JP2002232489A - Facsimile server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile server that can distribute received image data or the like in a way that a client acting like a destination uses an optional software program so as to receive and reference distributed image data or the like. SOLUTION: The facsimile server is provided with a data reception section 14 that receives external data, a routing processing section 15 that selects a distribution destination of the received data and a distribution protocol, data conversion sections 16A-16D that match the received data with the selected protocol and server sections 17A-17D storing the converted reception data as data of the selected destination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile server connectable to a computer communication network such as a LAN.
In particular, the present invention relates to a facsimile server having a function of distributing to clients and other terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a facsimile server has a facsimile communication function based on a general G3 system, an Internet FAX (facsimile) function for transmitting and receiving image data such as an original by e-mail, and distributes received data to a predetermined destination. It has a distribution function and the like, and can distribute received G3 FAX, Internet FAX, etc. to other G3 FAX, Internet FAX, salutation client, etc. according to the setting information stored in the facsimile server itself in advance.

[0003]

As described above, the facsimile server can receive and distribute image data in accordance with a plurality of protocols. However, in a client terminal or the like under the facsimile server, The software that can refer to the received image data is limited to only a small part. For example, by the salutation protocol, the facsimile server distributes image data received by facsimile to a client terminal,
When the client terminal refers to this image data, it is limited to dedicated software.

On the user side of each client terminal, it is desired that all image data can be referred to by a mailer (client software for sending and receiving e-mail). All image data is referred to by a WWW (World Wide Web) browser. There was a request to make it possible, but as mentioned above,
Since the software to be used is limited and it is not possible to arbitrarily select software for referring to the image data to be distributed, it has been difficult to fulfill the above-mentioned demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems. According to the present invention, a client as a distribution destination receives, references, etc., distributed image data and the like using arbitrary software. It is an object of the present invention to provide a facsimile server capable of distributing received image data and the like so that the received image data can be transmitted.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile server, comprising: a data receiving unit for receiving data from outside; and a routing process for selecting a distribution destination and a distribution protocol of the received data. , A plurality of data conversion units that adapt the received data to the selected protocol, and a plurality of server units that hold the converted received data as data addressed to the selected distribution destination, I have.

A facsimile server according to a second aspect is characterized in that, in the facsimile server according to the first aspect, the routing processing unit selects a plurality of distribution protocols for one piece of received data.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A facsimile server according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration example of the facsimile server 1. The facsimile server 1 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 2, a RAM (random access memory) 3,
ROM (Read Only Memory) 4, Codec 5,
Modem 6, NCU (network control unit) 7, reading unit 8, recording unit 9, operation unit 10, and LANI
/ F11, and each of the devices 2 to 11 includes:
They are communicably connected by a bus 12.

The CPU 2 controls each device constituting the facsimile server 1 according to a predetermined program.

The RAM 3 stores image data, a fax number,
It functions as a storage unit for storing a mail address, a distribution data table and a user table to be described later, setting information of various operations of the facsimile server 1, and the like, and also as a storage unit for temporarily storing various data.

The ROM 4 stores various programs for controlling the operation of each unit of the facsimile server 1 by the CPU 2.

The codec 5 performs encoding / decoding in accordance with a plurality of protocols. That is, the image data and the like read by the reading unit 8 are encoded for transmission by the MH, MR, MMR method or the like, and the received image data is decoded. In addition, Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), a commonly used image format used in computers.
Encoding and decoding can also be performed according to the t) format.
The TIFF specification has been published by Adobe Systems, Inc. in the United States.
Data is expressed by using tags in blocks, and by using tags, a plurality of pieces of image data having different resolutions and different numbers of colors can be stored at the same time.

The modem 6 is, for example, an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union) Recommendation V. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data according to the 34 standard or the like.

The NCU 7 is a network controller for controlling a telephone line to make or cut a telephone call.
It is connected to a TN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13.

The reading section 8 reads image data of a document and outputs image data converted to black and white binary.

The recording section 9 is of, for example, an electrophotographic type, and records received image data on recording paper.
For example, image data of a document read by the reading unit 8 and image data received by facsimile are printed out in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 2.

