then, the process after the transmission is terminated. If there is no fall-back, the process proceeds to a step S133 to determine whether the transmission is in the abberation protocol or not. If it is in the abberation protocol, it means that the abberation protocol ready flag has been set to "1" and the process after the transmission is terminated. The abberation protocol ready flag may be again set to "1" at this time. On the other hand, if the transmission is not in the abberation protocol in the step S133, whether the content of the abberation protocol counter is "0" or not is determined in a step S134. If it is "0", the abberation protocol ready flag of the corresponding one-touch dial or abberation dial is set to "1" in a step S137 and the process after the transmission is terminated. If the content of the abberation protocol counter is not "0", the abbreviation protocol counter is decremented in a step S135. After the decrement of the abberation protocol counter, whether the content of the abberation protocol counter is "0" or not is determined in a step S136. If it is not "0", the process after the transmission is terminated. If the content of the abbreviation protocol counter is "0" after the decrement in the step S136, the abberation protocol ready flag is set to "1" in a step S137 and the process after the transmission is terminated. In this manner, if the normal image transmission at the transmission rate of the communication mode corresponding to the one-touch dial or the abberation dial succeeds continuously five times (not limited to five times), the abberation protocol ready flag of the one-touch dial or the abbreviation dial is set to "1", and in the next transmission, the image transmission by the abberation protocol is automatically attempted. In this manner, the image transmission by the abberation protocol is automatically attained for a destination station which normally has good line status, and the image transmission by the normal communication procedure is conducted for a destination station which does not have good line status. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the image communication by ECM is conducted when the abberation protocol is executed although the present invention is not limited to the error retransmission by ECM. Specifically, the error document image may be retransmitted by any normal communication protocol if the communication by the abbreviation protocol fails. Figs. 8 to 18 show communication sequences in the present embodiment. Fig. 8 shows a communication sequence when the abbreviation protocol of the present embodiment is conducted with the amount of data of one page of document image being within one block (64 k bytes) when one page of document image is to be transmitted (one-page communication without NULL). In Fig. 8, CED and 300 bps nsf, csi and dis are transmitted from the receiver to the transmitter, and 300 bps nss is transmitted from the transmitter, followed by the high speed training signal (TR), flag pattern (F), NSS, TSI, DCS, image data (PIX) and PPS-EOP. The 300 bps mcf is transmitted from the receiver and the 300 bps dcn is transmitted from the transmitter. Then, the communication sequence is terminated. Fig. 9 shows a communication sequence in the abberation protocol of the present embodiment when the amount of data of one page of document image is of two blocks when one page of document image is to be transmitted (one-page communication with NULL). In Fig. 9, high speed PPS-NULL is transmitted from the transmitter following to one block of image data (PIX) and the 300 bps mcf is transmitted from the receiver. The high speed image data (PIX) is again transmitted from the transmitter. Subsequent sequence is same as that of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 shows a communication sequence when the amount of data of each page of document images is within one block when two pages of document images are to be transmitted, and there is no change of communication mode between pages. (Two-page communication without NULL and mode change). Fig. 11 shows a communication sequence when there is a change of communication mode between pages. (Two-page communication without NULL and with mode change). In the present embodiments, the signals received and transmitted are identical because the transmitter transmits PPS-EOM even when there is not mode change. Fig. 12 shows a communication sequence when the receiver rejects the communication in the abberation protocol from the beginning. (The abberation procedure receive bit is "0"). In this case, the communication is conducted by the normal G3 procedure or the normal ECM procedure. Fig. 13 shows a communication sequence when the receiver cannot receive the high speed NSS or DCS. In this case, the 300 bps rtn is transmitted from the receiver. Subsequently, the communication is conducted by the normal procedure. Fig. 14 shows a communication sequence when the receiver cannot receive the high speed PPR-Q signal when two pages of document image is to be transmitted. In this case, the transmitter transmits the high speed PPS-Q signal (PPS-EOM in the present embodiment), and T4 (3 seconds) period later, it transmits the 300 bps pps-eom. When the 300 bps mcf is transmitted from the receiver, the transmitter continues the communication in the abberation protocol. Fig. 15 shows a communication sequence when the receiver cannot receive the high speed NSS (or DCS) and PPS-Q (PPS-EOP in the present embodiment). In this case, the communication is conducted in the normal protocol as it is in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 shows a communication sequence when the transmitter cannot receive the 300 bps mcf. In this case, the transmitter transmits PPS-EOM, and after T4 (3 seconds) period, it transmits the 300 bps pps-eom. When it receives the 300 bps mcf from the receiver, it continues the communication in the abberation protocol. Fig. 17 shows a communication sequence when the receiver cannot receive the high speed NSS (or DCS) and the transmitter cannot receive the 300 bps rtn from the receiver. In this case, the transmitter transmits PPS-EOP, and after the TK (3 seconds) period, it transmits the 300 bps pps-eop, and when it receives the 300 bps rtn from the receiver, it conducts the communication in the normal protcol. Fig. 18 shows a communication sequence when an error frame is included in the block data and the error frame was not eliminated during several times of retransmission (CTC transmission and reception). In this case, the transmitter transmits the 300 bps ctc, and when the receiver transmits the 300 bps ctr, it conducts the communication in the normal protocol. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above but various modifications thereof may be made. The relevant CCITT recommendations for the V modem protocols and for group III error correcting mode are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

