JP2003125147A - Lan facsimile adaptor with distribution function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile reception system that allows a user to use a network printer placed on a LAN without the need for revising an existing LAN configuration and that distributes a facsimile reception document sent from an IP facsimile machine with a small delay and can receive documents at the same time from a plurality of transmission facsimile machines. SOLUTION: The LAN facsimile adaptor with a distribution function receives a telegraphic message sent from a transmission IP facsimile machine via the Internet through a router. The LAN facsimile adaptor with the distribution function has a plurality of IP addresses and can receive IP packets with a plurality of the IP addresses at the same time. The LAN facsimile adaptor with the distribution function has a function capable of identifying a printer port on the network corresponding to the IP address and distributing the message to the network printer corresponding to the IP address in real time.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus with a LAN connection function and, more particularly, to a facsimile apparatus with a LAN connection function having a received data distribution system function. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order for a recipient to obtain a received fax document, the recipient checks the inbox of the fax terminal, or a person who confirms the inbox sends the document to the recipient. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-340405, a facsimile apparatus with a LAN function notifies the recipient terminal by some means when receiving it, and the recipient accesses the facsimile apparatus with a LAN function. A method was used to obtain incoming fax documents. [0003] As described above, according to the conventional technique, a facsimile with a LAN function cannot notify the reception of a reception unless the receiver's terminal (personal computer) is operating. Therefore, it is not known whether a facsimile has been received. Further, there is an annoyance that a document cannot be confirmed without accessing a facsimile apparatus with a LAN connection function. In reality, the facsimile apparatus with a LAN connection function is not widely used. The received facsimile documents are being classified and distributed by hand.
Therefore, there has been the following problem, and an efficient network environment has not been provided. (1) Real-time communication is lost and business opportunities are missed. (2) Operational efficiency decreases. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means for enabling a plurality of IP addresses to be received, a means for delivering to a printer port by an IP address, a means for converting facsimile data into data for printer output, and Is provided to the printer on the network in real time by providing output means to the printer on the network. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a LAN facsimile adapter device with a distribution function in the real-time FAX communication of No. 38. Referring to FIG. Internet Fax with 38 protocol functions, Internet 1
01 is the Internet by TCP / IP,
T. If the network 38 can communicate, an intranet or the like can be used. Router102 is Inte
rnet 101 is an IP packet router device, and a LAN facsimile adapter device 103 with a distribution function is connected to the LAN and the G3 fax 104, and 38 and T. G3 fax 104 is connected to a LAN facsimile adapter device 103 with a distribution function through an analog line interface of a public telephone network, and a cable 105 is a LAN laid cable connected in a bus type. There is, however, either a ring or a star. L
The AN protocol is TCP / IP, NetBE
UI, NetWare, AppleTalk and the like can be used. In the first embodiment, TCP / IP, N
A description will be given using etBEUI. [0006] The network printer 106a is an LA printer.
N is a network-compatible printer connected to the printer, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT01. LP
1 is set to “1. 38
IP address 192.168.2.
The facsimile document transmitted at 55.101 is delivered to the network printer 106a. The network printer 106b is a network compatible printer connected to the LAN, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT02. LP1 and T.LP. According to 38 protocols, I
The facsimile document transmitted at the P address 192.168.255.102 is sent to the network printer 10
6b. Network printer 106c
Is a network compatible printer connected to the LAN, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT0
3. LP1 and T.LP. IP address 192.1 according to 38 protocols
The facsimile document transmitted at 68.255.103 is delivered to the network printer 106c. 1
Reference numeral 07 denotes a terminal (PC) to which a printer is connected, and the host name is set to PC01. The printer 108 returns the terminal 107 and can be used as a network printer. The port name of the printing destination is set to {PC01} LBP-B403. The facsimile document transmitted at the IP address 192.168.255.104 is distributed to the printer 108 by the protocol 38. FIG. 3 shows the LAN in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile document delivery destination printer designation table used in control for identifying a delivery destination printer performed in the facsimile adapter device 103. The first column in the drawing shows the IP address, and the second column shows the port name of the printing destination. There is no particular provision as long as the port name of the printing destination is unique. The reception G3F fax in the figure is the name of a port to be output to the reception G3 FAX 104, and NETPORT01. LP1 is a port name for outputting to the network printer 106a.
