Method for selectively using one or two communication channel by a transmitting data terminal based on data type and channel availability

• US 5,692,130 A
• Filed: 12/07/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shobu, Toshifumi, Ogasawara, Fumihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Duo
• Application Number:
  US08/568,810
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 370/84, 370/110.1, 370/100.1, 370/54, 395/250, 395/850, 340/825.03, 375/260
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13206 User-to-user signaling, UUS
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13208 Inverse multiplexing, channel bonding, e.g. TSSI aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13392 Channels assigned according to rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/208 Inverse multiplexing; Time slot sequence integrity [TSSI] aspects

Abstract

In a communication method for data terminal equipment, which communication method includes a function of forming a communication link comprising a plurality of B channels by having a calling terminal and a called terminal execute, via an ISDN, a plurality of call connecting procedures, and of effecting a data transmission by simultaneously using the plurality of channels of the communication link thus formed,

the number of times that the call connecting procedures are executed is adjusted in accordance with conditions that prevail during a communication, and a data transmission is effected in the communication link comprising a plurality of channels, the total number of which channels corresponds to the number of times that the call connecting procedures are executed.

Claims

1. A method of providing data transmission from a transmitting terminal connected to an integrated service digital network of data to a receiving terminal using a plurality of data channels in said network, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing at least a single channel of communication from said transmitting terminal to said receiving terminal;

determining in said transmitting terminal if the amount of data to be transmitted from said transmitting terminal is greater than a predetermined amount and if said determination indicates that the amount of data exceeds the predetermined amount, forwarding a procedural request to said receiving terminal for access to a second channel;

responding by said receiving terminal, and indicating the availability of a second channel as well as the capability of said receiving terminal to accept data on a plurality of channels;

determining at said transmitting station based upon a returned signal from said receiving terminal that multiple channels may be employed, and capturing a second channel and dividing the data to be transmitted, wherein the dividing occurs in an independent first half and an independent second half;

transmitting via a first channel the first half of said data from said transmitting station and transmitting said second half via a second channel to said receiving station over mutually independent channels and wherein said division of the data is mutually independent based upon the division that occurs in said transmitting terminal;

transmitting via a single channel all of the data from said first terminal to said second terminal via a single channel in response to a denial of availability of multiple channel communication capability or availability of a second channel by said receiving terminal,

wherein said request for multiple channels is dynamically performed making it possible to release the second channel based on communication conditions; and

determining a type of data to be transmitted,

wherein the step of transmitting via the first and second channels and the step of transmitting via the single channel are alternatively performed based on the type of data which has been determined.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the type of data determines whether the data to be transmitted is color image information or black-and-white image information.

3. A method for establishing communication over an integrated service digital network, comprising the steps of:

determining a type of data which is to be transmitted;

determining whether two channels are available for transmitting the data;

determining whether one or more than one channels are to be used for transmitting the data using the type of data which has been determined and whether two channels are available; and

transmitting the data using one or more than one channels, depending on whether the step of determining whether one or more than one channels are to be used determines that one channel is to be used or determines that more than one channel is to be used.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining if an amount of data to be transmitted is greater than a predetermined amount,

wherein the step of determining whether one or more than one channels are to be used for transmitting the data is performed based on both the determined type of data and the determined amount of data to be transmitted.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the step of determining a type of data which is to be transmitted determines whether the data to be transmitted is color image information or black-and-white image information.