JP2005287084A - Network facsimile apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facsimile apparatus that can enhance the versatility by managing the transfer control based on the capability of the destination and set a transfer time. <P>SOLUTION: The network facsimile apparatus 10 connected to a local area network (LAN) and provided with a mail transmission function and a facsimile communication function is configured to convert electronic mail data received via the LAN into data with a data form registered corresponding to a sender and in response to a type of a transfer destination while storing the electronic mail data, to transfer the converted data to the transfer destination, and to preset a transfer time in response to the transfer destination or the sender. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network facsimile apparatus, and more particularly, to a network facsimile apparatus that transfers received data to a destination registered in advance.

  With recent developments in communication technology, network facsimile machines that are commonly used via a local area network (LAN) have appeared, and this network facsimile machine has been devised to receive and output electronic mail. Things have also been proposed.

An example of this type of network facsimile apparatus is described in Patent Document 1. With this network facsimile machine, you can specify an e-mail address that is allowed to be received, and discard or forward only e-mails from non-designated sender e-mail addresses or domain names. It can be avoided.
JP-A-11-355347

  However, such a conventional network facsimile apparatus discards unnecessary e-mails in received e-mails, and cannot always transfer necessary data to a desired destination. There is a problem in that the transfer can only be made to a possible destination and the transfer time cannot be specified.

  Here, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-8571 discloses that received data is transferred to a destination according to a transmission source, but the destination is limited to a facsimile apparatus capable of mutual facsimile communication. In any case, it requests the transfer destination to be able to receive the transmitted data in the same manner.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a network facsimile apparatus that can improve transfer versatility by performing transfer control according to the receiving capability of a transfer destination and can set transfer time.

  In view of the above, the invention according to claim 1 is a network having a communication function including a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail via a local area network and a function of performing facsimile communication via a public line network. In the facsimile apparatus, data storage means for storing an e-mail received via the local area network, and image data for facsimile using a method according to the type of the data included in the received e-mail A data conversion means for converting the data into a facsimile, a transfer destination registration means for registering a destination number of a facsimile apparatus that communicates via the public line network as a transfer destination of the facsimile image data, and a local area network. The received and stored data is converted into the facsimile image data and converted. It has a configuration in which a transfer control means for transferring to the facsimile apparatus registered earlier registration means.

  With this configuration, e-mail received via the local area network is converted into image data that can be processed by the facsimile machine registered as the transfer destination and transferred, so the transfer destination requires an e-mail communication function. It is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus that can transfer the data included in the received e-mail without doing so.

  The invention according to claim 2 comprises the data communication function conforming to a predetermined protocol that enables facsimile communication via the Internet according to claim 1, wherein the transfer destination registration means is configured to transfer the public as the transfer destination. In addition to the destination number of a facsimile machine that communicates via a circuit network, the destination information of a terminal having a data communication function compliant with the protocol is associated with the data format information that can be communicated with the terminal. The transfer control means converts the format of the received image data or data included in the e-mail into the data format of the transfer destination terminal registered in the transfer destination registration means and transfers the data format. doing.

  With this configuration, as destination information of a transfer destination, for example, a data communication function (hereinafter simply referred to as a real-time Internet facsimile function) conforming to a predetermined protocol that enables facsimile communication via the Internet is provided. For terminals with registered addresses or host names, received and stored e-mail and image data are converted into a data format that can be communicated with the terminal associated with the destination information and transferred. A network facsimile apparatus capable of transferring data included in an electronic mail to a terminal having a real-time Internet facsimile function can be realized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the transfer control unit stores the data received according to the protocol in the data storage unit and is registered in the transfer destination registration unit. Is transferred.

  With this configuration, it is possible to transfer not only the data included in the e-mail but also, for example, data from a terminal having a real-time Internet facsimile function, thereby reducing the restriction on the transmission source of the data to be transferred. In addition, a network facsimile apparatus capable of transferring various types of data can be realized.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the information identifying the transmission source of the received data is associated with the transfer destination registered in the transfer destination registration means. A transmission source registration means for registering, and when the transmission source of the received data is registered in the transmission source registration means, the transfer control means sends the received data to the transfer destination associated with the transmission source. Is transferred.

  With this configuration, for example, the e-mail address, the IP address of a terminal equipped with a real-time Internet facsimile function, the terminal identification information of a public line facsimile machine, or the data format, transmission of received data By registering it as original identification information and registering the transmission source in association with the transfer destination, the received data can be transmitted according to the transfer destination by selecting the transfer destination for each transmission source. Since the data can be transferred after being converted into a format, a network facsimile apparatus capable of transferring received data to a transfer destination corresponding to the transmission source or a transfer destination corresponding to the data format of the transmission source is realized. be able to.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the transfer control means includes means for extracting a source domain name based on the received e-mail, and the domain name is registered in the source registration means. In this case, the electronic mail is stored in the data storage means, and transfer control to the transfer destination associated with the transmission source is performed.