PORT02. LP1 is the network printer 106b
Port name to output to NETPORT0
1. LP1 is a port name for outputting to the network printer 106c. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the receiving LAN facsimile adapter device 103 according to the first embodiment. The control unit 200 controls the entire apparatus, and the network interface unit 201
The image processing unit 202 performs data conversion to output a facsimile document sent from a transmission facsimile to a printer. The data converted by the processing unit is converted into a page description language suitable for a network printer, and is prepared for each printer type. The storage unit 204 stores a correspondence between an IP address and a port of a network printer connected to the LAN as a table. The FAX interface unit 205
An interface unit for connecting to G3 FAX. Next, the operation of the LAN facsimile adapter device 103 connected to the LAN in the above configuration, from receiving a document from the transmitting IP facsimile to distributing the document to the network printer, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the transmission IP facsimile machine 100
The transmission request transmitted through the Internet 101
The AN facsimile adapter confirms and receives the IP address (S400). The facsimile data compressed by the transmitted MH / MR / MMR or the like is converted into a bit map (S401). LAN facsimile adapter is IP
A check is made to see if there is a corresponding printer designated for distribution of the address (S402). It is checked whether the corresponding network printer is ready for output (S403). OS (Operating System)
m), GDI (Graphics Device)
The bitmap data is passed to ce Interface) (S404). The OS sends data to the corresponding printer driver (S405). The data is converted into a page description language suitable for the printer by the driver and transmitted to the network interface (S406). The network interface transmits data to the corresponding network printer (S40).
7). If the designated printer is not set in S402, or if the network printer is in the output disabled state in S403, the LAN facsimile adapter apparatus is set to T.100. 38 to T. The protocol is converted to 30. (S408). At S408, T.P. The data converted to 30 is transmitted from the FAX interface unit 205 to the G3 FAX connected to the LAN facsimile adapter device (S409). (Embodiment 2) FIG. Three
8 with distribution function in real-time fax communication
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an are facsimile apparatus. In the figure, a transmission IP fax 500
Is T. Internet Fax with 38 protocol functions, Internet 501 is TCP
/ IP is the Internet. If the network 38 can communicate, an intranet or the like can be used. Router502 is Internet50
1 and an Aware facsimile machine 503 with a distribution function,
N. 38 functions, cable 5
Reference numeral 04 denotes a LAN laid cable connected in a bus type, which may be a ring type or a star type. LA
The protocol of N is TCP / IP, NetBEU
I, NetWare, AppleTalk and the like can be used. In the second embodiment, TCP / IP, Ne
Explanation will be made using tBEUI. The network printer 505a has an LA
N is a network-compatible printer connected to the printer, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT01. LP
1 is set to “1. 38
IP address 192.168.2.
The facsimile document transmitted at 55.101 is delivered to the network printer 505a. The network printer 505b is a network compatible printer connected to the LAN, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT02. LP1 and T.LP. According to 38 protocols, I
The facsimile document transmitted at the P address 192.168.255.102 is sent to the network printer 50.
5b. Network printer 505c
Is a network compatible printer connected to the LAN, and the port name of the printing destination is NETPORT0
3. LP1 and T.LP. IP address 192.1 according to 38 protocols
The facsimile document transmitted at 68.255.103 is distributed to the network printer 505c. 5
Reference numeral 06 denotes a terminal (PC) to which the printer is connected, and the host name is set to PC01. The printer 507 returns the terminal 506 and can be used as a network printer. The port name of the printing destination is set to {PC01} LBP-B403. The facsimile document transmitted at the IP address 192.168.255.104 is distributed to the printer 507 according to the protocol No. 38. FIG. 7 shows the LAN in the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile document delivery destination printer designation table used in control for identifying a delivery destination printer performed in the facsimile adapter device 503. The first column in the drawing shows the IP address, and the second column shows the port name of the printing destination. There is no particular provision as long as the port name of the printing destination is unique. Aware fax in the figure is the name of a port to be output to the Aware FAX 503, and NETPORT01. LP1 is a port name for outputting to the network printer 505a.
