JP2000151834A - Communication equipment and communication method for the communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To drastically reduce communication cost in the case of informing the destination of an electronic mail about a fact of transmission of the electronic mail. SOLUTION: A parameter memory 25 stores a mail address of a destination of an electronic mail in cross-reference with a facsimile number and a CPU 21 makes a call to the registered facsimile number of the destination in the case of sending an electronic mail via an ISDN communication network and transmits an electronic mail transmission notice to the destination by using a UI or a sub-address of a SETUP resulting from the call.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus, an Internet facsimile apparatus, a personal computer (PC) with a facsimile apparatus function, and a communication apparatus such as a mobile phone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been a communication device that transmits an electronic mail to a communication device of a partner and notifies the transmission of the electronic mail to the partner. For example, there is a communication device (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-42058) that notifies a receiving side that an e-mail has been transmitted to a computer communication network and automatically immediately receives an e-mail addressed to the device from the computer communication network. Was. There has also been a communication device (refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-42058) in which each destination can receive a facsimile document of the same content, which has been converted into an electronic mail, to a server on a network without transferring a plurality of documents at once. .

[0003]

However, in the above-described communication apparatus, since the specification is such that the in-channel signal (image information or NSS) is transmitted to the communication apparatus of the other party (reception side), Each time a communication device is notified of the transmission of an e-mail, a communication fee is charged, thereby increasing the communication cost.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to significantly reduce the communication cost when notifying that an e-mail has been sent to an e-mail destination. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention connects to a server via a communication line, and periodically accesses the server at a preset cycle to transmit an e-mail. A communication device provided with an e-mail transmitting means for performing transmission and reception; and a destination information registering means for registering an e-mail transmission destination e-mail address and a facsimile number in association with each other; An e-mail transmission notifying means for making a call to the facsimile number of the transmission destination registered in the registration means and transmitting an e-mail transmission notification to the transmission destination by using the calling information by the call. is there.

[0006] Further, it is preferable that the calling information is information between users in a setup message. Further, the call information may be used as a subaddress of a setup message.

In the above communication apparatus, it is preferable that the e-mail transmission notifying means is provided with a priority notifying means for notifying the e-mail transmission notification and the priority of taking over for each e-mail.

Further, in the above communication device,
It is preferable to provide a priority specifying means for specifying a priority for the electronic mail.

In the above communication apparatus, it is preferable to provide a priority level specifying means for specifying the priority level.

Further, in the above communication device,
The e-mail transmission notifying means may include a server destination information notifying means for notifying the e-mail transmission notification and the destination information of the transmitting server.

[0011] The destination information may be a server address. Further, the destination information may be a telephone number of the server.

[0012] Also, by connecting to a server via a communication line,
In a communication apparatus provided with an e-mail receiving means for receiving an e-mail by periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle, when a call is received from the communication line, call information from an e-mail transmission source is transmitted. It is preferable to provide an e-mail transmission notice receiving means for returning the incoming call rejection information and rejecting the incoming call when recognizing the e-mail transmission notice based on.

Further, in the above communication device,
It is preferable to provide a server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the electronic mail transmission notification recognized by the electronic mail transmission notification receiving means.

It is preferable that the call information is information between users in a setup message. Further, the call information may be used as a subaddress of a setup message.

In the above communication apparatus, the e-mail transmission notification receiving means includes priority reception means for receiving the e-mail transmission notification and the priority of taking over of each e-mail. The adjusting means may be provided with a slave priority server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the priority.

Further, in the above communication device,
In the e-mail transmission notification receiving means, a priority level receiving means for receiving the e-mail transmission notification and the priority level of collection for each e-mail is provided, and in the server access cycle adjusting means, It is preferable to provide a slave priority level server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the above.

In the above communication apparatus, the e-mail transmission notification receiving means is provided with a server address receiving means for receiving the server address of the transmitting side together with the e-mail transmission notification, and the server access cycle adjusting means is provided. And a slave server address server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the server address.

Further, in the above communication device,
An internal / external judging means for judging whether the server is domestic or foreign based on the server address received by the server address receiving means, and a slave foreign server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the judgment result by the means. Should be provided.

In the above communication apparatus, it is preferable to provide a transmission notifying means for notifying that the electronic mail transmission notification information has been transmitted.

Further, in the above communication device,
The electronic mail transmission notification receiving means may include a reception confirmation information adding means for adding reception confirmation information for the electronic mail transmission notification to the incoming call rejection information.

In the above-mentioned communication apparatus, it is preferable to provide transmission notification necessity selecting means for selecting whether to start transmission of the electronic mail transmission notification by the electronic mail transmission notifying means.

Further, in the above communication device,
If the destination of the e-mail transmission notification cannot be received when the e-mail transmission notification is transmitted, the e-mail transmission notification means disconnects the line and notifies that the e-mail transmission notification could not be transmitted. A notification means may be provided.

[0023] Also, by connecting to a server via a communication line,
In a communication method of a communication device having an e-mail transmitting means for transmitting an e-mail by periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle, a mail address of an e-mail transmission destination is associated with a facsimile number. Register and send an e-mail via the communication line to the registered destination facsimile number and send an e-mail transmission notification to the destination using the call information from the call. Good to do.

