JP4182439B2 - Internet facsimile machine and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication apparatus and a program thereof, and more particularly to transfer of a received document.

  In a network multifunction peripheral, when a received facsimile document is transferred to an external device by e-mail or the like, a small device such as a mobile phone has a small display screen and cannot attach a large image file. Even if an image file is transmitted, it cannot be displayed correctly on the receiving device. Therefore, instead of transferring the image file, a message notifying the arrival of the facsimile document or an outline thereof is transmitted, but the contents of the facsimile document are not known on the terminal device side.

Object of the present invention, the data of example a facsimile document or the like received, and generates transfer data to match the display capability of the destination terminal device is to be able to transfer to the terminal apparatus (claim 1 Claim 4 ). Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to define in detail the type of transfer data with a table having a small capacity.

The present invention is an Internet facsimile machine connected to a network,
In order to transfer the received facsimile document to the destination terminal device by e-mail,
Character recognition means for extracting characters from the received facsimile document by character recognition;
Corresponds to the mail address of the terminal device to which the received facsimile document is transferred, stores at least whether or not an image file can be attached, the size limit of the image file when attachment is possible, and the number of characters in the body of the email Storage means for
When the stored value of the storage means for the forwarding mail address is attachable to an image file, the image data to be attached and transferred to the e-mail is generated from the received facsimile document according to the size limit of the stored image file. An image data processing unit for
A character data processing unit that generates character data to be set in an e-mail body from characters extracted by the character recognition unit in accordance with the limit on the number of characters stored in the storage unit for the mail address of the transfer destination. And

Preferably, the storage means stores a mail table of a transfer destination terminal device and a transfer data type, and at least whether or not an image file can be attached as the transfer data type, and an image when attachment is possible. It consists of a transfer data management table that stores restrictions on the size of files and restrictions on the number of characters in the body of an e-mail.

More preferably, the transfer data management table further stores a file format of image data and a range for extracting character data from the received facsimile document.

The present invention also relates to an Internet facsimile machine connected to the network corresponding to the mail address of the terminal device to which the received facsimile document is transferred, and at least whether or not an image file can be attached, and the size of the image file when attachment is possible. And the storage value for storing the limit on the number of characters in the e-mail body and the storage value of the storage unit for the mail address of the transfer destination are the size of the stored image file if the attachment of the image file is allowed In accordance with the restrictions, the image data attached to the e-mail is transferred according to the restrictions on the number of characters stored in the storage means for the image data processing unit for generating from the received facsimile original and the forwarding mail address. Set in the body of the e-mail using the characters extracted from the facsimile document by character recognition. For operating the character data processor for generating character data, as to be, in the program of the Internet facsimile apparatus.

In the Internet facsimile machine and the program of the present invention, transfer data matching the display capability of the transfer destination terminal device can be generated and transferred. As a result, the user of the terminal device can obtain data suitable for the display capability of the terminal device (claims 1 to 4 ).

According to the second aspect of the invention, the type of transfer data stored for each transfer destination terminal device is stored in the distribution table, and the definition of each type of transfer data is stored in the transfer data management table. For this reason, even when the number of transfer destinations increases, it is possible to obtain the definition of the transfer data type by referring to the transfer data management table at the time of transfer only by storing the transfer data type in the distribution table. Also, various types of transfer data can be defined in the transfer data management table, and even if the number of types increases, it can be managed with a small table.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to attach an image file in a file format corresponding to a transfer destination terminal device and to specify a range for extracting characters.

  In the following, an optimum embodiment for carrying out the invention will be shown.

  1 to 6 show an embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the configuration of the Internet facsimile apparatus 2 as a communication apparatus and an external terminal apparatus. In the embodiment, an external terminal device outside the LAN 8 is assumed to be a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) 4 or a mobile phone 6, and data transmission / reception with these mobile terminal devices will be described. The Internet facsimile machine 2 is connected to the Internet 14 via the LAN 8, the mail server 10, the router 12, and the like, and transmits and receives e-mails and the like with the PDA 4 and the mobile phone 6. Reference numeral 16 denotes a communication terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 8.