The operation unit 10 includes, for example, information relating to the status of the facsimile server 1, a display 10a for displaying various operation instruction screens, a ten key 10b for inputting a facsimile number, etc. The operation unit 10 includes a key 10c, a start key 10d for starting a document reading operation and the like, a cursor key 10e for moving a cursor in the display 10a, and the like. .

The LAN I / F 11 has an interface with a LAN (local area network) 18, and connects the LAN 18 and the facsimile server 1 so that they can communicate with each other.

In the facsimile server 1 having the above-described hardware configuration, the CPU 2 forms the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 based on a predetermined program stored in the ROM 4 to form the facsimile server 1 according to the present invention.
To achieve. That is, the facsimile server 1
A data receiving unit 14 including a G3 fax receiving unit 14A for receiving a G3 fax and an email receiving unit 14B for receiving an email; a routing processing unit 15 for selecting a delivery destination and a protocol of the received data received by the data receiving unit 14; A plurality of data converters 16 each adapted to a different protocol for adapting the received data to the selected protocol, and respectively connected to the data converters 16 and holding the converted received data as data addressed to the distribution destination It comprises a plurality of server units 17. Server unit 17
Image data and the like corresponding to various protocols managed in the LAN through the LAN I / F 11 and the LAN 18
The content is distributed by being taken out from a client or the like under the facsimile server 1 connected to the server 18.

The specification of the protocol performed for each distribution destination is performed by the user or the like using the operation unit 10 or the like, and the setting is performed together with the registration of the distribution destination. For example, when a distribution destination is registered, a protocol for distribution is specified together with the user ID and password of the distribution destination. Then, in the facsimile server 1, a user table 26 as shown in FIG.
Is stored in a predetermined storage area. The user table 26
Is a field in which a “protocol” specified for each “user ID” and “password” registered as a distribution destination is stored.

Each of the plurality of data converters 16 includes a salutation data converter 16A, an HTTP (Hypert
ext Transfer Protocol) data converter 16B, FTP
(FileTransfer Protocol) Data conversion unit 16C and PO
P (Post Office Protocol) data conversion unit 16D,
The routing processing unit 15 selects one of the data conversion units 16A to 16D,
Received data such as image data is received from the data receiving unit 14. Each of the plurality of server units 17 includes a salutation server unit 17A, an HTTP server unit 17
B, an FTP server unit 17C and a POP server unit 17D, respectively, connected to the data conversion units 16A to 16D to receive the data converted by the data conversion unit 16.

The salutation data converter 16A
Performs data conversion on the data received from the routing processing unit 15 so as to conform to the salutation protocol, and executes the data conversion on the salutation server unit 17.
A receives the converted data and holds it as data addressed to the destination. Note that the salutation protocol is a communication protocol for specifying and managing computers and office devices on the Internet, a LAN, or the like, and is disclosed by the Salutation Consortium.

The HTTP data converter 16B converts the data received from the routing processor 15 into an HTTP
Perform data conversion to conform to TP,
The TP server unit 17B receives the converted data and manages the data, performs communication control, and the like. In addition, HTTP means the WWW (World Wide Web) on the Internet.
HTML (Hypertext) between server and WWW client
Makeup Language) is a communication protocol for transmitting and receiving documents and the like, and HTML is a description language used when creating a homepage, for example.

The FTP data converter 16C converts the data received from the routing processor 15 into an FTP
The FTP server unit 17C receives the converted data and performs management, communication control, and the like of the converted data. In addition, FTP is TC
P / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / InternetPr
otocol) is a file transfer protocol that works at the upper layer.

The POP data conversion unit 16D converts the data received from the routing processing unit 15
Perform data conversion to conform to (POP3),
The POP server unit 17D receives the converted data, and performs management, communication control, and the like of the data. In addition, PO
P (POP3) is a protocol for accessing a mail server using mail software or the like on the Internet or an intranet and extracting the contents of an e-mail. POP3 (Post Office Protocol Version)
3) is the most widely used e-mail transmission and reception protocol among POPs, and IETF (Internet Engine
RFC (Request For
Comments) 1939.