Further, in the communication method of the communication device as described above, it is preferable to notify the priority of the collection for each electronic mail together with the electronic mail transmission notification.

Further, in a communication method of a communication apparatus having an e-mail receiving means for connecting to a server via a communication line and periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle to receive an e-mail, At the time of receiving a call from the communication line, when an e-mail transmission notification is recognized based on outgoing call information from the e-mail transmission source, the incoming call rejection information may be returned to reject the incoming call.

In the communication method of the communication device as described above, it is preferable that the priority of the receipt of each electronic mail is received together with the electronic mail transmission notification, and the cycle is adjusted based on the priority.

Further, in the communication method of the communication device as described above, when the other party cannot receive the e-mail transmission notification at the time of transmitting the e-mail transmission notification, the line can be disconnected and the e-mail transmission notification can be transmitted. You may want to display a message indicating that nothing was done.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, this communication system
Via the ISDN communication network 7, the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side that transmits an e-mail, the facsimile apparatus 3 on the receiving side that receives an e-mail, and the e-mail transmitted by the facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmitting side are first stored. Server 5,
A facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side is communicably connected to a server 6 for taking out an electronic mail addressed to itself.

Further, the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side includes:
A personal computer (PC) 2 is connected,
A personal computer (PC) 4 is connected to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side.

The e-mail transmitted from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side to the facsimile apparatus 3 on the receiving side is temporarily stored in the server 5, and the facsimile apparatus 3 on the receiving side, which is the destination, retrieves the e-mail. And the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side finally retrieves it from the server 6.

It should be noted that the transfer form of the e-mail between the server 5 and the server 6 can be achieved by using a known technique.
The description is omitted. In addition, the above-described server 5 and server 6
Sending and receiving e-mail using and is a simple example,
A plurality of servers may be interposed between the server 5 and the server 6, or the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side and the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side may transmit and receive e-mail via the same server. good.

Further, PCs 2 and 4 are connected to the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side and the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side, respectively. This is a concept of a form that supports the function of an electronic mail transceiver as a PC modem. The figure shows that the facsimile apparatuses 1 and 3 can independently transmit and receive an electronic mail without connecting a PC.

Next, the configurations of the transmitting facsimile machine 1 and the receiving facsimile machine 3 will be described. Both the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side and the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side are realized by microcomputers including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and have the same configuration, and are composed of various units as shown in FIG.

The document sensor 10 detects the presence or absence of a transmitted document and the width of the document. The paper sensor 11 detects the presence or absence of a recording paper and the size of the recording paper. The battery 12 is a power supply for backing up a parameter memory for system control of the facsimile machine. The scanner 13 is an image reading device that reads a transmission original.

The plotter 14 is a printing device such as a laser printer that prints a received image or an e-mail on recording paper.
Print messages such as facsimile data, e-mail, and e-mail transmission notification. The operation display unit 15 includes an operation unit such as a keyboard for the user to perform various operation inputs, and a display unit such as an LCD for displaying a message such as guidance of the operation, a system state, and an e-mail transmission notification.

The image memory 16 is a storage unit for storing transmission image information and reception image information by facsimile communication.
The clock circuit 17 is a circuit that measures time used for system control and the like in the facsimile machine.

The ROM 18 is a non-volatile memory for storing a system program running on the facsimile machine, various processing programs for executing the operation according to the present invention, and the like. The RAM 19 is a storage unit for a program operation used for performing system control and operations according to the present invention.

The encoding / decoding unit 20 compresses transmission image information and decompresses reception image information by facsimile communication. The CPU 21 controls the entire control system of the facsimile machine, and is a central processing unit that executes operations according to the present invention.

The communication control unit 22 controls communication protocols for facsimile communication and e-mail transmission / reception, and includes a G3 / G4 protocol control unit, an e-mail control unit, and a protocol switching control unit, and a G3 / G4 protocol control unit. Controls the normal G3 / G4 transmission / reception protocol,
The e-mail control unit controls transmission / reception of e-mail according to the TCP / IP protocol.
Switching between the G3 / G4 protocol control unit and the electronic mail control unit connected to the SDN control unit is performed. And G3 /
G4 and e-mail are sent to the I
The notification is sent to the SDN control unit and transferred on the B channel.

The ISDN control section mainly performs ISDN-D channel control, and sends out the B channel information notified from the protocol switching control section onto the ISDN line. Also,
Analyze the information received on the ISDN D channel, and
Notify the U21 system.

The modem 23 performs digital / analog conversion such as facsimile communication. The network control device 24
Performs physical and electrical control for DN communication,
Performs D-channel call control. The parameter memory 25
The present invention holds system control parameters such as an electronic mail and an electronic mail address, a facsimile number, a server address, and a server access cycle according to the present invention.

The character generator 26 has font data for character generation and generates necessary characters. The disk drive 27 is a drive such as a floppy disk device used for storing facsimile transmission / reception image information or downloading a program.
In some cases, a disk drive such as an external PC or the like may be shared.

As described above, in the facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmission side, the e-mail and the facsimile number of the destination (reception side) are stored in the parameter memory 25, and are registered in association with each other, or the e-mail address is stored in the conversion table. The facsimile number can be derived from. Then, an e-mail is transmitted to the other party's facsimile machine, and a call is sent to the other party's facsimile number for e-mail transmission notification.