  With this configuration, the domain name of the sender's email is extracted from the received email, the sender is identified, the data format of the data included in the email is converted and transferred to the corresponding transfer destination, It is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus that can transfer data included in an electronic mail in a data format that can be received by a transfer destination according to a transfer source.

  Further, when the invention according to claim 6 is provided with a data communication function compliant with the protocol in claim 4 or claim 5, the transmission source registration means uses the transmission source IP as information for identifying the transmission source. It has a configuration in which the address and terminal identification information stored in the received packet can be registered.

  With this configuration, for example, when data is received by the real-time Internet facsimile function, the transmission source is identified from the IP address of the transmission source or the terminal identification information in the packet, and the data format of the received data is transferred to the corresponding transfer destination. Since the data is converted and transferred, it is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus that can transfer the received data to a transfer destination corresponding to the transfer source in a data format that can be received by the transfer destination.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data storage means for receiving image information from a transmitting-side facsimile apparatus and storing the received image information in a facsimile apparatus having a predetermined communication function, and the received image information. The transfer destination registration means for storing one or more pieces of transfer destination identification information, the set time storage means for storing one or more set times as the transfer start time for each transfer destination, and the data storage means A transfer control unit that transfers the image information transferred to the transfer destination stored by the transfer destination registration unit as the transfer destination of the image information to the transfer start time stored in the set time storage unit. Have.

  With this configuration, since transfer of received data is started at the set time for each transfer destination, transfer processing is performed in a time zone where there is no possibility of disturbing other facsimile communication by execution of the transfer processing or a time zone where communication charges are low. A feasible facsimile machine can be realized.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile apparatus having a function of receiving image information transmitted from a transmission-side facsimile apparatus and transferring the image information to a plurality of transfer destinations. Transfer destination registration means for storing one or more, transmission source registration means for storing identification information of one or more transmission sources corresponding to the identification information of each transfer destination stored in the transfer destination registration means, and the transfer destination registration A set time storage unit that stores information of one or more set times as a transfer start time for each transfer destination stored in the unit, and a transmission source of the image information when the image information is received is the transmission source registration A data storage for storing image information determined by the determination unit as image information from the transmission source stored by the transmission source registration unit, and a determination unit for determining whether the transmission source is stored by the transmission unit; A transfer destination extracting unit that extracts from the transfer destination registration unit a transfer destination corresponding to a transmission source of the image information stored in the data storage unit, and receiving the data by the set time and storing it in the data storage unit And a transfer control unit that starts transferring the image information to the transfer destination extracted by the transfer destination extracting unit at a set time corresponding to the transfer destination.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 7, there is provided transmission source registration means for storing identification information of one or more transmission sources corresponding to the identification information of each transfer destination stored in the transfer destination registration means. Because it is possible to set different transfer times for each transmission source even at the same transfer destination, it is possible to simplify the sorting of received images on the receiving side, and to add priorities according to the degree of urgency An apparatus can be realized.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the set time storage means can further store information of one or more set times as a time to start transfer uniformly, and the transfer destination Each set time or the set time of the uniform transfer process is stored, and the transfer control means receives the set time stored by the set time storage means and stores it in the data storage means. The stored image information is transferred at a set time corresponding to the transfer destination extracted by the transfer destination extracting unit.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effects of the invention according to claim 7 or claim 8, since transfer processing of image information received a plurality of times can be performed at once, a facsimile capable of reducing transfer time and communication cost. An apparatus can be realized.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network facsimile apparatus having a communication function including a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail via a network and a function of performing facsimile communication via a public line network. Data storage means for storing electronic mail, data conversion means for converting data contained in the electronic mail stored in the data storage means into facsimile image data by a method according to the type of the data, and the data A determination unit that determines a transfer destination of the data according to the content of the data included in the e-mail stored in the storage unit, and the facsimile image data transfer destination connected via the public line network Transfer destination registration means for storing the telephone number of the facsimile machine, and the facsimile image data in front Transfer control means for transferring to a destination facsimile machine registered in the transfer destination registration means, and time storage means for storing one or more set times as times for starting transfer processing for each transfer destination, Data contained in the e-mail stored in the data storage means until the set time is converted into the facsimile image data, and the transfer destination stored in the transfer destination registration means corresponds to this transfer destination. A transfer process is started at a set time.

  With this configuration, it is possible to set the transfer start time when transferring image information received by e-mail to a facsimile machine that can communicate via a public line, so there is no time zone or communication charge that may not interfere with other facsimile communication. It is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus that can perform transfer processing collectively in a cheap time zone.