ETPORT02. LP1 is a network printer 50
5b is the name of the port to be output to NETPOR
T01. LP1 is a port name for outputting to the network printer 505c. FIG. 6 shows the receiving side AWARE of the second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the facsimile machine 503. The control unit 600 controls the entire apparatus, and the network interface unit 601 controls the Ethe
An image processing unit 602 performs data conversion for outputting a facsimile document sent from a transmission facsimile to a printer, and a printer driver 603 performs image conversion. The data converted by the processing unit is converted into a page description language suitable for a network printer, and is prepared for each printer type. Storage unit 60
Reference numeral 4 stores a correspondence between an IP address and a port of a network printer connected to the LAN as a table. A printer unit 605 prints the received facsimile document, and a scanner unit 606.
Is for reading a transmission facsimile document. Next, in the above configuration, the AWARE facsimile apparatus 503 connected to the LAN
The operation from receiving a document from a facsimile to delivering it to a network printer will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the transmission IP facsimile 500
The transmission request transmitted through the telnet 501 is L
The AN facsimile adapter confirms and receives the IP address (S800). The facsimile data compressed by the transmitted MH / MR / MMR or the like is converted into a bit map (S801). The LAN facsimile adapter checks whether there is an IP address distribution designated printer (S
802). It is checked whether the corresponding network printer is ready for output (S803). The bitmap data is passed to GDI, which is a function of the OS (S804). The OS sends data to the corresponding printer driver (S805). The data is converted into a page description language suitable for the printer by the driver unit and transmitted to the network interface unit (S806). The network interface transmits data to the corresponding network printer (S80).
7). If the designated printer has not been set in S802 or if the network printer cannot output in S803, the AWA
RE facsimile machine 503 is an OS function GDI
The bitmap data is passed to (S808). The OS is an AWARE facsimile machine 503
Data to the printer driver 603 (S80)
9). The printer driver 603 converts the data into a data format compatible with the printer unit 605 and converts the data into an AWAR.
The data is transmitted to the printer unit 605 of the E-facsimile machine 503 (S810). As described above, according to the present invention,
When a facsimile document is received by a LAN facsimile adapter device with a distribution function connected to the LAN, it can be distributed to the nearest network printer of the recipient in real time, and the user can go to a facsimile terminal far from the seat This eliminates the need to sort incoming documents and eliminates the need to sort incoming documents. It is not necessary for the receiver to always turn on the power of the terminal in order to know the reception state, and furthermore, it is possible to obtain the effect that the terminal is released from the troublesome terminal operation that occurs when viewing the received facsimile document. An existing network printer can be used without being changed, and a facsimile distribution system can be constructed at very low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a LAN facsimile adapter used in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a port / IP of a printing destination used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an address correspondence table. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the LAN facsimile adapter of the first embodiment receives a facsimile document. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an internal configuration diagram of a LAN facsimile adapter used in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a print destination port / IP used in the second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an address correspondence table. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation when the Aware facsimile apparatus receives a facsimile document. [Description of Code] 100/500 Transmission IP Fax 101/501 Internet 102/502 IP Packet Router 103 LAN Facsimile Adapter 104 G3 Fax 105/504 LAN Laying Cable 106a-c / 505a-c Network Printer 107/506 Terminal ( PC / 108/507 Printer 200 A / Fax 200/600 Control unit 201/601 Network interface unit 202/602 Image processing unit 203/603 Printer drive 204/604 Storage unit 205 FAX interface unit 503 Aware fax 605 Printer unit 606 Scanner unit

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Claims: 38 communication control means, facsimile control means for controlling the operation of the entire LAN facsimile adapter device with distribution function, between the network printer and the LAN facsimile adapter device with distribution function or AWARE FAX, and transmission IP fax and LAN Facsimile adapter device or A
L for sending and receiving IP packets between the WARE FAX
A LAN facsimile adapter device with a distribution function, comprising an AN interface unit, a unit for identifying a destination printer, a unit for converting facsimile data into printer output data, and a unit for outputting printer output data. And Aware FAX.