Regarding the e-mail transmission, the operation display unit 1
5 to access the e-mail transmission destination server 5 based on the server address stored in the parameter memory 25 in accordance with the user's instruction.

On the other hand, the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side monitors the time measured by the clock circuit 17, and accesses the server every time the time matches the server access cycle registered in the parameter memory 25. An e-mail pick-up process (POP) is performed. In addition, incoming call rejection at the time of e-mail transmission notification is performed. Regarding the reception of the e-mail, the server 6 retrieves the e-mail based on the server address stored in the parameter memory 25.
Access to

In the above communication system, when sending and receiving an e-mail in accordance with an instruction from a PC, the facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmitting side transmits an e-mail (SMT).
Perform P).

That is, each of the above units performs the following functions. An e-mail transmitting means for connecting to a server via a communication line, periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle and transmitting an e-mail, and an e-mail destination e-mail address and a facsimile number. Destination information registering means for associating and registering, and, when sending an e-mail, calling a facsimile number of the destination registered in the destination information registering means via the communication line, and calling by the call An e-mail transmission notification unit that transmits an e-mail transmission notification to the transmission destination using information.

Further, it is preferable that the calling information is information between users or a subaddress of a setup message.

Further, priority notifying means for notifying the priority of taking over for each electronic mail together with the electronic mail transmission notification, priority specifying means for specifying the priority for the electronic mail, and specifying the priority level Means for specifying a priority level.

A server destination information notifying means for notifying the destination information of the transmitting server together with the electronic mail transmission notification. Further, the destination information may be a server address or a telephone number of the server.

In addition, the server is connected via a communication line,
An e-mail receiving means for periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle to receive an e-mail; and, when receiving a call from the communication line, an e-mail based on call information from an e-mail transmission source. When the transmission notification is recognized, the e-mail transmission notification receiving means returns the incoming call rejection information and rejects the incoming call.

Further, there is provided a server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the electronic mail transmission notice recognized by the electronic mail transmission notice receiving means. Further, the call information may be information between users or a sub-address of a setup message.

Further, there are a priority receiving means for receiving the electronic mail transmission notification and a priority of taking over for each electronic mail, and a priority server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the priority. .

Also, a priority level receiving means for receiving the priority level of the pick-up for each electronic mail together with the electronic mail transmission notification, and a slave priority level server for adjusting the cycle based on the priority level It is an access cycle adjusting means.

Further, there are a server address receiving means for receiving the server address of the transmitting side together with the electronic mail transmission notification, and a slave server address server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the server address.

Further, an internal / external judging means for judging whether the server is domestic or foreign based on the server address received by the server address receiving means, and a slave foreign judging means for adjusting the cycle based on the judgment result by the means. It is a server access cycle adjusting means. Further, it is a transmission notifying means for notifying that the electronic mail transmission notification information has been transmitted.

Further, there is a reception confirmation information adding means for adding reception confirmation information for the electronic mail transmission notice to the incoming call rejection information. Further, there is provided a transmission notification necessity selecting unit for selecting whether or not to start transmission of the electronic mail transmission notification by the electronic mail transmission notifying unit.

Furthermore, when the above-mentioned e-mail transmission notification is transmitted, if the destination cannot receive the e-mail transmission notification, the line is cut off, and a transmission disable notification means for notifying that the e-mail transmission notification could not be transmitted. It is.

Next, processing such as communication of the facsimile machine will be described. FIG. 3 shows a normal IS between the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side and the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side.
It is a figure which shows a DN call control sequence. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an incoming call rejection sequence at the time of notification of e-mail transmission between the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side and the facsimile apparatus 3 on the receiving side.

As shown in FIG. 3, this ISDN call control sequence is an ISDN call control protocol (D channel) at the time of normal facsimile communication, and the facsimile apparatus 1 on the transmitting side transmits the SETUP user-to-user information (user -User information: UUI), e-mail transmission notification, e-mail transaction priority, server address, server telephone number, and other information are transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine 3 using the sub-address.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, after transmitting the e-mail, the transmitting facsimile machine 1 calls the receiving facsimile apparatus 3 and sends an e-mail transmission notification using the SETUP UUI or subaddress. , The information such as the priority of the e-mail transaction, the server address of the transmitting side, and the like, and the facsimile machine 3 of the receiving side
When an incoming ETUP is detected, it receives an E-mail transmission notification of the UUI or sub-address, the priority of e-mail transaction, the server address of the transmitting side, and the like, and transmits REL_COMP to the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side to receive a call. Reject. At this time, the UI of REL_COMP
To return information indicating that the e-mail transmission notification has been received.

In this way, the incoming call from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side is rejected, and the call connection between the two is not made. Various types of information such as notifications can be exchanged, and the charge for communication charges for that can be significantly reduced.

Next, an electronic mail transmission notification process in the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side will be described. When the transmission of the e-mail to the reception-side facsimile device 3 is completed, the transmission-side facsimile device 1 searches the parameter memory 25 and recognizes the facsimile number corresponding to the transmission-destination e-mail address. Initiate a call to the facsimile number. At this time, it is determined whether the e-mail transmission notification is to be performed by the SETUP UUI or the sub-address. The judgment follows the setting set in the parameter memory 25.

