Data communication apparatus

Abstract: A data communication apparatus having an error correction communication function comprises a memory for storing received data, a processor for processing the data stored in the memory, and means for sending out a retransmission request signal for previously received data when next data cannot be stored in the memory.

Description: The present invention relates to a data communication method and apparatus, and more particularly to a data communication method and apparatus having an error correction communication mode. A facsimile device having an error correction communication mode (ECM communication of the CCITT Recommendation) has been known. In the prior art facsimile communication, a minimum transmission time is set and updated in accordance with a performance of a receiver (such as a decoding performance and a printing speed). However, in the ECM communication, the communication is made not line by line but block by block and the receiver uses two planes of buffer (a maximum frame size is 256 bytes: 256 bytes x 256 frames x 2 planes = 128K bytes), and the image is received by one plane while the data correctly received by that buffer plane or the data correctly received previously by the other buffer plane is printed out. In the ECM communication, when a receiving station wants to delay the transmission from a transmitting station because of a long time required for the printing, the receiving station sends out to the transmitting station a signal (RNR signal) to delay the transmission of the next block. However, the CCITT T30 Recommendation defines T5 = 60 ± 5 seconds. Thus, in an apparatus which takes a long time for decoding or printing, there may be a case when the printing is not completed in the T5 time and the data cannot be correctly received. A facsimile device having an error retransmission mode is disclosed in USP 4,829,524 (issued on May 9, 1989), USP 4,885,755 (issued on December 5, 1989), USP 4,897,831 (issued on January 30, 1990), USP 5,031,179 (issued on July 9, 1991), USP 5,075,783 (issued on December 24, 1991). However, there has been no proposal for the solution of the above problems. The data communication apparatus of the present invention is of the type having an error correction communication function and which comprises memory means for storing received data and processing means for processing data stored in the memory means. The data communication method of the present invention also is of the type in which are performed steps of storing received data in a memory and sequentially processing the data stored in the memory. United States Patent 4,975,783 and German Patent Application 3,927,180 each describe a data communication method and apparatus of the type just mentioned. In US-A-4,975,783 there is described a facsimile machine having an error correction mode in conformance with the CCITT recommendations. An image information read out from a first memory is recorded on a recording device when it is in a recordable state and is temporarily stored in a second memory when the recording device is in a non-recordable state and the second memory has an empty region. A reception process is discontinued when the recording device is in the non-recordable state or when no empty region is available in the second memory, and a message indicating that an image information is stored in the first memory is displayed when the reception process is discontinued. The image information read out from the first memory is recorded on the recording device when it resumes the recordable state after the reception process is discontinued. In DE-A-3,925,783 a facsimile machine is provided with a memory which has a memory capacity of at least two data blocks, for example. In the ECM, a first block is stored in the memory and then a second block is stored in the memory while simultaneously reading out the first block from the memory and recording an image. Should the storage of the second block end before the recording of the first block ends, a storage of a third block in the memory is enabled if an available empty memory region in the memory exceeds a predetermined amount, for example one or more blocks, or less if account is taken of the read out of memory while the third block is being stored. The use of additional memory amounting to one or more blocks for data flow control purposes is referred to. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the data communication apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to enable a low speed data communication apparatus which processes received data to perform data communication in an error correction communication mode. In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention, as defined in the appended claims, is provided with means for sending a retransmission request signal for data previously received. In this manner, processing means gains the data processing time of the memory means so that the data communication in the error correction communication mode is performed even with a low data processing speed communication apparatus. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 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 the embodiment, Figs. 3A and 3B show buffer management charts in an ECM reception mode, and Fig. 4 shows a buffer management chart in an EDM reception mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is now explained in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, a facsimile device having an ECM communication function defined by the CCITT Recommendation is explained, although the present invention is applicable to any data communication apparatus having an error correction communication mode such as a telex and computer communication. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a facsimile device of the present embodiment. Numeral 1 denotes a display for displaying various information, numeral 2 denotes a console unit having a plurality of key entry switches, numeral 3 denotes a ROM for storing a control program, numeral 4 denotes a reader for reading a document image, numeral 5 denotes a controller including a processor to control the entire apparatus in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 3, numeral 6 denotes a recorder for recording a received image, numeral 7 denotes a RAM for temporarily storing various data, numeral 8 denotes a communication unit including an NCU and a modem and numeral 9 denotes an ECM buffer for storing the received image in the ECM image reception mode. In the ECM reception mode, data is transmitted and received through a communication line 10 and the communication unit 8, and the received image data is sequentially stored in the ECM buffer 9. The stored correct data is sequentially decoded to form one line of print data, which is printed out by the recorder 6. Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of a control operation of the controller 5 of the present embodiment. The operation flow chart of Fig. 2 is now explained in detail. When a call is detected, preprotocol is conducted. When the ECM communication is designated by the transmitter, the ECM reception mode is started and the reception of data is started in a step S1. The image data is HDLC-framed at 256 or 64 bytes/frame and sequentially sent from the transmitter. The end of the image signal is detected by a HDLC-framed RCP signal (which indicates the end of image signal) in a step S2. The printout of the image may be done when one line of print data is formed from the correctly received frame-by-frame data or collectively when one block of data is formed. In a step S10, one line of printing is performed when the printout is ready, and data is continuously received when the printout is not ready. This loop is repeated. When RCP is detected in the step S2, a Q signal (a MPS signal indicating the presence of the next image, an EOM signal indicating the return to the preprotocol or an EOP signal indicating the end of transmission of the image signal) subsequently sent from the transmitter is checked to determine if there is the transmission for the next block. If there is no transmission of the next block, the line is released in a post-protocol and the remaining image data is decoded to print it out. If there is transmission of the next block, whether the other ECM buffer 9 is busy for decoding or printing or not is determined in a step S4. If the other ECM buffer 9 is not busy, the reception buffer in the ECM buffer 9 is switched to start the data reception of the step S1. If the other ECM buffer 9 is busy for decoding, a RNP signal indicating that the reception is not ready is sent out and the flow control is started, or a PPR signal which is a retransmission request signal for the error frame is sent out to gain the decoding or printing time, depending on the remaining amount of the block. A decision criterion in the step S5 is explained with reference to Fig. 3A and Fig. 4. When the second plane of the reception buffer (ECM buffer) is used for processing as shown in Fig. 3A, that is, when the second block of data 2 ○ received by the other ECM buffer terminates while the first block of data 1 ○ is decoded for printout and a transmission protocol signal for the third block is received, it is necessary to have the transmitter waiting because there is no ECM buffer 9 which is ready to receive. The remaining data in the first block of data 1 ○ is decoded, and if the time required to printout is shorter than T5 (60 ± 5 seconds) of the CCITT T30 Recommendation, the communication may be continued by the flow control (in which when the transmitter sends the RR signal, the receiver sends back the RNR signal to delay the transmission) by the RNR signal and the RR signal which requests the retransmission by the transmitter When the remaining amount of data cannot be decoded and printed out in the T5 period, the PPR signal which request the retransmission of the data 2 ○is sent to gain the decoding and printing time. Since the time required for decoding and printing differs from apparatus to apparatus, parameters shown in Fig. 4 may be built in as device constants or they may be set by a service man as externally registered data to attain fine adjustment. In Fig. 4, a denotes total amount of data to be printed out, b denotes amount of data already printed out at the end of reception of one block, and c denotes amount of data which can be printed out in the T5 period. Accordingly, the PPR which requests the retransmission of the amount of data corresponding to the time required to print out the data amount of a-(b+c) is sent out. When the reception buffer (ECM buffer) is processing by its first plane as shown in Fig. 3B, b in Fig. 4 is "0" and the PPR which requests the retransmission of the amount of data corresponding to the time required to print out the data amount of a-c is sent. The decision in the step S5 of Fig. 2 is made based on the above decision criterion, and if it is determined that the decoding and printing are not completed in the T5 period, the PPR signal is sent in a step S12 to request the retransmission by the transmitter in order to gain the time. Even if a partial error frame exists, it is preferable from an efficiency standpoint to send the PPR for the entire error frame to gain the time. The retransmitted frame which has been correctly received may be overwritten but it is preferable to neglect it because there is a possibility of error in the retransmitted data. If the decoding and printing time is determined to be within the T5 period in the decision step S5, the RNR signal is sent back and the decoding and printing are performed (steps S6, S7, S8, S9 and S13). After the printing, the buffer is switched in a step S16 and the next block is received. In the present embodiment, if it is not possible to continue the reception, that is, if it is determined that the decoding and printing are not completed in the T5 period, the PPR is sent back, and when it is later determined that the decoding and printing can be completed in the T5 period, the flow control is started. Alternatively, the flow control may be first effected and then the PPR may be sent back. In this case, since the line of the transmitter is disconnected in the T5 period, the PPR is sent back a little bit earlier. In this alternative, the number of times of sending back PPR may be smaller than the above method and a defect of fall-back may be solved. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modifications thereof may be made.

