JP2007189635A - Facsimile transmission service providing method, and voip gateway device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a facsimile transmission service providing method and a VoIP gateway device by which a subscriber of IP telephone service can receive a facsimile reception service without bearing an unnecessary cost. <P>SOLUTION: The facsimile transmission service providing method is provided with the facsimile transmission service to two or more subscriber terminals connected with IP network. An initiating call for a facsimile transmission which makes any one destination of this subscriber terminals is relayed to a gateway device connected with this IP network. A facsimile signal supplied to this gateway device is changed into a facsimile picture data in this gateway device, and this is saved at a data server connected with this IP network. Then, the saved facsimile picture data is distributed from this data server to this destination according to a request of this destination. The VoIP gateway device by this invention comprises the gateway device in this method. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a facsimile transmission service providing method for providing a facsimile reception service to a subscriber terminal of an IP telephone service and a VoIP gateway device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to receive a facsimile via an IP network in a company or a general household subscribing to an IP telephone service, it is necessary to provide a facsimile apparatus compatible with the IP network. As a technique of such a dedicated facsimile apparatus, there are techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. All of these technologies are intended to provide a facsimile apparatus compatible with an IP network at a low cost.
JP 2003-309701 A JP 2004-147244 A

  However, such a dedicated facsimile apparatus already requires a reasonable cost. In addition, assuming a company and a general household, it is assumed that there is already a personal computer having a display printing function of image information, and it is not only costly to introduce the facsimile apparatus but also existing personal computers and the like. There is a risk of redundant equipment in relation to this equipment.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method for providing a facsimile transmission service and a VoIP gateway apparatus that allow a subscriber of an IP telephone service to receive a facsimile reception service without incurring unnecessary costs.

  A facsimile transmission service providing method according to the present invention is a facsimile transmission service providing method for providing a facsimile transmission service to a plurality of subscriber terminals connected to an IP network. For facsimile transmission with any one of the subscriber terminals as a destination. The outgoing call relay step of relaying the outgoing call to the gateway device connected to the IP network, and the facsimile signal supplied to the gateway device is converted into facsimile image data in the gateway device, and the data connected to the IP network A data storage step for storing the data in the server; and a data distribution step for distributing the stored facsimile image data from the data server to the one in response to the distribution request from the one.

  A VoIP gateway device according to the present invention is a VoIP gateway device that relays signals between a public subscriber telephone network and an IP network connected to a plurality of subscriber terminals. The VoIP gateway device is supplied from a facsimile machine in the public subscriber telephone network. An outgoing call relay means for relaying outgoing calls for facsimile transmission destined for any one of the subscriber terminals, and a facsimile signal supplied from the facsimile apparatus is converted into facsimile image data. Data storage means for storing in a Web server connected to the IP network.

  According to the facsimile transmission service providing method and the VoIP gateway apparatus according to the present invention, the subscriber of the IP telephone service can receive the facsimile reception service without incurring unnecessary costs.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration including a VoIP gateway according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of facsimile (hereinafter abbreviated as FAX) apparatuses 10 a to 10 c are connected to a public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20. The FAX apparatuses 10a to 10c are ordinary facsimile transmission / reception apparatuses, and have a function of exchanging FAX image information with each other via a public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20 and printing out the information. The VoIP gateway 30 is a VoIP gateway device that is connected between the public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20 and the IP network 40, provides an IP telephone service, and relays signals between different networks. The IP network 40 is a normal IP network that can be connected to the Internet or the like, and is a network that enables IP telephone service to each of a plurality of connected personal computers (PCs) 60a and 60b.

  Each of the personal computers 60a and 60b is a subscriber terminal used by a specific subscriber (hereinafter referred to as a subscriber) who receives provision of IP telephone service and FAX reception service. Each of the personal computers 60a and 60b is realized by an ordinary personal computer, and has an IP telephone function by software such as a soft phone and a Web browsing function that enables browsing of Web pages. The web server 50 is a data server connected to the IP network 40, and has a function of delivering a web page held in the web page volume 51 to each of the personal computers 60a and 60b.

  In the present embodiment, three FAX apparatuses 10a to 10c and two personal computers 60a and 60b are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this number, and a large number of FAX apparatuses and a large number of personal computers are connected. The form to be done is assumed.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed internal configuration of the VoIP gateway shown in FIG. The VoIP gateway 30 is a normal computer device to which a central processing unit (CPU) 31, a main memory (MEM) 32, and other auxiliary storage devices (not shown) are connected via a bus 33. The VoIP gateway 30 also includes a PSTN interface 34 and an IPN interface 35 connected via a bus 33.

  The PSTN interface 34 has a function of exchanging a call control signal with the public subscriber telephone network 20 to transmit and receive a call signal, and a function of taking a FAX signal by exchanging a control signal related to the FAX signal. The PSTN interface 34 may of course have a function of transmitting a FAX signal to the outside. The IPN interface 35 has a function of exchanging call control packets with the IP network 40 to transmit and receive voice packets, and a function to transmit and receive normal IP packets including FAX image data with the Web server 50.