After deciding which of the UUI and the sub-address to use, next, if necessary, a process of determining whether or not to notify the priority in taking over and whether to notify the server address is performed. . These two determinations also follow the settings set in the parameter memory 25.

Then, when the e-mail transmission notification (further priority, server address, etc.) is mapped to a UUI or subaddress, it is mapped to a SETUP message, and a call is made to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process when the transmitting facsimile machine 1 transmits an e-mail transmission notification together with an e-mail to the receiving facsimile machine 3.

The facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side transmits an e-mail to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1 to the server 5, and proceeds to step 2 to store it in the parameter memory 25. It is determined whether or not there is a facsimile number corresponding to the e-mail address of the destination (the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side). If there is no facsimile number, the e-mail transmission process is terminated. It is determined whether to use the SETUP UUI for transmission notification.

If the UUI is to be used in step 3, the process proceeds to step 7, where the information of the e-mail transmission notification (including the priority at the time of collection or the server address according to the system settings) can be included in the SETUP.
I, and proceeds to step 6 to call the facsimile number, and to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side, the UUI
Is transmitted, and the process is terminated without performing the call connection due to the rejection of the call from the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side.

If the UUI is not used in the determination in step 3, the process proceeds to step 4 to determine whether or not to use the SETUP subaddress for e-mail transmission notification. If not, the e-mail transmission processing is performed as it is. finish.

If the sub-address is to be used in the determination in step 4, the process proceeds to step 5, where the sub-address of the information of the e-mail transmission notification (including the priority at the time of collection or the server address according to the system setting) can be included in the SETUP. And proceeds to step 6 to make a call to the facsimile number, transmit the SETUP with the above subaddress added to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side, and reject the call from the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side to establish a call connection. This processing is ended without performing.

Next, a description will be given of a process for transmitting the necessity of the priority and the level of the priority at the time of the receipt at the time of the electronic mail transmission notification according to the instruction of the user's manual operation.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts showing a process of transmitting the priority and the level at the time of collection when transmitting an electronic mail. As shown in FIG. 6, the facsimile machine 1 on the transmission side determines in step 11 whether or not an instruction requiring transmission notification of the priority has been manually specified from the operation display unit, and if specified, proceeds to step 12. Guidance is displayed on the operation display unit to wait for the user to input the priority transmission notification, and the process proceeds to step 13 to determine whether the user has finished inputting the priority.

If the input of the priority is completed in the determination of step 13, the process proceeds to step 17, and if the input is not completed, it is determined in step 14 whether or not an input wait time-out has occurred. The process of returning to step 13 is repeated.

If it is determined in step 14 that the timeout of waiting for the input has not been performed by the user without inputting the priority, the process proceeds to step 15 where the transmission confirmation (e-mail transmission notification) is transmitted to the mail address management area of the parameter memory. It is determined whether or not transmission permission / non-permission has been registered. If so, the process proceeds to step 17; if not, the process proceeds to step 16 to reflect the default setting of the system, and then proceeds to step 17.

In step 17, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the priority is possible. If not, the process returns to the standby state. If the transmission is possible, the process proceeds to step 18, and the user sets the priority level manually from the operation display unit. It is determined whether or not the selection has been made, and if not selected, the process proceeds to step 22 shown in FIG.
When the selection is made, the process proceeds to step 19, where the guidance for waiting for the user to input the priority level setting is displayed on the operation display unit, and then the process proceeds to step 20 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step 20, it is determined whether or not the input of the priority level from the user has been completed. If the input has been completed, the process proceeds to step 24. If the input has not been completed, an input waiting timeout occurs in step 21. The process returns to step 20 is repeated until the timeout of waiting for input is reached.

If it is determined in step 21 that the timeout of waiting for the input has not been performed by the user without inputting the priority level, the process proceeds to step 22 and the level (priority registered in advance) is set in the mail address management area of the parameter memory. It is determined whether or not there is setting registration. If there is, the process proceeds to step 24, and if not, the process proceeds to step 23 to reflect the default setting of the system and proceeds to step 24.

In step 24, it is determined whether or not the facsimile number (FAX number) of the receiving facsimile machine corresponding to the mail address of the electronic mail is registered in the parameter memory. Invoke priority transmission notification.

If no registration is determined in step 24, the flow advances to step 25 to display guidance on the operation display section for waiting for the user to input a facsimile number of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side. Judge.

When the input of the facsimile number is completed in the judgment of step 26, the transmission of the priority to the facsimile machine on the receiving side is activated, and the step 27 is executed until the input is completed.
It is determined whether or not an input wait timeout has occurred, and the process returns to step 26 is repeated until the input wait timeout occurs.

FAX from the user by the judgment of step 26
If a timeout occurs while waiting for an input without entering a number, the system returns to the standby state. Note that the priority notification operation can be canceled in steps 15, 16, 22, and 23 depending on the system settings.

Next, a process of notifying the destination number (telephone number) of the server will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a format example when the destination number of the server is mapped to the UUI of SETUP.

In the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, when the telephone number of the server is "03-3479-3111", the destination number "81" obtained by adding the country code "81" of Japan to this is added.
When “-03-3-479-3111” is mapped to the UUI, as shown in FIG. 8, data “011111” indicating the user / user information element identifier is provided in the head area of the UUI.
10 "in the second area, user / user content length = 1
In the case where "IA5 character" is specified as the protocol identifier in the third area, for example, the data "000001100" indicating
0 "is stored.