  The invention according to claim 11 has an RI-FAX function which is a data transmission function compliant with a protocol enabling a real-time Internet facsimile function in claim 8, and can communicate via a public network. Information for specifying the data transfer destination is specified information including the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus, the IP address or host name of the terminal having the RI-FAX function, or the e-mail address of the terminal capable of receiving image data via the network. And a transfer destination information storage means for storing the communication procedure and data format of each device or terminal, and the data conversion means transfers the data format of the data included in the received image information or e-mail. The data is converted into the data format of the previous terminal, and the transfer control means is stored in the transfer destination registration means. Above, it has a structure for starting the transfer process the set time corresponding to the transfer destination.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 10, since it is possible to target a device having a real-time Internet facsimile function as a transfer destination, transfer processing is performed by selecting a time zone with less network traffic. It is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus capable of performing the above.

  The invention according to claim 12 has a configuration according to claim 11, wherein the data to be subjected to the transfer processing includes data received by the RI-FAX function.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 11, it is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus capable of transferring image information received from an apparatus having a real-time Internet facsimile function.

  The invention according to claim 13 has a function of recording data on a hard disk of an external computer communicable via a network according to claims 10 to 12, wherein the transfer destination registration means Storing a folder on a hard disk connected to one or more external computers capable of communicating via a network as a transfer destination, the set time storage means stores information including a transfer start time to the folder; The transfer control means is connected to a predetermined computer capable of communicating the received image information, the data received by the RI-FAX function, or the image information included in the received e-mail via the network. The specified folder on the hard disk has a configuration that starts transfer at a set time with this folder as the transfer destination. To have.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 12, data is stored in a hard disk connected to a computer capable of communicating image information received in various formats and routes via a network. Therefore, it is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus that can store received image information in a specific folder on the network.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth to thirteenth aspect of the present invention, one or a plurality of mail addresses, the RI-FAX function are associated with each identification information of the transmission destination stored by the transfer destination registration means. When receiving data including image information or e-mail, transfer destination selection transmission source storage means for storing the identification information of the transmission source including the IP address of the terminal having the terminal, or the terminal identification information of the public line facsimile machine A transmission source identification unit that identifies transmission source identification information based on the data format of the data or the type of the transmission side terminal, and a transmission in which the identified transmission source identification information is stored in the transmission destination selection transmission source storage unit A transmission source discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the source image is received; and a transmission source stored in the transfer destination selection transmission source storage unit for the received image information. Transfer destination extraction means for extracting a transfer destination to be stored, wherein the set time storage means stores a transfer start time for each identification information of the transmission source, and the transfer control means includes the identification information of the transfer source. The data to be transferred is converted into the data format of the transfer destination terminal at the transfer start time specified based on the above, and the transfer is started.

  With this configuration, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 10 to 13, the identification information of one or a plurality of transmission sources corresponding to the identification information of each transfer destination stored by the transfer destination registration unit is stored. The transfer destination selection transmission source storage means is provided so that different transfer times can be set for each transmission source even at the same transfer destination. It is possible to realize a network facsimile apparatus capable of adding an order.

  The network facsimile apparatus of the present invention can improve versatility by performing transfer control in accordance with the reception capability of the transfer destination, and can provide a network facsimile apparatus capable of setting the transfer time.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration to which a network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected.

  In FIG. 1, a network facsimile apparatus 10 can communicate with a workstation 100, a mail server 200, a router 300, and the like via a local area network (LAN). The network facsimile apparatus 10 and the workstation 100 are respectively connected to each other. A plurality of units are arranged in the department, and can be connected to the Internet via the router 300, and also have a function of sending and receiving e-mails using the e-mail collection and distribution service by the mail server 200. The connection to the LAN, the connection to the Internet, the connection to the public network, etc. may be wired or wireless as long as they are communicable.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The network facsimile apparatus 10 includes a system control unit 11, a system memory 12, a parameter memory 13, a clock circuit 14, a scanner 15, a plotter 16, an operation display unit 17, an encoding / decoding unit 18, an image Storage device 19, group 3 (G3) facsimile modem 20, network control device 21, ISDN (integrated services digital network) interface circuit 22, group 4 (G4) data communication function unit 23, and LAN interface circuit 24 The LAN transmission control unit 25 is connected to the internal bus 26 so that data can be exchanged between these units.

  The system control unit 11 performs overall control of each part of the apparatus according to a control processing program, and performs a facsimile transmission control procedure process as a network facsimile apparatus, various control processes according to the present invention, and the like. The system memory 12 stores a control processing program used by the system control unit 11 and various data necessary for executing the control processing program, and temporarily stores data when the control processing program is executed. Also used as Various data specific to the network facsimile apparatus 10 are set in the parameter memory 13. The clock circuit 14 outputs current time information.