  Note that mobile terminal devices such as the PDA 4 and the mobile phone 6 employ different communication methods, image formats, display capabilities, and the like depending on the carrier, the type and model of the terminal device provided by the communication carrier. In the Internet facsimile machine 2 according to the embodiment, for example, image data and character data such as a document received by the Internet facsimile function processing unit 26, a document created by the personal computer 12, a document captured by scanning, and the like are transferred to the PDA 4 or the mobile phone. Send to phone 6 etc.

  In the figure, 20 is a main control unit, 22 is a LAN interface, 24 is a G3 facsimile function processing unit, and performs transmission / reception of G3 facsimile and the like via a public telephone network (PSTN). Reference numeral 26 denotes an Internet facsimile function processing unit which processes transmission / reception of an Internet facsimile in an e-mail format, for example. 28 is a network scanner function processing unit, 30 is a copy function processing unit, and 32 is a network printer function processing unit. Reference numeral 34 denotes a display unit such as an LCD, and 36 denotes an operation unit such as a keyboard or a touch panel.

  The RAM 38 stores the distribution table 44, the transfer data management table 46, the received document data, and other data. The ROM 40 stores a program necessary for the Internet facsimile machine 2, and particularly stores a received data transfer program 60. The received data transfer program 60 determines the transfer destination of the document received by facsimile, acquires the type of transfer data corresponding to this transfer destination, processes the data of the received document according to the type of transfer data, and converts the transmission data. Generate, for example, attach to an e-mail with HTTP and transfer to a transfer destination.

  42 is a transfer condition management unit, 44 is a distribution table, and 46 is a transfer data management table. The distribution table 44 determines a transfer destination using a transmission source number TSI or a transmission source mail address as a condition for transferring the received data, and stores the type of transfer data for each transfer destination. The transfer data management table 46 stores parameters for character data and image data for each type of transfer data. In the transfer condition management unit 42, for example, a user input is received and the transfer destination and transfer data type are stored in the table 44 for each caller number, and the data parameters are stored and managed in the table 46 for each transfer data type. .

  A transfer data generation unit 48 processes received data in accordance with transfer data parameters for each transfer destination obtained from the table 46. Since the table 46 stores the parameters of character data and image data for each transfer destination, the received data is processed by the character data processing unit 50 and the image data processing unit 52 to generate transfer data. . The generated transfer data is transmitted from the LAN interface 22 to the transfer destination by e-mail or the like.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the received data transfer program 60. The received data transfer program 60 is stored in the Internet facsimile machine, and processes and transfers the received document with parameters according to the display capability of the transfer destination. The program 60 acquires an instruction 61 for creating the tables 44 and 46, an instruction 62 for determining the transfer destination when receiving a document, and a data type determined for each transfer destination. It comprises an instruction 64, an instruction 66 for processing the received original data in accordance with the parameters for each type and generating transfer data, and an instruction 68 for transferring the transfer data to the transfer destination. Except as otherwise noted, the disclosure relating to the Internet facsimile machine 2 also applies to the received data transfer program 60 as it is.

  FIG. 3 shows the distribution table 44 and FIG. 4 shows the transfer data management table 46. In the distribution table 44 of FIG. 3, the transmission source mail address is stored in association with the original transmission source using the transmission source number TSI and the transmission source mail address as the transfer conditions. In addition, the types of transfer data to the transfer destination terminal device are determined as types 1 to 3 and the like. In addition to this, for example, a transmission source line number or a reception time may be used as the transfer condition. The transfer destination is associated with the transmission source, and the transfer destination of the received document can be obtained from the table 44. Further, the transfer destination may be determined based on the data type or the like without setting the transfer condition at the transmission source. The user of the Internet facsimile machine 2 may set the transfer destination of the received document. At this time, the type of transfer data is determined by selecting the transfer destination. In FIG. 3, the transfer destination is determined using the transmission source number TSI or the like as the transfer condition, but the transfer condition is not limited to this. For example, the transfer timing is set when a request is made from the terminal device, and the received document is transferred when a request is made from the external terminal device. The transfer destination is a terminal device that has requested transfer, and the type of transfer data is determined accordingly.

  In the transfer data management table 46 of FIG. 4, the type of transfer data defined for each display capability of the transfer destination is defined. The definition stores whether character data and image data are included in transfer data, character recognition parameters when character data is included, and image processing parameters of image data. The received data is converted to OCR (Optical Character Reader) and converted into character data, character data detection range is defined, and image data transfer is defined as page size, data size, file format, etc. To do. Transfer using only character data, transfer using only image data, and transfer using both character data and image data are possible.