In the fourth to fourteenth areas,
An 8-digit numerical value indicating each numeral of the destination number is stored. Then, the UUI is mapped to a SETUP message and transmitted to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side. If the "user-specific protocol" is designated by the protocol identifier stored in the third area, the notification can be made using characters other than the AI5 character.

Next, a description will be given of a receiving process such as an electronic mail and an electronic mail transmission notification in the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side. Normally, the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side accesses the server 6 according to a server access cycle (for example, once every hour) for the server 6 registered by default in the parameter memory 25, and is transmitted to its own device. Retrieve the email if it exists,
Receive on own device.

Further, when receiving the incoming call (SETUP) message from the ISDN network in a state where such a periodic e-mail pick-up operation is being performed, the presence / absence of a UUI or a sub-address is checked. If there is, it receives it and rejects the incoming call from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side.

Thereafter, upon recognizing information such as an E-mail transmission notification, a priority, a priority level, and a server address (of the server 5) mapped to the UUI or the subaddress, a normal server access cycle is determined based on the information. Then, the electronic mail collection timing is advanced, and processing for collecting the electronic mail from the server 6 is executed based on the priority or the level thereof. In addition, a process of confirming an electronic mail to the server can be performed based on the server address.

When the above priority is notified,
For example, the following processing is executed. (1) If a high priority (priority order) is specified, the normal e-mail pickup cycle (server access cycle set by default) is changed to half the cycle.
Alternatively, an e-mail pick-up operation is immediately executed. (2) When the priority is low, the normal e-mail pickup cycle is not changed. Or, change to a slightly shorter cycle.

When the server address is notified, for example, the following processing is executed. (3) If the server address of the server connected to the facsimile machine on the transmitting side and the receiving side is the same, the electronic mail is immediately collected. Alternatively, the pick-up cycle (server access cycle) is reduced to half the cycle. (4) When the server addresses of the servers connected to the facsimile machines on the transmitting side and the receiving side are different, the pickup cycle (server access cycle) is not changed. Alternatively, the period is slightly shortened.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an e-mail transmission notification receiving process in the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side. The facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side performs step 31
S of the incoming message from the sending facsimile machine
Upon receiving the ETUP, the process proceeds to step 32 and the
Determine whether P has a UUI or subaddress,
If neither is present, a normal facsimile reception process is started.

If it is determined in step 32 that the UUI or the sub-address is present, the process proceeds to step 33 where the UUI or the sub-address is analyzed to check the contents, and the process proceeds to step 34 where the priority (priority at the time of collection) is set. It is determined whether or not the setting has been made.
To check the priority order, and to step 37, adjust the timing of the default setting of the e-mail pickup cycle (server access cycle) based on the priority order,
Proceeding to step 38, a procedure for rejecting an incoming call from the facsimile machine on the transmitting side is started, and this processing is ended.

If a level has been set for the priority, the timing of the default setting of the electronic mail pickup cycle (server access cycle) is adjusted based on the level. If there is no priority setting in step 34, the process proceeds to step 35 to determine whether a server address has been set. If not, a normal facsimile reception process is started.

If the server address has been set in the judgment in step 35, the flow advances to step 36 to confirm the server address. The flow advances to step 37 to adjust the e-mail pickup cycle (server access cycle), and the flow advances to step 38. Starts a procedure for rejecting an incoming call from the facsimile machine on the transmitting side, and ends this processing.

Next, a description will be given of a process in which, when the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side receives an electronic mail transmission notification from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, it notifies the reception of the notification.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing. Receiving the SETUP from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side determines in step 41 whether or not there is a UUI or a sub-address and whether or not there is an e-mail transmission notice. Start and send CONN.

If it is determined in step 41 that there is a UUI or a sub address and that there is an e-mail transmission notice, the flow advances to step 42 to notify the user that the e-mail transmission notice has been received (for example, a message indicating the fact is sent to the user). (Displayed on the operation display unit or printed by a plotter), and proceeds to step 43 to map information indicating that the e-mail transmission notification has been normally received on the UUI and to execute REL_C
The OMP is transmitted to the facsimile machine 1 on the transmission side.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step 44 to change the normal e-mail retrieval timing (server access cycle) based on the priority and the like, and the flow advances to step 45 to wait until the e-mail pickup time (server access cycle) is reached. I do.

Note that the step 42 also includes detailed information such as the priority and server address notified by the UUI or the sub address. Also, after step 45, it is time to retrieve the e-mail. If the e-mail notified from the facsimile machine on the transmitting side can be normally extracted, the SETUP including the UUI or the sub-address on which the information indicating the completion of the e-mail reception is mapped. By transmitting the message to the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, it is possible to notify that the normal receipt of the e-mail has been completed.