  The scanner 15 reads a document image with a predetermined resolution. The plotter 16 records and outputs an image with a predetermined resolution. The operation display unit 17 is provided with operation keys for a user to perform input operations, a display for displaying various information, and the like. The encoding / decoding unit 18 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 19 stores a large amount of image information that has been encoded and compressed.

  The group 3 facsimile modem 20 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided. The network control device 21 has an automatic outgoing / incoming function and connects to a public network (PSTN).

  The ISDN interface circuit 22 performs an operation of connecting to the ISDN. The group 4 data communication function unit 23 includes a G4 communication control unit, a D channel control unit, a layer signal control unit, and the like, and performs predetermined data communication for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices. The G4 communication control process according to the protocol is executed.

  The LAN interface circuit 24 performs an operation of connecting to the LAN. The LAN transmission control unit 25 executes communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data with other data terminal devices via the LAN.

  Here, in the LAN, data exchange between connected terminals is basically performed by applying so-called TCP (transmission control protocol) / IP (internet protocol), for example, e-mail. In the exchange of data, a communication protocol called SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol, and each terminal sends an e-mail reception confirmation or transmission request to the user to the mail server 200. For this purpose, a so-called POP (post office protocol) or the like is applied. It is also possible to apply a protocol suite using UDP (User Datagram Protocol) instead of TCP.

  Then, the network facsimile apparatus 10 has an image information transmission function (facsimile communication function) for transmitting and receiving the read document image to and from other G3 and G4 facsimile apparatuses via the public network or ISDN, and the read document image. A server function for providing a facsimile modem function or the like so that the image information transmitted from the workstation 100 can be transmitted to another G3 or G4 facsimile apparatus via the LAN. This network facsimile apparatus 10 sends image information sent from another G3 or G4 facsimile apparatus via the public line network or ISDN to the user corresponding to the subaddress designated at that time. Or use a workstation on the LAN With an electronic mail processing function for and transfers the image information received by e-mail to other G3, G4 facsimile machine speed dial designated through the public network and ISDN than 00, T. 38, H.M. Protocol control for performing real-time Internet facsimile (hereinafter also referred to as RI-FAX) conforming to H.232 can be executed. As for the e-mail received to the terminal itself, the image information arranged in the text information is extracted and recorded.

  In detail, as shown in FIG. 3, the transfer destination to which the received data is transferred is set corresponding to the transmission source, and when data is received from the other party registered as the transmission source, The transfer control to the transfer destination corresponding to the transmission source is performed, and the telephone number used in G3 FAX, the mail address, and the IP address used in RI-FAX are associated with each transmission source according to the type of transfer destination. In addition, the data received according to the transmission source type and the transfer destination type is converted to be receivable at the transfer destination, and transfer control is performed. Note that FIG. 3 shows a method of directly specifying an IP address when specifying a transfer destination using an IP address, but it is specified by a host name and is sent from a DNS (domain name system) server to an IP address. An address may be drawn.

  At this time, when the received data is transferred, the necessity of data transfer of the received data is determined from the transmission source information, and the necessity of conversion of the received data and the conversion method thereof are determined according to the transmission source type and the transfer destination type. As shown in FIG. 4, the sender information is determined from the sender mail address or domain name extracted from the header information in the case of e-mail, for example, as shown in FIG. Also, in the case of G3 FAX, TSI (transmitting subscriber identification) or NSS (TSI) (non-standard facilities set-up), in the case of G4 FAX, TID (party terminal identifier), RI-FAX IFP (internet fax protocol) ) Obtained from terminal identification information such as IP address and TSI / NSS stored in the packet. A plurality of types of RI-FAX (in this case, two types) are prepared because the IP address of the transmission source RI-FAX is not fixed (a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server is used). This is because the transmission source cannot be uniquely specified by the IP address.

  When the received data is transferred, for example, the data in the e-mail format is converted to G3FAX / G4FAX / RI- according to the necessity of data conversion of the received data determined by the transmission source type and the transfer destination type and the conversion method. When transferring to a FAX terminal, as shown in FIG. 5, when the transfer destination is an e-mail, the data is not converted as it is, and the e-mail content (data) is TIFF (tag image file Format). Is converted into FAX image data as it is. In the case of plain text, the font is expanded and converted into FAX image data. In the case of HTML (hypertext markup language), only the text portion is extracted and the FAX image is extracted. Convert to data, and if TIFF and plain text are mixed, convert them to FAX image data and separate pages By, performs data conversion in accordance with the contents of the received electronic mail. The “conversion to FAX image data” includes a process of applying a compression method corresponding to each of the transfer destination types G3FAX / G4FAX / RI-FAX.