The facsimile server 1 described above is used, for example, installed in a network environment A shown in FIG. That is, the facsimile server 1
Through N18, the router 19, the mail server M, the salutation client 20 in which salutation is specified in the user table 26, and the POP in which POP3 is specified in the user table 26.
H in the client 21 and the user table 26
HTTP client 22 for which TTP is specified, FT for which FTP is specified in the user table
It is communicably connected to the P client 23. Further, the facsimile server 1 is connected to the Internet F through the router 19 via the Internet.
It can transmit and receive with the AX 24, and can also transmit and receive with the G3 FAX 25 through the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) 13.

The facsimile server 1 has a general G
Facsimile communication function using three methods, etc., Internet facsimile reception function for receiving image data such as originals by e-mail via the mail server M, distribution function for distributing via the server units 17A to 17D, F code communication It has a function, a function to cope with the salutation protocol, and the like. The F code communication is
This is a function of communicating using a sub-address and a password in accordance with the ITU-T standard. The image data and the like can be automatically distributed to a preset destination.

In order to realize the Internet facsimile reception function, the facsimile server 1 is provided with a TC
P / IP is implemented, and a MIME (Multiple File) attached to the electronic mail from the mail server M together with the body of the electronic mail.
purpose Internet Mail Extensions), receive a file in text format based on Base64, etc.
The data is decrypted into the data in the IFF format, and is subjected to the various data conversions described above and stored in the servers 17A to 17D.

According to the distribution function, the destination to be distributed is determined based on the distribution information stored in the RAM 3. The distribution information stored in the RAM 3 is registered in advance by the user or the like using the operation unit 10 or the like, and a distribution data table 27 as shown in FIG. 5 is formed.
The distribution data table 27 stores a “user ID” corresponding to each “received data”.

Based on the distribution data table 27, the facsimile server 1 distributes all the received data to the salutation client 20 designated as the user ID 27a,
If the number 27b is specified from the TSI signal (transmitting terminal identification signal) of the received data, distribution is performed to the POP client 21 specified as the user ID 27c,
When the sub-address 27d and the password 27e are received by the F-code communication function, distribution is performed to the HTTP client 22 designated as the user ID 27f, and the source e-mail address of the received data is the predetermined e-mail address 27g If present, user ID 2
Delivery is performed to the FTP client 23 designated as 7h.

The operation of the facsimile server 1 when the facsimile server 1 performs facsimile reception (including reception of an Internet FAX) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is performed according to a command issued by the CPU 2 based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 4. Further, in the facsimile server 1, a destination to be distributed and a protocol for the destination are set beforehand by an operator or the like before reception, and the user table 26 and the distribution data table 27 described above are generated and stored in the RAM.
3 is stored.

First, when the facsimile server 1 receives a facsimile (including reception of an electronic mail) from the data receiving unit 14 (S1), the routing processing unit 15 transmits the received image data and the like (reception data). To which user ID (client) to distribute is selected based on the distribution data table 27 (S2).
The distribution protocol of the received image data or the like is selected from the selected user ID by referring to the user table 26 (S3).

The selection of the protocol will be described in further detail. First, it is determined whether or not the selected protocol is a salutation protocol based on the user table 26 (S4). , The salutation data converter 16
A, the image data and the like received in A are converted into a predetermined data format as encoded data, and a memory (the RAM 3) allocated to the salutation server unit 17A.
(S5), an event for notifying the salutation client 20 of the reception is issued (S6), and the retrieval from the salutation client 20 is awaited (S7).

In S4, if the selected protocol is not a salutation protocol, then
It is determined whether the selected protocol is POP (S8). If the selected protocol is POP, the POP conversion unit 16
D, the image data is converted into a file in the TIFF format that can be attached to an e-mail, and the memory (the RAM) assigned to the POP server unit 17D.
3 (S9), and the process proceeds to S7 to wait for removal from the POP client 21. If the data receiving unit 14 receives the e-mail and the image data attached to the e-mail is a file in the TIFF format, the above-described conversion is not performed and the data is stored in the memory as it is.