Next, a description will be given of a process of adjusting the electronic mail collection timing in the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side based on the destination number of the server. In this processing, when the destination number of the server including the country code as shown in FIG. 8 is received from the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side, the content is checked, it is determined whether it is domestic or foreign, and the determination result is obtained. The server access cycle is changed based on the server access cycle. That is, the electronic mail is compared with the country code registered in the own station number or the destination number of the electronic mail pickup destination server, and the electronic mail pickup timing (server access cycle) is changed based on the match / mismatch.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the country code, the area code and the like are continuously notified, but the country code is explicitly specified, for example, by separating it with a "#" code. As shown in FIG. Further, if only the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment is to be realized, only the country code may be notified.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process for adjusting the electronic mail collection timing based on the destination number of the server in the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side. In the standby state, the receiving-side facsimile apparatus 3 receives the SE from the transmitting-side facsimile apparatus in step 51.
It is determined whether or not a TUP has been received. If received, the process proceeds to step 52, where it is determined whether or not the SETUP has a UUI. If so, the process proceeds to step 54 to determine whether or not a country code is present. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step 55, and if not, a normal facsimile reception process is started.

If there is no UUI in the judgment at step 52,
Proceed to step 53 to determine whether or not there is a sub-address. If so, proceed to step 54 to determine whether or not there is a country code. If not, activate the normal facsimile reception process. Proceed to step 55.

If there is no sub-address in the judgment at step 53, normal facsimile reception processing is started. In step 55, it is determined whether or not the country code matches that of the own device. If the country code matches, the process proceeds to step 57, in which the default server access cycle is adjusted, and electronic mail collection is started at a short access cycle timing. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step 56, where the default server access cycle is adjusted, and the e-mail collection is started at the timing of the long access cycle.

Next, a description will be given of a process performed when an electronic mail transmission notification is performed by a user's manual operation in the facsimile machine 1 on the transmission side. In this process, at the time of sending an e-mail, the user is asked whether or not to execute the e-mail transmission notification process, and the e-mail transmission notification process is started based on the user's manual operation. It notifies the facsimile machine on the receiving side that the operation has been normally performed, and further performs processing when the facsimile machine on the receiving side does not have a function corresponding to the e-mail notification processing according to the present invention. Execute.

FIG. 12 to FIG. 14 are flowcharts showing a process when the electronic mail transmission notification is performed by the user's manual operation in the facsimile machine 1 on the transmitting side.

When the sending facsimile machine 1 finishes sending the e-mail, it determines in step 61 whether or not the setting for manually starting the e-mail sending notification has been made. Proceed to 66
If the setting has been made, the process proceeds to step 62, where guidance for prompting the user to input the e-mail transmission notification is displayed on the operation display unit, and the process proceeds to step 63 to wait for the user to input the e-mail transmission notification.

The process proceeds to step 64 to determine whether or not there is an input of e-mail transmission notification permission. If there is an input, the process proceeds to step 66. If there is no input, the input waiting time set in advance in step 65 is set. It is determined whether or not an input wait timeout has occurred, and if no input wait timeout has occurred, the determination in step 64 is repeated, and if an input wait timeout has occurred, the flow proceeds to step 66.

In step 66, it is determined whether or not there is a setting of whether or not electronic mail transmission notification is possible in the mail address management area of the parameter memory 25.
If no, go to step 67 to set a system default value as to whether e-mail transmission notification to the receiving facsimile machine is possible or not, and go to step 68 to determine whether e-mail transmission notification can be activated. If not, the process returns to the standby state. If yes, step 6 in FIG.
Go to 9. In step 66, it is possible to select whether to notify the priority, the level of the priority, and the server address.

As shown in FIG. 13, in step 69, it is determined whether or not the facsimile apparatus of the receiving side corresponding to the e-mail address of the e-mail is registered in the parameter memory 25. Proceeding to 73, the e-mail transmission notification information indicating that the e-mail has been transmitted to the UUI or sub-address for the e-mail transmission notification is mapped, and the SETUP message is transmitted to the facsimile machine 3 on the receiving side. Proceed to 74.

If no registration is determined in step 69, the flow advances to step 70 to display guidance on the operation display section for waiting for the user to input a facsimile number of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side, and the flow advances to step 71 to end the input of the facsimile number by the user. Then, if the input is completed, the process proceeds to step 73 to map the information of the e-mail transmission notification indicating that the e-mail has been transmitted to the UUI or the sub-address for the e-mail transmission notification, and to transmit the SETUP message to the receiving side. The data is transmitted to the facsimile machine 3, and is transmitted to the
Proceed to 4.

In step 73, step 66 is performed.
In, when the notification of the priority, the priority level, or the server address is selected, the information is mapped to the UUI or the sub address and notified.

If the input of the FAX number is not completed in the determination in step 71, it is determined in step 72 whether or not an input wait timeout has occurred based on a preset time.
The determination in step 71 is repeated until a timeout occurs. If a timeout occurs, the process returns to the standby state.

In step 74 of FIG. 14, a message notifying the user that the e-mail transmission notification operation is being performed is displayed on the operation display unit (or printed by a plotter). A call is made to the apparatus to wait for a response to SETUP, and the flow advances to step 76 to determine whether or not a CONN indicating a normal facsimile reception process has been received from the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

If the CONN is received in the determination at step 76, the process proceeds to step 80, where it is determined that the receiving facsimile machine does not have a function capable of receiving the e-mail transmission notification, and the DISC is transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine. At the same time, the line is cut off, and at the same time, a message indicating that the e-mail transmission notification has not been normally performed is displayed on the operation display unit (or printed by a plotter) to notify the user of the own device.