Claims: A data communication apparatus, comprising: communication means (106-110) operable to communicate data signals in accordance with a first communication mode and in accordance with a second communication mode, wherein the first and second communication modes are different from each other in organisation of communication procedure signals; characterised by : means (104, 105) for generating and storing communication history information concerning previous data communications to a destination apparatus in accordance with the first communication mode; and control means (104) for selecting one of the first communication mode and the second communication mode for a subsequent data communication to the destination apparatus in dependence upon the communication history information and for controlling the communication means to perform the data communication to the destination apparatus in accordance with the selected communication mode. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means (104) is arranged to select the communication mode in further dependence upon the presence or absence of occurrence of an error in a previous communication to the destination apparatus. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said control means (104) is arranged to select the communication mode in further dependence upon the presence or absence of occurrence of a fall-back. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein: the means for generating and storing communication history information is operable to generate and store respective communication history information for each of a plurality of destination apparatus concerning previous data communications thereto in accordance with the first communication mode; and the control means is operable to select one of the first communication mode and the second communication mode for data communication to a respective one of the plurality of destination apparatus in dependence upon the corresponding communication history information for that destination apparatus. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said first communication mode is a G3 facsimile communication mode and said second communication mode is a facsimile communication mode in which the communication time is shortened relative to G3 facsimile communication. A method of controlling a data communication apparatus having communication means operable to communicate data signals in accordance with a first communication mode and in accordance with a second communication mode, wherein the first and second communication modes are different from each other in organisation of communication procedure signals, the method being characterised by : generating and storing communication history information concerning previous data communications to a destination apparatus in accordance with the first communication mode; selecting one of the first communication mode and the second communication mode for a subsequent data communication to the destination apparatus in dependence upon the communication history information; and controlling the communication means of the data communication apparatus to perform the data communication to the destination apparatus in accordance with the selected communication mode. A method according to claim 6, wherein the selection of the communication mode is performed in further dependence upon the presence or absence of occurrence of an error in a previous communication to the destination apparatus. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the selection of the communication mode is performed in further dependence upon the presence or absence of occurrence of a fall-back. A method according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein: respective communication history information is generated and stored for each of a plurality of destination apparatus concerning previous data communications thereto in accordance with the first communication mode; and one of the first communication mode and the second communication mode is selected for data communication to a respective one of the plurality of destination apparatus in dependence upon the corresponding communication history information for that destination apparatus. A method according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said first communication mode is a G3 facsimile communication mode and said second communication mode is a facsimile communication mode in which the communication time is shortened relative to G3 facsimile communication. A storage medium storing a computer program for controlling a data communication apparatus having communication means operable to communicate data signals in accordance with a first communication mode and in accordance with a second communication mode, wherein the first and second communication modes are different from each other in organisation of communication procedure signals, the computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by the data communication apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the method as set out in at least one of claims 6 to 10.

Inventors: UENO YASUHIDE, UENO, YASUHIDE
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04M11, H04N1, H04L27