  The main memory (MEM) 32 includes a gateway control unit 321, a fax format conversion unit 322, a fax upload unit 323, and a subscriber registration as a plurality of software loaded in response to power-on of the VoIP gateway 30. There is an information table 324.

  The gateway control unit 321 controls relay processing between different networks such as the public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20 and the IP network 40, and performs protocol conversion on a necessary control protocol and mutual conversion between a line signal and an IP packet. It has the function to perform. The FAX format conversion unit 322 has a function of performing format conversion from a FAX signal to FAX image data and temporarily storing the obtained FAX image data. The FAX image data is composed of one page or a plurality of pages obtained by one call connection, and these are stored in one file format.

  The FAX upload unit 323 has a function of uploading temporarily stored FAX image data to the external Web server 50. As a method of uploading FAX image data, for example, a file transferable protocol such as an HTTP (HyperText Trasfer Protocol) protocol may be used. The upload destination is determined according to information set in the subscriber registration information table 324. The subscriber registration information table 324 is a table in which a save URL of an upload destination that designates a storage location of received FAX image data (file) is set in advance.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the subscriber registration information table shown in FIG. Here, in the subscriber registration table 324, “subscriber telephone number” of each subscriber expected to receive a facsimile and a save address (for example, directory) of the received FAX image data file are designated. “URL” is set in advance. The “subscriber telephone number” is a telephone number assigned with one subscriber's personal computer as one IP telephone terminal. “Save URL” designates a save location where the FAX image data file is saved. In this embodiment, a URL including a directory name in the web page volume 51 of the web server 50 is designated.

  Referring to the lower part of the figure, an example of the directory structure of the Web page volume 51 is shown. Here, when the lower directories are sequentially viewed from the home directory published on the Web, for example, as set in the previous subscriber registration table 324, for example, a dedicated directory “00 Taro” 00 Taro ”is provided, and individual FAX image data files are stored as“ 2005 # 12 # 1 # hh # mm # ss.tif ”below it. The FAX image data can be stored in a TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) file format as in this example, but of course, other formats that can save a facsimile signal as an image may be used.

  In addition, “Receiving history.txt” is provided in the dedicated directory “00Taro” so that history information such as the telephone number of each FAX image data sending source can be stored and provided as index information when used for Web browsing. It is preferable to do this. In addition, it is preferable that some security protection is provided for access to a dedicated directory for each subscriber.

  FIG. 4 shows the entire processing procedure from reception of a FAX signal to display of FAX image data. This processing procedure will be described with reference to the components shown in FIGS.

  First, it is assumed that the FAX apparatus 10 transmits an outgoing call for facsimile transmission with the personal computer 60 as a destination (step S1). As a method for the FAX apparatus 10 to designate the personal computer 60, for example, a telephone number (for example, a telephone number such as fax: + 81-3-xxxx-0001) using the personal computer 60 as an IP telephone terminal may be considered. It is done. This outgoing call arrives at the VoIP gateway 30 regardless of the original destination of facsimile transmission, and the outgoing call is relayed.

  The VoIP gateway 30 receives the FAX signal from the FAX apparatus 10 via the passage, converts the format into FAX image data, and temporarily stores it as one FAX image data file (step S2). Next, the VoIP gateway 30 uploads the FAX image data file to the Web server 50 (Step S3).

  The upload destination is determined according to information set in the subscriber registration information table 324. Further, the VoIP gateway 30 turns on the LED provided in the casing and transmits an e-mail notifying the arrival of the facsimile to the personal computer 60 of the destination, so that the subscriber of the personal computer 60 can receive the facsimile. The storage destination URL may be notified.

  In response to the upload, the Web server 50 stores the FAX image data file in a folder dedicated to the subscriber designated in the Web page volume 51 (Step S4). Regardless of the upload, the web server 50 always delivers a web page corresponding to the request from a terminal including the personal computer 60 in response to the web page delivery request.

  It is assumed that the personal computer 60 requests the Web server 50 to browse a facsimile addressed to the subscriber by specifying a save destination URL. In response to this, the Web server 50 distributes a Web page including the FAX image data file of the subscriber toward the personal computer 60 (Step S5). In response to this distribution, the personal computer 60 collects the Web page and displays the contents of the FAX image data file on its display screen (step S6).

  FIG. 5 shows a display example for displaying the contents of the FAX image data on the Web page. The display example 61 is an entire display frame of the browser, which displays a partial display frame 62 that displays the HTTP address of the subscriber's dedicated folder, a partial display frame 63 that displays the facsimile transmission source, and the contents of the facsimile. It consists of a partial display frame 64. Here, as an example, in the partial display frame 62, the content of the facsimile corresponding to “ΔΔ Trading” displayed by the operator is displayed in the partial display frame 64.

  In the first embodiment described above, a subscriber who has subscribed to the IP telephone service can receive a facsimile only with the personal computer and the VoIP gateway originally possessed by the subscriber.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 6 shows the entire configuration including the home gateway shown in the second embodiment according to the present invention. A plurality of FAX apparatuses 10 a to 10 c are connected to a public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20. A home gateway 70 is connected to the public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) 20 and the IP network 40. The Web server 50 is connected to the IP network 40 and has a function of distributing a Web page stored in the Web page volume 51 to the home gateway 70.