If the CONN is not received from the facsimile machine on the receiving side in the judgment at step 76, the process proceeds to step 77, where R indicating that the incoming call is rejected is received from the facsimile machine on the receiving side.
It is determined whether or not EL_COMP has been received. If not received, the process returns to step 75. If received, the process proceeds to step 78 to determine whether or not the line disconnection reason for the call to the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side is not network generation. I do.

If it is determined in step 78 that the line disconnection is due to the generation of a network, the process proceeds to step 80 where it is determined that the receiving facsimile machine does not have a function capable of receiving an electronic mail transmission notification. Sends DISC, disconnects the line, and at the same time, displays a message on the operation display unit (or prints it by a plotter) indicating that the e-mail transmission notification was not normally performed to the user on the own device side, and notified. I do.

If it is determined in step 78 that the reason for the line disconnection is not a network generation, the flow advances to step 79 to indicate that the REL_COMP received from the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side has a UUI.
It is determined whether or not I includes information indicating normal reception with respect to the e-mail transmission notification.

If it is determined in step 79 that the UUI includes information indicating normal reception of the e-mail transmission notification, the flow advances to step 81 to end the e-mail transmission notification to the user normally, and to the facsimile machine on the receiving side. A message indicating that the notification has been given is displayed on the operation display unit (or printed by a plotter).

If it is determined in step 79 that the UUI does not include information indicating normal reception of the e-mail transmission notification, the process proceeds to step 80 where the receiving facsimile machine does not have a function capable of receiving the e-mail transmission notification. And sends a DISC to the receiving facsimile machine,
The line is cut off, and at the same time, a message indicating that the e-mail transmission notification has not been normally performed is displayed on the operation display unit (or printed by a plotter) to notify the user of the own device.

Note that the priority notification operation can be canceled in steps 66 and 67 of the above-described processing depending on the system settings.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The transmission-side facsimile apparatus uses the UUI or the sub-address for the e-mail transmission notification, so that only the fee for the UUI transfer is charged, so that the communication cost can be significantly reduced.

(2) The sending-side facsimile apparatus optimizes the server access timing for receiving the electronic mail in the receiving-side facsimile apparatus by notifying the priority at the time of receiving the electronic-mail transmission notification. It is possible to avoid unnecessary server access in the facsimile machine on the receiving side, and to efficiently perform e-mail reception at low cost.

(3) The sending-side facsimile apparatus notifies the server address at the time of the electronic mail transmission notification, and the receiving-side facsimile apparatus compares the server address with the server address of its own server, and based on the result of the comparison. Thus, the server access timing for receiving the e-mail can be optimized, the useless server access in the receiving-side facsimile apparatus can be avoided, and the e-mail can be efficiently received at low cost.

(4) The receiving-side facsimile apparatus recognizes only the electronic mail transmission notification and does not connect the call, so that the communication cost for the electronic mail transmission notification can be significantly reduced.

(5) In the facsimile machine on the receiving side,
The server access timing can be changed to the optimum timing based on the information notified from the facsimile machine on the transmission side, and the e-mail can be efficiently received at low cost.

(6) In the facsimile machine on the receiving side,
The server access timing of electronic mail collection can be optimized based on the notified priority, useless server access in the receiving-side facsimile apparatus can be avoided, and electronic mail can be efficiently received at low cost.

(7) The receiving facsimile apparatus compares the notified server address with the server address of the server to which the facsimile apparatus is connected, and, based on the coincidence or disagreement, the timing of server access for electronic mail collection. Can be optimized, useless server access in the receiving-side facsimile apparatus can be avoided, and e-mail reception can be performed efficiently at low cost.

[0129]

As described above, according to the communication apparatus of the present invention, the communication cost for notifying that the e-mail has been transmitted to the destination of the e-mail can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system using the facsimile apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a normal ISDN call control sequence between a transmitting facsimile machine and a receiving facsimile machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an incoming call rejection sequence at the time of notification of e-mail transmission between a facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side and a facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed when an e-mail transmission notification is transmitted together with an e-mail to a receiving-side facsimile device in a transmitting-side facsimile device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of transmitting a priority and a level at the time of collection at the time of transmitting an electronic mail in the facsimile apparatus on the transmission side.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process subsequent to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format example when a destination number of a server is mapped to a UUI of SETUP.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an e-mail transmission notification receiving process in the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which, when a facsimile apparatus on the receiving side receives an electronic mail transmission notification from the facsimile apparatus on the transmitting side, it notifies the reception of the electronic mail transmission notice.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process of adjusting the electronic mail collection timing based on the destination number of the server in the facsimile machine on the receiving side.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a process when an electronic mail transmission notification is performed by a user's manual operation in a facsimile machine on the transmission side.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a process subsequent to FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process continued from FIG. 13;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Facsimile machine on the transmitting side 2, 4: Personal computer (PC) 3: Facsimile apparatus on the receiving side 5, 6: Server 7: ISDN communication network 10: Document sensor 11: Paper sensor 12: Battery 13: Scanner 14: Plotter 15: Operation display unit 16: Image memory 17: Clock circuit 18: ROM 19: RAM 20: Encoding / decoding unit 21: CPU 22: Communication control unit 23: Modem 24: Network control device 25: Parameter memory 26: Character generator 27: Disk drive