In S8, if the selected protocol is not POP, it is next determined whether or not the protocol is FTP (S10).
The conversion unit 16C converts the image data into a predetermined data format as encoded data, and converts the image data into the predetermined data format.
The data is stored in the memory (a predetermined storage area of the RAM 3) allocated to C (S11), and the process proceeds to S7 to wait for the FTP client 23 to take out.

In S10, if the selected protocol is not the FTP, it is next determined whether or not the HTTP is the HTTP (S12). If the selected protocol is the HTTP, the HTTP converter 16B converts the image data. HTML
The format is converted to a format, and stored in a memory (a predetermined storage area of the RAM 3) allocated to the HTTP server unit 17B (S13), and the process proceeds to S7 to wait for removal from the HTTP client 22. In S12, if it is not HTTP, the process proceeds to S5, and the operations of S5, S6, and S7 are executed. Note that the S
The extraction from each client in 7 is performed by designating the “user ID” and “password” in the user table 26 from each client.

The data corresponding to various protocols stored in the memories allocated to the server units 17A to 17D of the facsimile server 1 are taken into the clients 20 to 23 by predetermined operations of the clients. . More specifically, the salutation client 20 can use the original image data transmission / reception client software to take in the image data from the salutation server unit 17A and display the image data on the terminal screen. Reference numeral 21 denotes a mailer (e-mail transmission / reception client software) which fetches an e-mail attached with image data from the POP server unit 17D and allows the image data to be displayed on a terminal screen. By using the so-called FTP software, image data can be fetched from the FTP server unit 17C, and the image data can be displayed on the terminal screen.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a WWW browser which is connected to the HTTP server 17B through H
A document in TML format can be imported and image data can be displayed on a terminal screen to check the contents.

When a plurality of protocols are specified for one user ID in the user table 26,
In S3, the routing processing unit 15
A plurality of distribution protocols are selected for the received image data (received data), and the processes of S4 to S7 are executed for all the selected distribution protocols. Thus, for example, if a plurality of types of software corresponding to the above-described protocols are installed in the clients 20 to 23, the clients 20 to 23 can select any one of the plurality of protocols and receive the distribution. It is.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile server.
A data receiving unit that receives data from the outside, a routing processing unit that selects a distribution destination and a distribution protocol of the received data, a plurality of data conversion units that adapt the received data to the selected protocol, and Since it has a plurality of server units that hold data as data addressed to the selected distribution destination, it is possible to distribute received data according to a protocol specified in advance by a user of each client. As a result, by selecting a desired protocol as a protocol at the time of distribution, the client can receive and refer to all image data received by the facsimile server using software corresponding to the protocol. it can. This also makes it possible to unify the software to be used and to simplify the management of the received facsimile.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the facsimile server according to the first aspect, the routing processing section selects a plurality of distribution protocols for one received data. It can be distributed to clients on which various kinds of software are installed using multiple protocols.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram formed by a CPU of the facsimile server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user table referred to for determining a protocol for distribution to a client;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a network environment according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a distribution data table referred to for determining a distribution destination of received data;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the facsimile server according to the embodiment of the present invention when facsimile reception is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 facsimile server 2 CPU 3 RAM 4 ROM 14 data receiving unit 14A G3 FAX receiving unit 14B e-mail receiving unit 15 routing processing unit 16 data converting unit 16A salutation data converting unit 16B HTTP data converting unit 16C FTP data converting unit 16D POP data converting Section 17 Server section 17A Salutation server section 17B HTTP server section 17C FTP server section 17D POP server section 26 User table

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B089 GA15 JA05 KA09 KB02 KC23 KF05 KF06 5C062 AA13 AA29 AA30 AA35 AB38 AC28 AC38 AC43 BA00 BD09 5C075 AA90 AB90 CA14 CD90 5K030 HA07 HB04 HC02 HC14 JT05 LB15

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A data receiving unit for receiving data from the outside, a routing processing unit for selecting a destination and a delivery protocol of received data, a plurality of data converting units for adapting the received data to the selected protocol, A facsimile server comprising: a plurality of server units that hold the received data as data addressed to a selected distribution destination. 2. The facsimile server according to claim 1, wherein said routing processor selects a plurality of delivery protocols for one piece of received data.