  Next, the operation of the network facsimile apparatus 10 will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, at the time of reception, as shown in FIG. 6, when reception is started, transmission source information is acquired by the method shown in FIG. 4 (step S11), and the received data is set in the memory while being stored in the memory. When necessary, for example, the recording output control for printing by the plotter 16 is performed while continuing the data reception process (step S12), and after all the received data has been received (step S13). Then, it is determined whether or not the received data is a transfer target by comparing the transmission source information and the type with the registration information shown in FIG. 3 (steps S14 and S15).

  If the matching transmission source is not set and registered, the transfer control is not performed, and the received data addressed to the terminal itself is not printed in step S12. When it is unregistered and it is not addressed to its own terminal and need not be saved, the received data is cleared according to the setting instruction by the user (step S16), and this receiving operation is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the matching transmission source is set and registered, preparations such as setting the internal management information in a state in which the transfer destination information and the received data can be transferred in association with each other as a transfer target are prepared (step S17). This reception operation is terminated.

  The necessity of printing the received data may be set as appropriate, such as not printing if it is a transfer target, or not printing at the same time as receiving, and printing after the end of reception. It is convenient to be able to set as appropriate, such as selecting and setting.

  Next, at the time of transfer after the end of the reception operation, as shown in FIG. 7, after connecting with the transfer destination transfer destination terminal set during the reception operation (step S21), transmission as shown in FIG. While performing the data conversion process by the conversion method according to the original type and the transfer destination type, the transmission process of the converted data is performed until the transmission is completed (steps S22 and S23). The port (line) used at the time of transfer is designated as the transfer destination, and needless to say, it is connected to the transfer destination terminal using the designated protocol.

  Next, when the end of transmission is confirmed, the received data that has been transferred is removed from the transfer target (step S24), and the received data that has been transferred is cleared in accordance with a setting instruction by the user, such as no need to save after transfer. (Step S25), the transfer operation is terminated.

  Needless to say, the network facsimile apparatus 10 handles an error when it is received or transferred, but the description here is omitted.

  Here, the data storage means described in any one of claims 1 to 6 corresponds to the image storage device 19, and the data conversion means, transfer destination control means and domain name extraction means are the system. The transfer destination registration unit and the transmission source registration unit included in the control unit 11 are included in the system memory 12 or the parameter memory 13.

  As described above, the network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention converts the e-mail received via the local area network into image data that can be processed by the facsimile apparatus registered as the transfer destination. Since the data is converted and transferred, the data included in the received e-mail can be transferred without requiring the e-mail communication function from the transfer destination.

  In addition, as destination information of a transfer destination, for example, for a terminal having a real-time / Internet / facsimile function and an IP address or host name registered, the received / stored e-mail and image data are included in the destination information. Since the associated terminal is converted into a communicable data format and transferred, the data included in the received electronic mail can be transferred to a terminal having a real-time Internet facsimile function.

  Further, not only the data included in the e-mail but also, for example, data from a terminal having a real-time Internet facsimile function can be transferred, so that the restriction on the transmission source of data to be transferred can be reduced, Various types of data can be transferred.

  Also, the e-mail address, the IP address of a terminal equipped with a real-time Internet facsimile function, the terminal identification information of a public line facsimile machine, or the data format as the transmission source identification information of received data By registering and registering the transmission source in association with the transfer destination, the received data is converted into a data format that can be transmitted according to the transfer destination by selecting the transfer destination for each transmission source. Since the data can be transferred later, the received data can be transferred to the transfer destination corresponding to the transmission source or to the transfer destination corresponding to the data format of the transmission source.

  Also, the domain name of the sender's email is extracted from the received email, the sender is identified, and the data format of the data contained in the email is converted and transferred to the corresponding forwarding destination. The data included in the e-mail can be transferred to a transfer destination according to the data format that can be received by the transfer destination.

  When data is received by the real-time Internet facsimile function, the transmission source is identified from the IP address of the transmission source or the terminal identification information in the packet, and the received data is transferred to the corresponding transfer destination after the data format is converted. Therefore, the received data can be transferred to a transfer destination corresponding to the transfer source in a data format that can be received by the transfer destination.

Therefore, data can be exchanged seamlessly according to the transmission function of the transfer destination, and data of various formats can be transferred with less restrictions on the data to be transferred. As a result, a highly versatile network facsimile apparatus can be provided.
(Second Embodiment)
The network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the same components as those of the network facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is capable of setting a time at which mail transfer is started, and transfers a predetermined one of the data received up to that point at the set time. It is. The setting of the time for starting mail transfer will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is an example of setting the transfer start time according to the transfer destination type and the transmission source type. In FIG. 8, when the transfer destination is a network computer (No. 1), data transmitted from all transmission sources is set to be transferred every day at 23:30.