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 GA21 JA31 JB14 KA16 KB06 KC28 KC30 KC39 KG01 LA01 LA19 5C075 AB03 BA05 CA14 CA15 CD02 CD21 CE14 CF04 5K030 GA20 HA06 HB04 HC01 JT05 LB02 LD13 LD14 5K101 NN03 NN03 NN21 PP03 QQ07 RR15 RR27 TT06

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. A communication apparatus comprising: an e-mail transmitting unit that connects to a server via a communication line and periodically accesses the server at a preset cycle to transmit an e-mail; Destination information registration means for associating and registering a destination mail address and a facsimile number; and, when sending an e-mail, the destination facsimile number registered in the destination information registration means via the communication line. An e-mail transmission notifying means for making an outgoing call and transmitting an e-mail transmission notice to the destination using the outgoing call information by the outgoing call. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the call information is information between users in a setup message. 3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the call information is a subaddress of a setup message. 4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic mail transmission notifying unit notifies the electronic mail transmission notification unit of a priority of taking over of each electronic mail together with the electronic mail transmission notification. A communication device comprising means. 5. The communication device according to claim 4, further comprising a priority designation unit for designating a priority for the electronic mail. 6. The communication device according to claim 5, further comprising a priority level specifying means for specifying the priority level. 7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail transmission notification unit notifies the e-mail transmission notification unit of destination information of a transmission-side server together with the e-mail transmission notification. A communication device comprising means. 8. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the destination information is a server address. 9. The communication device according to claim 7, wherein the destination information is a telephone number of a server. 10. A communication apparatus comprising: an e-mail receiving unit that connects to a server via a communication line and periodically accesses the server at a preset cycle to receive an e-mail; When receiving an e-mail transmission notification based on call information from the e-mail sender,
A communication device comprising an e-mail transmission notification receiving means for returning the incoming call rejection information and rejecting the incoming call. 11. The communication device according to claim 10, further comprising: a server access cycle adjusting unit that adjusts the cycle based on the electronic mail transmission notification recognized by the electronic mail transmission notification receiving unit. apparatus. 12. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the call information is information between users in a setup message. 13. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the call information is a subaddress of a setup message. 14. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic mail transmission notification receiving means receives the electronic mail transmission notification and a priority of taking over for each electronic mail. A communication apparatus, comprising: a receiving unit; and a server access period adjusting unit for adjusting the period based on the priority. 15. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the e-mail transmission notification receiving unit receives the e-mail transmission notification and a priority level of the collection of each e-mail. A communication device comprising: a priority level receiving unit; and a subordinate priority server access period adjusting unit, which adjusts the period based on the priority level, in the server access period adjusting unit. 16. The communication device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic mail transmission notification receiving means includes a server address receiving means for receiving a server address of a transmission side together with the electronic mail transmission notification. A communication device, wherein the server access cycle adjusting means is provided with a slave server address server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle based on the server address. 17. The communication device according to claim 16, wherein said server address is received by said server address receiving means, an internal / foreign determining means for determining whether the server is domestic or foreign, and also based on a determination result by said means. A communication device comprising a slave foreign server access cycle adjusting means for adjusting the cycle. 18. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission notifying unit that notifies that the electronic mail transmission notification information has been transmitted. 19. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein said electronic mail transmission notification receiving means adds reception confirmation information for said electronic mail transmission notification to said call rejection information. A communication device comprising a confirmation information adding unit. 20. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising transmission notification necessity selection means for selecting whether or not to start transmission of an electronic mail transmission notification by said electronic mail transmission notification means. Communication device. 21. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic mail transmission notifying means disconnects the line when the other party cannot receive the electronic mail transmission notification when the electronic mail transmission notification is transmitted. A communication device, comprising: a transmission-disabled notification unit that notifies that a mail transmission notification could not be transmitted. 22. A communication method for a communication apparatus comprising: an e-mail transmitting unit that connects to a server via a communication line and periodically accesses the server at a preset cycle to transmit an e-mail. The e-mail destination e-mail address and the facsimile number are registered in association with each other. At the time of e-mail transmission, a call is made to the registered destination facsimile number via the communication line, and the call is generated by the call. A communication method, wherein an e-mail transmission notification is transmitted to the destination using call information. 23. The communication method for a communication device according to claim 22, further comprising the step of notifying the e-mail transmission notification and notifying the priority of collection for each e-mail. 24. A communication method for a communication apparatus comprising an e-mail receiving means for connecting to a server via a communication line, periodically accessing the server at a preset cycle, and receiving an e-mail, When receiving a call from the communication line, when recognizing an e-mail transmission notification based on calling information from an e-mail source,
A communication method characterized by returning the incoming call rejection information to reject the incoming call. 25. The communication method of a communication device according to claim 24, further comprising: receiving a priority of collection for each electronic mail together with the electronic mail transmission notification; and adjusting the cycle based on the priority. Communication method. 26. The communication method of a communication device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein when the other party cannot receive the e-mail transmission notification at the time of transmitting the e-mail transmission notification, the line is disconnected and the e-mail transmission is performed. A communication method characterized by displaying a message indicating that a notification could not be transmitted.