  In the embodiment, character recognition is performed by OCR conversion processing from received data, a character portion included in the received data is extracted, and transmitted separately from the image data. Then, the detection range of the character data to be extracted, the limitation on the number of characters, and the like are stored in advance. In the table 46 of FIG. 4, the number of characters to be extracted is 100 for Type 2 and the source number, headline, head line, and the like are extracted as the TSI of the source in Type 3. In type 4, the header portion of the document is extracted, and characters such as “urgent” are added and transferred. In addition, for example, a predetermined format such as a form or a slip may be stored in advance, and if it is data from a predetermined transmission source, information on an entry area such as a form may be extracted, and this may be transcribed and transferred. .

  In the transmission of image data, the number of vertical and horizontal images of the image data to be transferred, the number of pages, the data size limit, the file format, and the like are stored. In the type 1 of the table 46 in FIG. 4, for example, “all pages of image data of the received document are reduced to 100 × 200 px in vertical and horizontal pixels and the file format is transferred in TIFF”, and other “first page of received document” The upper half of the image is reduced to the number of vertical and horizontal pixels ○○ × ○○ px, and the file format is transferred as PDF ”, etc., and the parameters are set according to the display capability of the transfer destination terminal device.

  Thus, in the embodiment, two tables are provided, the transfer table 44 determines the transfer destination and transfer data type, and the transfer data management table 46 defines the transfer data type and determines the transfer data parameters. Since the parameters of transfer data for each transfer destination are not stored in one table, the capacity of the table may be small. Even if the number of transfer destinations increases, it is only necessary to store the type of transfer data, and necessary parameters can be obtained by referring to the transfer data management table 46 at the time of transfer.

  In the tables 44 and 46 of the embodiment, first, the transmission source number TSI is used as the transfer condition, and this is associated with the transfer destination. For example, when a certain employee wants to transfer information from a specific transmission source, the information is The same type is expected, and according to this, the type of data, the character data transmission range, etc. are determined by the table 46. Next, in the table 46, the number of pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions, the file format, etc. are determined in accordance with the display capability of the portable terminal device as the transfer destination. For this reason, a person who has a portable terminal device forwards the data of a document sent by facsimile from a specific transmission source to his / her portable terminal device by e-mail. In addition to the original, date, etc., the contents of the document can be known within the range of the display capability of the terminal device.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which received data is processed to generate transfer data. In FIG. 5, a header portion is transferred for character data and a page for image data is transferred in JPEG with the number of vertical and horizontal pixels XX. The transfer destination portable terminal device can know the transmission source, date and time, and data type, and can display reduced image data. Therefore, even if you are in the distance with your mobile terminal device, you can transfer the original addressed to your own device and view it, so you can grasp the approximate information. In addition, if it is character data, it is only necessary to see the main part below the headline or to read the entry part such as a form, and it is possible to transmit only necessary information to the portable terminal device. Even if the display of the image data is unclear on the terminal screen, the outline of the image data can be grasped from these character data.

  FIG. 6 shows received data transfer processing in the Internet facsimile machine. When the Internet facsimile apparatus receives data by Internet facsimile or the like (step S100), it checks whether the data is to be transferred next (step S110). In the embodiment, it is determined whether transfer is necessary with reference to the distribution table, and at the same time, the transfer destination and the type of transfer data are referred to (step S120). Then, the transfer data is generated by referring to the transfer data type from the transfer data management table. When it is not necessary to transfer the received data, normal reception processing is performed (step S130).

  In the generation of transfer data, it is first determined whether or not to perform OCR conversion processing (step S140). When the OCR conversion process is unnecessary, it is next determined whether or not an image process is necessary. When character data is transferred by performing OCR conversion processing, character data is extracted from the received data (step S150), and the extracted character data is set in the mail body (step S160).

  Next, when an image is attached to the e-mail, the image data is processed according to the type of transfer data (steps S170 and S180), and the generated image data file is attached to the e-mail (step S190). Then, this e-mail is transmitted to a predetermined transfer destination to transfer the received data (step S200).