  In addition, when the forwarding destination is a workstation (email address is london@xxx.co.jp) (No. 2), the data sent from all senders is set to be forwarded every Friday at 6:00. When the destination is G4 FAX (telephone number 03-1234-4567) (No. 3), the data transmitted from all the transmission sources is set to be transferred at 18:00 on the 25th of every month.

  When the transfer destination is G3 FAX (No. 4), the data from G4 FAX of the sender Kanagawa Honsha is immediately transferred, the data from G3 FAX of the sender Fukuoka Koshisha is transferred at 1 o'clock every day, and the sender mail address system2g Data from @ xxx.co.jp workstations is transferred daily at 2 o'clock, and data from the source domain yyy.co.jp is transferred daily at 3 o'clock.

  In addition, when the transfer destination is a workstation (e-mail address system1g@xxx.co.jp) (No. 5), the data from the RI-FAX having the source IP address 100.200.123.45 is transferred every Friday at 21:00. Data from G4 FAX of the transmission source XY company is transferred every Friday at 22:00, and data from RI-FAX with transmission source TSI or NSS of 456 222 3333 is transferred every Friday at 23:00.

  When the transfer destination is RI-FAX (IP address 100.200.123.46) (No. 6), the data from the G3 FAX of the transmission source telephone number +81 5 2223 3333 is transferred immediately. In this way, not only can the received data be transferred to the immediate transfer destination, but also can be transferred at a predetermined time every day or at a predetermined time on a desired day of the week or a desired day of every month. it can.

  Information on the transfer start time corresponding to the transfer destination and the transfer source may be stored in the system memory 12 in association with each other, for example. In this case, the system control unit 11 refers to the system memory 12 at the time of transfer and starts transferring the received data at the transfer start time corresponding to the transfer destination and the transfer source. Further, the memories 12 and 13 may further store information of one or more set times as times for starting the transfer uniformly regardless of the transfer destination. In this case, transfer is started uniformly at the set time regardless of the transfer destination.

  Similarly, it may be possible to store information on the time at which transfer starts uniformly regardless of the transmission source or regardless of both the transfer destination and the transmission source. In this case, the transfer is started uniformly at the set time regardless of the transmission source or regardless of both the transfer destination and the transmission source.

  Hereinafter, a receiving operation when setting the mail transfer start time will be described with reference to FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a new process (step S98) following the transfer target setting and transfer preparation process (step S17) of the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the same processes are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  When the transfer target setting and the transfer preparation process (step S17) are completed, the transfer start time corresponding to the transfer destination and the transfer source is set for each data to be transferred, and the reception process is ended (step S98).

  Also, as shown in FIG. 10, after the transfer start time setting (step S98) processing, the presence / absence of data transferred to the same transfer destination and transfer source is searched (step S101). (Step S102), if detected, the data transferred to the same transfer destination and transfer source is merged into one file or job (step S103), and if not detected, the receiving operation is terminated. It is also possible to operate it.

  A transfer operation when the transfer start time is set will be described with reference to FIG. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, a new process (step S111) is provided before the connection process (step S21) with the transfer destination terminal in the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, the same processes are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The transfer operation determines whether or not it is the transfer time set in the transfer start time setting process (step S98) (step S111). If it is determined that it is not the transfer start time, the determination is made until the transfer start time is reached. When processing is performed and it is determined that the transfer start time is reached, the processing is realized by performing the processing after step S21.

  Here, the data storage means described in any one of claims 7 to 14 corresponds to the image storage device 19, and includes data conversion means, transfer destination control means, discrimination means, transfer destination extraction. Means, determination means, transmission source identification means, transmission source discrimination means and transfer destination extraction means are included in the system control unit 11, and transfer destination registration means, set time storage means, transmission source registration means, transfer destination information storage means and transfer The destination selection transmission source storage means is included in the system memory 12 or the parameter memory 13. The processing performed by the set time storage unit corresponds to step S98, S101, or S102.

  Therefore, data can be exchanged seamlessly according to the transmission function of the transfer destination, and data of various formats can be transferred with less restrictions on the data to be transferred. As a result, a highly versatile network facsimile apparatus can be provided. Note that the network facsimile apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9 can be similarly applied to a facsimile apparatus that does not require a network function for communication via a public line.

  Note that the network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention may operate so as to include the operation described in the first embodiment of the present invention. In that case, the network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention performs the above-described operation in addition to the operation described in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As described above, since the network facsimile apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention starts to transfer received data at a set time for each transfer destination, it may interfere with other facsimile communications by executing the transfer process. It is possible to perform transfer processing collectively in a time zone with no communication or a time zone with a low communication charge.