  In the present embodiment, three FAX apparatuses 10a to 10c are shown. However, the present invention is not limited to such a number, and a form in which a large number of FAX apparatuses are connected is assumed.

  The home gateway 70 is a kind of VoIP gateway device, and is a device that enables IP telephone and data communication between various electrical products such as a home telephone 71 and a television (TV) 72 and an external network. is there. The home gateway 70 has the same function as in the VoIP gateway shown in the first embodiment. The home gateway 70 further has a function that enables Web browsing using the connected television 72 as a display device. The home gateway 70 is assumed to be installed in the home of a specific subscriber (hereinafter referred to as a subscriber) who receives provision of IP telephone service and FAX reception service.

  The operation in the above embodiment will be described. First, it is assumed that the FAX apparatus 10 makes a call for facsimile transmission with a specific subscriber as a destination. This call is received at the home gateway 70. The home gateway 70 receives the FAX signal from the FAX apparatus 10 in response to the incoming call, converts the format into FAX image data, and temporarily stores it as one FAX image data file. At this time, the home gateway 70 may display the arrival of the facsimile by turning on an LED provided in the housing.

  Next, the home gateway 70 uploads the FAX image data file to the Web server 50. In response to this upload, the Web server 50 stores the FAX image data file in a folder dedicated to the subscriber designated by the upload.

  It is assumed that the web server 50 is requested to browse a facsimile addressed to the subscriber himself / herself by operating the home gateway 70. In response to this, the Web server 50 delivers a Web page including the FAX image data file of the subscriber toward the home gateway 70. In response to this distribution, the home gateway 70 collects the Web page and displays the contents of the FAX image data file on the display screen of the connected television 72.

  In the second embodiment described above, a subscriber who subscribes to the IP telephone service can receive a facsimile only by the home gateway 70 originally possessed by the subscriber. That is, the subscriber can access the Web server 50 using the home gateway 70 and browse the contents of the facsimile. In this case, the subscriber can receive and display a facsimile using the home gateway 70 itself as the subscriber terminal without preparing a terminal such as a personal computer as in the first embodiment. This is advantageous when providing a low-cost facsimile reception service to a subscriber who is assumed to use only a telephone when receiving an IP telephone service.

  In the first and second embodiments, an embodiment has been described in which facsimile reception from a facsimile apparatus directly connected to a public subscriber telephone network (PSTN) outside the IP network is performed at the IP telephone service subscriber terminal. The invention is not limited to such a form, but can be applied to a form in which facsimile reception from a facsimile apparatus compatible with an IP network in an IP network is performed at a subscriber terminal of an IP telephone service.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration including a VoIP gateway according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the detail of the VoIP gateway shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the subscriber registration information table shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an entire processing procedure from reception of a FAX signal to display of FAX image data. This is a box showing a display example for displaying the contents of FAX image data on a Web page. It is a block diagram which shows the 2nd Example by this invention and shows the whole structure containing a home gateway.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10a, 10b, 10c FAX machine 20 Public subscriber telephone network 30 VoIP gateway 31 Central processing unit (CPU)
32 Main memory (MEM)
33 Bus 34 PSTN interface 35 IPN interface 40 IP network 50 Web server 51 Web page volume 60, 60a, 60b Personal computer (PC)
70 Home gateway 71 Telephone 72 Television (TV)
321 Gateway control unit 322 FAX format conversion unit 333 FAX upload unit 324 Subscriber registration information table

Claims (5)

A facsimile transmission service providing method for providing a facsimile transmission service to a plurality of subscriber terminals connected to an IP network,
An outgoing call relaying step of relaying an outgoing call for facsimile transmission destined for any one of the subscriber terminals to a gateway device connected to the IP network;
A data storing step of converting a facsimile signal supplied to the gateway device into facsimile image data in the gateway device and storing the converted data in a data server connected to the IP network;
A data distribution step of distributing the stored facsimile image data from the data server to the 1 in response to the distribution request from the 1;
A method for providing a facsimile transmission service.   2. The method for providing a facsimile transmission service according to claim 1, wherein the outgoing call is an outgoing call from a facsimile apparatus in or outside the IP network.   2. The method of providing a facsimile transmission service according to claim 1, wherein the data storage step specifies a storage location of the facsimile image data by a URL assigned to the one subscriber.   2. The method of providing a facsimile transmission service according to claim 1, wherein said data storing step further includes a step of transmitting to said 1 a notification mail notifying that said facsimile image data has been stored in said data server. A VoIP gateway device that relays signals between a public subscriber telephone network and an IP network connected to a plurality of subscriber terminals,
Outgoing call relay means for relaying outgoing calls for facsimile transmission addressed to any one of the subscriber terminals, supplied from a facsimile machine in the public subscriber telephone network;
A VoIP gateway apparatus, comprising: data storage means for converting a facsimile signal supplied from the facsimile apparatus into facsimile image data and storing the converted data in a Web server connected to the IP network.

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