Claims: A data communication apparatus having an error correction communication function, comprising: memory means (9) for storing received data; and processing means (3,5,6) for processing data stored in said memory means (9); characterised by: sending means (3,5,6) adapted to send out a retransmission request signal for previously received data in order to allow more time for processing the received data before next data is received. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sending means (3,5,8) is adapted to send out said retransmission request signal for previously received data when next data cannot be stored in said memory means (9). A data communication apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said sending means (3,5,8) is adapted to send out first a signal indicating that reception is not ready, and then to send out said retransmission request signal, when the next data cannot be stored in said memory means (9). An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising determining means (3,5) connected to said memory means (9) for determining whether next data to be received from the transmitter can be stored in said memory means (9) or not, wherein said sending means (3,5,8) is connected to said determining means (3,5) and is adapted to send out a retransmission request signal to the transmitter to retransmit previously received data when said determining means (3,5) determines that the next data cannot be stored in said memory means (9). An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising overwriting means (3,5) for overwriting data transmitted in reply to the retransmission request signal over corresponding data previously received and stored in said memory means (9). An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (3,5) for suppressing writing of data retransmitted in reply to the retransmission request signal in said memory means (9). An apparatus according to any preceding claim in cooperative combination with a transmitter for sending the data that is to be received thereby, which transmitter is responsive to said retransmission request signal to resend said data. A data communication method in an error correction communication mode comprising the steps of: storing received data in a memory (9); and sequentially processing the data stored in the memory (9); characterised by a step of requesting to a transmitter the retransmission of data previously received in order to allow more time for processing the received data before next data is received. A method according to claim 8, wherein in said requesting step, the retransmission of data previously received correctly is requested to a transmitter when next data cannot be stored in the memory (9). A data communication method according to claim 9, wherein when the next data cannot be stored in the memory (9), a signal indicating that the reception is not ready is first sent out to cause the transmitter to delay the transmission of the next data for a predetermined period, and when the next data cannot be stored in the memory after the predetermined period the retransmission of the correctly received data is requested.

Inventors: NISHII TERUYUKI, NISHII, TERUYUKI, NISHII, TERUYUKI, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H04L1
IPC codes: H04N1, H04L1, H04L29