  Further, a transmission source registration unit that stores identification information of one or a plurality of transmission sources corresponding to the identification information of each transfer destination such as a telephone number and a mail address stored in the transfer destination registration unit is provided so that the transmission source can be the same transmission destination. Since different transfer times can be set for each, it is possible to simplify the sorting of received images on the receiving side, and to add priorities according to the degree of urgency.

  In addition, since transfer processing of image information received a plurality of times can be performed all at once, it is possible to reduce transfer time and communication costs.

  In addition, since the transfer start time can be set when transferring image information received by e-mail to a facsimile machine that can communicate via the public line, it is possible to set a time zone that does not interfere with other facsimile communication and a time when communication charges are low. Transfer processing can be performed in a band.

  In addition, since a device having a real-time Internet facsimile function can be targeted as a transfer destination, transfer processing can be performed by selecting a time zone with less network traffic.

  Also, image information received from a device having a real-time Internet facsimile function can be transferred.

  In addition, since image data received in various formats and routes can be stored in a hard disk connected to a computer that can communicate via a network, the received image information can be stored in a specific folder on the network. Can do.

  In addition, transfer destination selection source storage means for storing one or a plurality of transmission source identification information corresponding to each transfer destination identification information stored in the transfer destination registration means is provided, and the same transfer destination is different for each transmission source. Since the transfer time can be set, it is possible to simplify the sorting of the received image on the receiving side, or to add a priority according to the degree of urgency.

1 is a diagram showing a system configuration to which a network facsimile apparatus according to the present invention is connected. FIG. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of the network facsimile apparatus which concerns on the form of this invention. It is a list explaining the registration information concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a list explaining the process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a list explaining the process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a list explaining the registration information concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network facsimile apparatus 11 System control part 12 System memory 13 Parameter memory 14 Clock circuit 15 Scanner 16 Plotter 17 Operation display part 18 Coding / decoding part 19 Image storage apparatus 20 G3 facsimile modem 21 Network control apparatus 22 ISDN interface circuit 23 G4 communication Functional unit 24 LAN interface circuit 25 LAN transmission control unit 26 Bus 100 Workstation 200 Mail server 300 Router

Claims (14)

