Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of data transmission such as in facsimile systems and the like, and more particularly to the start of message which is transmitted prior to the transmission of scan lines to identify the mode of operation of the facsimile system.
Previously, a SOM SYNC was transmitted followed by an operation mode code to identify which one of a plurality of available operation modes was to be utilized. Bit errors in the received data stream can modify the received code word and this is undesirable.
Brief Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for transmitting the mode code which will not be prone to such errors.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following portion of this specification and from the accompanying drawing which illustrates in accordance with the mandate of the patent statutes, a presently preferred embodiment incorporating the principles of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawing
The sole drawing is a block diagram of a start of message generator configured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to the sole drawing, an operator presses one of a plurality of buttons 10 which correspond to the desired mode of transmission such as choice of resolution or grey scale. This selected mode is coded by an encoder to have a selected number of clock times or data spaces. When the operator closes the transmit switch, the sequencer is enabled. The sequencer then enables the synchronizing word generator and a SOM SYNC is transmitted via a selector to a start of message decoder circuit. Immediately following the generation of the SOM SYNC, the sequencer enables the clock generator and the selected number of data spaces corresponding to the selected mode of transmission is generated and directed via the selector to the start of message decoder circuit. It is irrelevant as to what digits are sent with the data spaces. Conveniently, all zeros or all ones can be sent. Immediately thereafter, the sequencer again enables the synchronizing code generator and a second SOM SYNC is transmitted to the start of message decoder circuit. The SOM SYNCS are highly immune to data errors.
A SOM synchronizing word detector detects the first and second SOM SYNCS and the gating circuit permits the counters to count the clocks (clock times or data spaces) between the two SOM SYNCS. This count is decoded by a SOM decoder to identify the selected mode of operation. A synchronizing code is conventionally designed to be highly immuned to noise spikes.
Since only the clocks generated by the clock generator determine the mode of transmission, the detected count will not be affected by errors in the received data system which would effect only the irrelevant data and not the clock.