  As described above, in the embodiment, two tables for transfer are prepared, and first, the transfer destination and the type of transfer data stored in association with the transmission source are acquired from the distribution table. Since the data required by the portable terminal device or the like is often from a predetermined transmission source, the transmission source and the transfer destination are stored in association with each other. Next, a transfer data type definition is acquired from the transfer data management table, and transfer data is generated according to the definition. The definition of the type of transfer data is determined from the display capability of the transfer destination terminal device and stored in association with the transfer destination. By preparing two tables for transfer, when the number of transfer destinations increases, the transfer destination and type need only be stored in association with the distribution table.

  When the transfer data includes image data, the transfer data is generated in accordance with the number of pixels and the file format suitable for the display capability of the terminal device. Therefore, necessary data can be displayed in an easy-to-read manner at the transfer destination. When character data is transferred, character data of a portion necessary for OCR conversion processing can be extracted and transferred. The transfer destination terminal device can obtain various information such as the fact that the facsimile has been received, the transmission source, the date and time, the data contents, and the like at the destination.

In the embodiment, since the received data can be arbitrarily processed, it can be transferred to various terminal devices. In particular, transfer data that matches the display capability of the mobile terminal device can be generated.

The figure which shows the structure of the internet facsimile apparatus of an Example, and the connection of an internet facsimile apparatus, a portable terminal device, etc. Block diagram showing the configuration of the received data transfer program of the Internet facsimile machine of the embodiment The figure which shows the delivery table which memorize | stored the transfer destination and transfer data type in an Example. The figure which shows the transfer data management table which memorize | stored the parameter of the transfer data in an Example The figure which shows typically the production | generation of the transfer data in an Example Flowchart showing an algorithm of received data transfer processing in the Internet facsimile machine of the embodiment

Explanation of symbols

2 Internet facsimile machine 4 PDA (Personal Digital Assistance)
6 Mobile phone 8 LAN
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mail server 12 Router 14 Internet network 16 Personal computer 20 Main control part 22 LAN interface 24 G3 facsimile function processing part 26 Internet facsimile function processing part 28 Scanner function processing part 30 Copy function processing part 32 Printer function processing part 34 Display part 36 Operation Part 38 RAM
40 ROM
42 Transfer Condition Management Unit 44 Distribution Table 46 Transfer Data Management Table 48 Transfer Data Generation Unit 50 Character Data Processing Unit 52 Image Data Processing Unit 60 Received Data Transfer Program

Claims (4)

An internet facsimile machine connected to a network,
  In order to transfer the received facsimile document to the destination terminal device by e-mail,
  Character recognition means for extracting characters from the received facsimile document by character recognition;
  Corresponding to the mail address of the terminal device to which the received facsimile document is transferred, at least whether or not the image file can be attached, the size limit of the image file when attachment is possible, and the number of characters in the body of the e-mail are stored. Storage means for
  If the stored value of the storage means for the destination mail address is attachable to an image file, the image data to be attached and transferred to the e-mail is generated from the received facsimile document in accordance with the size limit of the stored image file. An image data processing unit for
  A character data processing unit for generating character data to be set in an e-mail body from characters extracted by a character recognition unit in accordance with a restriction on the number of characters stored in a storage unit for a destination mail address; Internet facsimile machine. The storage means
  A distribution table storing the mail address of the transfer destination terminal device and the type of transfer data;
  A transfer data management table that stores at least whether or not an image file can be attached as a transfer data type, a restriction on the size of the image file when attachment is possible, and a restriction on the number of characters in the e-mail body. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transfer data management table further stores a file format of image data and a range in which character data is extracted from the received facsimile document. Internet facsimile machine connected to the network
  Corresponding to the mail address of the terminal device to which the received facsimile document is transferred, at least whether or not the image file can be attached, the size limit of the image file when attachment is possible, and the number of characters in the body of the e-mail are stored. Storage means for
  If the stored value of the storage means for the destination mail address is attachable to an image file, the image data to be attached and transferred to the e-mail is generated from the received facsimile document in accordance with the size limit of the stored image file. An image data processing unit for
  A character data processing unit for generating character data to be set in an e-mail body from characters extracted by character recognition from a received facsimile document in accordance with a restriction on the number of characters stored in a storage unit for a mail address of a transfer destination;
  Internet facsimile machine program to function as

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