In a network facsimile apparatus having a communication function including a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail via a local area network and a function of performing facsimile communication via a public network,
Data storage means for storing email received via the local area network;
Data conversion means for converting data contained in the received electronic mail into facsimile image data by a method according to the type of the data;
Transfer destination registration means for registering a destination number of a facsimile apparatus that communicates via the public line network as a transfer destination of the facsimile image data;
Transfer control means for converting data received and stored via the local area network into image data for facsimile and transferring the data to a destination facsimile apparatus registered in the transfer destination registration means. A featured network facsimile machine.   A data communication function conforming to a predetermined protocol that enables facsimile communication via the Internet is provided, and the transfer destination registration means sets a transfer destination as a destination number of a facsimile apparatus that performs communication via the public line network. In addition, destination information of a terminal having a data communication function compliant with the protocol is registered in association with information on a data format in which the terminal can communicate, and the transfer control means receives the received image data or e-mail 2. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a data format contained in the data is converted into a data format of a transfer destination terminal registered in the transfer destination registration means and transferred.   3. The network according to claim 2, wherein the transfer control unit stores data received in conformity with the protocol in a data storage unit and transfers the data to a transfer destination registered in the transfer destination registration unit. Facsimile device.   A transmission source registration unit for registering information for identifying a transmission source of received data in association with a transfer destination registered in the transfer destination registration unit, and the transfer control unit includes: 4. The network according to claim 1, wherein the received data is transferred to a transfer destination associated with the transmission source when registered in the transmission source registration means. Facsimile device.   The transfer control means includes domain name extraction means for extracting a sender domain name based on the received email, and stores the email when the domain name is registered in the sender registration means. 5. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the network facsimile apparatus stores the information in a means and performs transfer control to a transfer destination associated with the transmission source.   When the data communication function conforming to the protocol is provided, the transmission source registration unit can register the transmission source IP address and terminal identification information stored in the received packet as information for identifying the transmission source. 6. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the network facsimile apparatus is characterized in that: In a facsimile machine that receives image information from a sending facsimile machine and has a predetermined communication function,
Data storage means for storing the received image information;
Transfer destination registration means for storing one or more identification information of the transfer destination of the received image information;
A set time storage means for storing one or more set times as a start time of transfer for each transfer destination;
Transfer control means for transferring the image information stored in the data storage means to the transfer destination stored in the transfer destination registration means as the transfer destination of the image information at the transfer start time stored in the set time storage means. And a facsimile machine. In a facsimile apparatus having a function of receiving image information transmitted from a transmission side facsimile apparatus and transferring it to a plurality of transfer destinations,
Transfer destination registration means for storing one or more identification information of the transfer destination of the received image information;
Transmission source registration means for storing identification information of one or more transmission sources corresponding to the identification information of each transfer destination stored by the transfer destination registration means;
A set time storage unit that stores information of one or more set times as a transfer start time for each transfer destination stored by the transfer destination registration unit;
Determining means for determining whether or not the transmission source of the image information is the transmission source stored by the transmission source registration means when the image information is received;
Data storage means for storing image information determined by the determination means as image information from the transmission source stored by the transmission source registration means;
A transfer destination extracting unit that extracts a transfer destination corresponding to the transmission source of the image information stored in the data storage unit from the transfer destination registration unit;
Transfer control means for starting transfer of each image information received by the set time and stored in the data storage means to the transfer destination extracted by the transfer destination extracting means at the set time corresponding to the transfer destination; A facsimile machine characterized by comprising.   The set time storage means can further store information of one or more set times as a time for starting the transfer uniformly, either the set time for each transfer destination or the set time of the uniform transfer process The transfer control means has extracted the image information received and accumulated in the data storage means until the set time stored in the set time storage means is extracted by the transfer destination extraction means. 9. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transfer is started at a set time corresponding to the transfer destination. In a network facsimile apparatus having a communication function including a function of transmitting / receiving electronic mail via a network and a function of performing facsimile communication via a public network,
Data storage means for storing emails received via the network;
Data conversion means for converting data contained in the e-mail stored in the data storage means into image data for facsimile by a method according to the type of the data;
Determination means for determining a transfer destination of this data according to the content of data contained in the e-mail stored in the data storage means;
Transfer destination registration means for storing a telephone number of a facsimile machine connected via the public line network as a transfer destination of the facsimile image data;
Transfer control means for transferring the facsimile image data to a destination facsimile apparatus registered in the transfer destination registration means;
Time storage means for storing one or more set times as the time for starting the transfer process for each transfer destination;
The data contained in the e-mail stored in the data storage means before the set time is converted into the facsimile image data, and the transfer destination stored in the transfer destination registration means corresponds to this transfer destination. A network facsimile apparatus characterized by starting transfer processing at a set time. The RI-FAX function, which is a data transmission function conforming to the protocol that enables the real-time Internet facsimile function,
Specific information including a telephone number of a facsimile apparatus that can communicate via a public line network, an IP address or host name of a terminal equipped with the RI-FAX function, or an e-mail address of a terminal that can receive image data via the network Storing as data for specifying the transfer destination of data, comprising transfer destination information storage means for storing the communication procedure and data format of each device or terminal;
The data conversion means converts the data format of the received image information or data included in the e-mail into the data format of the transfer destination terminal, and the transfer control means transfers the transfer stored in the transfer destination registration means 11. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transfer process is started first at a set time corresponding to the transfer destination.   The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the data to be transferred includes data received by the RI-FAX function.   A hard disk connected to one or more external computers capable of communicating via the network, having a function of recording data on a hard disk of an external computer capable of communicating via the network; The upper folder is stored as a transfer destination, the set time storage means stores information including the transfer start time to the folder, and the transfer control means is received by the received image information and the RI-FAX function. The image information included in the received data or the received e-mail is transferred to a predetermined folder on a hard disk connected to a predetermined computer that can communicate via the network at a set time with the folder as a transfer destination. 13. The network file according to claim 10, wherein transfer is started. Kushimiri apparatus. Corresponding to each destination identification information stored by the transfer destination registration means, one or a plurality of mail addresses, an IP address of a terminal having the RI-FAX function, or terminal identification information of a public line facsimile apparatus is included. When receiving the transmission destination selection transmission source storage means for storing the identification information of the transmission source and data including image information or e-mail, the identification information of the transmission source is obtained based on the data format of the received data or the type of the transmission side terminal. A transmission source identification unit for identifying, a transmission source identification unit for determining whether or not the identification information of the identified transmission source is a transmission source stored in the transfer destination selection transmission source storage unit, and transmission of the received image information When the source is a transmission source stored in the transmission destination selection transmission source storage means, the transfer destination extraction means for extracting a transfer destination corresponding to the transmission source,
The set time storage means stores a transfer start time for each identification information of the transmission source, and the transfer control means sets the transfer destination at the transfer start time specified based on the identification information of the transfer source. 14. The network facsimile apparatus according to claim 10, wherein data to be transferred to a terminal data format is converted to start transfer.

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